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Post by sams1 on Dec 5, 2019 12:42:06 GMT -5
My 1950 vintage (internal Extractor) HP suddenly won't feed at all. In closer look at the breech face area I was stunned to find that there is a threaded "Doughnut" shaped insert (firing pin hole in center of it) that has back out some, interfering with the bullet seating flat and grabbed by extractor hook. Please see pics at link below.
I've never seeing or heard of this breech face mod (or is it a mod?) before. There is a staking dimple that was done to preclude movement - pre-Locktite period... I was able to use a pick to rotate it back to 'flush" although the staking dimple halves not aligned. Gun feeds normally now but this is not a permanent fix as I'm sure it'll back out again. Notice the last pic - I came across this pic searching online. This is a slide from a another, similar period HP (1950's) and looks to have same "doughnut" repair... Has anyone seeing this before? Any information on this and advice to repair would be greatly appreciated. Sam
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Post by ToddSig on Dec 5, 2019 19:38:29 GMT -5
I am certainly no expert in this area but it appears this was the how the breech face was assembled by FN. My 1943 German HP appears to have the same type of breech face with doughnut and locking insert.  |
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Post by CXM on Dec 6, 2019 9:15:20 GMT -5
Though your gun isn't a Browning import, you might still want to give their service dept a call... it is likely they can give you some advice on what to do.
I hesitate to suggest what to do given I have not had this problem, but if it were mine I'd use a flat punch and see if I could tap it back into place...
FWIW
Chuck
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Post by abninftr on Dec 6, 2019 18:43:32 GMT -5
I'm going from memory here, but I remember seeing a schematic drawing of the slide and I remember that (to my surprise) that the breech face had a centre "plug".
There appears to be a plug within a plug, but the breech face shows significant wear. That is particularly evident by the ring around the firing pin hole. That and the outer ring may be from wear on the breech face during recoil. After all, who knows how many rounds went through that pistol over the decades.
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Post by sams1 on Dec 7, 2019 2:50:23 GMT -5
Thank you guys for the feedback. The whole experience has been very interesting and insightful...
Went back to the range and shot about 25 rounds when noticed the "plug" starting to back out again. Back on the bench I used a small Bolt Extractor that fit in the firing pin hole and was able to completely remove the "plug" - see pics (link below) of it and the threaded hole in the breech face.
The BIG question now is how to handle it from here. Should I screw it back in and just stake it on the opposite end and hope it'll hold or should I go "high-tech" and use Loctite to secure it in place (or both)??
I trust (hope) this is a good learning experience for many of us on this great Board... Thanks in advance for any help on this. Sam
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Post by gt40doc on Dec 7, 2019 13:30:08 GMT -5
I would do both. Use the Red Loctite, or if they make another one with a stronger bond(not sure on this), and stake it also. I will bet that that will do it for you. Just be sure the threads are super clean before applying the Loctite, and allow 24 hours to cure before you try to stake it......JMHO.
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Post by rock185 on Jan 2, 2020 1:16:48 GMT -5
Both early FN, and INGLIS, Hi Powers used that hardened firing pin bushing; FN called it a "slide stud". I had an INGLIS and another earlier HI Power with that, but thankfully they didn't unscrew. FN started hardening breech faces in the late '40s, negating the need for the firing pin bushings. But FN didn't throw stuff away simply because there was an engineering change as of such and such a date. So I suspect it would have taken a few years for all HI Powers to be assembled with the newer type slides. If you can screw it back in all the way, I'd do as gt40doc suggests. FWIW, I've used the red high strength Loctites, 271/272, for years when staking sights,etc., and never had anything come loose.
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Post by sams1 on Jan 14, 2020 1:18:22 GMT -5
Thank you for your good input,rock185. I sure did follow gt40doc... Got it out, cleaned it and the hole in slide then put it back in with red loctite and life is good again! 
before the fix, it would take shooting about 15 rounds to get the 'doughnut/plug' unscrew enough to interfere with the bullet seating on the breech face. After the fix, I'm up over 100 rounds now and nothing moved...
Thank you both! 
Sam
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Post by gt40doc on Jan 14, 2020 14:51:47 GMT -5
I love it when a plan comes together......enjoy!!
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