stevesmith7
New member
Santa said I could have a new pistol and so a couple of weeks ago I picked
up a new FEG HP clone. I got this model for a several reasons. First, they're
cheap, I paid $220 with one hi-cap. Second, the HP fits my smaller
hands better than most other full sized 9mm. Third, they're simple and easy
to work on, and there's a lot of information on how to improve one.
After it arrived I got started. First the trigger. The FEG has the standard
mag disconnect which makes it heavy and gritty. The trigger pin and
disconnect pin were easily removed with a punch and it was soon gone.
Since I had things part way apart at this point I went about working on the
hammer/sear interface. Just a little polishing to start, or so was the plan.
After I'd polished the obvious things I put it all back together to test the new
triggger feel. It was terrible! It would break to some sort of half way spot,
and then fire with a little more pressure. Sort of a wierd two stage effect.
This couldn't be right. I hadn't removed enough from the hammer or sear
to account for this action. Back apart and after a lot of study I discovered
that the safety was not completely clearing the sear in the off position. A
little filing of the safety frame hole solved this problem. Strange it didn't do
this before I removed the mag disconnect. I now have a zero creep, about
4lb. trigger. Very nice.
Next step was the grips. The available wood grips all look great to me but
this is a project so I though I'd try to make some myself. The local Woodcraft
store has 1/4" blanks of all kinds of woods and I came home with a piece of
Rosewood that had a nice grain pattern. I've never tried making a grip before
and on the first try I relied way to much on the router table and about 90%
of the way there I ruined it. Guess I learned something because
the next try only took about an hour, came out much better, and I never
touched the router. The oil finish did make it a bit darker than I'd hoped.
Today I got to shoot it for the first time. The target was shot from 10 yds
from sort of a rest (kneeling behind a stump) using some RNL reloads I got
a while ago really cheap (not great ammo). I pulled the first one low, but
it looks like it will group good enough to keep up with my skills. Fired about
200 rounds without any jams, FTE, etc. The ring hammer doesn't seem too
bite me as others have reported.
Well, I'm pretty happy. I wonder how much better a real FN might be. There
are a few minor problems with the FEG. The front sight is not mounted
straight. The finish is pretty good, but is a little rough near the barrrel end
of the slide. For around $200 it's pretty hard to beat.
Steve
up a new FEG HP clone. I got this model for a several reasons. First, they're
cheap, I paid $220 with one hi-cap. Second, the HP fits my smaller
hands better than most other full sized 9mm. Third, they're simple and easy
to work on, and there's a lot of information on how to improve one.
After it arrived I got started. First the trigger. The FEG has the standard
mag disconnect which makes it heavy and gritty. The trigger pin and
disconnect pin were easily removed with a punch and it was soon gone.
Since I had things part way apart at this point I went about working on the
hammer/sear interface. Just a little polishing to start, or so was the plan.
After I'd polished the obvious things I put it all back together to test the new
triggger feel. It was terrible! It would break to some sort of half way spot,
and then fire with a little more pressure. Sort of a wierd two stage effect.
This couldn't be right. I hadn't removed enough from the hammer or sear
to account for this action. Back apart and after a lot of study I discovered
that the safety was not completely clearing the sear in the off position. A
little filing of the safety frame hole solved this problem. Strange it didn't do
this before I removed the mag disconnect. I now have a zero creep, about
4lb. trigger. Very nice.
Next step was the grips. The available wood grips all look great to me but
this is a project so I though I'd try to make some myself. The local Woodcraft
store has 1/4" blanks of all kinds of woods and I came home with a piece of
Rosewood that had a nice grain pattern. I've never tried making a grip before
and on the first try I relied way to much on the router table and about 90%
of the way there I ruined it. Guess I learned something because
the next try only took about an hour, came out much better, and I never
touched the router. The oil finish did make it a bit darker than I'd hoped.
Today I got to shoot it for the first time. The target was shot from 10 yds
from sort of a rest (kneeling behind a stump) using some RNL reloads I got
a while ago really cheap (not great ammo). I pulled the first one low, but
it looks like it will group good enough to keep up with my skills. Fired about
200 rounds without any jams, FTE, etc. The ring hammer doesn't seem too
bite me as others have reported.
Well, I'm pretty happy. I wonder how much better a real FN might be. There
are a few minor problems with the FEG. The front sight is not mounted
straight. The finish is pretty good, but is a little rough near the barrrel end
of the slide. For around $200 it's pretty hard to beat.
Steve
