Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Handguns Browning Hi power internal vs external extractor

I found a hi power in excellent condition at my lgs. It has the internal extractor, which I have read is more fragile than the external extractors.

Should I really be concerned with this issue? I plan on using this as a ranger gun and would only use standard pressure ammo.

Thanks!

Don't try to find a replacement one!

The biggest problem as T LEE says, is that they were made so long ago, (pre- 1962?) that few parts are available. I would suggest selling this to a collector and buying a brand new one as a shooter.

My favorite walking around the estate gun these days is a two tone "Practical" with Speigle grips.

The extractors are very good, the change was mostly about simplifying manufacture; but they ended up making a more robust extractor. Replacement extractors are out there, just have to search a little more. Sarco has them often, The Dealer Warehouse, etc.

I wouldn't turn down a nice Hi Power over that. Have to consider there are gazillions out there, so while it may be a little more work, they are definitely out there, I'm betting if I needed one, I could have one located by the end of the day. And they are not "fragile" by any stretch of the imagination, so not a big chance you're going to kill one anyhow.

Keep in mind those old Hi Powere were almost all former military guns, so civilian ownership is probably as easy as life has ever been for that gun...it can take pretty much anything you can dish out.

Thanks for all the replies.

Pistol looks to be in excellent condition and comes w/ the original box and one mag. It looks to be an early 1960s model because it has the internal extractor but not the thumbprint on the slide. Was Browning importing these Hi Powers at that time? Is $1000 too high for this gun?

Thanks again!

If it's 99% or better 1k is about right,

A great way to break an internal extractor on a BHP is to drop a live round into the chamber, then let the slide go home on that live round. Always chamber the first round from the magazine. The older guns are superb if they're manipulated properly.
Bob