Kareen Hi Power

sqlbullet · August 22 2016 10:59:08 AM MDT

Anyone have a Kareen Hi Power? If so, any feedback would be appreciated. Looking at getting a Mk I Kareen, which is a faithful BHP clone made from FEG frame and slide.

sstewart · August 23 2016 03:43:45 PM MDT

Why not a regular browning hi power? There are lots of them out there.

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sqlbullet · August 24 2016 08:18:04 AM MDT

$259.00 About half the going price of a used Hi Power.

sstewart · August 24 2016 09:24:25 AM MDT

Yes that is inexpensive.

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sqlbullet · August 24 2016 10:20:42 AM MDT

It will be here on Friday. I will post up some pics, and if i have good weather, a range report on Saturday.

sqlbullet · August 29 2016 08:52:07 AM MDT

As promised, some pics and a brief report.

The gun was overall in better condition than I feared it would be.

First big surprise was the trigger pull. It was actually very good. Amazingly good. Looking at the trigger, the pin that retains the magazine disconnect was missing. I field stripped the gun and verified that the magazine disconnect was gone, which probably is why the trigger was so good. The trigger breaks crisply and evenly at about 5-6 lbs. If you pull very slowly there is a bit of creep, but it is not noticed in what I would consider a "normal" pull.

The gun "rattles" like an old GI 1911, but the barrel to slide lockup is very tight. The gun was equipped with the FEG style commander hammer and bit like a son of a ... even just racking the slide by hand. Admittedly I have big hands. Before these pictures were taken I got out the dremel and cut the hammer down to an abbreviated spur, which eliminated all hammer bite.

I put a few drops of oil in the gun and headed to the desert with it Saturday morning. Ran about 100 rounds of white box ball ammo using the supplied MecGar 13 round magazine. It passed through the hands of two of my daughters, one son, one of my daughters friends who was a first time shooter, and my mom. Everyone who shot it liked it. I didn't do any real accuracy testing this outing, but it was pretty easy to hit a 1"X1.5" post it note at 25'. There were no feeding issues.

Sunday afternoon I stripped sear, sear spring, hammer/strut assembly, ejector and safety out of the frame. The hammer looked pretty "bubba" after my impromptu dremel session before the range. It went into the vice and got about 10 minutes of clean up. It still needs some finish work with an end mill bit for the radius on the bottom of the spur, but it looks much better now.

I also re-cut the lines on the top of the thumb safety with my 25 lpi file, and deepened the thumb safety detent recesses in the frame to give the safety a more positive engagement. The thumb safety now has a nice positive feel, not the all to normal "mushy" feel of a high power.

After reassembly I took the above pictures.

All in all, I am very happy with the gun, especially for <$300 including fees. It looks like my oldest daughter is going to work with me on refinishing the gun with black cerakote over parkerizing as well as peening the rails and re-fitting the slide for a tighter action. She still wants to try a Glock 19 and a Stryk B, but right now she is pretty sure she is going to claim this gun on her 21st birthday as her EDC gun. I will post updates as we work on the gun.

Vice · December 18 2016 09:35:01 AM MST

Sounds like a good gun, especially at that price. Even better after your mods. ${$default_smiley_smiley}$

PCFlorida · January 15 2017 06:53:18 AM MST

That is a gun I've always wanted and will get one of these days. There is just something about it. Sexy!

sqlbullet · January 16 2017 09:02:28 AM MST

As follow-up report:

I detail stripped the gun and went after all the flaws and imperfections with some sand paper, starting with about 120 grit and ending at 400. Then I hit a wall trying to find the specified 120 grit AO to blast the gun with before cerakote. It went on the back burner for a week or two.

A range outing with desire to shoot this gun drove me to home depot where I got some Rustoleum header paint and just sprayed it black as a stop-gap.

It has had about 300 rounds of various whitebox ammo through it so far. It has been 100% reliable, and is great to shoot. I haven't sand-bagged it yet, but still easily minute of soda can out to 30 yards or so two handed.

In the spring I will get back on track to cerakote it, but very happy with the gun.

PCFlorida · January 16 2017 11:52:53 AM MST

Nice! Makes me want one all the more...maybe next month!

PCFlorida · August 28 2018 07:51:01 PM MDT

Well, 2.5 years later I have a Tisas Regent BR9 9mm Hi-Power Clone on the way to my FFL. Cost was $440 with shipping. They are getting good reviews overall, I'm stoked. Will likely replace some parts with some aftermarket parts. I will let you know this weekend how good it shoots.

sqlbullet · August 29 2018 01:47:45 PM MDT

Anxious to hear.

After a complete tear down, sand blast, parkerize and cerakote + some new grips and springs, my oldest daughter commandeered this gun as her 21st birthday handgun. So, I am in the hunt for another hi-power or clone to fill that spot in my collection.

The Tisas looks like a gun as good as any Hi-Power:

https://bhspringsolutions.com/content/43-critical-review-of-the-tisas-regent-br9-hp-hi-power

Sonny10MM · August 29 2018 02:17:46 PM MDT

I have a Stainless Regent Hi-Power on it's way to my Dealer. Should be here Friday. Should bring back some old fond memories to me. Even hammer bite. ${$default_laugh_smiley}$

PCFlorida · September 04 2018 05:11:21 PM MDT

Quote from: sqlbullet on August 29 2018 01:47:45 PM MDT
Anxious to hear.

After a complete tear down, sand blast, parkerize and cerakote + some new grips and springs, my oldest daughter commandeered this gun as her 21st birthday handgun. So, I am in the hunt for another hi-power or clone to fill that spot in my collection.

The Tisas looks like a gun as good as any Hi-Power:

https://bhspringsolutions.com/content/43-critical-review-of-the-tisas-regent-br9-hp-hi-power

I shot the snot out of that Tisas this weekend and all it did was ask for more. The trigger is rough and heavy and the mag safety has to go. But it is reliable as can be. It will be a nice gun.

PCFlorida · September 06 2018 07:10:33 PM MDT

Quote from: PCFlorida on September 04 2018 05:11:21 PM MDT
Quote from: sqlbullet on August 29 2018 01:47:45 PM MDT
Anxious to hear.

After a complete tear down, sand blast, parkerize and cerakote + some new grips and springs, my oldest daughter commandeered this gun as her 21st birthday handgun. So, I am in the hunt for another hi-power or clone to fill that spot in my collection.

The Tisas looks like a gun as good as any Hi-Power:

https://bhspringsolutions.com/content/43-critical-review-of-the-tisas-regent-br9-hp-hi-power

I shot the snot out of that Tisas this weekend and all it did was ask for more. The trigger is rough and heavy and the mag safety has to go. But it is reliable as can be. It will be a nice gun.

Went a little crazy on Numrich arms last night and bought a number of roll pins, springs and an extractor. Fun will be had.