Mauser 90DA Hi-Power 9mm

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HOUSTON RICK

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I have long wanted an inexpensive shooter Hi-Power, but I am not familiar with the Mauser variant. They are being sold online for $429.95 advertised to be in good to very good condition. This seems inexpensive, so does anyone know if the Mausers are "real quality (for shooting purposes)" Hi-Powers? They look like Browning Hi-Powers. I am not concerned with appreciation or a specific type of action, only having a long functioning accurate firearm. Thank you in advance.
 
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Didn't realize Mauser made a clone of the Hi Power, but at that price, I'd be all over it since the prices on the real deal have sky rocketed! Looks like it would be a great shooter for a decent price. All parts should be interchangeable. :cool:

Who's selling them??
 
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I have not owned or shot one, so this is info only, not first-hand experience.

These guns, labeled Mauser 80SA, are Hi-Power clones made by FEG of Hungary and branded by Mauser for import to Germany and then export, in the 1980s. They ended up in a lot of places, such as Israel and South Africa. Many were then imported to the US by Century Arms.

Later, they also added a DA version in two sizes that sold quite well.

From what I’ve read, quality is generally good for shooter purposes and reliability comparable to original utility HP’s.
 
The Mausers are, indeed, FEG manufactured. And the FEGs were decent shooters. (I had two or three, I lost count. I now have two Brownings.)

But, you need to check the right side of the gun to insure it has the oval cross bolt. It will be just above the trigger and is very distinctive.

If it's there then it is a copy of the original Browning HP and in some cases parts can be swapped.

If it isn't there, then you have an FEG HP-looking gun on the outside but a copy of the S&W model 59 on the inside. The firing mechanisms are completely different.

If you look on Amazon for "Decoding the FÉG Hi-Power: Jerry Paregien" you will find a complete explanation of all the different variations of the FEG "HP" and there are a bunch of them. For anyone serious about an FEG I'd say it's a must read.

Bottom line: if you want an FEG/Mauser HP clone make sure the cross bolt is visible. If you want a HP-looking gun get one without the crossbolt.

These used to be cheap but I've noticed prices have risen a bunch. If you want a HP like gun, but better, you might look for a CZ75 in your price range.
I've got a 75B in SA and it's very nice. Thicker than an HP as it's a double stack, but it feels almost as good.
 
redcoat's spot-on about looking for the oval crossbolt. It can be hard to see, but you can tell if you know to look for it.

FEG made a lot of "other brand" HP's, including Mauser, Charles Daly, and Kareen. The rollmarks for the maker might be different, as is the finish; but the rolled serials are straight FEG.
They used the Mauser name for recognition, similar to the way Armscor used the High Standard name for a milspec 1911 awhile back.

IMO, FEGs are nicely made guns.
 
I had a FEG/Mauser P90DA. Never really warmed to it, the only 10rd magazines I could find for it were Promags (all 4 that I bought actually WORKED! :eek:) The SA trigger was kind of heavy. I wound up selling it.

It was a VERY nice looking gun. That was the reason I bought it. The finish was drop dead pretty.
 
The FEG 90 is not a High Power copy but is a double action gun that closer to the S&W 59. Mauser was just the distributor of the FEG 80 ( the HP clone ) and 90. They are decent guns and shoot well.
 
What Andyd said. Those have been hyped for years as some kind of High Power clone, but double action. They are not. The High Power connection is just marketing. They may be good guns, but nothing about them is a High Power, other than a vague similarity in appearance...
 
Rock185 said:
What Andyd said. Those have been hyped for years as some kind of High Power clone, but double action. They are not. The High Power connection is just marketing. They may be good guns, but nothing about them is a High Power, other than a vague similarity in appearance...
Click to expand...

That makes it a no go. Thank you.
 
Andyd said:
The FEG 90 is not a High Power copy but is a double action gun that closer to the S&W 59. Mauser was just the distributor of the FEG 80 ( the HP clone ) and 90. They are decent guns and shoot well.
Click to expand...

Houston Rick,

The Mauser 90 is a DA hybrid. The Mauser 80 is a true HiPower clone.

Kevin
 
The fact that it is DA is a dead giveaway. True Hi-power clones are all SA.
I looked at an online photo of a Mauser 90DA and it is just like the DA FEG. No oval cross bolt, and the top of the trigger guard opening is lower on the frame than the dust cover. Just like the S&W M59. On true Hi-powers and clones the top of the trigger guard opening is in line with the bottom of the dust cover.
 
It sounds like the consensus is that a Mauser 90DA is my FEG P9R with a different name on it. That matches my vague recollection of the Mauser. There is no reason to connect them to the S&W Model 59 unless that's the only way to make it clear that they are traditional double actions. Their only similarity to Browning single actions is the cosmetic styling of the front of the slide.

If you want a nicely blued but inexpensive all steel DA/SA 9 mm then they are worth considering. My P9R shoots small 25 yard groups to point of aim and is reliable. Objectively its biggest draw back is that its first shot double action is heavy and gritty. However, as a practical matter its biggest draw back is that the model has zero prestige. I can live with both in a pistol that was $250 new.

I sold my FEG single action "High Power" only because its hammer spur chewed meat off the web of my hand. In contrast the P9R double action is comfortable to shoot.
 
Everybody is generally correct; just to clarify one more time, here is what happened:

Starting in the 1970s, FEG, then still a state-run operation, built a single-action Hi-Power clone, called the P9. This was exported to the West and, among others, sold through Mauser as the Mauser 80SA.

In 1980, FEG decided to add a double-action version to the line, the P9R. This gun combined the cosmetic appearance of the Hi-Power (top and front end) with an action generally described as similar to the S&W 59 (rear and grip frame).

Mauser marketed this as the Mauser 90DA, and that's the gun the OP originally asked about.

The differences between the two are blatantly obvious; see attached comparison.
 

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k22fan said:
It sounds like the consensus is that a Mauser 90DA is my FEG P9R with a different name on it. That matches my vague recollection of the Mauser. There is no reason to connect them to the S&W Model 59 unless that's the only way to make it clear that they are traditional double actions.
Click to expand...
It seems to me that there are more things to "connect" the two models than just that they are both SA.
Both are 9mm double-stack
Both are SA/DA
Both have a slide-mounted decocker
Both have the same placement of the trigger guard opening relative to the bottom of the frame - as illustrated in the comparison photos below.

The P9R was introduced several years after the M59 and was obviously influenced by the design of the M59.
 

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Just wanted to interrupt to say “l love Hi-Powers”.
Now back to the fascinating exchange of information and ideas.
Thank you.
 
k22fan said:
There is no reason to connect them to the S&W Model 59 unless that's the only way to make it clear that they are traditional double actions....
Click to expand...

BC38 said:
...
The P9R was introduced several years after the M59 and was obviously influenced by the design of the M59.
Click to expand...

Even the Hungarians are describing the P9R as a derivative of the M59.

So I think making the comparison is a pretty safe bet.
 
I love the Hi-Power. Its my favorite 9mm pistol. :D
I have three variations of it.

LfK5okz.jpg


Browning MK III
FEG PKJ-9HP
FM Argentine Detective Model

Since they were discontinued, prices on Browning and FN Hi-Powers have taken a sharp jump. If you can find one, it will likely be $1000+ at least. :eek:
However, I can tell you from experience that both the FEG and FM clones are excellent pistols. Both are licensed by FN to produce the pistols and they are faithful copies. Maybe not as pretty as FN or Browning, but they shoot great. AND they can still be found at very reasonable prices. ;)
 
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