Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Handguns Springfield armory SA 35

Anyone know if Springfield Armory has fixed the problems that they had with the early SA 35? (Hi-Power copy)

Thanks for any feedback!

Virgil B.

I would assume so. Been a while.

What problems? I have an early one that had been flawless.....

There was a high rate of issues. Not everyone, but more than should be.

The problems were with the first ones, I think the serial numbers up to about 7500 had soft extractors and some rough machining in the slot for the extractors. They'd work for about 800 rounds, then have issues. After SA cleaned up their machining and heat-treated the extractors better, the issues went away. The current pistols aren't having any problems that I know of.

I went another direction, and bought a Girsan MCP-35Match, the ones with a beavertail, straight trigger(rather have the curved trigger, though), no mag safety, and adjustable sights. They have some issues, too, but nothing Lok-Tite can't fix.
Rumor has it that the frames and slides are forged in Turkey, by Tisas, which makes sense, really, since the Tisas Hi Power clones disappeared from the market when SA introduced the SA-35. The Regent Hi Powers (Tisas' other name brand) went away. Dunno if the rumor is true or not, but there aren't any more Regents in sales cases, and they were just coming into their own when they went away.

I have the same Girsan and am very pleased with it. I tore it down and did a bit of cleanup, trigger work and throat polish. Dead reliable and pretty accurate. A lot of gun for $600.

Who in da fugk still wants a Hi-Power?

One of the few times I agree with you.

My only interest in them is as a collector. They are things of beauty, historically interesting, reliable, and great shooters. There are better choices for concealed carry, though. There's a reason I carry a Glock 26 rather than my Browning Hi Power.

I grew up shooting single action handguns, revolvers and autos.

The Hi-Power just feels good in my hands.

Going to go check out the Springfield this AM.

Thanks! Virgil B.

Why not? Guys buy a half dozen Glocks, they're all the same. They look the same, feel the same and do the same things. Something different is good for the soul once in a while.

Me, but I'd like Browning stamped on the slide.

I handled a Browning at the shop that has the Springfield Armory Hi-Power.

The Springer has a way better trigger, and better(thinner) grips, plus the Springer is WAY more affordable.

Just my personal opinion. I'm a shooter, not a collector. Virgil B.

I have a Made In Belgium Assembled in Portugal MK III. Unfired thus far.

That was my first Hi Power. I bought it in southern Florida back in the late 1980s. Identical.

Mine shoots pretty well, too, about like yours. My front sight likes to walk around it's dovetail (hence the Lok-Tite comment), but otherwise, it's a pretty good pistol, probably better than the Browning "Practical" I had awhile back. This Girsan of mine is the fifth P-35 type pistol I've owned, the best one has been a MkII, from about 1989 or so, with a parkerized finish and smallish sights. I did a lot of work to it, and it was almost exactly like what Springfield's pistol came out with. THAT was a real pistol, but like all P-35s, it rattled itself to death after many years of hard use. This Girsan won't see that kind of use, I carried the MkII a lot, and used it at IPSC matches, and just shot it for fun, with some stout loads, mostly. It got a lot of abuse.

Well the Springfield Armory Hi-Power followed me home yesterday.

Was surprised the background was approved (in Oregon) quick enough for me to take it home.

It just feels "right" in my hands. Ran a quick 13 rounds through it for function test. 100% so far!

I'm thinking I "need" some night sights for it.

Any recommendations? Thanks!

P.S. I've got a Glock 19 and Sig P-365 for carry guns, but this will make another good option.

Virgil B.

STFU, retard.

OK.

So find an old Hi-Power.

My new Springfield Armory Hi-Power is number 23XXX so it should be way after the problematic early ones.

I'll report back IF I have any problems.

Virgil B.

13 rounds and you "think" it needs night sights?

My two other carry guns have night sights, and I'm rather fond of them.

Sure is nice to see where my Pistol is when I reach for it in the night, let alone being able to point it in the right direction.

Was thinking this before I ever fired it. 13 rounds has nothing to do with it.

Virgil B.

Just came across this thread. I bought a SA-35 a few months back and put 300 to 400 rounds through it. I could not get decent groups at 25 yards. I'm not expecting x-ring groups, but it would be nice if it would hold the black at 25. It won't. I sent it back. I got it back a few days ago, and the SA customer service couldn't have been better. It still won't shoot satisfactory groups. They included a target that looked good until I read that it was shot at 11 yards using ammo that retails at over a dollar a round.

I bought Ransom rest adaptors and am going to try that before I send it back again. Unless all the gun writers are lieing about those 2" groups, there must be some of them that shoot well.

Do any of you have one that does?

There are some serious Hi Power enthusiasts over here, you might check with them, but overall, they usually send theirs to get a new crown cut, or a new barrel, sometimes.

https://www.1911forum.com/forums/browning-hi-power.15/

Don't feel bad, I've got one of the gussied up Girsan MCP-35 Match pistols, and it's sure not well-named, it's mediocre at best.

Thanks Ratsmacker. Those guys are really serious about where their empties hit the ground and where the trigger resets and other things that are a bit too aesthetic for me. I want it to shoot small groups, and so far it hasn't.

I was surprised to see Brian Pearce review one in the latest issue of Handloader. I have to wonder if it took them this long to provide him one that would group.

What have you heard about the match barrels from Cylinder and Slide?

C&S has always done quality work, period. I knew Bill Laughridge 35 years ago, and he did some work for me on the best HP I ever had. He sure knew his stuff. I hope his retirement is going well. Some of his employees took over and are doing the same quality work Bill himself put out, so if they're selling barrels, they're probably top-notch quality.
There's another outfit BHP Solutions, or something similar, that are also the "guys in the know" these days. They've done a bunch of videos on youtube the past few years, and sell all manner of things, barrels, spring kits, and do the fitting, too. I'd check out both outfits, and see which fits your budget best. Also, Barsto makes Hi Power barrels, along with several others.

Thanks for the tip! I'll check it out.

Buy some of this stuff. If it won’t shoot this then it’s the barrel. They are getting 1 1/2 groups at 50yds out of a Glock 17.

https://atlantaarms.com/products/elite-9mm-124gr-jhp.html

If I recall correctly problems showed up after several hundred rounds were fired through pistols, therefore, you have at least 987 rounds to go. Ameriglo makes best sites of this type, but I am not sure they are available for model being discussed.

Why on earth should it take any rounds at all to want night sights? Either you want them or you don't.

FreeMe;

Exactly! I knew I wanted night sights before I ever bought this pistol.
I like them on ALL of my semi auto handguns.

Virgil B.

Dla can be almost as funny as Jason/slavek sometimes.