roval
Member
i saw an email from grab a gun. for those wanting an SA 35 for $699 your day has come. don't know how much they have in stock though and of course it is not like getting one from the lgs where you can examine it.
I need another HP like I need another hole in my head. But it is tempting!
Had one of those 'itinerary' models, made in Belgium, finished in Portugal, etc.
The cost explanation is relatively cheap Turkish labor; whatever smoke Springfield may be blowing, the SA35 is, to some degree, a Turk. Not that there is anything wrong with that; Filipino, Brazilian or Chinese 1911s were generally good stuff.
I've a Turk 1911 and the Springer HiPo; both are nicely made and fitted.
As regards FN regretting losing the HiPo; they were struggling, both with worn tooling, and skilled manpower. Had one of those 'itinerary' models, made in Belgium, finished in Portugal, etc.
Can't say that reports of their replacement model have been overwhelming.
There have been some Tisas-marked HiPos marketed in the $400 range.
Moon
Mk III models for the European market were stamped only with "Made in Belgium" - they were still assembled in Portugal, but FN didn't bother to acknowledge that... Same with the majority of Browning shotguns - only the ones that were fully made in Portugal (not only assembled there) are marked accordingly.This is when they bought the plant in Viana they were not marked that way until the MKIII.
It holds only 13 rounds in times when people demand at least 15. For a sub-compact... Hi Power has a short magazine/grip, that is designed from the start to hold 13 rounds - make it a 15 rounder in that configuration and you are asking for troubles in a long run. You want more cartridges, like 17? Sure you can have it, but you can't use the old magazines because of the taller grip.It's a puzzlement that FN didn't at least make their new pistols share a common magazine with the originals.
Actually, the MecGar magazines, supplied with the Springer SA-35, hold 15 rounds. The older, 13 round mags, fit and function too.It holds only 13 rounds in times when people demand at least 15.
It is a labor intensive design and FN never put any money into modernizing the process. Also it would not make sense to design a modern full sized gun with a capacity of 15 rounds. I believe they leverage design techniques and tech from other current guns, My issue with the new one it is just too big. I like original design better. Also there is no reason not to shoot the nickeled one.The HiPo is a mystery; it doesn't seem that it should be that hard to make, in just the way 1911s are made here, there, and everywhere.
In any case, pretty darned happy with my Springer; I've a nickeled, Belgian HiPo that I like better, but really shouldn't shoot it too much.
It's a puzzlement that FN didn't at least make their new pistols share a common magazine with the originals.
Moon
Actually, the MecGar magazines, supplied with the Springer SA-35, hold 15 rounds. The older, 13 round mags, fit and function too.
Now expanding it beyond 15 would indeed be challenging. Having been through the Clinton ban (some of my HiPo mags date from that period, paid $40+ for them), it's just nice not to have to deal with other mags...
Moon
Concur on the size of the traditional version; one of the few metal framed double stack autos that actually fits my (smallish) hands. The Smith 59s always felt like a 2x4. The new FNs are a bunch of money as well. The nickel versions aren't the Lincoln derringer, but they are uncommon enough that I'd rather beat up something else...like the Springer. That's why I have it.My issue with the new one it is just too big. I like original design better. Also there is no reason not to shoot the nickeled one.
I'll say it again - the magazine was designed to hold 13 rounds. Everything above that is a compromise, as WVsig pointed out. Yes, you can get a 15 rounder, yes, it works "almost flawlessly" for a range toy, but it was never meant to hold 15 rounds - it's just too short to function reliably in a long run. You want a reliable gun holding more cartridges? Get a longer magazine.Actually, the MecGar magazines, supplied with the Springer SA-35, hold 15 rounds. The older, 13 round mags, fit and function too.
Will take that under advisement, but I've quite a lot of confidence in the magmaking skill of the folks at MecGar. Also, the one pictured follower has studs, to avoid overcompression of the mag spring....there are no legs to steady the follower.The issue with the 15 rounders is that in order to get the additional 2 rounds in to the tube that had to remove the legs on the followers which prevent them from tipping. If you use the 15 rounders heavily as the spring the weaken the follower can tilt causing a missfeed.
The 15s are not as reliable as the 13s. The follower can and will tilt as the spring wears. You can choose to believe that you want but most high round count BHP shooters understand this. I have a lot of time behind a BHP. I know what I am talking about. Most shooters will never send enough rounds down the pipe to shoot a 15 rounder to failure but it does not mean hey do not fail as a result of the modification.Will take that under advisement, but I've quite a lot of confidence in the magmaking skill of the folks at MecGar. Also, the one pictured follower has studs, to avoid overcompression of the mag spring....there are no legs to steady the follower.
This seems much ado about nothing; have you ever looked at a 365 mag? Anyway, as noted, I'll keep it in mind. And any mag with a weakened spring can cause mischief.
Thanks,
Moon
The rollmark was used before the EU existed. The internet myth story is that it was a misunderstanding of US import labeling regulations and that place of final assembly had to be listed. Browning rollmarked Hi Powers destined for the US & North American market are roll marked "Assembled In Portugal". FN-branded Hi Powers are not marked "Assembled In Portugal" even though some were destined for the US market. Many FN rollmarked BHPs were manufactured for the non-North American market and were import by secondary sources. There are some exceptions but that is the general rule.Iv got 2 Girsan's, a standard model and a pi. Also got a mk 3. Love all three of them. The Turk guns run as well as the original.no issues with any of them. The pi is my main carry gun. It's my understanding that FN had to start putting made in Portugal after some laws were changed in the EU.
The 15s are not as reliable as the 13s. The follower can and will tilt as the spring wears. You can choose to believe that you want but most high round count BHP shooters understand this. I have a lot of time behind a BHP. I know what I am talking about. Most shooters will never send enough rounds down the pipe to shoot a 15 rounder to failure but it does not mean hey do not fail as a result of the modification.
If you take the mags apart it becomes clear that the designs with skirt and the legs sit higher and do not tilt. The first sign of the impending failure is the 15s will start to fail to lock the slide back when empty. This tells you the follower is not in its highest possible position. I treat 15 rounders a disposable wear items. Once they do this I change the spring and they are relegated to range mags. There is no doubt that Mecgar makes a good mag but in order to accomplish the goal they tampered with Saive's design.