Springfield SA-35 Update

[Rodfac]

Just an update on my Springfield SA-35 which I picked up in mid-September.

Of the three BHP's I current own (two Brownings in 9mm and .40 S&W, plus the new SA-35), the Springfield is the most accurate. Groups shot with both American Eagle 124 gr FMJ as well as my better handloads running an inch or less at 10 yds. Like all BHP's, it fits my hands to perfection...a trait that's conducive to better grouping IMHO.

The trigger, good right out of the box, has improved, exhibiting a smooth/small bit of take up, then a clean break. With no gage, I'd estimate it at ~4 lbs. It's as good now, as several of my tuned 1911's....

Lastly, it's been 100% reliable...100%....every round, to date (over 1000) now, has fed, fired and ejected without a bobble. That includes a variety of handloaded JHPs (Montana Bullet Co., Remington bulk, & Speer Gold Dots), lead alloy tapered cones and LSWC's, as well as the usual FMJs. Of all the autos in my use, over the years, I can't remember a better record. In addition to the supplied 15-rounder, I bought two Mec Gar 15-rounders, all of which, though stiff with newness at full capacity, worked just fine.

The flat black finish is holding up to daily carry in several leather holsters with no complaints from shooter nor gun, too.

Complaints: None. If I were setting it up as a custom gun, I'd maybe choose an adjustable rear sight, but only if I could retain the height and dot type of the current front. The rear, a shelf type fixed which theoretically allows a one handed slide rack, is just right for my eyes, and allowed for an easy windage adjustment early on. With its set screw retainer, and 'just snug enough' dove tail, I had no problems zeroing my handloads. Out of the box, with American Eagle 124 gr FMJs, it was less than an inch off at 10 yds when shot with my usual Weaver stance. Impact point was dead on the top of the front sight post.

Those of you who have one, chime in...I'd be interested in comparing notes. Serial number on mine was in the 28,000 range, BTW. Stocks are Hogues, BTW.

Here's the obligatory pic....best regards, Rod

​

 

[Coyote3855]

I have about 250 rounds through mine with no blips. Trigger gauges at 3.5 pounds. I like your grips.

 

[entropy]

You just had to do that.... giving a glowing review. They have one in the case at the LGS, and I have resisted the urge to handle it. Then you go crowing about how accurate and reliable it is, even moreso than the Brownings.
My dad had a Luftwaffe issue Hi Power for a while, and it was very accurate, (It took a CZ Shadow with a trigger job to beat it) felt good in the hands, and generally became a " sometime in the future" gun after Dad sold it.
Now you have my mind in analysis paralysis trying to keep me from buying one, and I get this feeling in the end I'll break down and get one.

 

[theotherwaldo]

I'd been wondering what to buy myself for my birthday... .

 

[Charlie98]

A BHP of any flavor has been high on the To Get list for some time. I was waiting for SA to work the kinks out of the SA-35 before getting too excited about it... thanks for the review. Just so happens, I was at the LGS last week... and by golly, they had a new SA-35 setting right there, first one I've actually seen in the wild. Fit and finish was very nice. I'll agree with you, Rod, about how it fits my hand. I'm a 1911 guy, and double-stack 9mm's never really did fit my hand well... except the HiPower.

Also just so happens I have some extra cash in the safe... and my birthday is coming up, too...

 

[Rock185]

I've had my SA-35, early 5K serial number, for a year and a half now, with a thousand or so factory rounds through it. I haven't tried reloads, but have used 9 different factory loads, to include RN ball, FP ball and JHPs. I've used the factory SA magazine, FN and MecGar magazines; all just work. I'm getting tired of waiting for the dreaded problems to appear with my reportedly Turkish/sub standard/out of spec clone pistol

 

[Rodfac]

I got this one at KY Gun Co. in Louisville, KY...it was one of five (5) that they had in stock!! I looked them all over and this one a had slight advantage in trigger pull and take up...but just marginally so. I could have been equally satisfied with any of the others. That tells me something about Springfield's QC, though admittedly, a sampling of five is not definitive.

BTW, KY GC would not move a nickel on the price and there was no Blue, First Responder etc. discount either. My cost was $739 + tax. Seven years ago, I paid right at $935 + Tax & Shipping through GB for an almost NIB Browning Practical, a two-tone BHP 9mm and this SA-35 is a better gun for fit, finish and accuracy.

I haven't seen another review in awhile now but they're out there. As I said, mine is a 28,000+ serial number gun. From that and the other four that I examined over an hour's time, I'm inclined to think Springfield has ironed out any early production anomalies...who knows? There might be some add'l info in the "Similar Threads" suggestions that follow current threads.....Ck out Rio's....his SN was ~15,000 IIRC.

The stocks on all five of the ones I examined, were uniformly good, but plain, checkered walnut and were a bit thicker than factories on my Browning HP's I think, hence the change out....that and I'm a sucker for stocks with a bit of color to them.

Here's another pic, with a Bianchi Avenger high rise, OWB holster for it, with another set of Hogues that I pulled off my Practical BHP just to see how they'd look with the flat parkerized type finish. I've made up my version of that type holster, finished in black that I like as well. Both ride high on the waist belt, about as high as I can get away with without compromising the draw movement when using a cover garment. The Avenger type with that aft positioned belt slot, really pulls the gun's grip in close to the body helping to eliminate 'printing'.

The rounds in the pic, are some of my handloads using Missouri bullet Co's excellent conical and LSWC `124 gr bullet. Both of these will do an inch at 10 yds if I'm having a good hands/eyes day from my customary thumbs up Weaver Stance. Best regards, Rod

​

 

[Rodfac]

I'll agree with you, Rod, about how it fits my hand. I'm a 1911 guy, and double-stack 9mm's never really did fit my hand well... except the HiPower.

Yep, same for me Charlie, any Hi Power fits me to a "T". I carried one for a tour in Vietnam, 1970 and really liked it for its feel in the hand. I liked the HP better than my 1911's for its 'feel', but never had a HP that could stay with my tuned .45 1911's for accuracy. This SA-35, is doing it from unsupported, field positions and may do it from a sand bag rest as well. I'll have to check that out later as I refine my loads for it.

In experimenting with this one, and cycling back to my other two BHP's in 9mm and .40, I've found that though the grip is absolutely the best feel of any handgun for me, I do have to concentrate on a uniform finger tension....especially the pinky!

I've never had vertical mini-flyers with my .45, .38 Super & 9mm 1911's whatsoever, but all three of my Hi Powers do need that extra pinky support or I'll throw an occasional shot out the top during the string. It's not by much however, only a 1/2" or so at 10 yds offhand, but it's there; and I've noticed it with all three of my current HP's.

To clarify, I'm a modified, Weaver Stance, thumbs up shooter, resting the strong hand thumb on the the HP & 1911's safety. I do likewise with all of my autos: Sigs, and a pair of Glocks as well. Too, I grip moderately hard with both hands, including the thumbs (left over right which rides the safety).

I've never noticed the weak 'pinkie' effect on my shooting before...and that spans ~1966 to the present, so it may be something else entirely...visual acuity immediately comes to mind as another source for the problem (77 yo now)....and one that I'll check for over the next few range sessions. My glasses are ground for a front sight focal length as a rule, which has served me well as a commercial heavy jet pilot...it's the same length as the instrument panel in the cockpit....and which has happily given me a crystal clear front sight post as I've aged.

All of the above are just some add'l thoughts from today's session...the gun continues to improve with use, trigger and accuracy incrementally, but both were great right out of the box to start with.

Best regards, Rod

 

[Riomouse911]

Very good write up @Rodfac! Glad to see that I am not the only one who is very happy with his SA-35.

Out of the box mine had a 4 lb 6oz trigger. I haven’t measured it in months, but I have put at least 2k through it and the trigger does feel better every use. (Maybe it’s an unconscious bias, who knows?)



I also bought aftermarket mags, 13 round nickel-plated and 15 round blued Mec Gars. All have been flawless.

The wood grip is sort of plain but the fit really is nice; it’s like they took my hand and made them for me.

The only negative is my personal grip. I started shooting this gun with a grip where my shooting hand thumb can press on the safety. As I shot, it started moving the lever up enough to actually affect the trigger pull. So, for this gun alone I have slightly altered my grip to avoid this issue. (Doesn’t affect me with my 1911’s, the only other pistols I have with thumb safeties.)

Yes, this thing is accurate! It holds its own with other 9mm target pistols I own with any of the ammo I have shot through it so far. (Sorry about the “Olen Mills” filter, I had smudged the lens and didn’t realize it .)



For those looking to buy one, I will say go for it. There are a lot of 9mm handguns I like shooting, this is one of the select few that I really do love shooting.

Stay safe.

 

[halfmoonclip]

"...and double-stack 9mm's never really did fit my hand well... except the HiPower."

This. My first double stack, a Smith 59, felt like a 2x4 by comparison. HiPos feel just great.
BTW, there must have been a glitch, early on, because the Springers dried up. My local shop got me one, early, and I paid for the privilege. It seems to have been resolved, because I've been seeing the Springers, as well as the Tisas.
Moon
BTW, mine continues to leech a brown substance from around the barrel bushing; it cleans up with Hoppes.
M

 

[Rodfac]

Rio, that's a hellofa target you posted....the epitome of one ragged hole...that's one paper silhouette that's not laughing any more!

That said, I bought a cpl extra Mec Gar mags for my SA-35 that run like a pony trotting with the full 15 round load up.

Rod.....BTW, Great write-up on that potential kaboom in your other thread.

 

[halfmoonclip]

That said, I bought a cpl extra Mec Gar mags for my SA-35 that run like a pony trotting with the full 15 round load up.

Hate to raise the issue, I took a pummeling on the 15 round mags, "....not the mag that was designed for the gun..."
My 15 rounders have run just fine, and I've no end of confidence in MecGar magazines.
Enjoy your pistol; it's a honey.
Moon

 

[Charlie98]

Picked up my SA-35 today! $750 plus the government fees. Kind of disappointed a $700 pistol doesn't come with 2 mags, but I guess I'll get over it. This was the same one I looked at a week or two ago... nice pistol, decent fit and finish. 23K SN range.

Imma swing by the shooting range this week and give it a test drive. Trigger is pretty heavy, and it has a little creepy spot on it, right at the beginning of the trigger pull... but hopefully that will work itself out.

When I had my old Browning HiPower, I also bought 8 extra magazines for it, and 2 of the Bianchi quad mag carriers for them. When I gave my HiPower to my buddy (long story...) I also gave him all of the magazines. When the SA-35 came out, I suspected I would wind up with one, or maybe if I could find a decently priced (true) Belgian HiPower... and I axed him for half of the magazines back, which he was happy to do... so at least I have 5 magazines going forward. I bought those so long ago, I forget what they are. 2 are not marked, and have no witness holes, 2 are marked Italy and have holes on the spine... all 13rds. If memory serves, they all worked fine, but I have them loaded up and ready to go... so we will see soon enough.

So, at the end of the day, Rod and Rio have to split the Enabler Points between them...

 

[Charlie98]

Range update...

Took the new 35 to the range this evening. Not overwhelmed with the accuracy... but I was shooting 147grn plated bullets, and a mish-mash of JHP handloads. I was also getting used to the trigger... I realized I was booger hooking the trigger, once I used the pad of my finger... things improved a bit. A few misfeeds... but that was from the mystery meat magazines, not the fault of the pistol.

Overall I'm quite pleased with it. It's obviously a tight pistol, and it runs well. We will have to work on the accuracy a bit, however.

 

[thunderbyrd]

about 200-250 through mine, no malfunction of any kind.

 

[bannockburn]

Rodfac

Here's another pic, with a Bianchi Avenger high rise, OWB holster for it, with another set of Hogues that I pulled off my Practical BHP just to see how they'd look with the flat parkerized type finish. I've made up my version of that type holster, finished in black that I like as well. Both ride high on the waist belt, about as high as I can get away with without compromising the draw movement when using a cover garment. The Avenger type with that aft positioned belt slot, really pulls the gun's grip in close to the body helping to eliminate 'printing'.

I'm another big fan of Hogue grips on a Hi-Power and the Bianchi Askin's Avenger holster (seen here with my Colt .38 Super Commander).

 

[Charlie98]

I'm another big fan of Hogue grips on a Hi-Power

I can see where those might be a plus. One thing I noticed about the grips... where pressed wood checkering is usually pretty worthless, the checkering on the SA is quite pronounced... you definitely get a firm grip on reality. They also fill you hand a little differently... and I noticed after the range yesterday, I have a few tender spots on my hand... my thumb, my web, and, for some reason, my pinky... from the rough checkering. The uncheckered thumb flat on those Hogues might be the hot ticket.

 

[Rodfac]

Charlie....The Hogue grips are a bit thinner than the issue ones on the SA-35 that I have....the factory ones feel like my Sig P229 and P226 as far as width goes...just a bit too fat for me. The Hogues are slimmer; closer to a 1911 feel which I really like.

We all have different hands, finger lengths, musculature, etc., which makes for different likes/dislikes. I have arthritis in both my strong hand thumb as well as my support; which has necessitated small changes in how I hold the gun....

Hope yours works out as well as mine....mine, a 28xxx serial number likes 124/125 grain bullets by a small margin over 115's & I haven't shot anything heavier. I was surprised to find that it shoots smaller groups with cast lead SWC's than any jacketed bullet yet tried...but again, only by a small margin...

Looking fwd to your range results......Best regards, Rod

 

[Rodfac]

My 15 rounders have run just fine, and I've no end of confidence in MecGar magazines.

My experience as well....my ancient BHP 13 rounders work equally well, tho some are a bit sticky in the mag well...as they are on my Browning Practical too. Probably dropped once too often in drills, me thinks. I do wish Springfield had supplied a 2nd mag with the gun...but as it is, the current price for a 100% functional and superbly accurate Hi Power is not out of line.

Range and carry work (well it's not really work), continues, shooting mostly my own reloads. As noted before, this gun has taken a decided preference for LSWC's by Missouri Bullet Co., the 125 gr ones. Groups run on average just over an inch at 10 yds from an unsupported position. I've not tried this gun from sandbags yet but have an idea it'll perform even better. I've run Gold Dots, XTP's, and Montana Gold's 125 JHPs though it, at speed and found it 100% reliable as well.

The trigger, good as it came out of the box, continues to improve with something over 1200 rounds through it now. And functioning is truly amazing, it's just malfunction proof so far. I've been carrying it here on the farm as well as into town over the last two months, in that Bianchi Askins Avenger pic'd above, as well as one that I made up with a slightly higher position on the belt.

The draw movement is excellent from that rig, and the location of the rear belt slot really pulls the gun in close to the body. I've used the same holster with a Sig 1911 RCS (an Officer's Model grip length with a 4" bbl.), and it fits equally well, albeit with the muzzle somewhat farther from the holster mouth.

For those of you looking for a really good CC OWB holster, that works well with 1911's as well as the HP, that Avenger is a really nice rig. For a big, duty size gun, it rides high on the belt, and conceals easily beneath a shirt tail, with no telltale printing. Bianchi no longer makes one, but Galco and El Paso Saddlery offer them.

That's about it; pic of the SA-35 with the back side of the Avenger holster showing the belt slot positioning & the snap for the removable retainer strap (not needed with this holster nor the one I made up). .......Best Regards, Rod

​

 

[JohnB-40]

Rod and Rio have to split the Enabler Points between them..

I blamed them when explaining why I did it to my wife after I ordered my SA-35 this week

 

[Tallball]

Nice write-up. TYV!

 

[Ed4032]

I blamed them when explaining why I did it to my wife after I ordered my SA-35 this week

Let me know if that works. I need to find new excuses for just the guns that I need….

 

[Charlie98]

I got my High Noon Slide Guard in last week... for the HiPower. I've pretty much flat worn out my belt, so I ordered one of those too... High Noon's come pretty frikkin' tight, and this one is lined. I made the mistake when I ordered my first 1911 holster from them, and got it unlined. BIG mistake. I sold it to a friend, and ordered a lined one... but they are both very tight out of the package.

I really, really like the Slide Guard... and High Noon's quality is top notch.

Holster on the right is the unlined one, with the rough leather inside, and the stainless finish, I fairly had to give meself a wedgie drawing it.

 

[Rodfac]

Good lookin' leather for your pistola, Charlie (Dennis); and I whole heartedly agree on lined holsters. The smooth type, pigskin is what I use, allows for a smooth draw and with no leather duff stuck to the front sight.....

I've had mixed results with the slide guard type however, in my use. I spent some time with one several years ago but found that I couldn't get a solid 'firing grip' on the gun while it was still fully in the holster...I surely did like the smooooooth feel of the rig when on the belt. No rib dig whatsoever. But I found that upper extension which protects the slide/hammer et. al., interferes with my strong hand thumb during the presentation. The holster was a Yaqui Slide type that I otherwise liked for it's minimal contact with the gun....but at the same time, for farm use and general carry in woods/fields, it just allowed too much crap to get into the works.

The Bianchi Avenger, I pic'd earlier is my favorite for the ease of griping and it's ride position on the belt. I measured today and found that the gun/holster extends only 2-1/2" below the gun belt (my extra thick 1-1/2" pants belt that I use universally for all carry). The position of the holster's belt slots is so good, critical I think, that the gun rides extremely well; high, but not top-heavy if you get my meaning. Both my home made rendition and the original Bianchi Avenger have been in use for about 5 yea yrs now...a lot of use, not daily but several times a week, and are still stiff enough/tight enough not to need the supplied 'keeper' strap.

Your first pic, with the Hi Power sheathed, looks very similar with regard to how high it places the gun in relation to the gun belt. And also looks like first rate construction.

I've made up 8-10 gun belts over the years, most were lined too which stiffens them a lot. Stiff is good as well all know!! But they're a royal PITA to make as I do all hand stitching and there's a billion stitches in a size 36 gun belt. I have them for my personal use in black, natural tan and a deep russet saddle tan...and use them even when were headed out to a coat & tie affair if I'm going heeled.

Best regards, and thanx for the post and pics....Rod

 

[Charlie98]

The Bianchi Avenger, I pic'd earlier is my favorite for the ease of griping and it's ride position on the belt.

That's one of the things I really like about the High Noon... is how high it rides on the belt. The holster for the Kahr rides very high... which is great; the larger... and more top-heavy... pistols, understandably, have to ride a little lower.

I would agree... getting a handle on a pistol for draw can be a little tricky. This is one of the reasons I gave up on carrying the smaller Kahr CM9... I was not able to draw and present in any predictable fashion, it was simply too difficult to get a positive hold on the pistol from the holster, which is why I only carry the larger CW9, now, unless I just have to. Another aspect of the 'slide guard' part is shielding the thumb safety on the larger pistols (the Kahr doesn't have one.) My previous carry piece, a Colt's Government .380, in a Galco IWB holster... there were days I would get home and find the safety knocked off. Not cool. The locked safety position is molded into the Slide Guard holster, helping it to remain locked.