Springfield SA-35 Update

[JTQ]

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.

I have a High Noon Slide Guard. It is a solid holster. However, if choosing again, for a 1911, or other single action auto, I'd choose the Topless ( https://highnoonholsters.com/leather-holsters/belt/extreme-duty/topless ). I want to get on the thumb safety while the gun is holstered. Not disengage it, just get on it when I acquire my grip for drawing the gun. I don't want to have to search for the thumb safety after I draw the gun, I want to find it with my initial grip. The Slide Guard prevents me from doing this.

The late Ed Head from Gunsite in this GunTalkTV on the draw stroke beginning at about the :40 mark.

 

[JTQ]

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.

I overlooked Rodfac's comment, which is the same experience I've had with very tall sweat shields like the Slide Guard. Shorter shields, like the sweat shield on the Milt Sparks Summer Special II, that end at the back of the slide are fine, as they end up being an index point where I can put my thumb and push off the top of the sweat shield and as the gun comes out of the holster, my thumb ends up directly on the thumb safety.

I can't do that with a taller sweat shield.

 

[brontodon]

I was happy to read such a positive review of the SA-35, which is one of the guns that I (a newbie to handguns) am considering. The initial reviews were very positive, but recently I've read some that were less glowing and complained about mechanical problems and imperfections in the finish. It sounds like Springfield may be improving them as production continues.

I have fairly large hands and I like heavy metal guns, so three of my top contenders are the SA-35, the Springfield 1911 Garrison, and some version of the Beretta 92. One problem is that I live in New Jersey, so if I get an SA-35, I can't take advantage of the 15-round magazine. Springfieild's web site actually says, about the SA-35, "this firearm is not legal in New Jersey."

One question: have any of you SA-35 shooters experienced hammer bite with the ring hammer?

 

[OS/N]

I have been hankering for a 35 but haven't got one yet. I just dropped 800$ on a Ruger six shooter the other day so won't be getting the SA-35 for awhile. Maybe next fall.

Nice to see good things about the 35. Am Rifleman had a good write up on it when they came out a year or so back talking about good groups and etc but it's good to hear from others with similar reports.

 

[Rodfac]

One question: have any of you SA-35 shooters experienced hammer bite with the ring hammer?

I've not had hammer bite from with the SA-35 nor eitehr of my two other Browning Hi Powers (a 9mm Practical two-tone, & a .40 S&W Standard). I grip as high as possible, and have size "L" hands, but others have noted that problem in the past. I'd also add that I grip my auto pistols with a modified 1911 grip, keeping both thumbs high with the strong hand thumb resting on the safety.

As to problems with the Springfield; early on there were some negative comments regarding extractor/ejector functioning or breakage, but I haven't seen any recently. My serial number is over 28,000, a late production gun and has had no problems. Best regards, Rod

 

[mec]

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

​

Goof review!
" maybe choose an adjustable rear sight "
No Me. Great on revolvers but I ve had several "high quality" ones fly aparfon 1911s That is the reason Tripp and Alex Hamilton came up with a rugged one with no internal springs

 

[Billy Shears]

Glad you got a good one. I have had two, neither of which has been able to be fixed to a degree that I would regard as acceptable. The first, which I thought my gunsmith had finally been able to fix, suffered from incurable extraction problems. As I say, just when I thought he was able to get it to run right, the extraction problems came back. I ended up sending it back to SA for an under-warranty replacement.

The replacement had the same extraction problems.

I sent it back to SA, and they returned it, apparently fixed. I fired close a thousand rounds through it with no problems. Thinking the problem was cured, I gave it back to my gunsmith to get the frame stippled, and have a gold bead front sight put on, and at length he contacted me to say that he was reluctant to help me sink money into the gun, because it had the same fundamental flaw the first one had: the cam pin is located too high in the frame, and this is causing the barrel to unlock while chamber pressure is still much too high. It's a matter of thousands of an inch, but those thousandths of an inch are critical. When the chamber pressure is too high, the cartridge case is forced very tightly against the chamber wall, and the claw simply can't hang onto the rim, resulting in failures to extract. With the replacement gun, when I sent it back, Springfield didn't cure the problem; they put a band aid on it.

He found that they had installed a small metal pin inside the extractor spring. This pin doesn't let the extractor spring compress fully, which in turn prevents the extractor from pivoting around the roll pin that holds it into the slide as far as it's normally able to do. This does indeed keep the extractor claw from slipping over the rim of the case, because it "locks" the extractor in place, but this does not fix the underlying problem, which is that the extractor is still trying to pull the case out while the chamber pressure is much too high. SA made the pistol work, but they did it by treating the symptom, and not curing the disease, so to speak. By forcing the extractor to hang onto the rim while the chamber pressure is so high, it is forcing the extractor claw to undergo a lot more stress than it's designed to take, and he thinks the claw is likely to break at some point from this stress, and/or the roll pin that holds the extractor in place in the slide is likely to deform, because it too is being subjected to more stress than it's intended to take. And while it's true these are replaceable parts, this is still a critical failure of the gun whenever it happens, there's no telling when it might happen, and it's down until it goes back to a gunsmith for repair.

He said he's had about thirty of these pistols come through his shop since Springfield brought them out, and two (including my first one) simply could not be made to run reliably. And he said that he's been taking measurements from all of them, and all of them have the cam pin located a bit off from where it's supposed to be. What's more, the have been off by varying degrees. They're not consistent. My current gun has the cam pin located still too high, but not so far out of spec in the vertical axis as the first one, but it's also located too far back. Again: the cam pin first one I had was to high on the vertical axis, but, fine on the horizontal, and its replacement has the pin not so far off on the vertical axis, but it is also off on the horizontal axis as well. And he's said all of the SA-35s he's measured have the cam pin out of spec to some degree or other, though the others aren't so far off as mine.

He suggested selling it, and waiting a few years until SA completes is plans to bring production entirely inside the US and they can control the machining better (he said the metallurgy is fine, and the parts are all hardened to the correct degree).

In the meantime, I'm sending him an old .40 S&W Mark III Hi Power I have, to have a 3 lug Bar-Sto 9mm conversion barrel put in, so I can have a Hi Power that I can feed as much +P ammo as I want, and I'll just have to live with the stupid magazine disconnect -- which I won't remove, because this is meant as a carry gun.

 

[45/30-06OKIE]

Wow lots of interesting thoughts on here... See I'd like to try one out but a BarSto threaded barrel is 430 bucks which makes my 300 dollar Nighthawk threaded barrel for my 1911 look cheap lol. Sigh... Not to mention their reports of spotty QC unlike their 1911s which my Mil-spec which runs great.

 

[Twisted Chemist]

Took my new SA-35 to the range again Sunday morning. It was a balmy 19F on the firing line and she passed the 400 round mark without a single problem shooting Magtech FMJ 124gr, Blazer FMJ 115gr, Tula FMJ 124Gr, S&B 124gr FMJ, Armscor 124gr JHP or Hornady Zmax 115gr. Not a single FT Feed, FT fire or FT eject. Just a wipe down and a couple of drops a CLP between range sessions. The matte blue finish on mine is beautiful and closely resembles park. The pistol exhibits excellent accuracy, when I do my part. Been battling a flinch for the last 30 years and I waste a LOT of ammo trying to keep it at bay. When shooting playing cards at seven yards I can punch a diamond, club, heart or spade on the first shot but then I start throwing shots. Not a single problem with hammer bite either. Now the SA XDS in .45 acp just chewed my hand up and worsened my flinch
Personally, I'm thrilled with the SA offering. A Browning HP clone with improved thumb safety ergonomics, finely fitted slim checkered wooden grips, no hammer bite, excellent sights, lovely finish and a crisp 4 lb trigger right out of the box, for well under a grand ($675 at a local gun show)? Hell yeah, sign me up. The only issues that I'm not thrilled about are the trigger reset, which is very long, nothing like a 1911, it comes in a soft zippered case and it only comes with one mag. But for the price I'll take take it and run.
Riding along in a Galco Combat Master holster she has replaced the pocket carry M&P Shield as EDC . Nothing beats the feel of wood, steel and leather. IMHO
My advice, if you ever desired a High Power but couldn't afford a FN, buy the Springfield.

To 45/30-06OKIE I have a SA Ronin 1911 in .45acp and it has had a single FTF in over 700 rds. QC is is as good on the later SA-35's as it is on the Ronin. After seeing the finish on the SA-35 I'm wondering if I can get the matte blue over the blued slide sides of the Ronin, like the top of the slide. Wasn't crazy about the bluing, even though it makes a great looking two tone firearm. The Ronin was the love of my life until the 35 came along, now there is jealousy and discourse in the House of Pemberton.

 

[hunt127588]

Just tried a new SA-35 out yesterday. Sent 200 round through it. Machining looked excellent. Out of the box, accuracy was excellent. I did not experience any extraction issues. However, I did experience FTF with the factory fully loaded 15 rd mag when I would release the slide lock on a full mag. The bullet would dip down and catch the feed ramp and jam when I would drop the slide. This started occurring after about 75 rds. I was shooting RMR 124 gr MPRs seated to 1.065. It would only do with this with a full mag. When I pulled the slide back to release it, all was well. Other impressions were that there was some creep in the trigger. There was very little to feel in terms of trigger reset. If you're used to a Glock, this will feel different. Trigger broke around 5 lbs. S/N was a 5 digit number.

Next steps are to try some other magazines.

 

[Rodfac]

Hunt...I've not experienced any FTF with the factory supplied magazine (looks identical to a pair of Mec Gars I've purchased). All three were stiff, especially when seating the 15th round, when new but have smoothed up with use. Also, my older original 13 round mags work equally well: (a cpl of military ones and two "mouse trap" FN's).

I do keep my mags in good order with regular cleaning...~ever 500 rounds or so...I'm not OCD in that respect. And I did disassemble, clean and lube the factory and Mec Gars when new.

I should also add that many of us older vets routinely tap the back side of any magazine against a knee (or helmet in the old days) to full seat the cartridges aft in the mag...it's habit for me, and may or may not make a difference in how the rounds are seated/fed up the mag and barrel ramp. Too, I always manually rack the slide from lock back on an empty mag...I do not use the slide release.

I continue to enjoy the piece, and carry it often here on dog walks and chores around our farm. It's been in and out of my holster enough that I'm beginning to see some blue/black that's fading around the slide muzzle area's left side. I carry in a smooth pig-skinned lined leather holster (the Avenger type) exclusively now but have noticed the fading any way. Honorable wear in my view.

Lastly, KY Gun Co. in Louisville has dropped the price on the SA-35 the last time I was in...$670+tax. There were 3 in stock a week ago.

HTH's, Rod

 

[hunt127588]

Thanks Rodfac. I was tapping my mag but did not disassemble when I received it. I also ordered some Mec-Gars but forgot to take them with me to the range. You always forget something, right? That's a decent price on the Ky Gun listing. I went with the cheapest place I could find and I received mine for $608 before transfer/check.

 

[Charlie98]

Other impressions were that there was some creep in the trigger.

My SA35 has one little catch in the trigger pull... I expect it to work itself out over time. It's not a target pistol in any event, and I hardly notice it when I doing shooting drills.

I had 4 old mags from when I owned my Browning HiPower, 3 of them gave me some problems. I bought some mag spring kits from Wolff, and that fixed them right up. I have not had problems with my 15rd SA mag, however. I haven't shot a huge variety of ammos through my SA, but what I have run has shown me that the SA is not necessarily picky about bullet profile, or even length... just my .02 worth.

 

[Rodfac]

Just a suggestion, Charlie...I've smoothed up several of my 1911's and both Browning HP's by dry firing while adding some additional thumb pressure to the hammer as it dropped. In my guns, it took less than 25-30 dry firings to smooth out. YMMv, Best regards, Rod

 

[halfmoonclip]

One question: have any of you SA-35 shooters experienced hammer bite with the ring hammer?

Never had hammer bite from any of my HiPowers or the SA-35.
Moon

 

[RainDodger]

My SA-35 is earlier than yours - the 12,xxx range, and I have 1,268 rounds through it as of today. (I'm anal about records.) I also own a very customized '84 Hi-Pwr in 9mm for comparison. My experiences mirror those of the OP. No recalled failures to function and I'm very happy with accuracy, although my Browning is a tiny bit better - or I'm just more consistent with it. My cartridges have all been jacketed handloads of varying bullet profiles. Trigger pull on delivery was a bit gritty, so I polished every single surface of all parts between the trigger and sear that bear on each other. Much improvement resulted and it now has a very slight take-up with a clean break. It's relatively heavy but very clean so it's ok with me. Point of impact for me required a tiny bit of windage adjustment, but elevation is spot-on. I think I have 12 magazines between the Browning and the SA-35 and all of them function fine. I have no complaints and find that I shoot the SA35 and leave the pretty Browning in the safe most of the time. But not all the time.

 

[Gordon]

All this Askins Avenger love. For us old timers we bought Either Milt Sparks Nelson #1 holsters or from Bruce Nelson himself. I still have one for a 1911 from Bruce and one for a High Power from Uncle Milt Sparks , duly lined of course . Heres and slick outfit that still makes them. Does the design look Familiar ?

Gallery

www.combatgunleather.com

 

[GreenWolf]

Shot my new SA-35 this weekend. New pistols are up in the 35,xxx serial number range. 100 rounds and no issues. First time shooting a Hi-Power and I think that I "get it" now. Everything about the look and feel, heft, and how it points feels "right." I didn't notice anything about the trigger, as in "too heavy" or "gritty." Trigger seems like a decent combat weight trigger - it's not a target gun. Not saying that it isn't accurate - I was keeping my shots in the black at 50-feet. Nice gun. Next thing is to get more mags, go a for 500+ round count, and decide if I want to doll the pistola up with new grips. Might even get a shoulder rig for it if this particular gun proves to be very reliable.

 

[doubleh]

I have grown to like the Hi Power design but have only seen the SA 35 in pictures. If either of my local shops has had one in stock I was absent during the time it was there. Eventually I may run across one to fondle and decide if it something I desire.

 

[Cornhusker77]

Mine is one of the early SN# HP61xx
I've only put around 100 rounds through it, but it ran fine and shot good.
I'm hoping it won't develop isues.

 

[Rodfac]

All this Askins Avenger love. For us old timers we bought Either Milt Sparks Nelson #1 holsters or from Bruce Nelson himself. I still have one for a 1911 from Bruce and one for a High Power from Uncle Milt Sparks , duly lined of course . Heres and slick outfit that still makes them. Does the design look Familiar

Sure does, Gordon....though the commercial one I'm familiar with, a Bianchi, has more cant compared to those in your post. I make mine with that cant angle, for my 4:00 OWB carry position...it allows me to get a firm shooting grip as I begin my draw stroke...my avatar shows the positioning pretty clearly. And that rear slot is the best way I've found to keep the gun butt close in to my body type, minimizing printing. Best regards, Rod

 

[Thomas Mayberry]

I've had my SA-35 for two months, it's serial # is in the 23,XXX range. First range trip ran 150 rounds through it and experienced two failure to extracts in the last twenty rounds. Not wanting to ship it back to SA I had a local smith install a Cylinder & Slide extractor. Since then I've fired 200+ rounds with no FTE problems. I've experienced a few failure to chamber episodes when feeding a full 15 round magazine using the slide lock to release. With fourteen rounds in the magazine it feeds just fine. Not a huge problem as I habitually load my spare magazines -1. Accuracy has been superb, perhaps one of the most accurate stock centerfire autos I've owned. As far as ergonomics, it fits my hand better than any doublestack handgun that I've owned or tried out. The grips screws were loosend up a bit after each range session. A bit of my wife's clear fingernail polish on the threads solved that.

 

[halfmoonclip]

Mine is fairly early, #HP47xx, and I remain really pleased with it. Nicely fit and finished, decent, clean trigger.
I had the extraction issues, and a trip to the mothership sorted that out.
Even the factory sights are just right for a defensive gun.
Mine wants to leach some brown substance around the barrel bushing from time to time; Hoppes on a q-tip solves the problem.
It runs on either MecGar or HiPo mags; some date from the Clinton ban, and were probably $40@ even then.
Glad Springfield has promoted this product.
Have a nickled Belgian, which shoots really well, but is valuable enough that it need not be shot too much. The SA-35 offers a great alternative.
Moon

 

[buttrap]

I am tempted as used to have HPs back years ago here. And for SA have a stainless govt garrison and its a better gun than the S&W cost twice as much cost E scandium bob tail I have commander is.

 

[Twisted Chemist]

My SA35 has one little catch in the trigger pull... I expect it to work itself out over time. It's not a target pistol in any event, and I hardly notice it when I doing shooting drills.

The trigger on mine is excellent, a bit of take-up, a smidgen of creep and a crisp 4-5 release. Beats all the striker fired guns I've tried, hands down.
If I do my part (not flinch) the pistol shoots quite well. This was shot from the 7 yard line.


The same same can be said for the Ronin 1911.

Never had hammer bite from any of my HiPowers or the SA-35.
Moon

There are reports of HP's and hammer bite but my SA-35 has had no such issues.

I've had my SA-35 for two months, it's serial # is in the 23,XXX range. First range trip ran 150 rounds through it and experienced two failure to extracts in the last twenty rounds. Not wanting to ship it back to SA I had a local smith install a Cylinder & Slide extractor. Since then I've fired 200+ rounds with no FTE problems. I've experienced a few failure to chamber episodes when feeding a full 15 round magazine using the slide lock to release. With fourteen rounds in the magazine it feeds just fine. Not a huge problem as I habitually load my spare magazines -1. Accuracy has been superb, perhaps one of the most accurate stock centerfire autos I've owned. As far as ergonomics, it fits my hand better than any doublestack handgun that I've owned or tried out. The grips screws were loosend up a bit after each range session. A bit of my wife's clear fingernail polish on the threads solved that.

My SA-35 hasn't had a single FT-anything, using any ammo, in any combination, so far.

*edit*nFunny you should mention it, but the grips on mine keep coming loose. Don't want to overtighten and crack the wood so it may be time for Loctite.