Anyone played with the new SA-35?

[noahmercy]

I have long wanted a Browning Hi-Power, but prices for even well-worn models have gotten a little silly, and there are so many varieties- some good and some bad- that I figured I'd never get a decent one and kinda' gave up on the model.

Well, Springfield started making the SA-35, a refined version of the Hi-Power which is very accurate and reliable even with HPs (if the gun rags are to be believed). A local shop got one in. It fits my wife's and my hands well, points naturally, and has a great trigger. I am sorely tempted, but would love to know if any forum members actually have any trigger time with one before I go and spend a bunch of money on it.

While I wish I could just get it and turn around and sell it for a loss if it doesn't live up to the hype, I'm on SS Disability, so funds aren't as available as for many of you.

 

[Cholo]

I have one coming in at my LGS and thought I'd have it by now He's usually under MSRP.

How much are they wanting at your shop? They're still a little scarce at MSRP or under so I seriously doubt you'd lose $ if you sold it, even considering you're the one paying the tax.

 

[eveled]

Its a Springfield, I think you can buy with confidence.

But I understand your desire for first hand knowledge. Good luck on your decision, its a beautiful gun.

 

[Kevin]

I too have wanted the. Browning Hi Power, and just when I could finally afford one, they stopped making them.

And yeah, the price went through the roof just after they stopped! Why!!!!

But personally, and in my own opinion, they don’t look as nice as the Browning. But, I’m sure it’s a nice gun. And if it fits your wife’s hand, that’s a plus.

 

[noahmercy]

I have one coming in at my LGS and thought I'd have it by now He's usually under MSRP.

How much are they wanting at your shop? They're still a little scarce at MSRP or under so I seriously doubt you'd lose $ if you sold it, even considering you're the one paying the tax.

They're asking $769 + tax.

 

[dobegrant.45]

Have had one since they were first introduced, runs flawlessly and is easier to shoot than my original browsing hi power, really like the upgraded features

 

[xtratoy]

I wanted one but none ever showed up locally and the ones online were way over MSRP. Then the Governor and legislative body in Washington State made a law against selling guns with over a 10 round magazine. Until Springfield Armory decides to make a SA-35 available with a 10 round magazine Washingtonians are out of luck unless it is a private party sale that doesn't include the magazines. No commercial online vendor will sell a 10+ capacity magazine to a Washington resident.

 

[Kevin]

They're asking $769 + tax.

That seems like a really good price. I saw one online for $999.

 

[IKE]

I purchased a new SA-35 about a week ago from my LGS it was the first one that I'd ever seen locally and I paid $649.99+ tax......the gun seems to point naturally and feels good in my hand.

I don't own anything else chambered in 9mm so I didn't have any ammo for it and about all I can find around here is expensive carry / self defense ammo, no FMJ plinking ammo, so I ordered a 1000 round case of 124 gr. Magtech from SGammo and it arrived a couple of days ago.

https://www.sgammo.com/product/magt...-case-9mm-luger-124-grain-fmj-ammo-magtech-9b

I've read that the first guns made were having extraction problems.....my gun is in the low 10,000 serial number range and hopefully the problem was fixed by the time mine was made.

I haven't fired it yet but I'm looking forward to taking it to the range.

 

[Mobuck]

I have things I 'play with' but a pistol isn't one of them.
I have an older Hi-Power clone from South America that's been through Cylinder and Slide upgrade. At the time, the gunsmith commented that my clone was a 'better' Hi-Power than the current Browning made 'real thing'. I carried that Hi-Power for several years until I met up with a Ruger KP95DC that I couldn't let go of and the HP went into storage. After the upgrade, it's nice shooting SD handgun.
Backstory: Dad was in North Africa, Sicily, and Italy in WW2. Along the way, he scavenged a German supply truck and liberated a significant supply of pistols and parts. He didn't like the Lugers and sold/traded them away but kept one HP, a spare barrel and some springs, and a bag full of magazines. It served him well throughout the Italian campaign and was his weapon of choice. He used the line "If I needed a rifle, there will be some laying around" long before it was in the script of "We were soldiers" and spoken by Sam Elliot.

 

[Cholo]

I picked up my SA-35 today for $770 OTD which worked out to be $720 + tax. FYI: I believe they MSRP at $799 + tax.

My first impression was that it looks better in person than any pics I've seen of it. It's def. a black sheen not unlike a S&W M-28, but with a little more texture. I've not even cleaned it, but the trigger is far better than the long ago FN Hi Powers. On my scale it broke cleanly at just under 5#'s. I believe it will come down with cleaning and shooting a few hundred rounds.

If the weather breaks from all the rain I'll get a pic or two in natural light on the back deck. So far I see it as an amazingly great deal that just may be better than the original, well, maybe anyway...

 

[Dimitr]

Here’s mine, just got it and was surprised it came with one mag.

 

[IKE]

Prices for them seem to vary depending on the LGS......a buddy took this pic the day before yesterday in the same store and for the same price I purchased mine for but in a different town.

 

[IKE]

Here’s mine, just got it and was surprised it came with one mag.

Most folks already know but Mec-Gar makes the mags for them and just adds the SA logo.

I ordered two 15 round spares early yesterday morning (minus the SA logo) from Greg Cole and they've already shipped and are priced right at $15.00 cheaper each than what SA is asking for them.

https://gregcotellc.com/cart/browni...5-15-rd-9mm-blued-mecgar-mgbrhp15b-p-583.html

https://store.springfield-armory.com/magazines/sa-35-magazines/

 

[Cholo]

$649.99 + tax is a screaming good deal on the SA-35!

I remember looking at the pics of it and wishing the grips were a darker walnut. I was buying one regardless and am glad it had dark panels like the top one in IKE's pic above.

 

[The Norseman]

That Gun Shop has really good prices!
A Gun Shop down the road has a used one priced
at $800.

It is nice knowing there are better prices out
there. Thanks for sharing.

 

[Elfego Baca]

I paid $650 plus tax a fee years ago.
I added a ambidextrous safety from cylinder & slide.

 

[IKE]

Not much help to those that are looking for one and are out of state but I just got back from out running some errands and the store where I purchased mine (Atwoods) just got three more for $649.99.

 

[IKE]

After having it almost a month I finally took the SA-35 to the range day before yesterday and ran 100 rounds of 115 gr. Winch. white box through it so this is sort of a first 100 round review.

I didn't mess around with shooting it off bags or testing it for group I just started shooting at the 12" 25 yd. steel gong as soon as I got out of the truck and was hitting it most every shot when I did my part.......holding center of gong it was hitting a bit low and left which was probably me but I can adjust the windage next time out if need be.

No functioning problems whatsoever and so far I'm happy with it.

 

[IKE]

Took the SA-35 to the range again yesterday morning and ran another 100 rounds of 115 gr. Winch. white box through it......it ran like it should with no malfunctions.

I don't know how it will affect the store prices but I just noticed that within the past few days SA has raised the MSRP from $699.00 to $799.00 on their web site.

https://www.springfield-armory.com/sa-35-series-handguns/sa-35-handguns/sa-35-9mm-handgun/

 

[Cholo]

The new MSRP has been up for awhile. About 6 weeks ago I noticed it when I had my local GS order one for me.

 

[Rock185]

Been using mine for nearly year now. Reliable with the several different types of ammo and magazines I've used.
Glad to see the SA-35s are finally getting into more people's hands.

 

[loaded round]

Bought a Springfield SA-35 two months ago and am very pleased with it so far. Very happy with NOT having a magazine safety as the original Hi-power had, plus the trigger pull needs a bit of lightening up also. However, in all honesty, weather around here has been to cold to get out and do some serious shooting. Hopefully the trigger pull will lighten up after several hundred rounds, or it will go in for a trigger job.