Springfield sa-35, how are they doing?

[Shadow9mm]

Seems like everyone went crazy for the sa-35, hard to find, insane gunbroker prices. Complaints on fit and finish on the guns. Then reviewers finding extractor issues around the 1000rnd mark. Then nothing. Havent heard or seen anything pop up about them in months.

I really want one. But decided to let the buying frenzy die down, and make sure all the bugs got worked out in production.

Anyone got one? Are they running well? Are all the bugs worked out? Are they starting to be regularly available? Is most of the price gouging done?

[DeronW]

I'm also interested in any experiences. I would like one.

[rodfac]

Same here...looking for one...

I currently have two Browning HP's, one is a 9mm and the other a .40 S&W. Both are good guns...accuracy runs ~2" @ 25 yds with selected handloads. I removed the magazine safety in both, which greatly improved their trigger pulls. IMHO, the BHP has the best in the hand feel of any automatic I've ever shot but accuracy has never been quite as good as my 1911's.

I'd really like to try the new Springfield SA35 to compare it to my BHP's. The low MSRP compared to the current inflated BHP prices is one reason and also the good/great initial reviews that were posted when they first offered it. Best regards, Rod

[rock185]

I've had one for a few months now. Mine is in the 5K serial number range. I've used a total of nine different types of factory ammo from Federal, Norma, Winchester and IMI, i.e., RN ball, flat point ball and JHP. I've used the factory, FN, and MecGar 13 and 15 round magazines. I'm guessing I must be at around 700 rounds though my example, with no malfunctions to report thus far.

I admit, having read reports of extraction and magazine dropping issues, I keep fingers crossed when I take this one to the range. But thus far, the pistol just works.

[CajunBass]

I've never even seen one, so I got tired of looking and bought a Girsan.

[totaldla]

Funny, but after reading this thread I did a quick check of gundeals - not one in stock. I wonder what happened? It seemed like the demand was high.

[Nodak1858]

've never even seen one, so I got tired of looking and bought a Girsan.

Same here, I haven't had a chance to shoot it yet but it appears to be a solid pistol.

[bac1023]

I’m not impressed

I handled a couple

[Seven High]

I suspect that due to the numerous problems that have cropped up Springfield Armory pulled the sa35 from the retail market until the problems are resolved.

[Aguila Blanca]

How the heck can you muck up a proven design that's almost 100 years old?

That takes real talent.

[rodfac]

What's been going wrong...the initial reviews that I read were all uniformly positive. Rod

[Shadow9mm]

Originally Posted by rodfac

What's been going wrong...the initial reviews that I read were all uniformly positive. Rod

uniformly positive is what you will see from most media. Garand thumb did a review if I remember correctly, and started having significant issues with extraction at and past the 1000rnd mark, and cited another source that was having similar issues. I have also seen some post where the finish on the gun was blotchy or uneven from the factory.

[rpoL98]

so it the Girsan better? or is the SA held to a higher standard?

[44 AMP]

How the heck can you muck up a proven design that's almost 100 years old?

That takes real talent.

No, AB, it doesn't take any talent at all, other than the talent for self promotion.

All it takes is for some 5 thumbed tinkermonky on U TUbe to get one, rip out 1/3 to 1/2 the factory parts, replace then with "hi power" parts (from who knows where) and then bitch and bad mouth the gun because it doesn't work 100% flawlessly for him.

And get a few people to watch it, believe it is gospel, and then get their friends and friends of friends to watch it and spread the BS all over...

I saw such when the first stories about poor quality came out. Nothing to them, then, and as far as I know, nothing to them today.

Our local shop has sold every one they can get, over a dozen to date, NO ONE has complained about any of them. One of them currently has (verified) over 2,000 rnds without issue of any kind.

Friend of mine has one, though due to medical issues he hasnt shot it, yet. I've examined the gun. Mechanical finish is very good, inside and out. Cosmetic finish is good, not high polish blue and not spray paint can black, just good low reflective service finish. Sights are decent service grade, safety lever is the larger, later Hi Power style, and not ambidextrous. Trigger pull was very good for a duty class gun, better than any other Hi Power I've had or handled that wasn't modified. There is no magazine disconnect, and empty mags do drop free of their own weight.

There are no rails, its not plastic, so some folks are going to find fault with that. Personally I rate the lack of such as a plus.

I'd say its everything you need in a Hi Power, and none of the crap you don't.

I did hear about one guy complaining the "sharp edges" on the gun hurt his hands, when he shot 500rnds in a single day. I went back and checked a couple, (along with actual original HP's. There are edges, but they're not SHARP.) If shooting the gun hurts your hands, then A) you don't know how to hold it properly, and B) you're a moron or masochist shooting 500rnds in a single day...

Just my opinion, worth what you paid for it, or, possibly, less.

[TunnelRat]

An online review is simply one data point. Firearms manufacturers produce hundreds to thousands of pistols in a month. Even a sample of a dozen isn’t much in the grand scheme of things. I am a realist in that I can accept that there are some online reviewers hyping up issues to draw attention. But I’m also a realist in that in the likely 100 or so handguns I have owned personally I have had pistols have issues that I never read about in any gun magazine, even from manufacturers with very good reputations. Even an excellent quality control percentage is going to lead to some lemons with the sheer quantity of firearms being put out these days.

Over the years I debated doing online reviews. The more I interact with people the more I’m glad I didn’t. It seems exhausting. If you review something positively that isn’t generally well regarded then you’re obviously a paid shill. If you review something negatively that is well regarded then you’re obviously doing it for attention or just hate that brand.

This remains the most accurate representation of people online that I have ever viewed (adult language):

https://youtu.be/aJX4ytfqw6k


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[gwpercle]

If I walk up on one I will buy it ... I like the way they look , Drop-Dead-Gorgeous , forged blue steel and real checkered walnu ... no magazine safety and a decent trigger pull ...
what not to like !
I promised my self if I walked in on a Ruger Wrangler in black I would buy it ...stashed $200 in my wallet just in case ! Strolled into Cabela's one Sunday and Wah-Lah ... there were three , one in silver one in bronze and ...
...one in black !
the best $199 SA Revolver I have ever bought ... I love it and will more than likely love the SA-35 even more ! I got $700 tucked away im my wallet and my birthday is coming soon ...Christmas too !!!
Gary

[44 AMP]

Heard back from my guy checking with the local shop today, and I hear that every single one they have gotten has gone out the door in short order and none have ever come back with any complaints.

Also heard that everything from Springfield is on back order, not just the SA-35, but all their models. There doesn't seem to be any pattern or constants, other than they just come in when they come in.

ITs a supply issue and NOT because Springfield has pulled the gun due to any defects or problems.

[CajunBass]

Originally Posted by rpoL98

so it the Girsan better? or is the SA held to a higher standard?

I don't know about the Springfield, as I said, I've never even seen one, but I've owned a FEG (Hungarian) Hi-Power, and a FM (Argentina) made one also. I'd say the Girsan is at least as good as those two.

The Girsan is also less expensive I believe, with the base model starting around $475.00 or so. I paid less than $500.00 out the door for mine.

[44 AMP]

Our local Hi Power enthusiast /collector (who has examples of about everything he can get his hands on) has said the Girsan is well made, but not quite as well made as the Springfield. Considering it is a slightly lower price point gun, that is sensible. I've never seen one, myself, but have seen the SA-35 and have owned commercial Brownings.

Nothing is finished as well as the commercial Browning. And, nothing else has the same price tag, either.

[Pahoo]

What's been going wrong...the initial reviews that I read were all uniformly positive. Rod

I have handled and shot one and by my measure, they are very good performers. I do feel that they have been overly-hyped and not worth the inflated prices. Not sure where MSRP, is currently but originally, it was $699.00.
I'm still seeing them listing for $800.00 to $1035.00. I'm sure they will come back to the MSRP listing. ......

Be Safe !!!

[44 AMP]

They are a well made gun at a reasonable price point. They got (I think deservedly) good reviews and that created a demand higher than the available supply, and of course, at that point, the profiteers stepped in.

Our local shop got half a dozen of them when they first showed up a while back. The guy in the shop who handles their Internet sales (and I think he gets a commission for doing that) wanted them, to sell on the internet because he could get $1400 for each one, maybe more. The shop owner told him "no."

The owner sold every one (and quite rapidly) at or below MSRP to local customers. The internet sales guy was ticked off, because of all the money "they" lost doing that.

The shop owner replied, "the people who bought those guns, at a fair price, are going to come back here, and will buy other things, because we treat them right. In the end we'll be better off."

The extreme prices have dropped some, but people are still asking, and apparently some are getting, more than MSRP.

It is the nature of the market that some people are both able and willing to pay more to get what they want, NOW, than pay a lower price but have to wait.

A friend of mine REALLY wanted a S&W .44 Magnum in the mid 70s. After Dirty Harry (71) LOTS of people did. S&W wound up backordered for a couple years at one point. MSRP at the time was less than $300 ($283.50 if I remember right) and you could get one, at that price, but you had to wait until S&W filled your order. People who had them in their hands could ask what ever they wanted for them, and frequently got it. My friend paid $450 for a 6" nickel one, because for that price he could have it, today, not two years down the road for MSRP.

[JustJake]

Rarified non-existent objects of desire.

In any of 9 LGSs around here, I haven’t seen a one.

[D-Ric902]

Didn’t FN start making them again?

https://fnamerica.com/highpower/

Are they any better?

[Aguila Blanca]

Originally Posted by D-Ric902

Didn’t FN start making them again?

https://fnamerica.com/highpower/

Are they any better?

FN recently came out with a new pistol design they call the High Power (not "Hi-Power"). Initial reviews suggest that it's ergonomically inferior to the original.

[FairWarning]

^^^^

The new bloated FN version is definitely an ugly duckling!! The sleek beauty of the original design is one of the more appealing aspects.

The SA-35 is apparently a bit tougher for modern ammo, but otherwise keeps most of the original design and looks, and will be the one I get, although I suppose it will have to be online. I've still never seen even one in the real world...