Springfield Armory SA-35 9mm
Model: HP9201
Springfield Armory SA-35 9mm
Model: HP9201
Full Specifications
About This Firearm
The SA-35 is Springfield's U.S.-made reworking of the Browning P-35 Hi Power: forged steel, walnut grips, single-action trigger and a 15-round magazine. It is for the shooter who wants a Hi Power to actually shoot, with the old gun's known complaints fixed, at $799. The decision is between it and the other modern steel 9mm classics.
Springfield dropped the magazine disconnect so magazines fall free, reshaped the hammer to stop hammer bite, extended the thumb safety, tuned the trigger and improved the feed ramp for hollow points. The FN High Power is the other modern Hi Power: it costs $400 more and weighs 8.5 oz more, but holds 2 more rounds, has an ambidextrous safety and ships with two magazines. The CZ 75 B costs $100 more, holds 1 more round and weighs 3.7 oz more; its double-action first shot suits buyers who don't want to carry cocked and locked.
Buy the SA-35 if you want the Hi Power's slim grip and feel with a better trigger and no hammer bite, at the lowest MSRP of the three. Skip it if you want two magazines in the box, more capacity and an ambidextrous safety; the FN High Power has all three.
Best For
Strengths & Limitations
- The reshaped hammer ends the hammer bite that the original Hi Power is known for.
- With no magazine disconnect, empty magazines drop free and the gun fires with the magazine out, like most current service pistols.
- The extended thumb safety is easier to sweep on and off than the small lever on older Hi Powers.
- Springfield lists no optics-ready SA-35, so a red dot means slide milling.
- One magazine in the box, while the FN High Power ships with two.
- It is single-action with a manual thumb safety, so shooters who carry striker guns will have to train a different draw.
Category Rankings
How the Springfield Armory SA-35 9mm ranks among full-size 9mm Luger handguns.
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Alternatives to Consider
Similar full-size 9mm Luger handguns ranked by similarity.
| NAME | BEST PRICE |
|---|---|
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Beretta 92FS 9mm
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— |
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Walther PDP F-Series 4" 9mm
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$599.00 |
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Ruger Security-9 9mm
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$299.99 |
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Springfield Armory Prodigy 9mm
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$1,352.49 |
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Smith & Wesson M&P 9 M2.0 Full Size OR 9mm
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$589.99 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the SA-35 have a magazine disconnect?
No. Springfield builds it without one so the magazine drops free. The gun will fire with the magazine removed.
Does the SA-35 cause hammer bite?
It should not. Springfield changed the hammer geometry specifically to keep it off the web of the hand, which was the original Hi Power's best-known complaint.
Is there a shorter SA-35?
Yes. Springfield also lists a 4-inch SA-35 with the same capacity on a shorter slide. This page covers the full-length model.
SA-35 or FN High Power?
Pick the SA-35 for the lower MSRP and a closer look to the original P-35. Pick the FN for the extra capacity, the ambidextrous safety and two magazines in the box.
