SA-35 First Range Trip

[Coltdriver]

I picked up a new SA-35 recently.

I am a former Hi Power owner, had three of them of the past 25 years.

Nothing fits my hand better or points more naturally for me.

I ordered the BHSpring Solutions reliability kit including their extractor. There have been some issues with extraction on low serial number guns. Springfield has probably upgraded a few things but the BHS parts are very high quality and I like to tinker anyway.

I replaced the extractor, extractor roll pin, the sear lever and sear lever pin and added a lever spring, went to a heavier firing pin spring, used the BHS 17 pound (stock) slide spring, the mag release spring and the safety lever spring. I may replace the hammer spring later after I get it completely broken in.

First trip to the range with a new pistol and I only run 100 rounds through to get the early "break in" and associated "self machining" out of the way. That way, if any chips or metal do appear, I am not running them through the gun for long.

Like most guns at my age, the gun is more accurate than I am. From a bench rest I could very easily shoot to a 50 cent piece circle at 20 feet. It opened up a bit at 30 feet but I wasn't expecting a target pistol and couldn't take advantage of one anyway.

Zero issues with feeding or extraction. Locked back on an empty mag every time. I ran 75 rounds of 115 grain through it and 25 rounds of sub sonic 148 grain ammo through it.

Its pitching the brass about 10 to 12 feet with the lighter rounds, about 8 to 10 feet with the heavier rounds.

I didn't get any hammer bite, but I did get some hammer "itch", just barely touching my hand. I just got home and will take it down to clean it. I will let you all know if there is any "self machining" showing. Most automatics I have ever had do this to some degree, we will see what this one looks like.

Not a heavy duty test but overall I am just reminded of how much I love Hi Powers.

 

[General Geoff]

Glad these things are finally becoming readily available.

Out of curiosity, do you have experience with BHSS's recoil buffer guide rod? I ordered one, tried to install it in both my Girsan and an original WWII FN HP, and it was so ridiculously tight that I had to tap it in place with a hammer. Upon installation the slide stop was bound up to the point it would not move up or down without hand manipulation. Slide wouldn't lock back on an empty mag, and if you pushed it up, it would stay up even when slingshotting the slide. It is this tight on both my HPs. So they sent me a second one, and it does the same thing in both HPs. Tried oiling the ball detent in both new guide rods, leaving the slide stop pivot pin inserted into the guide rod overnight to try and "break in" the spring, but still bound up hard and impossible to install or remove without a hammer.

 

[CNobbe]

Glad these things are finally becoming readily available.

I wouldn’t say that, they’re are still very hard to come by.

Have had two, at different times and I’m starting to warm to the second one. The reset still sucks, but it is a shooter. Mines over a thousand rounds now. A box a cheap Herter’s caused problems, but that was an ammo issue.

 

[Coltdriver]

I am not familiar with the guide rod from BHS. I have dealt with 1911's forever and while some swear by them I think they are not really necessary.

You can slow the slide down in your HP with a heavier recoil spring and or a heavier hammer spring.

I am going to run mine a few hundred more rounds and may go to a heavier slide spring first. The hammer spring is a PITA. And it ups the trigger pressure required to fire the gun.

 

[Coltdriver]

I wouldn’t say that, they’re are still very hard to come by.

Have had two, at different times and I’m starting to warm to the second one. The reset still sucks, but it is a shooter. Mines over a thousand rounds now. A box a cheap Herter’s caused problems, but that was an ammo issue.

I sure am glad to hear that. Mine is in the 7000 range for a serial number.

 

[Coltdriver]

I picked up a new SA-35 recently....

So I took it apart and cleaned it. There were two very small flakes in the right side of the slide channel. Other than that it was all just soot from the ammo.

 

[CNobbe]

I sure am glad to hear that. Mine is in the 7000 range for a serial number.

Mine is in the mid 4000s and exactly 1k above the first one I had. The one I have now had to go back to Springfield for a new guide rod, and grips. It was darn near impossible to take apart and the grips didn't fit well at all. But, they listened to my concerns and fixed it quickly. It's really grown on me, the lack of recoil and point ability is excellent. I just wish the reset was a little more tactile.

 

[troy fairweather]

Good to see, I'd like to get one for my dad someday.