The Browning Excessive Energy is an iconic pistol. Developed within the Nineteen Twenties and Thirties, first by John M. Browning after which later by Dieudonné Saive at FN Herstal, the gun has a legend of historic proportions. It was finalized in 1934 and launched in 1935 because the P-35 and was utilized by numerous militaries. The Springfield Armory SA-35 is a direct descendant of the unique Excessive Energy. Let’s take a look at a little bit of historical past earlier than wanting on the gun itself.
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The Backstory
A lot of my gun opinions are about fashionable firearms with out a lot historical past, however because the Excessive Energy is such a storied pistol, I’ll break with my regular type and talk about some historical past.
All of it started within the mid-Nineteen Twenties. The French army needed a brand new service pistol. That pistol needed to meet a number of necessities:
The gun have to be compact.
The journal should have a capability of not less than 10 rounds.
The gun should have {a magazine} disconnect system, an exterior hammer, and a optimistic security.
The gun have to be sturdy and easy to disassemble and reassemble.
The gun have to be able to killing a person at 50 m (55 yd).
The final criterion dictated a bullet of not less than 35 caliber, a bullet mass of round 120 grains, and a velocity of 1,100 f.p.s. All of those pointed to 9mm being the caliber of selection, particularly because it was for the French army. The 9mm was in style in Europe. It was with these necessities in thoughts that FN commissioned John Browning to provide you with a brand new pistol.
One downside was that he needed to begin over, as he had offered his 1911 design to Colt and subsequently couldn’t simply duplicate that design for this pistol. He constructed two prototypes, one blowback-operated and the opposite a locked breech design. He duly utilized for patents for these two weapons in 1923. It was granted in 1927. Each pistols used the brand new staggered journal association invented by Saive… we name it double-stack. (Coincidentally, that’s the place the Excessive Energy will get its title – its journal held 13 rounds, an extraordinary capability at the moment. Really Excessive Energy!).
The story will get extra concerned. John Browning died in November of 1926, so Messr. Saive took over growth of the pistol. The army had expressed curiosity within the locked-breech mannequin, in order that was the one chosen for additional growth. The Colt patents expired in 1928, so Saive included some 1911 traits into this new pistol, comparable to comparable take-down and a barrel bushing.
In 1929, FN determined to chop to the chase and launch a pistol that will stand by itself deserves and hopefully be picked up by a army group. The French had been nonetheless deliberating on pistols, in spite of everything these years. FN settled on pursuing the locked-breech variation. They got here out with the “Grand Rendement” – Excessive Useful resource, evidently due to the 13-round capability. By 1931, the gun had that capability, a curved backstrap, and a barrel bushing built-in into the slide, after ditching the 1911 holdover elements. The Belgian army ordered 1000 of them for area checks, a great begin.
By 1934, the pistol was mainly within the type we all know as we speak and had been adopted by Belgium and different nations. Humorous… France went with a unique pistol, however by then, FN didn’t care as a result of they had been promoting them elsewhere. It was formally launched because the “Grand Puissance” (Excessive Energy) in 1935 and was given the mannequin quantity P-35.
This was one of many few pistols to have fought on each side throughout WWII, because the Germans took over the FN manufacturing unit and had the weapons produced for his or her Wehrmacht. However, FN had been cagey earlier once they might see the writing on the wall and had plans and designs despatched to the John Inglis firm in Canada, the place the gun was additionally produced for the Allies.
That’s sufficient historical past. Now, let’s take a look at the Springfield Armory (SA) pistol earlier than us…
Options
The SA-35 is a devoted replica of the unique Excessive Energy, however with a number of variations. You will need to notice that elements are interchangeable, and that the unique Excessive Energy journal will work within the SA-35. The security lever is totally different – it’s prolonged, and solely on the left aspect of the gun. Additionally, the sights are totally different… they’re bigger and simpler to accumulate than these on the unique.
Sights
Talking of sights, right here’s what we’ve on the SA-35. A entrance publish with a white dot, and U-notch, Tactical-rack rear. These are particular upgrades over the unique “bumps”.
Checkered Walnut Grip Panels
The grip panels are positively old-school walnut with some well-defined checkering. I like the best way they really feel. Two coats of Tru-Oil on them convey out the grain and shield them.
Matte Blue End
No, it’s not Parkerized, however it’s a matte blue end that ought to stand up to bumps and bruises nicely.
Recoil Spring
Right here’s one thing I found by chance. The SA-35 spring is longer than that of the unique gun and people of different clones being made as we speak. This supplies certain operation of the slide and virtually ensures good functioning. The unique Excessive Energy spring is about an inch shorter than this one, as are most of as we speak’s different clone springs. As I allude to under, please discover which path the information rod “loop” is pointing while you take it out, and change it the identical means. There’s a spring-loaded detent ball within the information rod that grabs the slide launch rod and must be oriented appropriately. It often will work the opposite means, however doing it proper is finest.
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Specs
Caliber 9mm
Shade Black
Barrel 4.7″ Chilly Hammer Cast, 1:10
Slide Cast Carbon Metal, Blued
Body Cast Carbon Metal, Blued
Sights White Dot Entrance, Serrated Tactical Rack Rear
Recoil System SA-35™ Recoil Spring & Information Rod
Grips Checkered Walnut
Magazines (1) 15-Spherical
Set off Pull 4 lbs., 5 oz. (measured)
Weight 31.5 oz
Size 7.8″
Peak 4.8″
MSRP $799
Variations: Tactical Grey, Coyote Brown (both, $859)
Quibbles
I don’t have sufficient quibbles to represent a “con” itemizing, however there are a pair. The gun ships with one journal. That’s it. Each different pistol SA sells (so far as I do know or have had expertise with) comes with not less than two mags. One is all you get right here. The pistol is strong, correct, and dependable; I simply want it had a spare magazine with it. You may order a SA-35 magazine for about $30. Different 15-rounders are on the market, as nicely.
The opposite quibble has to do with the security lever. Then again, Excessive Energy clones are out now, and the security is on each side of the gun. The unique wasn’t ambidextrous, however starting with the FN MkII, it was. I want it and the slide launch had been replicated on the correct aspect of the gun. That will permit this lefty to hold it when wanted with out resorting to gyrations to disengage the security or to drop the slide. Due to that, I doubt if this gun will probably be carried a lot exterior of my property.
Ideas
I wasn’t fairly certain what to name this part, so we’ll go together with ideas. I’ve some ideas and opinions about this pistol that don’t match elsewhere, so right here goes.
First, I had at all times needed to shoot a Excessive Energy, however since I didn’t know anybody who owned one, that didn’t occur. I bear in mind when SA introduced the SA-35 out and the way I believed I’d like to attempt one. Once more, I didn’t know anybody with one. So, when the possibility to get one for evaluate popped up, I grabbed it. I actually like this pistol.
Why?
As a result of it suits. It suits my hand. It’s virtually like a 1911 however a bit totally different. The grip angle is just about the identical, and the grip is acquainted… minus the grip security. Takedown is means simpler with no barrel bushing to mess with and no swinging hyperlink below the barrel.
What else does it match? It suits my old-timey thought of a full-size responsibility pistol.
I lower my taking pictures tooth about 50 years in the past, earlier than polymer was ever a gleam in its daddy’s eye, to make use of the previous saying. I grew up taking pictures chunks of blued, hardened metal with actual walnut grip panels connected. That was the usual. Do I like “fashionable” pistols? In fact. I personal a bunch. It’s simply that, after I first noticed after which picked up the SA-35, I knew it needed to come reside with me – it jogged my memory of occasions passed by, a unique period. Typically, that’s not a foul factor.
The grip panels are actually snug – checkered walnut is difficult to beat. Once more, the gun simply suits. I knew after I picked it up for the primary time, contemporary out of the field, that I’d promote a rifle or no matter so I might purchase it, which I did. I don’t get that feeling with too many pistols. Just lately, that feeling has crept up after I dealt with two different SA weapons… their Echelon compact and their XDM Elite 10mm 4.5”. Each of these pistols now reside with me.
When you discover a well-fitting pistol that’s correct and dependable, you run with it. So it goes with this SA-35.
Another excuse the gun didn’t return is its set off. That under-5-pound single-action set off is nice… hardly any take-up and minimal creep, a clear break. It just about allows you to put bullets the place you’re wanting — not less than it’s going to for a greater shot than I’m. Add within the very helpful sights and you’ve got a winner.
Take-Down
It’s simple. Take away the magazine and ensure the chamber’s empty. Pull the slide again and lock the security into the second notch. Push up on the slide launch and press it out the left aspect. Launch the security and take away the slide. Separate the barrel and spring. When placing issues again, ensure the spring information rod is within the right orientation, as I discussed above. It goes again collectively simply. For shooters who might not be aware of uncaptured (free) recoil springs, you simply want to indicate it who’s boss and shove it into the channel. Line it up straight after it’s in and also you’re good to go.
Goal Time
I waited for the wind to settle down – it was going at a great 35 mph clip – after which set a big “shoot and see” goal up at 25 yards at my yard vary. I gathered a small assortment of 9mm ammo and proceeded to “shoot for report” 10-round teams. Ten-round teams are my desire. You get extra information than with 3- or 5-shot teams.
Listed here are a number of pictures of the goal corners…
Any of those hundreds would work for apply. Though not tack-drivers, they’re all principally taking pictures pretty near the purpose of intention. The Armscor and the Winchester are closest to P.O.A.
It’s price mentioning that some reviewers complain concerning the SA-35’s “beavertail” digging into their hand resulting from sharp corners, however I had no such expertise. I’ve medium-sized arms; possibly that’s why I got here away blood-free. No hammer chew, both – the hammer used is a spherical one, not a spur selection. That helps.
Conclusion
The Browning Excessive Energy has been round for 90 years. It has been utilized by many army organizations and hundreds of civilian shooters since its introduction in 1935. Though it’s undergone some minor upgrades, the present Excessive Energy remains to be recognizable as such. Springfield Armory’s SA-35 is among the extra refined clones available on the market. They upgraded the sights and the set off, put a pleasant matte end on it, and prolonged the security lever. In addition they added some spiffy walnut grip panels. The gun is good-looking and is a shooter. I do know I’m glad I lastly personal a well-made tribute to the venerable Excessive Energy, I consider I’ll maintain this one and NOT promote it to purchase one thing else!
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About Mike Hardesty
With expertise spanning over 45 years, Mike Hardesty has lengthy loved taking pictures and reloading. An inveterate reloader, he casts bullets and reloads for a various array of firearms, every dealt with with long-practiced precision. Dwelling in rural Indiana, his homestead boasts a private 100-yard vary the place he shares his love for weapons to his 4 sons, their wives, and eleven grandchildren. As a acknowledged writer, his writings have been featured in notable platforms like Sniper Nation, Bear Creek Arsenal Weblog, Pew Pew Tactical, TTAG, Dillon Precision’s Blue Press, and Gun Made, revealing his ongoing ardour for firearms on the age of 72.
