Photographs by the creator
The Sprigfield Armory SA-35 Excessive-Energy tribute (I received’t say clone, as a result of it isn’t) has been a extremely good vendor for the corporate since its introduction some time again. I reviewed it in Might of 2025, right here, and fellow TTAG author Adam Scepaniak gave us a SHOT present peek at this new, polished mannequin this final January. This pistol has confirmed to be very fashionable.
I bear in mind after I reviewed the pattern I used to be despatched, I used to be impressed. I’ll admit one thing that many pistol shooters could understand as sacrilegious, however I had not owned any type of the venerable Browning Excessive-Energy earlier than I purchased that assessment gun. I’ve since furthered my Excessive-Energy expertise by including an Inglise P-35B. I reviewed that gun final December, right here. For a budget-model Excessive-Energy, that pistol punches above its weight class.
I occurred to say to my SA consultant that I want to see the brand new, highly-polished mannequin after I discovered of its existence. Think about my shock when my native FFL buddy instructed me I had a gun in from Springfield Armory… I used to be delighted!
I received’t bore you, expensive reader, with all of the background and historical past of the Excessive-Energy pistol… take a look at my critiques linked above for these particulars.
What I’ll do is present you some photographs I took of this most up-to-date mannequin they despatched me, and talk about the way it shot.
First, some photographs. Enable me to state proper up entrance that my photographic capabilities usually are not of a top quality that can permit me to point out you simply how lovely the end on this pistol is. Once I pulled it out of its zipper case, I used to be instantly taken again to the times after I actually began entering into my capturing interest, again within the late Nineteen Seventies. Again then, high quality weapons have been extremely polished and featured top-grade picket shares or grip panels. That’s simply the best way it was.
We have now turn out to be accustomed to semi-auto pistols with metal areas completed in flat black, polymer frames, and grips. For probably the most half, the times of the “presentation” end on on a regular basis shooters are gone. These finishes are reserved for high-dollar weapons that common shooters can’t afford. In spite of everything, it prices extra to pay somebody (who is aware of how one can do it proper) to do it … proper?
Anyway, right here you go. I took these at my yard vary. A few our sons dropped by and loved placing some lead downrange with it. They have been actually impressed, as they’re used to the poly-flat-black era of present pistols.
Specs & Options
Caliber 9mm
Colour Polished Blued
Barrel 4.7″ Chilly Hammer Solid, 1:10
Slide Solid Carbon Metal, Polished Blued
Body Solid Carbon Metal, Polished Blued
Sights White Dot Entrance, Serrated Tactical Rack Rear
Recoil System SA-35™ Recoil Spring & Information Rod
Grips Checkered Walnut
Magazines (1) 15-Spherical, Blued
Weight 31.5 oz
Size 7.8″
Top 4.8″
MSRP $799
There are three pretty apparent adjustments from the unique P35, made in Belgium, and the one we’ve got earlier than us in the present day. They’re:
Capability. The unique magazines held 13 rounds (which is why it was referred to as the “Excessive-Energy”). This pistol holds 15.
Sights. The unique had small, “built-in” sights. This one has taller, extra seen sights. The U-notch rear makes a terrific associate with the publish entrance.
Journal Disconnect Security. On the unique, sure… on this one, no. (Yay!)
How Did It Shoot?
We gathered three 9mm hundreds from Black Hills. I’m blessed that they provide ammo for my critiques. I grabbed:
115-grain FMJ
124-grain JHP
100-grain HoneyBadger (no house)
We arrange targets at 20 yards and put lead downrange. Listed here are three consultant targets…
115-grain. 1166 fps, 7.1 commonplace deviation
124-grain JHP. 1155 fps, 12.5 commonplace deviation
100-grain HoneyBadger. 1366 fps, 19.8 commonplace deviation
It all the time amazes me that, of all the opposite hundreds I shoot in no matter caliber, the quickest of the bunch – the HoneyBadger – is often probably the most correct and closest to level of purpose. That’s spectacular, for a very-light-for-caliber bullet touring at warp pace. (Sorry, Trekkies…)
The pistol shot like it’s alleged to. It dealt with very properly, was greater than correct sufficient for its supposed function, and fed the whole lot we fed it. I received’t reinvent the wheel right here… Excessive-Powers have outfitted many militaries all over the world for many years, and so they are likely to work as anticipated.
Summing Up
As I mentioned above, that is an replace to my earlier assessment, so we’ll bow out now. Suffice it to say that the gun carried out as anticipated, was very fantastically completed, and would make a terrific addition to any pistol assortment. The one draw back, as I see it, is that it comes with just one journal. Each gun shipped in the present day ought to have three. If they should add a couple of dollars to the price of the gun, do it… one shouldn’t be acceptable. The great half is that Excessive-Energy magazines can be found.
Apart from that, this pistol ought to suffice to meet a necessity for a military-type, single-action 9mm. You may want to check out it. At $750, it’s pretty reasonably priced, and road costs must be much less. Now’s your likelihood so as to add a ‘shiny” Excessive-Energy to your gun protected!
Hyperlinks To Gadgets Used In This Assessment
