Springfield SA-35 4″ Review: Fast, Flat, Deadly

Estimated reading time: 13 minutes

Springfield’s 4-inch SA-35 keeps the soul of the Hi Power alive while making it faster, handier, and easier to carry. If you already like the full-size gun, this trimmed-down steel 9mm may be the one that really gets under your skin.

Why the Springfield SA-35 4″ Still Makes the Hi Power Matter

John Browning’s influence on the firearms world cannot be understated. From the 1911 to the M2 .50 caliber machine gun, his designs have defended freedom for over 100 years. His two most influential pistols, the 1911 and the P-35 Hi Power, have been carried by military, law enforcement, and intelligence agencies worldwide. Unlike the 1911, the Hi Power is sleek, sophisticated, and elegant. Most famously, it was the duty pistol for the famed British Special Air Service. It also served as the first duty pistol for the FBI’s Hostage Rescue Team, and until recent years, the Hi Power could be found in embassy safes from Tel Aviv to Karachi.

A lesser-known fact is that Browning designed the P-35 for the French military. The Hi Power was an engineering marvel. In order to accommodate the 15-round high-capacity magazine, Browning utilized a completely different fire control system than on the 1911. Instead of having a trigger bar that ran through the grip and interfaced with the sear/hammer, as with the 1911, Browning came up with a novel approach. On the Hi Power, the trigger bar moves upward and engages a lever mounted in the slide. The lever toggles on a pin and depresses the sear that is located in the rear of the frame. This design allowed Browning to keep the diameter of the frame to a minimum while incorporating a 13-round magazine. A magazine disconnector prevented the pistol from being fired without a magazine.

Springfield Armory Revives the Hi Power With Real Upgrades

In 2018, Browning Firearms announced that, after over 80 years of production, it was discontinuing the Hi Power. The demand for Hi Powers went through the roof, and prices increased exponentially. Then came a surprise! In October of 2021, Springfield Armory introduced the SA-35.

Springfield was quick to point out that the SA-35 is not an exact copy of the Browning design. Rather, it is an updated and improved version of the classical design. The SA-35 comes with a great trigger, excellent sights, and lacks the magazine safety. Springfield also finishes the SA-35 with an attractive and functional matte blue finish. They also upgraded the magazine capacity by using a 15-round magazine, and even beveled the magazine well. The majority of original Browning parts and after-market accessories will fit the SA-35 with little or no fitting.

I quickly ordered the new gun and was very impressed with the overall quality, construction, and finish. Sometime later, I sent the pistol to the late Karl Sokol, of Chestnut Mountain Sports. Karl was a legendary gunsmith who was known for his no-nonsense approach to building a fighting pistol. The full-size SA-35, shown in the photos, reflects Karl’s excellent work. Unfortunately, Karl passed away in 2022.

🛒 Check Current Price for Springfield SA-35 on GunsAmerica

Where the Compact Hi Power Idea Really Came From

In addition to the standard size Hi Power, Browning made a number of compact Hi Powers, commonly known as the Detective Model. It featured the standard, full-size frame, with a shorter 4” barrel and slide. Essentially, it is the Hi Power version of a 1911 Commander. These are somewhat rare and bring a premium price when they can be located.

If you are of my generation, you may remember a very talented gunsmith named Austin Behlert. In his day, Behlert was something of a mad scientist and did some amazing work. As far back as the 1960’s, he was chopping, tuning, and whittling on guns. His Browning Hi Power Mini Combat was a chopped Hi Power that featured, not only a reduced slide, but a shortened frame. He also grafted finger grooves to the front strap, squared the trigger guard, and installed Smith & Wesson adjustable revolver rear sights on these guns. They were a true work of art and something I have long lusted for. These occasionally come up for sale and, typically, sell very quickly.

When I attended the 2025 NRA Convention, I stopped by the Springfield booth and visited with my old friend Mike Humphries. Mike was my editor at Combat Handguns and later GunsAmerica before taking a position with Springfield. During our conversation, I asked Mike about new models for the SA-35 line. He got a quizzical look on his face and, with a wink and a nod, said to stay tuned. Fast forward to February of this year, and I received a call that the new 4” SA-35 was shipping.

Springfield SA-35 4″ Review: Compact Hi Power, Full-Size Attitude

I took delivery of the new SA-35 4” while the embargo was still in place. This allowed almost a month to schedule a couple of range sessions, do some research, and write this. After receiving the pistol, I contacted Mike and asked why they didn’t name the new gun the SA-35 Compact, or give it some other designation other than 4”. He stated that it was a corporate decision that reflects the continuing expansion of the line. Okay, Mike, but for simplicity’s sake, forgive me if I refer to it as the SA-35 Compact!

As with the full-size SA-35, the compact ships in a custom pistol rug and comes with two 15-round magazines. The fit and finish on our test pistol is as good, if not slightly better, than on the original pistol. The matte blue finish is attractive and seems to wear well. The trigger pull averaged a clean 4 lbs. 1 oz., which is exceptional for any Hi Power. The walnut stocks are nicely checkered, and the frame fits. The rear sight is a ledge design with a “U” notch, while the front sight is a dovetailed post with a white dot. Springfield wisely equips the SA035 models with an extended thumb safety that is actually usable. A ring-style hammer prevents any bite.

The new SA-35 retains the original size frame and operating controls. The slide and barrel have been cut to 4”, reducing the overall to 6 7/8”. The weight of the new pistol, without a magazine, is 28.1 oz. Disassembly follows the standard Hi Power procedures. Besides the shorter slide and barrel, the only significant change I noticed is with the recoil spring assembly. Springfield equips the 4” SA-35 with a flat recoil spring that rides on a full-length recoil spring guide. The recoil spring guide, on the Compact, measures 3.14” in comparison to 1.85” on the standard SA-35. The 4” barrel is bright stainless and is nicely crowned. I did notice that the new SA-35 trigger has a very “soft” reset with no tactile indication. While this was not a problem for me, it could cause an issue for some shooters.

Range Results: How the SA-35 4″ Ran With Premium Defense Loads

I was able to work in two range sessions with the new SA-35 4”. I broke the gun in with 100 rounds of Federal 115 gr. FMJ red box. I then ran the three premium defense loads, shown in the chart. Initially, I had several incidents with a premature slide lock with a loaded magazine. After 100 rounds or so, this issue disappeared. Throughout the tests, I had no issues with feeding, extraction, or ejection of any of the loads. The chart below reflects both velocity data and accuracy with the loads tested.

Manufacturer	Load	Avg. Vel	ES	SD	Accuracy
Federal Syntech Defense	138 SJHP	1,075.4	17.9	5.9	1.4”
Speer Gold Dot	124 JHP	1,151.98	42.2	16.2	1.1”
Hornady Critical Defense	115 FTX	1,161.3	35.7	12.9	1.35”
Velocity Measured Garmin Xero C-1 / Accuracy @ 15 yards

My initial shooting impression was very positive. The shorter slide cycled significantly faster than the full-size pistol. This brings the pistol back on target quicker, enabling faster follow-up shots. The trigger broke cleanly and, despite the lack of feedback, I never short-stroked the trigger. The “U” notch rear and white dot front sight were easy to track during recoil. The single issue throughout the tests dealt with several sharp edges on the frame and thumb safety.

As is my custom, I shot The Test that consists of 10 rounds, from 10 yards, in 10 seconds. The Test is shot on a B8 bullseye target and scored using values on the target. This round is shot cold and is only shot once. While this sounds like a very simple drill, it can be challenging. I completed the drill in 8.75 seconds with a score of 98/100 with 3 Xs. This was probably a personal best with only two rounds. I pushed into the 9 ring!

Custom Leather for the SA-35 4″ From Mark Garrity

With the advent of heat guns and Kydex, there are fewer and fewer custom leather makers. Many of the “Johnny come lately” makers simply copy existing designs, or use a universal pattern, and don’t understand concealment, retention, and comfort. Mark Garrity is a recently retired lawman who has been making professional holsters for over 30 years. Mark and I met years ago and quickly became friends. He is a one-man shop that, upon receiving an order, custom-makes each holster.

I call Mark, and after swearing him to secrecy, asked if he could build me a holster for a 4” Hi Power. He jumped at the opportunity and, several weeks later, I received a version of his 2C1. The 2C1 is Mark’s version of my late friend, Lou Alessi’s, DOJ holster. As expected, it was perfectly executed. It fits the Hi Power perfectly and provides the ideal carry platform.

The One SA-35 4″ Flaw That Drew Blood

The new SA-35 4’ had one major issue that was carried over from the original models. The edges on the rear tang of the frame are extremely sharp and abrasive to the web of the shooter’s hand! The issue is exaggerated even more when the thumb is resting on the thumb safety. On my first range trip, it actually cut the web of my hand, drawing blood. I also found the trailing edge of the thumb safety uncomfortable. These are easy fixes that I find disappointing on an $800 pistol. If there is a positive, it is that the matte blue finish is easily touched up. Some light work with a file and sanding sticks will make a significant difference in the shootability of the SA-35.

Final Verdict on the Springfield Armory SA-35 4

Many will say that the “Hi Power” is an antique whose time has passed. I can tell you that if the SA-35 was not popular, Springfield would not be introducing a new model. 90 years later, it remains a viable option for serious men!

If you like the SA-35, you will absolutely fall in love with the 4” model. The improved balance, overall size, and improved shooting characteristics are enticing. Add exceptional reliability to the list and Springfield Armory has a winner! It will be hard, if not impossible, to send this one back.

For more information, visit springfieldarmory.com

Springfield Armory SA-35 4″ Specifications

Springfield Armory SA-35 4”
Caliber	9mm
Barrel	4.” 1:10 Cold Hammer Forged/Recessed Crown
Slide/Frame	Forged Carbon Steel/Carry Bevel
Sights	Tactical Rack Rear/Gold Bead Front
Weight	28.1 oz.
Length	6 7/8”
Magazines	15-Round
Stocks	Checkered Walnut
Finish	Matte Blue
MSRP	$799.00

Springfield SA-35 4″ Pros and Cons

• Pros: Excellent trigger, strong reliability after break-in, faster cycling than the full-size gun, very good sights, usable thumb safety, handsome matte blue finish, and a carry-friendly Hi Power format that still feels like a fighting pistol.
• Cons: Sharp frame tang and thumb safety edges, soft trigger reset with little tactile feedback, and the lingering disappointment that an $800 pistol still needs a little edge work.

Related Reads from GunsAmerica Digest

• More Springfield SA-35 coverage
• More Browning Hi Power articles
• More 9mm carry pistol reviews

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