At The Range: Springfield Armory SA-35 High Power

Without doubt, the High Power was one of the most famous pistols of the 20th century, serving around the world in a military capacity. With origins in the pre-World War II world, the High Power became famous for its service during the war and notable for its post-war service, particularly with the British army. Despite its long service, the High Power wasn't without its shortcomings, and Springfield Armory solved many of them in its new-for-2021 SA-35 High Power design.

Springfield's SA-35 High Power is built on a forged-steel frame and slide and includes a cold-hammer-forged barrel. The frame-and-slide combination is finished with a matte-blue treatment, and the external look of the gun is completed with the addition of a pair of checkered walnut stocks. Unlike High Power designs of old, the SA-35 does not include a magazine-disconnect safety, which makes for a great trigger pull unlike the weighty pulls found on earlier guns. Additionally, despite the traditional short beavertail, this new model features a redesigned rowel hammer that won't come back far enough to "bite" most shooters.

Other updates found on the SA-35 High Power include an upgraded set of sights, including a rear sight with a tactical-style ledge that allows the gun to be racked one-handed off a flat surface. Control-wise, the SA-35 features a slide-stop lever styled much like the ones found on classic High Powers. However, the single-side thumb safety has been greatly improved with more engagement area. Springfield also upgraded the magazine on its SA-35 by going with a 15-round option from Mec-Gar, leading to a two-round increase in capacity over the original High Power.

To see the Springfield Armory SA-35 High Power in action on the range, check out our range video above. To read more about the SA-35, check out Field Editor Justin Dyal's review, "Classic, Modern, American: The Springfield Armory SA-35 High Power."