Posted: 1/7/2026 1:02:47 PM EDT
[Last Edit: rebel_rifle][Edited]
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Updated from other thread in order to not hijack it any more. For those that saw my post in the previous SA-35 thread, I just got notified by SA cs it has been fixed. I had sent it back a few weeks ago after having it repaired the first time. The issue was FTE’s with 115 grain ammo. The heavier bullets tended to have no FTE’s, but my confidence was not enough to trust it in a carry situation. The cs rep has been upfront and very quick to respond as has their smiths. Granted, it never should have had to go back, but shit happens. This time they polished the chamber a second time, “tuned” the extractor and replaced the trigger lever. They shot 6 magazines through it with no FTE’s. I am having them ship it back next week as I am out of town and don’t have anyone at home to sign for it. I will definitely update with the results once I get it to the range. |
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Hopefully it just runs with 115gr's now. The fact that Springfield actually ran 90 rounds through it bodes well though. I'm curious how a high-power extractor is tuned considering they used the external extractor on the SA-35 and I've only heard that phrase used with the 1911 and XD extractor (both of which are internal). I'll have to look that up when I have a moment. |
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Originally Posted By NN300BLK: I'm curious how a high-power extractor is tuned considering they used the external extractor on the SA-35 and I've only heard that phrase used with the 1911 and XD extractor (both of which are internal). I'll have to look that up when I have a moment. I am curious as well. Let me know what you find out. |
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Originally Posted By rebel_rifle: I am curious as well. Let me know what you find out. I am not a gunsmith, but almost everything I found related to bending a 1911 extractor (and other internal extractors) to adjust the tension on the case rim. It doesn't really seem to apply to the external pivoting extractor design-- perhaps a gunsmith would know what tuning this type of extractor entails. In the 1911, the extractor acts as a leaf spring which provides the necessary tension on the case rim to extract the case while not providing too much tension and interfering with the feeding of the next cartridge. The SA-35 uses a pivoting external extractor with a coil spring providing tension on the end opposite the claw end (basically a simple lever system where the spring provides tension on one end, the extractor pin acts as a fulcrum and the opposite end applies pressure to the case rim). Maybe they adjusted the extractor spring tension or replaced the extractor spring??? |
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Originally Posted By jmt686: There is a pad on the inside edge of the extractor that limits how far inward it can pivot. Filing this pad down a little lets the extractor grab the rim a little better. Interesting. So, basically the extractor is tuned by adjust throw instead of tension. |
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Originally Posted By jmt686: There is a pad on the inside edge of the extractor that limits how far inward it can pivot. Filing this pad down a little lets the extractor grab the rim a little better. That makes sense but, at least to me, doesn’t explain why the heavier bullet weights don’t FTE, only the 115’s. Any thoughts on this? |
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What brand(s) of 115 grain ammo? Winchester White Box used to be known for out of spec brass. A lot of the different 115 grain FMJ is loaded pretty light to keep costs down. They will "usually" cycle in "most" 9mm firearms. If you can find a box of Federal 9bp (not bple), give it a try. It's a full-power, standard pressure load that normally works in pretty much anything. I'm not sure how effective the hollow point is, but it tends to be reliable and accurate. Kind of like trying CCI Mini-mags before saying a .22 doesn't work. |
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It was not Winchester white box ammo. The 115 loads were Remington UMC, Fiocchi, CCI, and Magtech. Anything 124 and heavier did just fine. My initial thought was possibly a mismatched recoil spring weight. Years ago I had a factory new Browning Belgian Hi Power. I shot thousands of rounds through that gun with never a hiccup. |
| At least according to Ayoob (have not heard this from SA), the SA-35 is +P rated. I wonder if the gun was tuned for the heavier loads vs the older Belgian Hi Power. |
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Originally Posted By NN300BLK: At least according to Ayoob (have not heard this from SA), the SA-35 is +P rated. I wonder if the gun was tuned for the heavier loads vs the older Belgian Hi Power. Very good point. From what I can find online, the SA-35 is +P rated. You very well may have found the issue. |
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Originally Posted By NN300BLK: I am not a gunsmith, but almost everything I found related to bending a 1911 extractor (and other internal extractors) to adjust the tension on the case rim. It doesn't really seem to apply to the external pivoting extractor design-- perhaps a gunsmith would know what tuning this type of extractor entails. In the 1911, the extractor acts as a leaf spring which provides the necessary tension on the case rim to extract the case while not providing too much tension and interfering with the feeding of the next cartridge. The SA-35 uses a pivoting external extractor with a coil spring providing tension on the end opposite the claw end (basically a simple lever system where the spring provides tension on one end, the extractor pin acts as a fulcrum and the opposite end applies pressure to the case rim). Maybe they adjusted the extractor spring tension or replaced the extractor spring??? I don't know about the SA35 but they may use a "pad" near the end of the extractor that can be filed down to provide more tension? The old SW semi auto's had that feature. Pain in the ass as one could ruin the part if to much was removed which would give it excessive tension. |
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This is the scariest damn pistol to purchase online right now. Im absolutely itching for one, but I am scared to death that it will be a POS like so many reviewers have come to report. It seems there are only a couple reputable shops that work on them and the lead times are in the years, not months.. |
Robert Muldoon Survived.
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Originally Posted By campower: This is the scariest damn pistol to purchase online right now. Im absolutely itching for one, but I am scared to death that it will be a POS like so many reviewers have come to report. It seems there are only a couple reputable shops that work on them and the lead times are in the years, not months.. Not to steer you either way, but I would only buy new so that if needed you would have SA cs available. So far they’ve been pretty quick but then again I have had to send it in twice. I get it back on Saturday, at least I should, and I’ll report back how it goes. |
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Originally Posted By rebel_rifle: Not to steer you either way, but I would only buy new so that if needed you would have SA cs available. So far they’ve been pretty quick but then again I have had to send it in twice. I get it back on Saturday, at least I should, and I’ll report back how it goes. Thanks for the reply. So these problems are just as prevalent in current models as they are older ones? If a guy buys one of these new, is there a aftermarket extractor/spring a guy could just buy new and install to just not worry about it? |
Robert Muldoon Survived.
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Originally Posted By campower: Thanks for the reply. So these problems are just as prevalent in current models as they are older ones? If a guy buys one of these new, is there a aftermarket extractor/spring a guy could just buy new and install to just not worry about it? Originally Posted By campower: Originally Posted By rebel_rifle: Not to steer you either way, but I would only buy new so that if needed you would have SA cs available. So far they’ve been pretty quick but then again I have had to send it in twice. I get it back on Saturday, at least I should, and I’ll report back how it goes. Thanks for the reply. So these problems are just as prevalent in current models as they are older ones? If a guy buys one of these new, is there a aftermarket extractor/spring a guy could just buy new and install to just not worry about it? Supposedly the newer ones had been “fixed” but mine is one of the newer ones and still has the same issue. I did as some suggested and bought a new extractor and spring from C&S but this did not fix it. My guess is there’s some machining where the extractor sits that is not to spec. Some have reported burrs in the channel on theirs but mine had no burrs and the extractor was able to move enough. I put the original back in before sending it back the first time. They did replace it for some reason but it still had FTE’s, fewer, but still had them. Heavier bullets seemed to do just fine, it was the 115’s that FTE. That being said, I’m still not so sure it wouldn’t benefit from a different weight recoil spring. But that’s me guessing. |
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Originally Posted By rebel_rifle: Supposedly the newer ones had been “fixed” but mine is one of the newer ones and still has the same issue. I did as some suggested and bought a new extractor and spring from C&S but this did not fix it. My guess is there’s some machining where the extractor sits that is not to spec. Some have reported burrs in the channel on theirs but mine had no burrs and the extractor was able to move enough. I put the original back in before sending it back the first time. They did replace it for some reason but it still had FTE’s, fewer, but still had them. Heavier bullets seemed to do just fine, it was the 115’s that FTE. That being said, I’m still not so sure it wouldn’t benefit from a different weight recoil spring. But that’s me guessing. I really appreciate you sharing your experience on here. With my luck if I were to pick one up there is a 100% chance of failure. |
Robert Muldoon Survived.
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Originally Posted By rebel_rifle: Not to steer you either way, but I would only buy new so that if needed you would have SA cs available. So far they’ve been pretty quick but then again I have had to send it in twice. I get it back on Saturday, at least I should, and I’ll report back how it goes. 100% agree on any Springfield product-- because of their excellent cs, not necessarily quality issues. The HS Produkt's have never had any issues in my experience, but the SA cs is worth more than $100 or $200 savings on used vs new. |
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Okay, I was finally able to go shoot today after getting it back from SA for the second time. I purposely shot nothing but 115 grain ammo, CCI, Magtech and Remington UMC. It functioned perfectly and never had a single FTE. As much as I hated sending it in, I will readily admit SA’s CS was really good. No issues at all. Quick on all responses and they turned it around really quick. I will not hesitate at all in buying any other SA product. |
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Originally Posted By rebel_rifle: Okay, I was finally able to go shoot today after getting it back from SA for the second time. I purposely shot nothing but 115 grain ammo, CCI, Magtech and Remington UMC. It functioned perfectly and never had a single FTE. As much as I hated sending it in, I will readily admit SA’s CS was really good. No issues at all. Quick on all responses and they turned it around really quick. I will not hesitate at all in buying any other SA product. @rebel_rifle, what was the average turnaround time for your repairs? Unfortunately, my new Echelon is on its way back to SA. |
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Originally Posted By NN300BLK: @rebel_rifle, what was the average turnaround time for your repairs? Unfortunately, my new Echelon is on its way back to SA. Originally Posted By NN300BLK: Originally Posted By rebel_rifle: Okay, I was finally able to go shoot today after getting it back from SA for the second time. I purposely shot nothing but 115 grain ammo, CCI, Magtech and Remington UMC. It functioned perfectly and never had a single FTE. As much as I hated sending it in, I will readily admit SA’s CS was really good. No issues at all. Quick on all responses and they turned it around really quick. I will not hesitate at all in buying any other SA product. @rebel_rifle, what was the average turnaround time for your repairs? Unfortunately, my new Echelon is on its way back to SA. Average turnaround was about 2 weeks. |