TFB Comparison: Hi-Power Face-Off

With a resurgence in popularity by pop culture and new shooters looking for different options, several companies have brought back the legendary Hi-Power. I have already done a review for the FN High Power and Springfield Armory SA-35 individually but wanted to take a closer look at them next to each other to give a better look at which one may be good for you. Let’s take a closer look at the new Hi Powers in our Hi-Power face-off.

FN High Power

The newest addition to the Hi Power gang is the FN High Power with a number of upgraded features from the original model. The biggest departure from the classic Hi Power model is a slightly larger variant that offers a bigger manual safety than the original, more slide and hammer clearance on the shooter’s hand as well as an upgraded capacity from 13 rounds to a much more industry standard 17 rounds. The biggest difference right off the bat is how much larger the pistol feels in the hand compared to the original design. The slight lengthening of the frame to accommodate the 17-round magazine does allow for larger hands to have a more comfortable grip on the handgun. Combine that with a slightly taller slide and there’s absolutely zero hammer bite or slide bite on this pistol. This is a huge plus for people with bigger hands and really was the selling point of why I wanted to purchase one before picking up the more classic SA-35. The match grade barrel on the FN has a wider ejection port for better cycling over the class right side ejection port you get on a standard Hi Power. Everything changed on the new FN High Power.

In addition to the changes with the handgun itself, the FN High Power comes in three different color variations with Black, Stainless, and an all-FDE version being available on the market currently. The black example I bought came with a high-quality soft case, 2 magazines, and an extra set of brown grips to make it the classic Hi Power look. They are made of high-grade polymer to be more durable but it still gives it that classic look when installed. I kept the all-black look to keep it sleek with the stainless trigger and hammer. I think it looks like a higher-end pistol straight out of the box but its MSRP of $1,384.99 is steep. Value will be different for everyone but if you’re looking for a slightly larger version of a classic Hi Power, then this may make perfect sense for you.

Springfield Armory’s SA-35

The SA-35 is one of the closest reproductions of the classic Browning Hi-Power. Springfield came out with the SA-35 back in 2021 and has been a valued addition to their lineup ever since. Springfield truly did their homework making a faithful reproduction and this is by far the most accurate reproduction for those who want the closest thing possible to the original Browning Hi Power. The SA-35 comes standard with a white dot front sight and blacked-out checkered rear sights. Springfield made the SA-35 come standard with a factory-tuned trigger which keeps the trigger right around 4.5 lbs for a crisp single-action trigger. The trigger is one of the stand-out features of this handgun. At the price point, I was very impressed with the trigger weight and the overall feel since it’s not a custom high-end pistol.

Another nice touch that Springfield included with the SA-35 is the addition of wood grips compared to the FN’s plastic grips. While I know the plastic grips will be more durable, there's something classic about a set of wood grips that just completes the overall feel of the pistol. While the SA-35 doesn’t have the 17-round capacity of the High Power from FN, it still has increased its capacity from the original models with a total of 15 rounds in a flush-fitting magazine. The MSRP of the Springfield is $799.99 which is less but you also get less in the packaging. The SA-35 only comes with one magazine from the factory and a much smaller soft carrying case. While it will do the job just fine, the overall package on the FN is nice, and having more than one magazine from the factory is convenient. The price difference between the two allows you to easily buy a spare magazine though and still save a rather hefty amount of money.

Customizing and Aftermarket Support

When it comes to aftermarket support, there are a few options for both the FN and Springfield SA-35. If you’re looking for an Outside the Waistband holster or an Inside the Waistband holster, FN has a few different options available for you on their website to make life easier on the range or to carry in a concealed holster. The FN really is a shooter’s gun so having a holster you can use at the range makes this a much easier gun to train and run drills with at the range. In terms of aftermarket parts or support, the FN High Power doesn’t have a ton of options yet but as more time goes on and more people pick them up, I’m sure the aftermarket community will also be supporting this pistol.

The SA-35 has a few more options since this is a true reproduction of the original Hi-Power. There are plenty of companies out there who will do aftermarket work on the Springfields SA-35 because they are the closest thing to a true Browning. Companies like MK3 Firearms do full internal replacements and custom work making these the ultimate Hi Power. They prefer the Springfields just for ease of customization so if you’re looking for a modified Hi Power, the SA-35 is a great option for you.

My Personal Opinion

I personally own both of these handguns for different reasons. I like how the FN High Power is a modern take on the classic Hi Power look but offers modern features and improved safety placement. If you want to carry a Hi-Power and use it hard at the range, the FN High Power is the perfect gun. Combine that with the fact the frame and slide are slightly different and offer more room means it is more comfortable to shoot quickly at the range. If you want a really heavy-use range gun, the FN High Power is well worth the extra price. The only downside to this pistol is the fact it doesn’t feel like a true Hi-Power. It’s a very good pistol but feels like something different than the classic Hi Power.

The SA-35 is certainly the budget option between the two. It's more or less half the price and although it doesn’t come with as many features out of the box as the FN, it is the classic faithful reproduction of the original HI Power. Between the two, I think the Springfield has a slightly lighter trigger and is a bit easier to shoot quickly at the range.

Throughout my time with both, I think both are great in their own way and if you really want to use and abuse it, then the FN is a great option for you. If you want to have something classic without paying the high secondary prices for an original Browning Hi Power, the SA-35 is the absolute choice. I enjoy both, but if I’m sitting around just looking at guns I typically will grab the SA-35 over the FN just because it’s so close to the original Hi-Power. There’s no wrong answer here and it really boils down to what you want to do with the gun.

The SA-35 may be a much cheaper option but it really does feel special. It pulls all the nostalgic feelings of the original Hi-Power. I’m shocked by how good the trigger is on my SA-35 but that’s just an example of 1 I’m basing that on. Both are great options but they are very different pistols. I end up shooting the FN more but still pick up the SA-35 often to look at more so it’s really a toss-up. It really depends on what you want out of a pistol and make the decision for yourself but I’m glad I own both for that reason.