Springfield SA-35 Magazines

ArchAngelCD · #1 06-15-2022, 01:45 AM

Does anyone here know who is manufacturing the OEM magazines for the Springfield Hi-Power? I want to start looking for the best price for a few before they might be banned since they are 15 round mags.

When the TV show Guns and Ammo reviewed the new Hi-Power they told us who makes the magazines but I can't remember who. They might be Mec-Gear or ProMags or something similar. I know they are available on the Springfield site stamped SA but I'm trying to save some money without compromising reliability. Any info will be appreciated...

dsf · #2 06-15-2022, 02:02 AM

BOTACH carries MecGar "SA-35" 15 rounders for a good price - $25.00 ain't bad.

ArchAngelCD · #3 06-15-2022, 02:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dsf

BOTACH carries MecGar "SA-35" 15 rounders for a good price - $25.00 ain't bad.

I appreciate that info but what I'm looking for is the name of the company who makes the OEM mags for the Springfield SA-35.

murphydog · #4 06-15-2022, 06:02 AM

The current issue of Guns Magazine (August 2022) has an SA-35 writeup by Massad Ayoob and he notes the magazines are Mec-Gar. Agree with laying in a supply.

gwpercle · #5 06-15-2022, 09:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dsf

BOTACH carries MecGar "SA-35" 15 rounders for a good price - $25.00 ain't bad.

I've never bought a MecGar that didn't work or wasn't well made of quality materials .
If you can ... get MecGar ... it doesn't matter how cheap they are ... if they don't work half the time ... they aren't worth doodly-squat .
I still carry an AMT Hardballer and MecGar are the only aftermarket magazines that will 100% reliably function in the old AMT .
Gary

ArchAngelCD · #6 06-15-2022, 10:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gwpercle

......
If you can ... get MecGar ... it doesn't matter how cheap they are ... if they don't work half the time ... they aren't worth doodly-squat .
.....

I agree that's why I said in my OP, "but I'm trying to save some money without compromising reliability."

Thank you all for the help.

Kevin J. · #7 06-15-2022, 01:44 PM

Yesterday I ran 200 rounds through my new Springfield SA-35 with one OEM (which is a MecGar as I understand it) and two after market MecGar magazines. Flawless on all. I got them for $25 each from Midway.

Rock185 · #8 06-15-2022, 01:48 PM

FWIW, I have three MecGar Hi Power magazines acquired in 1994 that still function reliably in my HI Powers. I have not even changed the springs. I'd say reliability is not compromised by using MecGar magazines....

Alk8944 · #9 06-15-2022, 03:53 PM

Greg Cote LLC shows 15 rd. Mec-Gar Hi-Power magazines in stock $23.95. He also has 13 and 10 round magazines if you want for a bit less
Ir you check the magazine you have that came with your gun, it should have "made in italy" stamped on the front of it. That is a Mec-Gar magazine!
Greg Cote LLC

huthike · #10 06-15-2022, 04:06 PM

I got my extras direct from Springfield. Still don’t have the gun however!

deno56 · #11 06-15-2022, 05:22 PM

The packaging on the OME from Springfield just say made in Italy.

quikdraw67 · #12 06-15-2022, 06:14 PM

Are the SA-35 mags unique, or will any BHP mag fit in them?

IIRC the original BHP mag was 13 rounds.

Wyo · #13 06-15-2022, 06:32 PM

Any BHP mag will fit the SA-35 but the Mec-Gars are the best by far. I;ve had lots of them for the BHP and all worked perfectly. Promags are a waste of time and money, and other after market mags are a **** shoot - some might work or might not.

WVSig · #14 06-15-2022, 06:44 PM

The SA-35 mags are made by MecGar in Italy. They are the same mag with the same followers on the MecGar labelled mags. The only difference is the marking stamped on the mags. The only mags that are different are actual FN mags which have a 4 or 2 legged follower. MecGar removed the legs from the follower to stuff 2 more rounds in there. They did the same thing with the Sig P228 & P226 mags.

The only problem with the 15s is that the follower can tilt and cause feeding problems. You are compromising reliability using a SA 35 15 round mag. The most reliable mag made for the BHP is the FN 4 or 2 legged follower with 13 round capacity.

These are the FN followers.

These are the followers in the MecGar 15s.

quikdraw67 · #15 06-15-2022, 06:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wyo

Any BHP mag will fit the SA-35 but the Mec-Gars are the best by far. I;ve had lots of them for the BHP and all worked perfectly. Promags are a waste of time and money, and other after market mags are a **** shoot - some might work or might not.

A huge thumbs up for Mec-Gar. They are OEM for some Walthers, and I use the 15 and 17rd in my 5906 & 5946.

As I say, better No Mag than Pro Mag

quikdraw67 · #16 06-15-2022, 06:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Save Ferrous!

All the modern extra capacity mags get away with it largely by being okay with cramming the springs down harder and shorter legs on the follower. It really isn't so much a mag body length or design issue.

Read the Mec-Gar link I posted.

I did, thank you.

WVSig · #17 06-15-2022, 06:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Save Ferrous!

All the modern extra capacity mags get away with it largely by being okay with cramming the springs down harder and shorter legs on the follower. It really isn't so much a mag body length or design issue.

Read the Mec-Gar link I posted.

The MecGar 15 BHP followers do not have any legs. The spring fits into a groove under the skirt of the follower.

sipowicz · #18 06-15-2022, 11:15 PM

If 13 was good enough for Serpico it’s good enough for me.

dsf · #19 06-15-2022, 11:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gwpercle

I've never bought a MecGar that didn't work or wasn't well made of quality materials .
If you can ... get MecGar ... it doesn't matter how cheap they are ... if they don't work half the time ... they aren't worth doodly-squat .
I still carry an AMT Hardballer and MecGar are the only aftermarket magazines that will 100% reliably function in the old AMT .
Gary

FWIW, just read of a fellow having issues with the MecGar 15s not working in his SA35. As noted the follower is different than the 13 rounders.

I have a 70's made BHP and the Argentine model. I figure for the price it's worth a shot.

WVSig · #20 06-16-2022, 07:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Save Ferrous!

I would say that skirt is "the legs", but if you read my post I was making a general comment about how mag makers fit more rounds into established mag body sizes. I have never seen the BHP 15 follower, but it works exactly has I described.

This has less in the leg department than BHP 15 follower:

Apple to oranges comparison. I have never understood why people argue about things they have never seen as if they are speaking from a position of knowledge.

Why would anyone listen to someone give advice about a magazine design when they admit to having never seen it let alone used. How can you possibly know you are correct? How can you speak to its function as designed?

Maybe the discussion is better left to people who actually have hands on experience with the design vs someone who is speculating. I bet you don’t own a BHP of any kind yet here you are giving your expert level advice.

The reality is that the 15 round Megar mags have a follower which is known to tilt. Most people report 100% function but heavy BHP users and shooters like myself have had failure to feeds as a result of the follower tilting. I have never had a 13 rounder 4 or 2 legged follower tilt.

My advice is if you want 100% reliability stick with the 13 rounder with 4 or 2 legged followers for carry. 15s are great for the range, training and plinking. YMMV

WVSig · #21 06-16-2022, 10:26 AM

Also to finish this up the current Mecgar 13s have the same 2 legged follower that the current FN/Browning mags have. Most of the FN/Browning out there are old new stock.

WVSig · #22 06-16-2022, 02:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Save Ferrous!

I didn't give any advice - I made a specific claim that all +capacity magazines worked by shortening the follower "legs". It was a general claim, and I was specifically right in this case. This isn't brain surgery - there is only so many ways to make more space in a magazine.

So I don't understand what your problem is. Did MecGar shorten the legs of the follower? Yup.

Did I offer advice? Nope.

If you want to follow up by quoting the "advice" I posted, have at it.

You really have to be dedicated to arguing about nothing to claim that a follower with no legs is somehow different than having the "legs shortened". How do legs shortened to zero not count as shortened legs? It is quite obviously the same basic follower shape otherwise.

The Mecgar 15 has no legs. They removed them entirely. That is fundamentally different then shortened legs. They did not reduce them from 1" to 1/2". They don't any legs. If they had any amount of legs they wouldn't tilt but then they would not be able to get 15 in the same tube. If you had ever seen one you would understand but you haven't yet here we are.

You have to be dedicated to arguing if you continue to post about something you have never seen and have no experience with. If you had experience with them you would understand that the design change alters the reliability of the design. The removal of the legs allows the follower to tilt and cause feeding problems.

You are giving advice in that you are saying its no big deal and linking to the MecGar site as if the different designs are comparable which they are not. Please show me the shortened legs on this follower? You should really stick to things you know about and have direct experience with.