Girsan Hi Power

otis24 · Jun 17, 2025

Does anyone here have experience with Girsan and/or Tisas pistols? Would you trust them as a self-defense option? I'm thinking of getting a Girsan MC PI35 LW pistol for concealed carry. From the reviews that I have seen, these are very reliable pistols. Some reports have stated that the finish might not be as nice but fit and function are good. Please share your thoughts.

38 Specialist · Jun 17, 2025

I have a Tisas Hi Power clone. Over several trips to the range it has performed without flaw and had been fun to shoot. I would trust them for self defense. But i would trust a Glock 19 or 17 even more.

DWalt · Jun 17, 2025

I own none, but every review I have seen regarding the Turkish pistols has been favorable. No reason they shouldn’t be. The Turks are making copies of pistols having designs that were long ago perfected, their machine tools are modern, and their machinists, metallurgists, and engineers are likely to be as skilled as any others in the world. Not like they are made using only hacksaws and files, starting with a pile of scrap iron. Turkey is not a technologically backward nation.

Grayfox · Jun 17, 2025

I have two of the Girsan Hi-Power clones. A PI and an Ops model. Other than a slightly heavy trigger, I like 'em. Well made and accurate. I even carry the PI model from time to time.

mckenney99 · Jun 17, 2025

otis24 said:
Does anyone here have experience with Girsan and/or Tisas pistols? Would you trust them as a self-defense option? I'm thinking of getting a Girsan MC PI35 LW pistol for concealed carry. From the reviews that I have seen, these are very reliable pistols. Some reports have stated that the finish might not be as nice but fit and function are good. Please share your thoughts.

I bought one of the Girsan MCP35 PI LW Match pistols back in December of last year. I bought the pistol as a test bed for my first micro red dot sight platform and I finally chose my dot and got it mounted but haven't had a chance to get on the range to test it yet.
I have only run about 250 rds through it so far (without the dot sight), but there wasn't a single failure. That's with 115gr, 124gr & 147gr FMJ rounds only so far. I am very impressed with the metal finishing on the Girsan with very few tool marks anywhere. The trigger on my pistol has a pretty smooth take up, a hard wall and then a fairly good but typical break. Reset is typical Hi Power requiring a full release forward of the trigger to get reset. The LW PI model has the flat trigger so the actual trigger movement distance is shorter than the classic curved trigger.

My only concern on the PI models is the use of a proprietary recoil spring guide rod & springs and so far spares/replacements have not been available and on the Hi power the recoil spring guide rods are a known failure part. I am also concerned by the fact the pistols are made in Turkey and they have a long history of just stopping production of certain firearms and then spare parts are not available. I am considering ordering a 2nd LW PI just to have on hand for the parts that aren't interchangable with regular Hi Powers.

I am a huge Hi Power fan and own a post war standard factory FN P35, 3 full Novak Custom Browning builds (2x9mms/1x40s&w), an FEG and also a new Springfield SA35. Shooting the Springfield and the Girsan are the only ones that don't result in the web of my shooting hand getting pinched. I really like the extended beavertail on the Girsan LW PI models.

Note: I replaced the Girsan's extended slide lock/release lever with a standard Browning lever as the extended lever got in the way of my long thumbs.

Stickgunner · Jun 17, 2025

I would clean it first, then lube it up and put a few hundred rounds through it. If there is no trouble, put it in your rotation as a carry weapon.

huntsman22 · Jun 17, 2025

I carry the SA-35 and the Girsan depending on the day....

326MOD10 · Jun 17, 2025

I have a PI model and like it. Have had zero issues with it but have not put a lot of rounds through it.

I lean toward putting 500 rounds through my semi-automatics prior to deeming them worthy of carry. With any handgun you could get an excellent reviewed model that had a person having an off day put it together.

They are fun to shoot for sure but before any carry I would put it through my protocol to make sure I feel comfortable with the one I am carrying.

Now with that said there is always the exception to every rule. When i first started in LE I was issued a Sigma, which were new at the time.
That thing could shoot very well and throughout the training period not a malfunction one. Carried it for about 6 months, shot it several times during that period, and went to qualify with it and the firing pin was broken. It could have been that way for a few weeks to a month so you never know.

fordson · Jun 17, 2025

I just recently purchased a Girsan MC P35 PI, the “shorty” HP clone. I like it so far, but have only put about 150 rounds thru it. Only functional issue I have had is one double feed that jammed the slide, easily cleared. That could have been my fault as the mag may not have been fully seated. I also experienced hammer bite, which installing a C&S no-bite hammer (and sear) cured. Also changed out the OEM grips for wood grips. Those two functional issues aside, the pistol has been serviceable and reliable so far. The fit and finish are very good. I disassembled the piece for a complete cleaning and polishing of internal parts. No burrs or inferior internal parts were noted. I removed the MDC which lightened up the trigger considerably. Accuracy has been serviceable at 7 to 10 yards but the pistol is no tack driver so far. I’m hoping that as it breaks in, and I become more accustomed to it, that accuracy will improve. I really like this “Snubby” BHP clone and looking forward to adding it to my EDC rotation.

Swood · Jun 18, 2025

I have a MCP35 that I bought to replace the Browning HP I stupidly sold about 30 years ago. It feels and functions EXACTLY like I remember the Browning feeling. I wish I still had the Browning, but I'm very content with the Girsan. It is occasionally a cocked and locked carry with no issues at all.

mrcabinet2122 · Jun 18, 2025

I have the PI and really enjoy it. I would not hesitate to carry it. I put the fit/finish/quality above my Arcus clone, and it's every bit as good as, if not slightly better than my Feg. But it's not as nice as my FN. After taking out the mag safety, swapping out the main spring and doing a full fluff 'n buff on the internals, it has a very clean 4 1/4 lb. trigger. I was actually looking at a full size Girsan earlier today. The price was right, but I don't know if I can look past the ugly fde finish on it.

Martyk · Jun 18, 2025

Here's a super deal on a Turkish made, nickel plated Hi-Power clone. $370 from PSA:

https://palmettostatearmory.com/military-armament-corporation-p35-9mm-4-70-pistol-15rds-nickel-12000001.html

jlrhiner · Jun 18, 2025

I bought this guy for <$500. Works fine and has a pretty decent trigger once I removed the magazine cut off. @1000 rounds through it now and it's been perfectly reliable.

chrishayes · Jun 18, 2025

I don't own a Girsan but as far as the Turk imports, I have two. A GI 1911 from Tisas and more recently a K2-45 from Sarsilmaz. The 1911 came with a horrible trigger which $36 bucks (3 parts - new sear, sear spring and trigger solved the problem and dropped the trigger weight to 3.5 lbs. Now a fantastic gun and a better shooter than my Dan Wesson 1911!

The K2-45 is a CZ75 clone that they've reworked the grip to accommodate a double stack mag. holds 13 +1 in a grip that's better than my Beretta 92fs. The K2-45 is also a very nice gun and it's one of two in my entire collection that I never even had an inkling of any trigger work.

So far my Turk experiences are great! I would trust either, anytime as carry. The Tisas 1911 was at the time (I still see them for this price) $350 NIB. The SAR K2-45 was $479 when I bought it 3 yrs ago. It's much higher now.

JwesleyN · Jun 18, 2025

otis24 said:
Does anyone here have experience with Girsan and/or Tisas pistols? Would you trust them as a self-defense option? I'm thinking of getting a Girsan MC PI35 LW pistol for concealed carry. From the reviews that I have seen, these are very reliable pistols. Some reports have stated that the finish might not be as nice but fit and function are good. Please share your thoughts.

I picked up this Girsan M35 used for $399. Took the paint off polished it and rust blued it. Modified the front sight and got the trigger pull just under 5 lb. Fired about 400 rds through it and not one hiccup. I’ve got 3 Tisas 1911s and they have been great for the price.

duke2002 · Jun 18, 2025

I love high powers. I have a wwii highpower my dad got from my uncle. I mite have to look into one. Only turk gun i have is a canik. It shoots really well. I missed out on the argentine hi power when they came in when i was younger.

Onomea · Jun 19, 2025

Those prices sure are attractive...

Cartwright Jones · Jun 19, 2025

otis24 said:
Does anyone here have experience with Girsan and/or Tisas pistols? Would you trust them as a self-defense option? I'm thinking of getting a Girsan MC PI35 LW pistol for concealed carry. From the reviews that I have seen, these are very reliable pistols. Some reports have stated that the finish might not be as nice but fit and function are good. Please share your thoughts.

I have the California version which has the exaggerated chamber loaded indicator. Otherwise it is identical to any other iteration of the Hi Power. It is a fabulous recreation of an original icon and worthy of all the same credit as the original. I deactivated the factory magazine release safety and the trigger pull is improved, though still heavy to initial let off, which isn't a bad thing.

hallendavis · Jun 19, 2025

otis24 said:
Does anyone here have experience with Girsan and/or Tisas pistols? Would you trust them as a self-defense option? I'm thinking of getting a Girsan MC PI35 LW pistol for concealed carry. From the reviews that I have seen, these are very reliable pistols. Some reports have stated that the finish might not be as nice but fit and function are good. Please share your thoughts.

I bought the MCP-35 about three years ago and until very recently it's been an outstanding gun. However, I caution anyone who has a Girsan against replacing those hideous sights that come with the gun. Actually, they aren't hideous, they just take a LOT of getting used to. When they mill out the recess for the front sight on the Girsan MCP-35, they go all the way through the slide and even grind a bit into the internal barrel bushing. What's worse, the dovetail is oversized by about 0.0003" and after you install a new front sight, the chances are very good that you'll have to peen the living crap out of the sight in order to get it to fit snuggly. I installed a set of tritium sights, and the front sight has been peened repeatedly -- to the point of being slightly defaced -- and the damn front sight still works loose occasionally.
Recently I've been experiencing extraction problems -- but keep in mind that I have put 18,000+ rounds through this gun (I shoot a LOT), and extractors do wear out.
I highly recommend you check out BH Spring Solutions (.com) for anything you might need. This company is superb and I can't say enough good things about them, and they specialize in all things Hi Power.

sousana · Jun 19, 2025

Just purchased my 8th MAC P-35 Nickel plated hi power from psa. On sale for 369. I have 3 of the blued and 3 of the color case hardened models, slightly redesigned so little to no hammer bite. They are every bit as good as my original BHPs and my argentine hi powers including the detectives. I've looked at Girsan, just didn't get that quality vibe from them. BTW, along with this latest nickel hp, I got 2 Taurus Deputys, one in 45 colt, one in 357/38, 399 each. So far they all shoot spectacularly. All my hi powers sport Pachmyer Piranha g10 grips while all my SAA's sport Magnatusk grips, from ivory white to aged ivory to stag.

Girsan Hi Power

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