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Girsan P-35, PI, LW, Match

S

Saltwater man

Alpha
New here, just ordered the Girsan in the title line last night. Wondering if anyone has any experience with this model, I've never bought a weapon that I haven't at least handled one like it, but they absolutely can't be found around Houston. I intend on it being my everyday carry after break in, my present carry is a Kimber Evo, nice little pistol, but I want a little more mag capacity and the same goes for my other usual carry, which is a Colt Defender in .45. I'm hoping that with the aluminum frame it won't be too much heavier than my Defender when loaded with a full mag. Anyway just hoping someone can tell me that I didn't screw up too badly.
 
I have a Girsan MCP35 Pi Match with the steel frame. Cute little thing.

It's in the shop getting a trigger job since it was gritty, and I'm swapping out a few parts (slide release, guide rod & recoil spring assembly and a new barrel) to better aftermarket ones.

While lighter, the aluminum-frame won't take the pounding as a steel frame will with a lot of shooting, especially hot loads. That's the case with aluminum framed 1911's also.

The BHP is a spring-sensitive design so make sure you replace worn-out springs if you shoot it a lot.

While a classic handgun keep in mind the BHP (and the copies) is an 81 year old design and not as durable as modern designs and a 1911 that is even older but built much differently.
 
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Yes, I'm aware of the shortcomings of aluminum frames, but it saves a half a pound and that's a lot hanging on my belt. This is the kind of feedback that I was looking for, I had looked at all of the gun test videos on it that I could find and it appears that the triggers are sort of hit or miss, as far as the grittyness and pull weight, or it could be that it just depends on how honest the testers are in their reports, but almost all of them mentioned that they aren't tack drivers. I've already been researching some upgrades if I find that it needs it after breakin. Thank you very much for your report, once I get it and get a couple of hundred rounds through it, I'll come back and give my opinion of the quality.
 
Saltwater man said:
Yes, I'm aware of the shortcomings of aluminum frames, but it saves a half a pound and that's a lot hanging on my belt. This is the kind of feedback that I was looking for, I had looked at all of the gun test videos on it that I could find and it appears that the triggers are sort of hit or miss, as far as the grittyness and pull weight, or it could be that it just depends on how honest the testers are in their reports, but almost all of them mentioned that they aren't tack drivers. I've already been researching some upgrades if I find that it needs it after breakin. Thank you very much for your report, once I get it and get a couple of hundred rounds through it, I'll come back and give my opinion of the quality.
Click to expand...

Besides my gunsmith who's skilled with BHPs doing a trigger job, here's the parts I'm upgrading in my Pi;


Browning Hi-Power Recoil Buffering Guide Rod | BHSpringSolutions LLC

Recoil buffering guide rod for Browning Hi-Power, Tisas BR9, Feg, FM, Arcus 94,98, and other clones
bhspringsolutions.com bhspringsolutions.com

BHAdvanced Extended Slide Stop for ALL HI-Powers (chambered in 9mm) | BHSpringSolutions LLC

Hi-Power Extended Slide Stop
bhspringsolutions.com bhspringsolutions.com

1) The barrel will be a significant improvement over the OEM,

2) The new recoil guide rod system will have a much longer lifespan, and will be a lot easier to take on & off compared to the OEM which requires twisting and has the limited lifespan.

3) and the extended slide stop make it easier to take the slide off, and be stronger than the OEM.

The quality of my Pi is nice, but having owned/used BHPs (all full-sized FNs) since the mid-80's, and based on research I've done all three of the above BHSS parts are practical upgrades for the Pi.

I wanted a LW for the same reasons but they were unobtainable in my area, and I was lucky to find the only steel PI around for a good closeout price.

My .02.
 
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I have that exact same model. I like it a lot. But I'm a long time Hi-Power fan anyway.
Trigger is a little heavy, but I can live with it. So far its been completely reliable and acceptably accurate.
The alloy frame makes a big difference in how it carries.
The only thing I don't like is that the rear sight is not adjustable. For me the gun shoots slightly left and can't be adjusted. But it does come from the factory cut for an optic. I'm expecting delivery of a green dot optic today. ;)
 
Talyn said:
Besides my gunsmith who's skilled with BHPs doing a trigger job, here's the parts I'm upgrading in my Pi;


Browning Hi-Power Recoil Buffering Guide Rod | BHSpringSolutions LLC

Recoil buffering guide rod for Browning Hi-Power, Tisas BR9, Feg, FM, Arcus 94,98, and other clones
bhspringsolutions.com bhspringsolutions.com

BHAdvanced Extended Slide Stop for ALL HI-Powers (chambered in 9mm) | BHSpringSolutions LLC

Hi-Power Extended Slide Stop
bhspringsolutions.com bhspringsolutions.com

1) The barrel will be a significant improvement over the OEM,

2) The new recoil guide rod system will have a much longer lifespan, and will be a lot easier to take on & off compared to the OEM which requires twisting and has the limited lifespan.

3) and the extended slide stop make it easier to take the slide off, and be stronger than the OEM.

The quality of my Pi is nice, but having owned/used BHPs (all full-sized FNs) since the mid-80's, and based on research I've done all three of the above BHSS parts are practical upgrades for the Pi.

I wanted a LW for the same reasons but they were unobtainable in my area, and I was lucky to find the only steel PI around for a good closeout price.

My .02.
Click to expand...
Yes, those are pretty much the same upgrades that I have in mind and possibly a trigger job, depending on how the trigger on my pistol turns out.
 
Grayfox said:
I have that exact same model. I like it a lot. But I'm a long time Hi-Power fan anyway.
Trigger is a little heavy, but I can live with it. So far its been completely reliable and acceptably accurate.
The alloy frame makes a big difference in how it carries.
The only thing I don't like is that the rear sight is not adjustable. For me the gun shoots slightly left and can't be adjusted. But it does come from the factory cut for an optic. I'm expecting delivery of a green dot optic today. ;)
Click to expand...
That's good to hear about its reliability, that was one of the things that I was worried about. I'm not really considering an optic, as I'm just too old fashioned to want one, but I am hoping that the high visibility front sight helps, as my eyes are not what they used to be and I'm hoping that it will help me pick up the front sight more quickly.
 
My Girsan MCP35 Pi Match nor my full-sized FN BHPs are not regularly carried since I use more modern types, but I always look to improve a platform with the appropriate aftermarket upgrades when needed.

No optics for me since I just don't need them, and they add unneccessary bulk.

The Girsan MCP35 Pi Match doesn't have an optics plate which is a plus.
 
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