Video Review
“Solid” is how I describe the MC P35. It is not the lightest pistol on the planet, but its solid steel construction makes it reliable and accurate. The heavily textured grip panels are better than smooth slab-sided grips, and the grip angle and length are just right for my hands. I can feel them bite into my hands and hold them on the gun when it fires.
Competition in any action pistol sport requires adjustable sights, high magazine capacity, a target trigger, ambidextrous safety, and an extended beavertail grip – all standard features on the Girsan MC P35 OPS. Although one could compete with an original FN Hi-Power, these improvements are missing. I, for one, need all the help I can get while shooting a handgun.
The beavertail grip and flat-faced target trigger on the Girsan combine to give the control I need to squeeze through the shot. An original FN Hi-Power will occasionally bite the web of my hand, but Girsan has cured this flaw. I feel a flat trigger is best for target accuracy on any firearm, and the Girsan trigger is flat for its entire length, allowing the tip of my finger to control the squeeze straight back.
More Features
The MC P35 OPS has two features to improve sighting. First, it comes with well-defined adjustable metallic sights. The rear sight is nicely squared and picks up the front red fiber-optic sight well. I like iron sights – they are solid, reliable and do not need batteries.
Second, the OPS version comes with an accessory rail that will accept a laser sight or flashlight. This is helpful in any home defense situation.
Two more updated features are the ambidextrous safety and extended magazine capacity. Action pistol matches often require competitors to shoot weak handed, which requires an ambidextrous safety. The MC P35 safety is a bit larger than the original FN model, making it easier to flick off.
Girsan’s designers managed to increase the magazine capacity to 15 rounds from the original 13 while keeping the grip trim and manageable. I like that.
SPECIFICATIONS
- Caliber: 9mm
- Overall Length: 8 inches
- Weight: 1.8 pounds
- Width: 1.25 inches
- Height: 5 inches
- Material: Steel slide and frame
- Barrel: 4.87 inches
- Sights: Rear sight adjustable for windage and elevation, fiber-optic red front
- Safety: Ambidextrous
- Sight Radius: 6.25 inches
- Trigger: Flat-faced target trigger
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Magazine: Two 15-round steel magazines included
SHOOTING TIME
My favorite 2-liter root beer jugs and steel targets are set at 7 yards for a practical accuracy test in sunny Area 52, Arizona. Warming up, I need seven shots to hit five evenly spaced jugs. The pistol feels solid, and the grips hold me steady. The sights are clearly defined and bright, yet two shots miss to the left.
My only gripe about this pistol is its trigger. It breaks at over 7 pounds and is challenging to hold on target, not unlike the original FN P35 High Power trigger design, which is also challenging and heavy. Thankfully, the flat trigger shape allows me to engage my fingertip to squeeze straight back. This helps to avoid my habit of pulling left at the break, and I do believe the heavy trigger squeeze can be overcome with practice.
Ammunition used today is quality PMC Bronze 9mm in both 115-grain hollow points and 124-grain full metal jacket. The steel Mec-Gar magazines are well made. They insert cleanly, drop clear, and hold the slide open on the last shot every time.
As I take aim at a single root beer jug remaining beyond the 7-yard mark, I notice that the Girsan Hi-Power is a bit smaller overall than other full-size pistols such as the Glock 17 or Colt 1911. This pistol will be easier to conceal but still packs a lot of firepower. Overcoming the heavy trigger squeeze once again causes my first shot to miss, but the second shot blows the jug off the stump.
Field Notes
Trigger aside, this Hi-Power is easy to grip and control, thanks to the side grips and extended beavertail grip. It is slim, and all controls are within reach. The slide release, safety, and magazine release are oversized.
Groups on steel are centered well, and I can even make a head shot accurately. Shooting faster requires squeezing the trigger straight back, and shots stay on center. The adjustable iron sights are not holding me back. I like irons and can see the red-fiber optic front sight well.
My final test is to insert an original 13-round FN Hi-Power magazine to test for reliability. It fits the Girsan, locks into place, and functions well. At this point, I have a better feeling for the trigger and keep all rounds on steel during a final mag dump. Not bad! No jams, failures to feed, or ejection issues were encountered in my test.
PROS & CONS
