Browning BDA .380, Oddball in a Tactical World

[DPris]

It is.

 

[TexasBill]

I talked to the folks at Browning who told me that, although it is no longer listed as an active product in their catalog, they still make small runs for Davidson's Inc. which distributes them to dealers. Davidson's website is Gallery of Guns. Using their "Gun Genie" you can find local dealers who can get one for you as well as get competing offers. Davidson's says they have 14 blued in stock.

BTW: I never heard of anyone getting their hand cut up by either the Browning or the Beretta. My wife, who is petite and has small hands, loves her Browning.

 

[publiuss]

very nice pistol, and while an adequate SD pistol, I have been thinking about getting one as a informal target plinker. I handload so ammo price isn't a factor, it should be a very smooth very low recoil plinker and armadillo killin machine.

 

[RHODIE_RIDGEBACK]

Hello y'all. I am new to this forum and have joined because I just bought a new blue bda and was looking for some good ruber grips. The original wood grips are just a tad wide but still good. I am very happy to read all the pro comments, especially the references to accuracy, as only shooting one can tell, no matter how pretty it is. I also have a Bersa and find it shoots as well as I can, but as many of the other poster have said, the BDA is one very lovely gun, and I have what I consider some very lovely guns. A Sig 229 Equinox, in 40 S&W and 357 Sig from thier custom shop. A Sig 239,also in both calibers, and a Sig Mosquito. A Browning Hi Power with a cyilinder and slide trigger job, and a CZ75, A PPK in 380. all of which I luv and luv to shoot, except perhaps the Mosquito. To balance the group, I also have one of the very first Ruger SP101 .327 Magnum revolvers, and that is one heck of a gun. Now that I have all the bragging behind me, for which I apologize, but I am a proud gun nut and behave accordingly, I have not yet had the pleasure of shooting the BDA, which I hope to do by the weekend. I would appreciate any comments as to the benefit of Pachmayer rubber grips, I am hopeing they are a tad narrower.

 

[usp9]

I would appreciate any comments as to the benefit of Pachmayr rubber grips, I am hopeing they are a tad narrower.

IMO the Pachmayr Signature grips add girth compared to the wood grips. They are excellent grips none-the-less.

Edit;

I've often wondered how well the Pachmayr Signiture grips would feel with the front and back strap pieces removed. Would the girth then be more similar to the original feel? I haven't worked up the gumption to take a knife to them yet.

 

[AJChenMPH]

I got grips from a Beretta 81/84 and popped them on...I think they slim down the grip somewhat:



However, there is a gap between the grip and the frame (it's for the frame-mounted safety that doesn't exist on the BDA):



Just beware that dust/dirt can get in there, and I had the pin (that the hammer pivots around) work itself loose.

 

[MYNEWSONG]

Browning bda 380

I have a browning bda 380 a great quality gun. With 13 rounds in the clip.
Does anyone know where i can find some grips for this pistol. White , ivory or pear style. Thanks.
Thanks for your help. [email protected]
ron

 

[SteelyNirvana]

I came across this thread after I picked up 4-13rnd BDA mags today for $10. I had planned to turn around and make a quick profit on them but now I'm thinking about keeping them and buying a BDA sometime in the near future. They look like great guns and the reviews I've read, I can't find any that are negative towards the gun. Never even thought of having a .380 until now.

So does anyone have anything bad to say about the Browning BDA? Any reason why I shouldn't buy one?

 

[usp9]

So does anyone have anything bad to say about the Browning BDA? Any reason why I shouldn't buy one?

It's easier to find the Beretta 84, the mags are interchangable. Both are fine guns, great design, reliable...I have nothing bad to say. One of the guns I most enjoy shooting.

 

[mr.natural]

There is nothing bad to say about the Browning BDA.380, unless you just don't like the caliber..
My friends tell me I need to carry a larger caliber, i.e. 9mm or .40 cal. Well, I can't hit the side of a barn with a .40, But I can put 10 rounds from my BDA.380 in a baseball, at 8 yards, in about 4 seconds.... So if you're a bad guy wantin' to f--- with me,, don't be afraid, all I carry is a .380 !

 

[MyTFAL]

Look, all I know about the Beretta/Browning is Tony Montana took out two assasins with machine guns with one, thats good enough for me.

 

[Triggernosis]

So if you're a bad guy wantin' to f--- with me,, don't be afraid, all I carry is a .380 !

Great quote! I think I may make that my signature line, if you don't mind....

 

[jackstinson]

I think we spend way too much time deciding what is tactical and what ain't.

A big AMEN to that.

.

 

[AJChenMPH]

So does anyone have anything bad to say about the Browning BDA?

Ummm...mine tears up the web of my hand (between my thumb and index finger) something fierce when I shoot it? The first DA pull is a tad heavy? It's tougher to find holsters for it? .380 ammo is harder to find and more expensive?

Actually, because of my first and last comments, I don't shoot it a whole lot any more (and when I do, I use a shooting glove), much less carry it...but I still love to break it out and just fondle it (unloaded, of course).

 

[mr.natural]

Triggernosis ,,,please, be my guest, and use it!
I had no idea someone would like what I had to say !

 

[dakennedy]

Wow, a thread this old speaks for the gun! I bought a blue Browning BDA .380 for $427 in '82. It has been within reach most of the time for that 28 years. I have lost count of the brands and types of ammo I have put through it and dont ever recall a jam. I love it, it will only leave me in my will! I also lost one of the inserts on the grips, made me sick, I scoured the range but never found it. It may not be a heavy hitter but I got 26 rounds waiting! Wish I could find some laser grips. Great forum, keep up the good work.

 

[AJChenMPH]

Welcome to THR!

I finally had a failure to feed the other day -- one of those Buffalo Bore HCN rounds didn't load. But I shot a mag of those rounds and it only happened that one time (and I've shot them in the past with no issue). Go figure.

 

[Sail41]

1st post

I bought my BDA nickle 380 for looks alone. I had a brother a couple years ago who asked if I had ever seen a Browning BDA 380. "Not really" well, after I took a look, I bought one. If nothing else, I'll leave it to him. It's still new in the safe and unfired. When I picked it up at my gun shop, they said it was the most beautiful gun they had seen. Even asked if I'd sell it right then. For those still looking for the medallions, they're for sale all the time on ebay.

 

[huntsman]

I bought my BDA nickle 380 for looks alone.

+1 I had no intentions of buying a .380 but with the BDA it was love at first sight and it was Sooo anti-tactical I had to own it.

 

[Fastcast]

For those still looking for the medallions, they're for sale all the time on ebay.

Just wondering if anyone has tried Browning for the medallions?.....Beretta still has them available for the 84/85/86.

 

[nitetrane98]

I don't believe you can get the old type "B" medallions anymore. The new Buckhorn types are readily available.

 

[IMTHDUKE]

+1 for the beauty of the BDA....it is truly a Classic firearm.

 

[TexasBill]

I think we spend way too much time deciding what is tactical and what ain't.

I think we spend too much time caring what's tactical and what ain't. I am entirely too old to be a mall ninja and I would rather leave the tactical stuff to the guys who really use it and for whom such decisions are important. That leaves me free to choose from a much wider variety of firearms. Like the Browning BDA.

 

[jbkebert]

I am amazed that this thread is even still around. I just bought a nickel BDA about a hour ago. I was looking up reviews and holster options on-line and the good old THR popped up. Anyway I will post picks of my latest purchase later. I really think I got a very good deal. A nickel BDA with 2 ten round mags pretty clean for $375 + tax. Anyway I can't wait to see how she shoots.

 

[Fastcast]

I am amazed that this thread is even still around. I just bought a nickel BDA about a hour ago. I was looking up reviews and holster options on-line and the good old THR popped up. Anyway I will post picks of my latest purchase later. I really think I got a very good deal. A nickel BDA with 2 ten round mags pretty clean for $375 + tax. Anyway I can't wait to see how she shoots.

Pick yourself up some 13rd Mec-Gars....They work flawlessly!