Issues with the Browning 1955 Model 380

[whatnickname]

Truly one of John Browning’s legendary designs that had its origins going all the way back to 1910. The slide spring was located around the barrel and the pistol is striker fired. For its size and intended use as a defensive weapon, I believe this small pocket pistol was ahead of its time.

Spring looks like it’s coming early this year. Yesterday was a beautiful, sunny day with a high temperature in the mid 60s. Decided to take the 1955 Browning to the gun club in the late afternoon when there would be few, if any people on our plinking range. The plinking range being a fitting place to ring a little steel at close range with a pistol that was basically intended to be used at bad breath distances.

Good thing I picked a time when no one else was on the range. After firing 6 rounds the barrel bushing, that has zero signs of any wear whatsoever, managed to rotate itself to a point that the tabs on the bushing aligned themselves with the takedown notch in the end of the slide and got launched down range by the slide spring that was and is stronger than my X-wife’s resolve to empty my bank account when we divorced. Did you know that little bushing can go all of 40 yards when it gets launched like that? Well, it sure can!

So at this point, I’ve either got a very expensive paperweight or my work is cut out for me on a treasure hunt of sorts with the range all to myself. An hour and forty-odd minutes later I actually found the bushing! I also taught myself a whole new vocabulary that would likely get me permanently barred from The High Road were I to share that on this post.

All of this rambling post has a point. Figured I had better scrounge up a spare barrel bushing or two…might not be so lucky next time. After careful research, including Numich Gun Parts, I’ve reached the conclusion that the barrel bushing for this pistol is “Unobtainium”. Does anyone know where I might be able to locate one of these bushings?

 

[halfmoonclip]

View attachment 1195586View attachment 1195586

Truly one of John Browning’s legendary designs that had its origins going all the way back to 1910. The slide spring was located around the barrel and the pistol is striker fired. For its size and intended use as a defensive weapon, I believe this small pocket pistol was ahead of its time.

Spring looks like it’s coming early this year. Yesterday was a beautiful, sunny day with a high temperature in the mid 60s. Decided to take the 1955 Browning to the gun club in the late afternoon when there would be few, if any people on our plinking range. The plinking range being a fitting place to ring a little steel at close range with a pistol that was basically intended to be used at bad breath distances.

Good thing I picked a time when no one else was on the range. After firing 6 rounds the barrel bushing, that has zero signs of any wear whatsoever, managed to rotate itself to a point that the tabs on the bushing aligned themselves with the takedown notch in the end of the slide and got launched down range by the slide spring that was and is stronger than my X-wife’s resolve to empty my bank account when we divorced. Did you know that little bushing can go all of 40 yards when it gets launched like that? Well, it sure can!

So at this point, I’ve either got a very expensive paperweight or my work is cut out for me on a treasure hunt of sorts with the range all to myself. An hour and forty-odd minutes later I actually found the bushing! I also taught myself a whole new vocabulary that would likely get me permanently barred from The High Road were I to share that on this post.

All of this rambling post has a point. Figured I had better scrounge up a spare barrel bushing or two…might not be so lucky next time. After careful research, including Numich Gun Parts, I’ve reached the conclusion that the barrel bushing for this pistol is “Unobtainium”. Does anyone know where I might be able to locate one of these bushings? been there, done that. I launched the bushing in my shop, where it still resides, someplace. This, after clearing shelves, and moving everything, about a 4 hour exercise.

Funny you should ask. Just launched that bushing in the shop, which a 4 hour search failed to find.
Like you, I went looking online. Finally found a minty one, originally listed for $69 (!). The guy finally gave me a little better price, and it is now installed. (Installation is another story; let me know if you want to hear about the tool I made. The recoil spring is a bear, and there's not much to the bushing.)
Yes, it's a really neat little gun. It's much smaller than its '03 Colt cousin. They are all 1910s, with a variety of numbers as suffixes. The military/police version offers a much larger bushing that looks like part of the slide (this last is certainly easier to manipulate, and would be obvious if it were turning out of line).
You're aware it's a design with a history. Princip used one to murder the Archduke and Duchess, starting WWI. The President of France was assassinated with one in the '30s. Huey Long, 'the Kingfish', of Alabama, was killed with one.
And the little buggers live on, to drive current owners crazy.
Rotsa ruck on a spare; at least you got yours back. You should have bought a lottery ticket immediately.
Moon

 

[whatnickname]

Thanks, Moon! I actually made myself a spanner wrench for this bushing out of a heavy piece of sheet metal. Started with a 1/2” hole and cut it down from there. As you know there is zero to hold onto when installing that bushing. My little tool works well. Think I’ll turn a 1/2 socket down on a lathe to better support the bushing and go from there. Sure wish there was a source for these bushings. Wonder what the cost would be to have a high-end machine shop make replacement bushings? Bet you could sell these hand over fist.

 

[lysanderxiii]

Not an unknown problem. It seems that the issue was the reason the M1922 has a little spring loaded catch to keep the bushing from rotating.

Oddly enough, the MAB Mle D, is essentially the same design, but does not have this problem. I think it is how far down you have to push the bushing to clear it for rotation.

 

[Dave DeLaurant]

I'll see your Browning's bushing and raise with the ones from my Astra M400s any day -- the recoil spring on this pistol is legendary and loosing control and one of those bushings can put an eye out for sure!

 

[halfmoonclip]

I made a gizmo of a 3/8"x 2" brass nipple, and a 3/8" T. The T makes a handle to push against that sturdy spring. A short section of 1/4" dowel makes a useful guide, and the brass seems to grip the knurling on the bushing.
There's another gizmo that is the traditional fix, a paint scraper ground to fit the slot in the bushing, and clear the barrel while pushing in the bushing. This last is great for a bushing gummed up with old oil or carbon, but isn't much help reinstalling the bushing. That's what I was using, when my bushing launched itself.

I'll see your Browning's bushing and raise with the ones from my Astra M400s any day -- the recoil spring on this pistol is legendary and loosing control and one of those bushings can put an eye out for sure!

Yeah, those Astra 'squirt guns' have really brutal recoil springs. I think the spring shares a part number with something from Kenworth. How on earth did anyone think these could be serviced in the field?

BTW, an old, bachelor buddy was fieldstripping a 1911 on his dining room table, and did a moon shot with the recoil spring plunger. He found it, a year later, on top of the hutch. At least replacements are easy for that.
Moon

 

[halfmoonclip]

Wonder what the cost would be to have a high-end machine shop make replacement bushings? Bet you could sell these hand over fist.

Not sure how large the demand might be, though it's not hard to see why there are so few from the 'scrounged parts' dealers. I found quite a few slides and barrels. Strongly suspect we aren't the only guys to launch a bushing.
Moon

 

[whatnickname]

Not sure how large the demand might be, though it's not hard to see why there are so few from the 'scrounged parts' dealers. I found quite a few slides and barrels. Strongly suspect we aren't the only guys to launch a bushing.
Moon

Agree 100%! I can find every part BUT the barrel bushing. I’m sure there have been quite a few that have been launched into an alternate universe. Suggest you look under the heaviest bench or piece of equipment in your shop. The one you lost is under the most difficult thing you would have to move and is all the way back up against the wall. At least that’s what happens when I’m working in my shop!

 

[BrotherMaynard]

Not being familiar with the pistol or part, I did a search to get an idea of what it looks like. The results looked suspiciously like a "not illustrated" part on Numrich's website:

Slide Ring, Blued, Used Factory Original 1910 BROWNING

Slide Ring 1910 BROWNING

www.gunpartscorp.com

Is this the animal in question?

 

[whatnickname]

Not being familiar with the pistol or part, I did a search to get an idea of what it looks like. The results looked suspiciously like a "not illustrated" part on Numrich's website:

Slide Ring, Blued, Used Factory Original 1910 BROWNING

Slide Ring 1910 BROWNING

www.gunpartscorp.com

Is this the animal in question?

Yes sir. That’s it.

 

[Monac]

Agree 100%! I can find every part BUT the barrel bushing. I’m sure there have been quite a few that have been launched into an alternate universe. Suggest you look under the heaviest bench or piece of equipment in your shop. The one you lost is under the most difficult thing you would have to move and is all the way back up against the wall. At least that’s what happens when I’m working in my shop!

If you are working in the basement, the name for parts like that is "concrete soluble".

 

[halfmoonclip]

The one you lost is under the most difficult thing you would have to move and is all the way back up against the wall. At least that’s what happens when I’m working in my shop!

I moved everydamnedthing in the shop, from the bookcases to everything on and under the workbench. I'm kinda tempted to order a spare...then I will find the original.
Moon

 

[whatnickname]

I moved everydamnedthing in the shop, from the bookcases to everything on and under the workbench. I'm kinda tempted to order a spare...then I will find the original.
Moon

Dang! Stuff like that irritates the hell out of me. You will probably find it when you least expect it.

 

[Speedo66]

I learned the hard way when working with spring loaded parts to work inside a clear dry cleaning bag.

But it sounds like your springs are strong enough to possibly launch parts through it.

 

[halfmoonclip]

I learned the hard way when working with spring loaded parts to work inside a clear dry cleaning bag.

Speedo, know this trick, and thought about it after the fact. My current deal with the brass nipple/tee uses a wooden dowel in the barrel, keeping the damned bushing from escape.

Not being familiar with the pistol or part, I did a search to get an idea of what it looks like. The results looked suspiciously like a "not illustrated" part on Numrich's website:

Brother Maynard, not sure how you pulled that rabbit out of a hat...I even called Numrich, and had a 10 minute chat with a tech...who couldn't find anything.
So, thank you! Simply because this has been positively maddening, just ordered a spare. Fifty bucks is good for some peace of mind.

Think I’ll turn a 1/2 socket down on a lathe to better support the bushing and go from there. Sure wish there was a source for these bushings.

Maybe use a deep well socket? You'll need something to push on. The two slots, to accept a spanner, are really fine, and will be almighty hard to create with a file. I had one, made from a paint scraper, and broke it trying to make a right angle tool of it. I'll repair that, and add it to my 1910 stash. Along with the bushing on the way from Numrich.

Guys, thanks for the help, the humor, and even the emotional support.
Moon

 

[BrotherMaynard]

Speedo, know this trick, and thought about it after the fact. My current deal with the brass nipple/tee uses a wooden dowel in the barrel, keeping the damned bushing from escape.

Brother Maynard, not sure how you pulled that rabbit out of a hat...I even called Numrich, and had a 10 minute chat with a tech...who couldn't find anything.
So, thank you! Simply because this has been positively maddening, just ordered a spare. Fifty bucks is good for some peace of mind.

Maybe use a deep well socket? You'll need something to push on. The two slots, to accept a spanner, are really fine, and will be almighty hard to create with a file. I had one, made from a paint scraper, and broke it trying to make a right angle tool of it. I'll repair that, and add it to my 1910 stash. Along with the bushing on the way from Numrich.

Guys, thanks for the help, the humor, and even the emotional support.
Moon

Glad it was useful. I discovered when searching for a replacement stock for a Ruger RSM that rooting around in the dusty corners occasionally yields dividends. They also have the nickel version if you want to bling up your 1910:

Slide Ring, Nickel, New Factory Original 1910 2107330

Slide Ring, Nickel, New Factory Original

www.gunpartscorp.com

 

[Monac]

I am going to ask a dumb question: Are people removing the bushing from the FN 1910/1955 with the slide locked to the rear? Because you don't have to do that. (I am only asking because it took ME a while to learn that. I do not want to insult others.)

 

[halfmoonclip]

I am going to ask a dumb question: Are people removing the bushing from the FN 1910/1955 with the slide locked to the rear? Because you don't have to do that. (I am only asking because it took ME a while to learn that. I do not want to insult others.)

The slide needs to be locked to the rear to remove the barrel, but you sure wouldn't want to try to remove the bushing against that spring. Actually, the takedown procedure in my book of such things is bassackward, so that isn't such a dumb question.
Moon