I broke down and ventured into Sportsmans Warehouse Black Friday evening with the intention of looking at the Browning 1911 22 and the Browning 1911 380 on special. After some hmm'ing and haw'ing I decided to put my hard earned money down on the Browning 1911 380.
For those not familiar with the Browning 1911 22 it was Browning's tribute to the 100 year anniversary of the 1911 as a 1911 scaled down to 85% the size of a 1911 and chambered in 22lr. A few years later (2014 I believe) Browning came out with a second version of the same 85% scaled 1911 chambered in .380. The B1911/22 is an aluminum frame with an aluminum slide. The B1911/380 has a polymer frame with an aluminum sub frame and a stainless steel slide. Both the 22 and 380 are available in scaled down full length slide versions and scaled down compact slide versions. Since I have no intentions of using my B1911/380 as a carry gun I went for the scaled down full length slide version.
Today I went out to the range and got some trigger time with my new toy. Following are my impressions:
The gun is too small. The grip is too small for my very large hands. The distance of the trigger from the grip is definitely too small. The hammer burr is too small... etc. DESPITE this the B1911/380 IS quite comfortable to hold in my large hand. I have to pull my trigger finger way back towards my hand in order to to engage the trigger. My finger positioning wasn't so contorted that it caused my hand to cramp and I was VERY accurate with a near 100% hit rate on the gong.
My very first hand gun ~30 years ago was a Bersa 380, which I still own. I also own and frequently carry a LCP. My all steel relatively heavy Bersa 380 shoots a lot like a Walther... though not as refined. Shooting the locked breach B1911/380 is worlds apart from shooting the non-locking, blow back, heavier (22oz) Bersa 380. The locked breach on the B1911/380 makes for an incredibly smooth shooter! Much smoother than any other 380 I have ever shot! My Bersa has never been fatiguing to shoot in the least... but I can see the B1911/380 being fired repeatably all day long with out any tiring what so ever! Shooting the B1911/380, Bersa 380 and LCP side by side was the first time I ever found the LCP to be an unpleasant shooter. The LCP has never been a fun range gun but shooting it with the other 380's is the first time I have ever found it to feel a but punishing. I also own and shoot a XDs 3.3 45acp and Diamondback DB9 pistols that are unquestionably punishing.
When I bought my Bersa 380 some 30 years ago I vividly remember looking at and lusting over a Colt Government 380. At the time I just could not see my primary firearm and eventually my carry gun being carried cocked and locked. I always loved the feel of that Government 380 and it has always been on my bucket list. My recollection of the steel framed steel slide Government 380 was that there was a bit more heft (22oz) to it than the B1911/380 (18oz). I do wish that the B1911/380 was heavier and had a steel (or even aluminum) frame... BUT even at 18oz the B1911/380 is a really nice smooth shooting firearm that does feel good in the hand.
The trigger on the B1911/380 is not too heavy with a nice and pretty crisp break. The uptake and creep in the B1911/380 are just not near the standards of my 1911 gun smith tuned target pistol triggers but it is as good of a trigger as any out of the box 1911 that my finger ever recalls shooting. The B1911/380 trigger is about as light a trigger as anything I would EVER consider carrying (which I believe is a target market for Browning).
The sights on the B1911/380 are basic all black combat sights... I MUCH prefer 3 dot sights! There is just enough light between the front sight and the rear notch to allow me to be quite accurate with this Browning. Unfortunately the front sight on THIS version of the B1911/380 is not dovetailed so finding replacement 3 dot (preferably fiber) sights will probably be a bit challenging.
For me $569 is too much for a 380 range toy. At $100 off the $469 Sportsmans Warehouse starts to become a little bit tempting. With the additional $100 Browning rebate the Browning 1911/380 is one heck of a nice little gun at $369 even though the rebate comes on one of those stupid one time use credit cards.
I believe the compact version of the Browning 1911/380 is aimed at the concealed carry market with its slim frame, diminutive size and lite weight. The longer slide version could also be carried pretty easily but it would be nice if it had a steel frame and more weight. Besides being a terrific plinker the 85% size makes it a perfect pistol to introduce smaller hands to proper pistol handling which is exactly what I intend to do with my small framed 14 yo very recoil shy daughter.
1911 45acp
Browning 1911 380
CZ75D Compact
Ruger LCP
Bersa 380
Browning 1911 380
Diamondback DB9
For those not familiar with the Browning 1911 22 it was Browning's tribute to the 100 year anniversary of the 1911 as a 1911 scaled down to 85% the size of a 1911 and chambered in 22lr. A few years later (2014 I believe) Browning came out with a second version of the same 85% scaled 1911 chambered in .380. The B1911/22 is an aluminum frame with an aluminum slide. The B1911/380 has a polymer frame with an aluminum sub frame and a stainless steel slide. Both the 22 and 380 are available in scaled down full length slide versions and scaled down compact slide versions. Since I have no intentions of using my B1911/380 as a carry gun I went for the scaled down full length slide version.
Today I went out to the range and got some trigger time with my new toy. Following are my impressions:
The gun is too small. The grip is too small for my very large hands. The distance of the trigger from the grip is definitely too small. The hammer burr is too small... etc. DESPITE this the B1911/380 IS quite comfortable to hold in my large hand. I have to pull my trigger finger way back towards my hand in order to to engage the trigger. My finger positioning wasn't so contorted that it caused my hand to cramp and I was VERY accurate with a near 100% hit rate on the gong.
My very first hand gun ~30 years ago was a Bersa 380, which I still own. I also own and frequently carry a LCP. My all steel relatively heavy Bersa 380 shoots a lot like a Walther... though not as refined. Shooting the locked breach B1911/380 is worlds apart from shooting the non-locking, blow back, heavier (22oz) Bersa 380. The locked breach on the B1911/380 makes for an incredibly smooth shooter! Much smoother than any other 380 I have ever shot! My Bersa has never been fatiguing to shoot in the least... but I can see the B1911/380 being fired repeatably all day long with out any tiring what so ever! Shooting the B1911/380, Bersa 380 and LCP side by side was the first time I ever found the LCP to be an unpleasant shooter. The LCP has never been a fun range gun but shooting it with the other 380's is the first time I have ever found it to feel a but punishing. I also own and shoot a XDs 3.3 45acp and Diamondback DB9 pistols that are unquestionably punishing.
When I bought my Bersa 380 some 30 years ago I vividly remember looking at and lusting over a Colt Government 380. At the time I just could not see my primary firearm and eventually my carry gun being carried cocked and locked. I always loved the feel of that Government 380 and it has always been on my bucket list. My recollection of the steel framed steel slide Government 380 was that there was a bit more heft (22oz) to it than the B1911/380 (18oz). I do wish that the B1911/380 was heavier and had a steel (or even aluminum) frame... BUT even at 18oz the B1911/380 is a really nice smooth shooting firearm that does feel good in the hand.
The trigger on the B1911/380 is not too heavy with a nice and pretty crisp break. The uptake and creep in the B1911/380 are just not near the standards of my 1911 gun smith tuned target pistol triggers but it is as good of a trigger as any out of the box 1911 that my finger ever recalls shooting. The B1911/380 trigger is about as light a trigger as anything I would EVER consider carrying (which I believe is a target market for Browning).
The sights on the B1911/380 are basic all black combat sights... I MUCH prefer 3 dot sights! There is just enough light between the front sight and the rear notch to allow me to be quite accurate with this Browning. Unfortunately the front sight on THIS version of the B1911/380 is not dovetailed so finding replacement 3 dot (preferably fiber) sights will probably be a bit challenging.
For me $569 is too much for a 380 range toy. At $100 off the $469 Sportsmans Warehouse starts to become a little bit tempting. With the additional $100 Browning rebate the Browning 1911/380 is one heck of a nice little gun at $369 even though the rebate comes on one of those stupid one time use credit cards.
I believe the compact version of the Browning 1911/380 is aimed at the concealed carry market with its slim frame, diminutive size and lite weight. The longer slide version could also be carried pretty easily but it would be nice if it had a steel frame and more weight. Besides being a terrific plinker the 85% size makes it a perfect pistol to introduce smaller hands to proper pistol handling which is exactly what I intend to do with my small framed 14 yo very recoil shy daughter.
1911 45acp
Browning 1911 380
CZ75D Compact
Ruger LCP
Bersa 380
Browning 1911 380
Diamondback DB9
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