Browning 1911-380, feedback and reviews?

[Roverguy]

I’ve done a search and there are many references to and one-off posts on the Browning 1911-380, but I haven’t seen a dedicated thread with user reviews, so asking here. I’m a 1911 fan, have several in 45 acp and 38 Super, and I’m intrigued by the Browning 1911-380 Black Label Medallion as a concealed carry option.

Would appreciate reviews and feedback from owners or users. Thanks very much.

 

[jmohme]

I have a friend that bough one for his wife. Both he an her like it, but that's about all I know.
I did handle it and it feels better in my hand than most small 380s.
If I was looking for a 380 I would take one of these of a Sig 365.

 

[zaitcev]

My wife has an early 1911-380 Black Label, non-"Pro". The lack of the "Pro" in the name indicates that it uses the old style front sight, inherited from 1911-22.

It's a nice enough gun, although it has some quirks. First of all, it's rather small. Second, the magazines have short lips, so slamming one in may cause the topmost cartridge to stand up or even fly out of the ejection port due to the inertia of the bullet.

The magazine disconnect is just a little nub on the magazine release. You can file it down to remove the disconnect feature, although doing so is permanent.

Overall, it stays in stark contrast with "1911 style" guns in .380: Colt Government, Colt Mustang and its clones Kimber Micro, SIG P320, and Springfield 911, as well as the Spainish guns like Llama and its clone RIA Baby Rock. All of those may be inspired by 1911, but they do not copy it exactly. Grip angle is wrong, all the proportions are different, and none of them have grip safeties. But Browning chose to make an exact miniature model of 1911. It reminds me the most of the tiny railroad layouts with miniature cars, trees, houses, and of course the trains.

 

[Griffen]

I have the full length all black version of the 1911-380 and had one exactly like the picture above.I really like them both and they are easy to rack and operate. Both were extremely accurate. I couldn’t tell any accuracy difference in the two. I kept the black one and sold the pretty one to a guy that really wanted it. It is truly one of my favorite pistols and a pleasure to shoot as the recoil of the toggle style design is significantly reduced over all the blowback designs. It is far more a 1911 than some of the other small .380 designs and just feels right in the hand. All the Berettas, Rugers, Walthers, and Government .380’s are gone and I have thinned down to this one and an all metal Colt Mustang Pocketlite.

I finally found a good OWB holster for it (that was a challenge). If I were re-selecting, I would go for the shorter version for better concealment as there was no drop in accuracy for me, but couldn’t be more pleased with mine. Mine is a relatively early model and there was a magazine lip tolerance issue, but after working that out, it is now very reliable and I sometimes carry it. Due to its thin design, it hides very well, especially IWB.

They are a little pricey, but I think it’s worth it. Best of luck to you.

 

[Triggernosis]

I have the exact one that you posted in the picture and I love it. Being locked-breech, it is noticeably softer shooting than my Sig P232. It carries lightly and discreetly.
If anyone needs a holster for one, let me know, as I make holsters.

 

[Griffen]

Dang, Tom, where were you when I spent years searching?

 

[SterlingBullet]

We sold one to a customer several years ago. He praised it highly. He owns a lot of high-end handguns, so he is familiar with quality. I handled the gun, but did not have the opportunity to fire it. Felt just like a 1911 only smaller, fit my hands well. The customer who purchased it has very large hands says it’s very comfortable for him. If you have the chance to hold this gun, you will want your own.

 

[cfullgraf]

I have a Browning 1911-380 bought in 2016. It shoots well.

For some, it may be a bit large for concealed carry but maybe not. If I'm carrying a 380 ACP pistol, I tend to carry a Mustang or Kimber Micro pistol.

I like the 1911 design.

 

[jdc1244]

My example of the Browning 1911-380 was dreadful – an unreliable jam-o-matic; it felt cheap and poorly executed.

Couldn’t wait to get rid of it.

 

[zaitcev]

Well it's no wonder that a scale model of a locomotive is made of plastic, cheap, and poorly executed if you compare it with the real thing

But to be honest, the Browning absolutely has a lot of elements that appropriately cut costs, like a plastic guide rod. Here's what it looks like from the inside:



Certainly, I wish Browning came back to making metal frames. That would make the 1911-380 so much classier. They used to make 1911-22 with alloy slides, but they switched to plastic some time during the production of the parent gun. The .380 version never came out on an alloy slide. They use a very hard plastic, which does not feel like a rubbermaid material for Glock.

The gun in the photo is reliable with various types of ammunition. I have several magazines and they were of uniform quality. Uless Browning cheapened out in recent years, I don't see much to object to. But if you want a gun in .380 with which you can go to hell and back, buy Glock 42.

 

[CoalCrackerAl]

I have the pro. Im very happy with it. It's nice and light in weight. It does seam strange a 1911 with a plastic frame. It performs well.

 

[Triggernosis]

It does have a plastic frame, BUT it doesn't really feel plasticky and you can't tell by looking at it.

 

[BlankRow]

Good thread, I've looked at these several times, but the lack of reviews and the non-metal frames always put me off. The lack of reviews especially, I didn't want to risk buying a headache for something that would essentially be a range toy for me.