Browning 380 BDA problem

[dogger216]

I'm trying to figure out what's going on with my Browning 380. When a round is fired, the slide moves back to eject the casing.... this works as it should. The problem is that the slide remains in the back position after each shot. I can see why it's happening but this doesn't seem like it should be happening. The Slide release / Stop Latch (#s 2 & 3 in the image) springs up into the notch (#1 in the image) on the slide and prevents the slide from returning to the forward position. I have to manually push down the Slide release / Stop Latch to release the slide to the forward position.

Anyone have any idea how to fix this?

Thanks

 

[Outlaw75]

How many magazines do you have? Does this happen will all magazines? Are the magazines original or aftermarket?

 

[Mizar]

Is it possible that someone installed the slide release spring wrong? The slide release should be sitting down, under spring tension all the time - it's easier to test that with the slide removed.

 

[JohnKSa]

Unload the gun.
Test 1. With an empty magazine in the gun, slowly operate the slide. The slide release should spring up and lock the slide to the rear.
Remove the magazine.
Test 2. Without a magazine installed, slowly operate the slide. The slide release should not spring up and the slide should be free to move back forward after it is pulled to the rear.
Remove the slide from the gun.
Test 3. With the slide removed and no magazine in the gun, the slide release should move upwards when pushed upwards but should spring back down when it is released. You should be able to feel a spring pushing the slide release down against the upward pressure you apply.

If all of that is correct, then it is likely that you are inadvertently bumping the slide release upwards during recoil when you hold the gun to fire it.

If Test 1 fails, try it with a different empty magazine. If Test 1 fails with two different magazines then the slide release is probably broken.

If the slide release doesn't have any spring tension holding it down in Test 3, then it's likely that the slide release spring is broken or improperly installed and the slide stop may be "flopping" during recoil and locking the slide open when it shouldn't.

If the slide release has upward tension in Test 2 or 3--it wants to spring upwards even without an empty magazine installed, then it sounds like the slide release spring is improperly installed and/or damaged.

 

[Riomouse911]

^^ This series of steps outlined by @JohnKSa should help you find the issue plaguing your BDA.

Stay safe.

 

[fastbolt]

Are you a RH shooter?

If so, does the problem still occur if you shoot the gun LH?

Gotta eliminate the shooter influence before diagnosing it as a 'gun' problem.

 

[dogger216]

How many magazines do you have? Does this happen will all magazines? Are the magazines original or aftermarket?

I only have the one magazine and I believe it is an aftermarket. when I inherited the gun from my falther after he died, there was no magazine at all. My son took it upon himself to order a magazine (this was at least 10 years ago). Is there something about the magazine that would affect the slide release latch?

 

[dogger216]

Is it possible that someone installed the slide release spring wrong? The slide release should be sitting down, under spring tension all the time - it's easier to test that with the slide removed.

The spring being installed incorrectly seems like the most likely culprit. Especially since before I ever fired the gun (that I inherited from my father when he passed) I totally disassembled it and put it back together. I do recall a spring being a real pain to re-install. I hadn't fired the gun prior to doing this. It looks like the fingers are now pointing back at me. I believe I will have a professional fix this for me. Thanks for the tip.

 

[dogger216]

Are you a RH shooter?

If so, does the problem still occur if you shoot the gun LH?

Gotta eliminate the shooter influence before diagnosing it as a 'gun' problem.

I am a RH shooter. It seems like Mizar's suggestion may be the issue here. I must have installed the spring wrong... many moons ago.

 

[dogger216]

Unload the gun.
Test 1. With an empty magazine in the gun, slowly operate the slide. The slide release should spring up and lock the slide to the rear.
Remove the magazine.
Test 2. Without a magazine installed, slowly operate the slide. The slide release should not spring up and the slide should be free to move back forward after it is pulled to the rear.
Remove the slide from the gun.
Test 3. With the slide removed and no magazine in the gun, the slide release should move upwards when pushed upwards but should spring back down when it is released. You should be able to feel a spring pushing the slide release down against the upward pressure you apply.

If all of that is correct, then it is likely that you are inadvertently bumping the slide release upwards during recoil when you hold the gun to fire it.

If Test 1 fails, try it with a different empty magazine. If Test 1 fails with two different magazines then the slide release is probably broken.

If the slide release doesn't have any spring tension holding it down in Test 3, then it's likely that the slide release spring is broken or improperly installed and the slide stop may be "flopping" during recoil and locking the slide open when it shouldn't.

If the slide release has upward tension in Test 2 or 3--it wants to spring upwards even without an empty magazine installed, then it sounds like the slide release spring is improperly installed and/or damaged.

Test 1: This behaves as you described.
Test 2: FAIL...The latch springs up with or with out the magazine installed.
Test 3: FAIL... with the slide removed, the latch seems to be decoupled from any spring influence. If pushed up, it remains up. If pushed down, it remains down.

It seems conclusive that the spring is the trouble maker. Thanks for your input on this.

 

[fastbolt]

Incorrect disassembly and reassembly is another flavor of shooter-induced issues. Let us know how it goes at the range after the spring's installation is corrected, or the spring (if damaged) is replaced.

 

[Outlaw75]

I only have the one magazine and I believe it is an aftermarket. when I inherited the gun from my falther after he died, there was no magazine at all. My son took it upon himself to order a magazine (this was at least 10 years ago). Is there something about the magazine that would affect the slide release latch?

Slide release is designed to be operated by two things during normal operation; your finger when you want to lock the slide back or the magazine follower which pushes it up after the last round is fired. An improperly fitting/feeding aftermarket magazine could cause issues.

 

[NMexJim]

I’d replace the slide lock spring first. I keep all springs pretty fresh. Cheap insurance.

Browning Model BDA Pistol Parts | Numrich

Find Browning Model BDA parts, accessories and schematics with Numrich Gun Parts. Providing gun parts since 1950.

www.gunpartscorp.com

 

[cfullgraf]

The magazine, actually the follower in the magazine, activates the slide lock when the magazine is empty. Any of the suggestions already made are good things to look at but the after market magazine may be the culprit.

I have a Beretta M84 which is essentially the same as the Browning 380 BDA. Heck, Beretta made the Browning 380 BDA.

My M84 has been as reliable as a light switch so the Browning should be the same.

 

[zaitcev]

When a round is fired, the slide moves back to eject the casing.... this works as it should. The problem is that the slide remains in the back position after each shot.

You need a new slide catch spring.
Unfortunately it's out of stock at Numrich.
I'd call Beretta and try to get either the spring for 84 or for 80X.

Slide Catch Spring 81, 84 CHEETAH BERETTA

Slide Catch Spring 81, 84 CHEETAH BERETTA

www.gunpartscorp.com

 

[BrotherMaynard]

MGW shows it in stock:

Slide Stop Spring

All parts listed in this category are specific to the Browning BDA pistol chambered in .380 Auto / .32 Auto unless otherwise noted. Midwest Gun Works offers many OEM replacement parts for this model including magazines, barrels, springs, guide rods, firing pins and nearly all small parts for...

www.midwestgunworks.com