Browning .380?

[LoneStarWings]

Hi,

My father used to have a Browning .380 semi-automatic compact pistol of some sort, but he gave it away to his brother several years ago. Now he wants one just like it again...If I had to guess I'd say he bought it in the 80's at some point.

He called me and asked me to locate another one of these for him to buy. He didn't really have much info about the specific model, he just said it was a browning .380 DAO pistol and specifically said it didn't have an exposed hammer.

Does any have any information on what this pistol might've been, and if browning (FN) still makes them?

Thanks in advance.

 

[Hawkn]

Could it have been a Browning 380 BDA? Browning does not make it anymore, but Beretta has one that is basically the same gun. I think it is the Beretta 84.

Hope this helps.

 

[rcmodel]

Browning BDA made by Beretta.

Here are some for sale:
http://www.gunsamerica.com/98851584...Autos/Browning_BDA_380_Pistol_package_MIN.htm

http://www.gunsamerica.com/91231594...Pistols/Other-Autos/1982_Browning_BDA_380.htm

http://www.gunauction.com/buy/10847812/pistols-for-sale/browning-arms-co.-the-browning-bda-380

rc

 

[LoneStarWings]

I emailed him those links rcmodel but he says it wasn't a BDA. He insists it didn't have an exposed hammer. I'm guessing he's remembering the make incorrectly, unless Browning made a DAO compact .380 at some point further back. There's no telling what the pistol was, I guess.

 

[56hawk]

Sounds like a Browning 1910 or 1922.

 

[rcmodel]

Well, if it wasn't a BDA, it wasn't a DA.

It had to be a SA striker fired 1910 or 1922 like 56hawk posted.
Or the Model 1955 I'm getting too shortly.

The 1910 or 1922 would have been a very old one.
The 1955 would have been a later commercial model sold by Browning in the 1980's.
http://www.gunsinternational.com/Browning-1955-380-ACP.cfm?gun_id=100263481

Little tip if I may?
There are much better .380 pistols now days!

The Browning BDA/Beretta 85 is one of them.
http://www.berettausa.com/products/85fs-cheetah/

rc

 

[LoneStarWings]

Thanks RC....I agree with you that there are better to be had. In fact he says he wants a pocket pistol which has me even more confused about his insistence on another browning like he had before (if that's even what he had).

Personally I'm trying to talk him into a Bodyguard or an LCP.

 

[rcmodel]

Well, there is certainly no arguing with us old farts when the 40 year old kids get involved!!

I'm still always right with mine, no matter if I'm right or wrong!


IMO: For a pocket gun, you might be one the right track, or not.

I have a Kel-Tec P3AT the Ruger LCP was copied from.
It's nice to carry.
But not much fun to shoot.

My favorite .380 at the present time is a SIG P232 SL with night sights.
It is shorter & lighter then the 1955 Browning.
But bigger, longer, and heavier then the LCP or Bodyguard.

Soft recoil, extremely accurate for a .380, and fun to shoot enough to say on top of it.
A little big for a front pants pocket however.
I carry mine in a hip pocket, and only part of the black grip sticks out.

Most folks would probably mistake it for a black billfold sticking out of my pocket.

rc

 

[LoneStarWings]

Yeah, actually my dad mentioned today that he was thinking about that Sig as a replacement! But, he seems dead set against an exposed hammer, which is why he poo-pooed the 84fs and the BDA.

I don't think he completely understands the DA/SA concept, and thinks that he'd always have to cock the hammer on the first shot with the sig. I tried to explain it today but don't know if it fully sunk in. Snagging the hammer might also be a concern of his but I'm not sure.

Either way, that 1955 looks familiar now that I think about it, and I may have seen it around when I was a kid. Hopefully that's what he had before and we can just get another one and make him happy I'll find out tomorrow when he answers his email again.

 

[hso]

You'll have to show all the .380 Browning pictures to him.

 

[hso]

Look here and show the .380 to him and see if it was a Browning Colt.
http://www.militarymemorialmuseum.org/generals_pistol_belts_index.asp

 

[zenner22]

Is the Browning BDA still made or has it been discontinued?

 

[cwl1862]

Browning BDA was discontinued a while ago, however you can still get the same gun AKA Beretta 84FS 13 shot 380 ACP. who just so happened to make the BDA for browning the differences being Browning markings and wooden grip pannels. The 84FS is like a miniture 92FS/M9 and operates just like it's larger sibling.

 

[zenner22]

One thing the Browning BDA has is the top of the slide is enclosed unlike the open top slide of the Beretta. So if you prefer the full slide the Browning is the way to go.

 

[LoneStarWings]

Update: My father says it was "probably" a Browning 1955 model after he looked at all the pictures.

However, apparently I sold him on a modern .380 and he said I can go ahead and get him a Ruger LCR. Maybe I'll get him another Browning for Christmas too, for old time's sake.