Browning BDA .380, Oddball in a Tactical World

[GarbageCat]

Some progress

Ok so I went on gunbroker and the only ones in the $350 range are pretty rough. All the others have reserve prices in the high 6's. I'm not averse to buying used guns because then someone else has ostensibly done the breaking in for you, but used and abused are two different ideas, and the ones I saw with no reserve price on gunbroker seemed to fall into the latter column.

Just called my local shop Collector's Firearms, which is known for their EXTENSIVE selection of everything from modern battle rifles to cowboy action shooters and antique guns of all shapes and sizes, as well as their museum-quality collection of militaria which is all for sale. Unfortunately, they're also known for their high prices, especially when it comes to somewhat rare guns. They had a nickel finish BDA for 7-something. I don't remember the exact price, but as soon as the guy said the number 7 I just tuned out the rest of his sentence and said "thanks but no thanks."

I then called AJC Sports in Clute, TX which is about an hour south of me. They run a pretty nice booth at the Houston gun show, which is actually where I saw the BDA that won my heart. They said they'd give me the "gun show price" of $600 if I drove down there for it. Usually they offer them at $650 in the store. The guy insisted that they didnt have it in the $500 range at the show, but after I got off the phone I pulled up a picture I took of the gun AT THEIR BOOTH last weekend, and even though the price tag is partially obscured you can clearly see that the first number is a "5" and it looks like the second number as well. I just wish I had had the presence of mind to slide the pistol a little to the right at the time so that I hadn't covered the price tag. Anyway, I'm hoping I can use this as leverage somehow.

Any more hot leads out there? Or does anyone live in the Houston area who knows a good place to get these things? I get the impression that a few of you guys got really lucky and just stumbled upon the good deals you got...I have a feeling that's probably not going to happen to me unless I want to wait 5 years to own one of these things.

 

[SteveP55419]

Gunbroker

Not to beat a dead horse but here is the DBA I was referencing:

http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=175197276

It has one extra set of grips instead of two like I said. I bought my BDA for $395 and spent an extra $60 for shipping and FFA fees on my end so my net cost was $455. But the gun turned out to be mint so I am happy.

You can get good deals but you have to lie in the weeds a little.

 

[robctwo]

I remember starting law school, vaguely, in 1973. I hope you do well and enjoy the ride.

I have the Beretta 84, bought it used for $300 a few years ago.

I have sold a few guns to friends. In Oregon I just hand them the gun and they hand me the cash. I would give them a bill of sale if they wanted one. I do make an entry in my gun log of who I sold it to and the date.

I have bought a number of guns on line. Never had a problem. I have a local ffl to work with, and our club now has an ffl available. My local guy is also a dealer, and a good person to look the gun over when it arrives. If he said it needed to be returned for any reason I have a reliable guy to say The gun was defective before I ever even see it. I usually buy from folks who have good ratings, but my Les Baer 1.5" guarantee was bought from a first time seller. A nice guy who needed to sell the gun due to his arthritis.

 

[CdrMcD]

I got out yesterday to shoot my 'new' used unfired BDA. I took along a Makarov (russian) and my Glock 19 to compare. The BDA had a nice little jump and was remarkably accurate with some Winchester 95 grain, but was all over the paper with some 100 grain reloads. Quite surprising the difference the ammo made. The BDA was a little milder than the Makarov and the Glock, but the Glock is remarkably accurate - a little more so than the BDA. I'll keep trying different ammo until I find one it likes best.

 

[hemiram]

The ones listed as FN BDA's on gunbroker (I don't know why he lists them that way) seem to all have worn/dinged grips, but the guns themselves seem to all be at least as described, or, in the case of the two guns (Beretta 84 and Tanfoglio 9mmCompact) better than they look in the pics. My Tanfoglio had dinged up grips, but a little sanding has them almost perfect now, and a little thinner than they were originally, a plus in my book. My 84 was described as 85%, and I would say it's 90% plus. It looks new unless you look closely. I think new BDAs and Beretta 84's are almost as overpriced as 1911's are.

 

[jjmc2001]

I was in my safe last night and took the time to take a good look at my BDA. Blued with a gorgeous finish. I found a set of PachMayr grips on ebay a while back after the medallions fell off on the first trip ever to the range. I found replacements but while searching ebay I found the others also. Mine has about 100 rounds through it and believe it or not it sat in mysafe for almost 30 years without being fired. One other thing, it was purchsed in1980 for $209 plus tax. Makes it a pretty good investment in addition to a fine looking pistol. Now that I have another 380 and lots of ammo I think I will shoot it more.

 

[HexHead]

Several years ago, I traded mine along with a Beretta 9000s I hated for a nice Browning Hi Power.

 

[9mmepiphany]

While the latest post to this thread are very on point, this thread is over 6 years old.

I'm thinking it would get a lot more attention if someone started a new thread. Long threads can be overwhelming and some of the information being shared would be of interest to members who might otherwise overlook it