. . .
I ask because I like the
Browning 1911-380 and have been going back and forth on it for almost a year.
First, I like 9x17 as a cartridge. As such "it's only a 380" will not mean a lot to me. I reload 9x17, I have several years experience with it and am aware of the weaknesses, and strengths, of the 9x17. I am satisfied with it.
For several years I carried my Colt 380 Government Model. Things I liked, it is a very good sized pistol. It shot well and, with the right magazines, was very reliable. It also has the best trigger I have experienced on a 9x17(light and crisp) . Things I didn't like: I sometimes found the safety off, the sights are terrible, and it is now an out of production gun, which limits parts availability. The safety, I was not the only person that experienced this. Once we started paying attention to this, several others who carried the same model reported this same issue. It is a series 80 pistol; so, as odd as it sounds, it wasn't a show stopper.
The sights are an issue. They are just not too good and I am close to thirty years older than I was when I got it. I know I can send it to Novak and get good sights put on it. That brings me to the third issue, it has been out of production for many years and is going to continue to be harder to get parts for. I don't want to chop the slide up for sights, drill out the safety for more positive action, when these are parts that cannot be replaced. I just feel it is time for this one to be on the range and in my safe, not on my belt.
In the meantime I purchased a Glock 42. A thousand rounds or so through it, using a
Mantis shot analyzer, and I am now at a level that I am satisfied with it. I think you can see that I added things to it. Those would include, grip tape, Glock Nite sights (I don't recommend them), extended slide release, I also had some trigger work done to get it to within factory specs.
This is my current EDC. I shoot it well, it is reliable and accurate, I just don't like it. It is a random tool. Yes, it works well. There is just a lack of something. I would not hesitate to recommend a Glock 42; I guess it is just a little too utilitarian. I don't know, it just isn't a gun to get enthused about.
I then purchased a Kimber Micro 380. First off, I really like the size, the look, and the sights. If it had a grip safety, it would be "The Gun." It had reliability trouble out of the box and I had to do some file work to get it right (This should come as no surprise to other Kimber owners). At this point it is reliable. I now have over five hundred rounds with no stoppages.
It is accurate, I attribute that to the single action trigger (still not as good as my 30 year old Colt though) and the great sights. The sights were the reason I went for the Kimber over the similar Colt Mustang (I just didn't like the angular look of the similar Sig).
The recoil is a bit snappier than the Glock 42, I attribute that to the narrower grip on the Kimber. This one still may become a favorite. However, I still haven't taken it through any official firing course. It still may become my EDC, as far as liking it, I definitely like it better than the Glock 42; but that is entirely subjective (It isn't a "plastic gun" thing. My favorites also includes my braced CZ Scorpion EVO 3 S1, which is a plastic 9x19). As I said before; If it had a grip safety, it would be "The Gun."
That led to me visiting a gun store and looking at the Browning 1911-380. Frankly, I liked it. It had the grip safety (the grip safety thing may just be a holdover from the standard 1911, but I just feel that it should be there), it just felt like quality. I was able to compare, side to side, the Baby Rock, the LLama 380, my Kimber, and the Browning. That being said, the store did not have a range.
Of the three, the LLama 380, the Baby Rock, and the 1911-380, if I had been told to put them in order of price, it would have been easy. The 1911-380 was leagues ahead of the other two in oeral feeling of quality, "fit and finish" as it were. The Baby Rock looked better than the LLama, but still nowhere near the more expensive Browning and Limber. Further, the Baby Rock and the LLama appear to be blowback, where the others use some form of delay.
So, with all that said, did you get a 1911-380? If so, what do you think of it?
There are four basic configurations, with and without a rail, and the standard and commander length barrel. I am, pretty well, in the "no rail" camp. I just don't like the way they look and I cannot see myself mounting a light on a pistol.
As far as standard, or compact length, I am leaning toward compact. Yet, I am not sure, as it is already a compact pistol. Thoughts and experiences of 1911-380 owners would be appreciated.
1911-380 Black Label Medallion Pro,
from here
1911-380 Black Label Medallion Pro Compact,
from here
Yes, I know there are several different cosmetic "styles" this just happens to be the "style" that I like.
As I said, any thoughts?
