Seeking Info on Browning BDA .380

[ruger1228]

I am looking for information on the Browning BDA 380 in regards to functioning and reliability. I have gone the route with the Sig P238 and this is not a reliable gun. How is the Browning for concealed carry, small enough to fit in pocket or cargo pocket?
Any information would be helpful. Thanking you in advance for your input.
thom

 

[huntsman]

http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=13110&highlight=BDA

the mother of all BDA threads.

 

[ruger1228]

http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=13110&highlight=BDA

the mother of all BDA threads.

Thanks huntsman. Great thread and great information.
thom

 

[AJChenMPH]

I have one...if that thread doesn't answer your question(s), shoot me a PM.

 

[silversport]

Way too big for pocket carry...way too big for the caliber...and yet one of the most reliable and nicest shooting .380 ACPs around...hammer might bite, get the Beretta 84 but the Browning seems more elegant to my eyes than the newer 84Fs do...
Bill

 

[ruger1228]

Way too big for pocket carry...way too big for the caliber...and yet one of the most reliable and nicest shooting .380 ACPs around...hammer might bite, get the Beretta 84 but the Browning seems more elegant to my eyes than the newer 84Fs do...
Bill

Just got back from Cabelas in Dundee, MI with a beautiful BDA-blue finish. I got the pistol new with 2-13 round magazines for $599.00. An added bonus was a $150.00 cash card to be used on my next purchase. They had both the blue and nickle finish. IMO the blue finish is sharper than the nickle finish.
And yes this gun can be used for pocket carry. I took my Desantis SuperFly and Uncle Mike pocket holsters with me just to check it out. It fits in both these holster and fit quite comfortable in the front pocket of the cargo shorts I wore today.
I was able to use the $150.00 cash card on other purchases I made today; 380 winchester brass, cci small pistol primers, and remington 95gr FMJ bullets.
Now I have to read the owners manual and then disassemble and clean this beauty before doing some shooting with it later today.

 

[hemiram]

I've had either a BDA or a Beretta 84 for about the last 30 years, IMO, they share the title of best .380 ever made. Not the smallest, but the best. I have had 4 of them, and they were all totally trustworthy. Unless you get some bad ammo, it's going to run.

 

[usp9]

I got the pistol new with 2-13 round magazines for $599.00.

That's a good price for one of the new BDAs. Wonderful gun, you're going to love how it shoots... very accurate, very pointable. I echo hemiram's praise.

 

[Peter M. Eick]

I have both version. Accurate, reliable and lots of rounds. I would not throw one in the pocket, but in a decent holster it makes a great carry gun. I think they are great little guns.

 

[huntsman]

There's a certain look of quality built into those guns, it's a shame some can't get past the .380 chambering, but that's not so bad otherwise they'd be imposable to buy.

 

[usp9]

Peter M. Eick, That's a different set of grips on your Beretta, not the stock plastic. Are they original? Looks like something Hogue would produce.

 

[Peter M. Eick]

They are factory options. Sort of a tacky houge like grips. I have Beretta wood ones, but these just feel a lot better. I ordered them Beretta off their site maybe a decade ago or so. It must have been around 99 I did that.

Great gun, I have shot it a lot!

 

[usp9]

My son carries a 84 with these grips. I bet they are the same or certainly similar. They are the best grips I've ever seen as far as offering a sure, comfy grasp. I wish I had a pair for mine.

 

[jbkebert]

I have been carrying my BDA for about 6 months now CCW. I try and fire at least 50 rounds a week through the gun. I had one FTF but figured out it was me. I tend to ride the slide pretty bad with my right thumb. Gun did not return fully into battery with friction from my finger. Second struck the round by shooting DA and round went off without a hitch. This gun is certainly one of the finest .380 made but IMHO a little to big for pocket carry.

 

[ruger1228]

Was down to Cabelas today and they still had the BDAs on sale for $599.00. I bought the blued version about 3 weeks ago and it is a fantastic gun. The more I looked at the nickle version today the more I liked it. I had gone down there looking for a Ruger Blackhawk Stainless .357. They didn't have any in stock so I decided to get the Nickle BDA. I also had another $150.00 cash so I got a real good price on it. It feels right at home with it Blued brother.

 

[jbkebert]

Congrats on the nickle BDA. Even though you bought a blued one a few weeks back the nickel sure adds some class to a great gun. I fired about 150 rounds through mine this weekend no problems. After firing approx 1500-2000 rounds through this gun I have yet to have a failure to feed or a failure to eject. Like I posted before I have one failure to fire but it was because my thumb rides the slide and it did not go fully back into battery. The gun swallows any ammo I have stuck in it. From Herturs junk ammo to premium critical defense or Winchester PDX1 which is my choice for carry ammo. I had caught mags on sale at CDNN sports for $12.99 each. I bought 6 10 rounders and a couple of 13 round mags.