Anyone have a BROWNING Double Action?

[Protected One]

I was looking through a book on Modern Handguns and came across something called a "Browning Double Action".
It's a BHP but with a ambi de-cocker instead of a safety.
Does anyone own one? Pictures and comments please?

NOTE: This was NOT a BHP with a cylinder and slide customization.

 

[andy52]

I'm pretty sure that's the Sig P220 that browning imported for them before they could bring it into the US.

 

[bummer]

I believe they came out in the early 90’s.lt had a coin slot on the side so that you could convert between double action/ single action. I have seen a few at the local shows. Failed because of the Clinton magazine restrictin

 

[Lonestar57]

I think you’re talking about a Browning BDM (Browning Dual Mode) model. You can switch it to DAO or the DA/SA. I have a two-tone one and it’s one of my favorite pistols to shoot. I can’t load a photo currently but look one up on Gunbroker. They always have a few for sale.

 

[andy52]

Here you go Browning double action.

Browning BDA Handguns - Wikipedia

 

[Muss Muggins]

The magazines were/are interchangeable with the appropriate Sig Sauer handgun . . .

Here you go Browning double action.

Browning BDA Handguns - Wikipedia

 

[bigggbbruce]

I was looking through a book on Modern Handguns and came across something called a "Browning Double Action".
It's a BHP but with a ambi de-cocker instead of a safety.
Does anyone own one? Pictures and comments please?

I'm pretty sure that's the Sig P220 that browning imported for them before they could bring it into the US.

The Sig BDA is a single sided decocker like all Sig guns today.

BDA 380 is a gun largely produced by Beretta(PB stamping on parts) these had the double sided decocker/safety.

Here is a Sig BDA 9mm

Here is a BDA 380

 

[andy52]

It is possible that the OP was referring to this pistol.

Browning Hi-Power BDA - Wikipedia

 

[Muss Muggins]

I’ve only heard of those. Would like to see one in person . . .

It is possible that the OP was referring to this pistol.

Browning Hi-Power BDA - Wikipedia

 

[Protected One]

It is possible that the OP was referring to this pistol.

Browning Hi-Power BDA - Wikipedia

THAT's it! 9mm
I will be looking for one at the gun show next week. May come home with one.

 

[BB57]

I have the FN HP-DA, as marked and marketed in Europe, while the Browning BDA was the same pistol marketed in the US. It's the pistol in the middle. It was developed for the second round of the XM-9 trials, but obviously lost to the Beretta 92. IMHO that's unfortunate, but then I'm a Hi Power fan and absolutely hate the Beretta 92 as it just doesn't fit my hand, and its larger than a full size 9mm Luger pistol needs to be.

The Browning BDA/FN HP-DA shoots about like you'd expect a double action de-cocker equipped Hi Power would shoot and with the exception of the longer DA trigger reach and pull, it feels like a Hi Power if you put comparable grips on a Hi Power.

The pistol on the bottom is an FN SFS Hi Power, with the "Safety Fast Shooting system designed for the Hi Power in preparation for the first round of the M9 trials. It was administratively disqualified as it was not a double action design. That's unfortunate as it accomplished the intended goal without straying too far from the single action 1911 operation that troops were familiar with.

The safety is applied by pressing the safety lever up, which drops the upper half of the two piece down on to a hammer block, while the lower half of the hammer remains cocked and locked. When the safety is depressed the hammer snaps back in the upright position. The modified spur on the hammer also eliminates the hammer bite some users experience with the Hi Power. It's a very good system that also gives the Hi Power a very positive safety feel, as well as an ambidextrous safety.

The pistol on the top is the Browning BDM. It has a dual mode switch (thus the "BDM" name) on the left side of the slide that allows if to operate in normal SA/DA mode, or a DA only "revolver" mode. It was developed for FBI service pistol trials but wasn't adopted. If you ever shoot one it's pretty easy to understand why. It's the thinnest double stack magazine 9mm Luger pistol I've ever handled, but it just feels odd in the hand, and note the "up" decock lever position withe the hammer decocked.

The BDM spawned the BDM-D which is a decocker equipped version as well as the BRM which was a DA only model.

The BDM and HP-DA are interesting variants to own, but my Hi Powers are what get shot.

 

[andy52]

Like Muss I've never seen one in person, I wish you luck in finding it and would like to see some photos if your successful.

 

[BAM-BAM]

Saw one at a rural LGS in SW Pa....... 4 months ago ....... in OK shape with 2 mags ....$600.

Nice gun...but a gun before it's time ..... if it had used HP mags .... I might have gotten it

 

[Lonestar57]

The OP’s description of a hi-power look with an “ambi de-cocker threw me off. That’s why I referenced the BDM. FYI, there are several Browning BDA’s 9mm up for sale on Gunbroker currently. Good luck.

 

[mainegrw]

I had a Browning BDA 45 for a short time. It is actually a rebranded Sig P75 rather than a P220, the distinction being that it predates the P220 by a couple years and features a couple characteristics not found on the 220, i.e. the heel mag release, lanyard ring, and slight differences in the contours of the frame and slide. Browning imported the BDA into the US in 9mm, 45, and 38 super in very very small quantities from 1977 to 1981 or 82. They were surprisingly not big sellers here, hence Browning discontinued their imports after only a few years. Sig would go on to importing their firearms through Interarms, and then on their own starting around the ending of the contract with Browning.


Having owned several P75/P220s made throughout the produced throughout the years, I find the BDA 45 to be the best of the bunch in production quality, accuracy, function, and ergonomics. I know the heel mag release is less desirable for some, personally it was never a bother to me. Practically any of the flat steel bottom 220 mags will work with it, and most 220 parts will interchange. I highly recommend to anyone who's in the market for a P220 to consider a BDA if available.


Sent from my SM-G965U using Tapatalk

 

[Guevera]

I can't quite tell which Browning we're talking about here, but if it was the BDM, I used to have one. Spend a lot of money on it, buying holsters and magazines, neither of which was cheap even ten years ago. Nice design and a very thin grip for a double stack pistol. Something internally broke and I thought I'd be stuck with it forever, sold it to another enthusiast who said he could fix it.

It is a pity the pistol didn't last long. I know I am drawn to oddball designs, but it really did shoot very well and was easy to carry.

 

[gdogs]

I've got a Practical BDM (bottom center in pic below). Interesting gun, and as others have said it is the thinnest double stack 9mm pistol out there. The backwardsness of the safety/decocker is a little strange, certainly not something I'd want to carry and have to operate under stress. Original 15rd mags are hard to find (10rds are out there), and the reproduction mags suck.

 

[Absalom]

The fact that Browning didn’t actually produce any of those handguns sure caused a lot of confusion over the years.

As briefly mentioned above, the Browning BDA name is internationally most often associated neither with the Sig nor the DA-HP, but the compact .380, which was built by Beretta in Italy and basically was a closed-slide version of the Beretta 84 series.

 

[ACP230]

The pile of BHP mags I already had kept me from buying one.
The gun showed up at a local gun store and the price wasn't
bad either.