Looking at Browining 1911 380

[HOUSTON RICK]

What experiences do you have with the Browning 1911 380? I saw one today at the gun show and it was interesting. I swore that I would never get a 380, but this looks like a solid little gun and it may be fun. Not looking at this for self defense (other than as a back up) but plinking.

 

[DodgeCity1951]

I have one and like it, actually carry it quite a bit. There was a magazine problem that caused jamming on a lot of the early guns, which I believe has been corrected. The Browning Owners forum has a good discussion on this along with pictures showing how to fix it by bending in the feed lips a few thousandths. I had to do this on mine and it's been trouble free since.

 

[Echo40]

I thought about getting myself one for a time, but one minor detail kept bothering me, that being the vague listing of the materials of the firearm as "Composite"

Normally I wouldn't sweat such a detail as lots of manufacturers do the same thing by listing materials in a similar manner, (i.e. "Alloy") but seeing as Browning brand firearms aren't cheap, (i.e. in expensive) I just don't feel comfortable paying a premium for a firearm which is offered for equal or lower prices by other manufacturers (see: RIA Baby Rock, SIG P238, SA 911, Kimber Micro 380, Colt Mustang, etc) and made of steel/alluminum.

If it makes no difference to you, then go for it. It likely makes little/no difference anyway, just a pet peeve of mine which prevented me from buying one.

 

[NYlakesider]

My wife has one and of course I have put a few rounds through it.

We both like it, shoots well and has decent accuracy for a gun of this class!

 

[RoyM52]

380 isn't the best choice for plinking. The ammo cost close to the cost for 45 ammo. If you go for a 380 do it for a CC purpose instead. In which case this is a bit large for that purpose, better to get a Sig 238. Small but with the extended mag, it fits all your fingers on the grip. It's single action,like a 1911, but with a safety that can be left engaged while a round is chambered. And to child safe, with the hammer down on an empty chamber and the safety on. It locks the action. You can have your shooting be for a purpose, even if you call it plinking. The ammo is still costly, but might as well plink with a 45 if you don't mind the cost and want a larger hand gun or get a 9mm 1911, for less expensive plinking ammo. Which brings us to the Sig 938. Same manual of arms as the Sig 238. A wee bit larger, but still small enough to CC easily.

 

[RoyM52]

I forgot to mention that there is a 22 lr conversion for the 938 sig as there is for many full sized 1911's. The 380 cartridge is too short to have a conversion for 22 LR. It's shorter ...however a 9 mm is long enough.

 

[RoyM52]

I thought about this for a bit . The king of plinking rounds is a 22 LR. So if you are looking for a plinking auto loader {don't need to hunt for the brass} It would be good to look at 22's. or at guns that have a conversion kit to make it into a 22. Many of the major brands can be converted. You could even buy a full sized 1911 in 9 or 45 or whatever and then get a plinking barrel conversion so that ammo is inexpensive and the finding of the brass isn't an issue. {reason for buying another gun}

 

[sigp220.45]

I have been thinking hard about getting one. I look at it as the spiritual successor to the Colt 1908 .380, a gun which I hold in high regard.

I carry a .380 often and would feel perfectly well armed with this little Browning.

 

[Krogen]

I handled one today at a gunshow. I was impressed by the feel and balance. Seems very light, though. I thought it might be aluminum, but from a previous post it sounds like composite. I think it would be pretty snappy in recoil, even with only a .380. Looks like a nice gun, though.

 

[Lonegle57]

I have one, it shoots well. Picked it up because I have been a 1911 fan for awhile. The only thing I dont like is the guide rod, it is nylon?? or some kind of plastic. I would prefer metal. Other than my dislike, it is well made and shoots.

 

[federali]

Brownong 1911-.380

I too was considering the Browning 1911 .380. I think the size is about right for both effectiveness and concealment although I was expecting a slightly larger gun, once I saw it in the flesh.

The effectiveness of the .380 is a constant subject of debate. I feel the cartridge is adequate for the type of threats likely to be faced by the average CCW. The Browning is said to pick up about 100FPS additional velocity over more abbreviated .380s. As carrying the Browning isn't a physical burden, carrying it is more effective than the larger handgun back home in your safe.

 

[Pisgah]

My experience with the Browning has been comparing two of them with my Rock Island Baby Rock -- which handily out-shot both of them and costs less than half as much.

 

[double-dipper]

I'm with Dirty Harry Callahan on this one. I want my guns made from "gun steel" preferably stainless steel not some alloy composite, aluminum, space age plastics or nylon.

 

[Echo40]

I'm with Dirty Harry Callahan on this one. I want my guns made from "gun steel" preferably stainless steel not some alloy composite, aluminum, space age plastics or nylon.

Personally, I don't mind alloy for firearms as long as it's .22LR since it seems to hold up just fine there as long as it's made by a reputable manufacturer. Sure, I prefer steel, but I'll settle for alloy when the price is right.

I don't trust alloy, specifically zinc alloy for anything over .22LR. Frames are one thing, but alloy slides are asking for trouble. Sure, if you use enough of it then it can work, Hi-Points attest to that, but you have to make the component so thick that it becomes impractical to do so for anything besides a bottom dollar firearm such as a Hi-Point.

Browning is a quality brand, so I highly doubt that whatever this "composite" is composed of isn't up to the task, but for the price they're asking, I'd sooner buy a steel/alluminum 1911.
If you're going to use lower cost components then I expect some of that savings to be passed on to me in return. If the Browning 1911 were cheaper that steel 1911s, then I wouldn't sweat it.

 

[LVSteve]

S&W 380EZ for the win. The Browning 1911-380 is just too expensive.

 

[Echo40]

S&W 380EZ for the win. The Browning 1911-3080 is just too expensive.

If you want a 1911 (as I imagine the TC does) there are no substitutions.

Besides, if price were a concern then he obviously wouldn't be looking at the Browning 1911.
Heck, even if it were, the RIA Baby Rock is a cheaper alternative that's still a 1911 chambered in .380 ACP.

 

[LVSteve]

If you want a 1911 (as I imagine the TC does) there are no substitutions.

Besides, if price were a concern then he obviously wouldn't be looking at the Browning 1911.
Heck, even if it were, the RIA Baby Rock is a cheaper alternative that's still a 1911 chambered in .380 ACP.

The Baby Rock is a straight blowback design. Makes it more FN 1903 than 1911 for me. I'm not sold on blowback in .380 period.

 

[Pisgah]

The Baby Rock is a straight blowback design. Makes it more FN 1903 than 1911 for me. I'm not sold on blowback in .380 period.

So are its Spanish predecessors. But having fired both the Baby Rock and the Browning, side-by-side, I can say that the Baby Rock is more accurate, just as dependable, and the recoil of the two is very much equal -- likely because the Baby Rock being all-steel is heavier. The swinging-link set-up keeps the recoil reasonable in the lighter Browning. But in its best role as a very, very slim and compact belt-or-coat-pocket pistol, the weight of the Baby Rock matters not to me. It's still light -- the Browning's just lighter -- and, to repeat, all steel.

 

[Protected One]

I was eagerly awaiting the gun when it was introduced at Shot Show, but when I saw and handled one I realized that the trigger reach was too short for my hands. Though I liked the gun and consider it an enhancement to the .380's performance for SD it's just too small for my hands.