New Browning 1911 .380

[VTHokiesDuckHunter]

With all the talk about quality metal pistols for CCW vs. Plastic, it looks like some manufacturers see value (and profits) in making high quality metal guns.

Browning just announced a new right-sized 1911 in .380 coming out in January. I'll be interested.

Yes, some don't like .380. I usually carry a .40.

But modern self defense ammo in .380 can certainly do the trick.

Maybe some day S&W will start limited runs of "4th Gens" like a 4th gen 3913 and 4013. I doubt it though.

 

[VTHokiesDuckHunter]

OK, I'll have to walk that back some. Upon further reading it looks like the new 1911-380 has an "engineered composite frame".

Their first 1911-.22's had metal frames then they introduced them with composite frames. I hope they offer the .380 version in both.

 

[GermanHunter]

I would go with the Colt Mustang in 380

 

[Model 52]

The day is coming, in the future, when the plastic gun rage will fade and metal guns will be back on top. Just watch.......it will be a while, but it will happen

Model 52

 

[MichiganScott]

The day is coming, in the future, when the plastic gun rage will fade and metal guns will be back on top. Just watch.......it will be a while, but it will happen

Model 52

And I believe in Santa Claus and the Easter bunny.

In reality, I'd love it but I believe in most cases it would be cost prohibitive.

 

[t-bird]

Scott has hit the nail on the head. I know that any S&W 1st through 3rd gen pistols will last me a life time and I don't have to deal with the plastic. If I needed to buy a small carry gun it would not be a Browning 380 when there is a lot good used S&W on the market. You would get twice the gun at a lower price.

 

[Mark_]

I would go with the Colt Mustang in 380

I had a Mustang but always hoped Colt would just scale it up just a little to a 9mm.

This is exactly what Sig did by scaling up the P238 (copy of the Mustang) to the P938. I got one, sold the Mustang and never looked back.

It is so small it can be carried in a front pocket. Sig says it can handle some +P which is nice since the barrel is pretty short.

BTW, I'm new here so I hope there isn't some kind of anti-Sig sentiment. If so, I apologize. I'm not a fan of plastic and love S&W Gen 2 9mm's.

Mark

 

[kcode]

Welcome Mark, I too looked at a Sig 938, thinking maybe the wife might like one and give up her beloved PPK/S. Just not sure if she would grow accustomed to the single action like a 1911.

But back to the .380 1911.....why? I have a hard time accepting a 1911 in 9mm. Almost sacrilegious in anything other than .45. Browning did come up with a mini-1911 in .22. The best Browning in .380 was and is the BDA.

 

[Ibmikey]

I hope this new Browning is a success with shooters but the doom and gloom boys have already started burying it on another forum. Mark, I have a Sig P238 and a 938, both great guns and by the way both Sig and Mustang are clones of the beautiful little Star DK which was banned in 1968.

 

[Mark_]

Thanks for mentioning the Star DK. I had never seen one and I agree it is beautiful. I'm not sure I want to know what they are going for.

In my early quests for a small 9mm I picked up a Star Firestar which I still keep around just because I wouldn't feel too bad if it was lost or stolen. For a small pistol it is very heavy, even by metal gun standards.

Mark

 

[Jaymo]

I've owned two Star Firestar .45s.
Both have been 100% reliable and very accurate.
Still have one of them.
Sold the other in a moment of weakness (or stupidity).

I'd feel as sick over losing it as I would most of my Smiths.
Star gave up nothing in quality.

 

[ISCS Yoda]

The day is coming, in the future, when the plastic gun rage will fade and metal guns will be back on top. Just watch.......it will be a while, but it will happen

Model 52

Maybe. When they can make the metallic frames as cheaply as they can make polymer frames. 21st century techniques are not there yet.

***GRJ***

 

[mikeasb]

I've owned two Star Firestar .45s.
Both have been 100% reliable and very accurate.
Still have one of them.
Sold the other in a moment of weakness (or stupidity).

I'd feel as sick over losing it as I would most of my Smiths.
Star gave up nothing in quality.

I have three Firestars in 9mm, and one in .45, and would also feel just as bad for losing one as I would any of my 3rd Gen Smiths. They are heavy but IMO still a good carry gun.

 

[timn8er]

I used to have one of the original Browning .380's, & in a moment of weakness & stupidity, I sold it. It's been at least thirty years, but I've never stopped kicking my own butt for doing that. Sigh...

 

[Mark_]

Maybe I made it sound like I wouldn't care if I lost the Firestar which is not the case. It is a great gun for what it is. Like others, mine has been 100% reliable. Even with the weight it carries very nicely in a Milt Sparks Executive Companion.

I've sold a number of pistols for no longer having a need or just got tired of them and the Firestar has never been for sale.

It is just not one that I treasure like the 659 or the HiPower.

Mark

 

[nocents]

BTW, I'm new here so I hope there isn't some kind of anti-Sig sentiment

Mark

not here anyway....I love my Sigs.....................and welcome

 

[sop]

Fans of the Browning BDA/Beretta 84 can rejoice. Beretta just re-issued their discontinued Model 84 Cheetah, an all metal, 13+1 capacity, .380 ACP, DA/SA pistol, in both blue and Inox finishes.

I've owned several all metal "pocket" .380s over the years: a Walther PPK, a couple of Sig P230s and a gorgeous Beretta 84 with checkered wood grip panels. That 84 Cheetah was the best of the bunch; I still kick myself for selling it for next to nothing to fund another purchase.

The new Beretta 84 is selling for around $800. It'll be interesting to see whether folks will buy a 24 oz., .380 "pocket" pistol, that would never fit in a pocket and is larger than a 9mm S&W 3913 or Sig P239 these days.

I was fondling the 84 Inox version yesterday at a GS, thinking how much I'd love to have one again. I love these older, all metal guns, but I really can't see myself paying that kind of money for the sake of nostalgia. Then again...

 

[Freeway]

Have the desert tan 1911-22 and it seems to be a high quality firearm. It fits well in the hand, operates smoothly, and eats anything. Right now, I'm very interested in the 1911-380 and will definitely take a close look at one next month.

 

[DanP7]

This will have a plastic frame From what I understand.......


And browning likes to use pot metal wherever they can get away with it (and even in some places they cannot......)



I don't see a point in this gun. A mustang with extended grip like the old mustang plus II or colt gov .380 would make sense. To me, it looks like browning is marketing this at women. But with a lightweight frame, and relatively snappy blowback lockup, I don't see any "low recoil" benefit over a commander sized 1911 in 9mm.... Or here is a real novel idea........market the browning hi power to women.......a gun that actually fits women particularly well and has a decent enough sigle action trigger for a new shooter to benefit from.....


It looks like browning is just marketing an updated Llama .380. Everything comes full circle, and now browning is cloning the cheap Spanish guns. What's next? A kimber clone of a Raven/Jennings .25ACP Saturday night special? Just add accessory rail, pink painted slid, and maybe a laser engraved pair of aces?

 

[DanP7]

With all the talk about quality metal pistols for CCW vs. Plastic, it looks like some manufacturers see value (and profits) in making high quality metal guns.

Browning just announced a new right-sized 1911 in .380 coming out in January. I'll be interested.

Yes, some don't like .380. I usually carry a .40.

But modern self defense ammo in .380 can certainly do the trick.

Maybe some day S&W will start limited runs of "4th Gens" like a 4th gen 3913 and 4013. I doubt it though.

This is a plastic gun



meanwhile......in the Browning marketing department..........

think in plastic.....