The 16-shot revolver -DAO autos

[VictorLouis]

Smith 3rd Gen variant, Beretta D models, Sig 250/D/Dak, HK Lem, various CZ's, some Colt/CZ hybrids..most of you are familiar with one or another...
Forget strikers for the moment. I am referring just to the ones with rolling, revolver-esque triggers. They deliver each shot with the same, consistent DA-pull like modern revolvers. Yet, what's the one thing they still can't do?

You can't reach up and cock them to deliver a single-action shot when you'd like to....precision, or perhaps distance.

Leave it to my son to find out THIS old-girl does have such a feature!
The Browning Double Mode (BDM). An old attempt to compete with Gaston in the early years of our market. You see the round 'screw' above the slide-stop?
Pointed forward, you get regular DA/SA auto function. Pointed 45-degress down, you get a DA-pull every time. I never knew you could COCK it in this mode, but my son did so and it surprised me, LOL. Because the frame lever is both a decocker and safety, I guess they decided to include such a feature. Imagine being able to do that with one of the big-brands? That may have made a bit more impact in the market of the era.

 

[sodacan]

I've had one for years. IMO it's an oddity that doesn't make a lot of sense. I do like how thin it is due to the way the grip is countersunk into the grip frame. I also like the "ears" on the rear of the slide behind the serrations. They make it really easy to rack the slide. I've heard it called DA/SA Hi Power, which couldn't be farther from the truth.

 

[BB57]

I've had one for years. IMO it's an oddity that doesn't make a lot of sense. I do like how thin it is due to the way the grip is countersunk into the grip frame. I also like the "ears" on the rear of the slide behind the serrations. They make it really easy to rack the slide. I'veheard it called DA/SA Hi Power, which couldn't be farther from the truth.

People confuse the Browning BDM (Browning Dual Mode) with the FN HP-DA (Hi Power - Double Action) in part because the FN HP-DA was marketed by Browning as the Browning BDA.

Browning BDM (top), FN-HP-DA (middle), FN SFS Hi Power (bottom):

The BDM also came in non convertible BDM-D decocker equipped, and BRM-DAO “DAO revolver only” variants.

The BDM was developed for the FBI pistol trials and the thin profile was intended to make it more concealable. It is is skinny - so skinny it feels strange and I don’t think it helped. Worse, the safety lever works backwards as “up” is the ready to fore position.

The BDA was designed as a DA/SA pistol, with some resemblance to the Hi Power. It was also developed into the BDAM and BDAC medium and compact sizes as well as the BDAO DAO version.

Both the BDM and HP-DA were intended to offer a style update over the Hi Power.

The original production (1983-87) HP-DA pistols had a Hi Power style safety lever. The follow on production from 1990-1999 (like the one above) had a redesigned safety lever that made it look even less like a Hi Power. I think the HP-DA would have sold better if it looked more like the Hi Power it was supposed to replace.

The HP-DA was a follow on for the second round of XM-9 pistol trials after their SFS Hi Power was disqualified from the initial trials.

The SFS Hi Power allows the user to place the pistol on safe by pressing the hammer forward, which lowered the top of the split hammer onto a transfer bar, and clicked the safety lever up to the safe position. It made it drop safe and allowed condition 1 carry without the hammer being back in a cocked position, something which always made citizens nervous when they saw a cocked hammer.

They didn’t get to compete for the XM-9 contract with the SFS Hi Power but FN tweaked the design a bit and then marketed it for several years without much success. I got mine new at fire sale close out prices. They are in all other respects a Mk III Hi Power and can be converted to a Mk III (and vice versa) by swapping out the fire control parts.

 

[Glenn R. McMannly]

St. Louis PD used DAO Berettas for a while.

A while back there were some for sale when they transitioned. Tempting, then I remembered what a clumsy brick the 92 series is on a good day and couple with DAO it was a hard pass once the brain kicked in.

I also owned a late model DAK P220 years ago that was surprisingly good, though I much preferred my W. German DA/SA.

 

[VictorLouis]

BB57, awesome contribution to the thread!

 

[sodacan]

People confuse the Browning BDM (Browning Dual Mode) with the FN HP-DA (Hi Power - Double Action) in part because the FN HP-DA was marketed by Browning as the Browning BDA.

A lot of good information, except the Browning BDA is/was a Sig P220. There was also BDA in 380 made by Beretta.

 

[Lonestar57]

I've discovered that the Browning BDM to be a pleasure to shoot. Personally, the Thumb Safety/ De-cock, and fire lever positions wasn't that difficult to acclimate too. If I had to complain about something regarding this gun it would be that the magazines are specific to the gun. Browning should have designed it to work with the Hi-power magazines. I've got two, both new in the boxes. One in the Practical (Black over Silver Chrome) finish and one in the Silver Chrome finish which is a very hard find due to only 119 of those were made.

 

[Kevin J.]

My Browning BPM-D. It fits my hand better than any other semi auto I own, and thus one of my best shooters. My Springfield SA-35 below it for comparison.