Considering a Browning BDA

fastpat · 09:11 AM

It's the pistol Browning sold in the '1990's in .380 ACP, made by Beretta and mostly a Beretta model 84 which is still in production today. The Beretta magazines fit.

I found one that is new, in the box, in the mid-400's.

Anyone own one, or shot one?

fastpat · 01-12-2006, 09:13 AM

Added a photo.

RANDY P · RANDY P's Garage

Wonderful, tight and accurate - as with all things Beretta. My shooting partner carries the 84.

rjp

Milu · 01-12-2006, 09:29 AM

That gun brings back so many happy memories.
With my ex we had a matched customised pair of the Berettas(engraving, special finish etc), mine was a 380, hers was the 32.
Ours were not typical production but were very accurate and reliable (yes, we used to shoot them and madame used to carry hers). As Randy said tight and accurate. I think the only significant difference to the BDA was it lacked the Beretta cutaway slide.

competentone · 01-12-2006, 10:49 AM

They're OK, but with the straight blow-back operation, you get some fairly sharp recoil. For the size and minimum power of the round, I'd just as soon have a Glock 26 or some other compact re-coil operated 9mm.

fastpat · 01-12-2006, 10:58 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by competentone
They're OK, but with the straight blow-back operation, you get some fairly sharp recoil. For the size and minimum power of the round, I'd just as soon have a Glock 26 or some other compact re-coil operated 9mm.

Yeah, but I'm just not a plastic frame kind of guy. My last revolver purchase was wood on blued steel.

I have a couple of 1911 type pistols in stainless, one of which is the fairly compact Para-ordnance P10, fully tuned with 4.5 pound Dlask trigger and so forth.

It's not a need, I just want one.

targa911S · 01-12-2006, 11:13 AM

very nice gun and there are high capacity ones out there. It is a bit "bulgey" as a carry gun though. A real gun too, not tupperware.

competentone · 01-12-2006, 11:14 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by fastpat
It's not a need, I just want one.

Then I say "Go for it!"

Joeaksa · 01-12-2006, 12:36 PM

Try to find one and take it to the range first.

JA

fastpat · 01-12-2006, 12:44 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Joeaksa
Try to find one and take it to the range first.

JA

Too late, bought it! Actually, I've shot a Beretta model 84, long time ago, but it should shoot the same. I think the safety is mounted on the slide rather than the frame as on the model 84, but that's the biggest difference I see beyond the cut away slide itself.

$450.00 including purchase, shipping, and the local FFL fee. That's versus about $550.00 for a new model 84.

Now the hard part, waiting.

azasadny · azasadny's Garage

Nice pistol. I have a Beretta 92FS and I'm picking up a Sig 0239 this weekend. My Beretta is pretty finicky with aftermarket magazines and only operates properly with genuine Beretta magazines...

fastpat · 01-12-2006, 06:12 PM

This pistol comes with two OEM 13 round magazines, so with one in the chamber, you have 14 rounds initially, with 13 more with a magazine change. The 380 cartridge is a bit on the low powered side, it's chief advantage is low recoil which allows a return to target acquisition a bit faster than say, a pistol firing .45 ACP. Still, it would be nice to acquire a few additional magazines in case one of the originals gets damaged at the range. If you accidentally drop a loaded magazine on cement your chances of damaging the feed lips are pretty high.

Speaking of Sigarms pistols. I almost bought a new P232. The only real stopper for me was the magazine release on the pistol butt instead of the proper place under the thumb, behind the trigger. Not a big deal on a back up firearm, and maybe I'll get one someday still. Nicely made, no doubt.

What about a P220, ever think about owning one?