BDA 380
PISTOL OWNER’S MANUAL
T H A N K Y O U F O R C H O O S I N G A
B R O W N I N G B D A 3 8 0 P I S T O L
The Browning BDA 380 is another in a long line of dependable, high-quality Browning centerfire pistols you will be proud
to own. The BDA 380 autoloading pistol uses a dependable, blowback action design with a removable magazine. John M. Browning invented his first autoloading pistol in 1894.
BDA 380 pistols incorporate features that reflect the significant improvements and original ideas he contributed during more than 25 years of designing pistols. Since then, we have produced a variety of models designed for sportsmen, competitive target shooters, law enforcement and personal defense. In every sense, the BDA 380 pistol is a true Browning, giving you the kind of shooting enjoyment and dependability you’ve come to expect from the world’s most respected gun company.
With a reasonable amount of care, your BDA 380 pistol should give you many years of dependable, enjoyable service. Please feel free to contact us immediately if you have any observations regarding its performance and operation.
Y O U A R E R E S P O N S I B L E F O R F I R E A R M S S A F E T Y
As a gun owner, you accept a set of demanding responsibilities. How seriously you take these responsibilities can be the difference between life and death.
THERE IS NO EXCUSE FOR CARELESS OR ABUSIVE HANDLING OF ANY FIREARM. AT ALL TIMES HANDLE YOUR BDA 380 AND ANY OTHER FIREARM WITH INTENSE RESPECT FOR ITS POWER AND POTENTIAL DANGER. PLEASE READ AND UNDERSTAND THE CAUTIONS AND PROPER HANDLING PROCEDURES OUTLINED IN THIS OWNER’S MANUAL BEFORE USING YOUR NEW FIREARM.
1ALWAYS KEEP THE MUZZLE OF YOUR BDA 380 POINTED IN A SAFE DIRECTION. Never point any firearm at anything you do not intend to shoot. Be extremely alert and aware of all persons and property within the range of your ammunition.
2NEVER RELY TOTALLY ON YOUR FIREARM’S MECHANICAL “SAFETY” DEVICE. The word “safety” describes a gun’s blocking or disengaging mechanism for the trigger, sear, hammer and/or firing pin. Although mechanical devices place your BDA 380 pistol in a SAFER status, no guarantee can be made that the gun will not fire even if the “safety” is in the “on safe” position.
LIKE ANY MECHANICAL DEVICE, A “SAFETY” CAN SOMETIMES FAIL; IT CAN BE JARRED OR INADVERTENTLY MANIPULATED INTO AN UNSAFE CONDITION. Mechanical “safeties” merely aid safe gun handling and are no excuse for pointing your gun’s muzzle in an unsafe direction. While it is a good idea to test your gun’s mechanical “safeties” periodically for proper function, NEVER TEST IT WHILE YOUR GUN IS LOADED OR POINTED IN AN UNSAFE DIRECTION.
Safe gun handling does not stop with your gun’s mechanical “safety” devices — it starts there. Always treat this pistol with the respect due a loaded, ready-to-fire firearm.
3DO NOT CARRY YOUR BDA 380 WITH A ROUND IN THE CHAMBER.
For good safety practice, it is recommended that a round not be chambered until immediately before your pistol is to be fired.
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4THE RECOMMENDED CARRYING POSITION OF THE BDA 380 IS WITH THE HAMMER IN THE DECOCKED POSITION. Carefully follow the procedures for lowering the hammer from the cocked to the decocked position explained on page 10 in this owner’s manual.
5WHENEVER YOU HANDLE YOUR BDA 380, OR HAND IT TO SOMEONE, MAKE SURE IT IS COMPLETELY UNLOADED. To fully unload your BDA 380, you must first remove the magazine, open and lock the slide rearward, and visually inspect the chamber to be certain it does
not contain a cartridge. It is vital that you remove the magazine from your pistol so a cartridge is not automatically chambered when you close the action. Always keep the chamber empty and the “safety” in the “on safe” position unless shooting is imminent. See page 18 for unloading procedures.
6DO NOT TRANSPORT YOUR BDA 380 LOADED. Keep it unloaded, whether stored in a holster, gun case or other container.
7HUNTING FROM ELEVATED SURFACES SUCH AS TREE STANDS IS DANGEROUS, and may increase the risk of handling a firearm. The following rules should always be observed by you and those you hunt with: Always make certain that the stand being used is safe and stable. Always make certain that your firearm is unloaded when it is being taken up and down from the stand. Always make certain that your firearm is not dropped from the stand, or dropped while it is being taken up or down from the stand. Remember, a loaded firearm may discharge when dropped,
even with the “safety” in the “on safe” position.
8BEWARE OF BARREL OBSTRUCTIONS. When preparing to shoot your pistol, check for a barrel obstruction as follows: First, fully unload the pistol by removing the magazine, locking the action open and inspecting the chamber.
BE CERTAIN NO LIVE ROUND IS IN THE CHAMBER. Glance down the barrel to be sure it is clear of any obstruction. It takes only one small obstruction to dangerously increase pressures. Before the first firing, clean the bore with a cleaning rod and patch, and wipe away any anti-rust compounds in the chamber and around the action.
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BE ALERT TO THE SIGNS OF AMMUNITION MALFUNCTION. If you detect an off sound or light recoil when a cartridge is fired, do not load another cartridge into the chamber. Fully unload by removing the magazine and removing the cartridge from the chamber. With the action open, glance down the barrel to make sure that an obstruction does not remain in the barrel. If there is an obstruction, completely clear the barrel before loading and firing again. Failure to follow these instructions can cause extensive damage to your gun and possible serious injury to yourself and others.
9BE CERTAIN YOUR PISTOL IS UNLOADED BEFORE CLEANING. Because so many gun accidents occur when a firearm is being cleaned, special and extreme care should be taken to be sure your gun is unloaded before disassembly, cleaning and reassembly. Keep ammunition away from the cleaning location. Never test the mechanical function of any firearm with live ammunition.
10ALWAYS UNLOAD YOUR PISTOL WHEN NOT IN USE. Your responsibilities do not end when your firearm is unattended. Store your pistol and ammunition separately and well beyond the reach of children. Take all safeguards to ensure your pistol does not become available to untrained, inexperienced or unwelcome hands.
11USE THE PROPER AMMUNITION. The barrel and action of this pistol have been made with substantial safety margins over the pressures developed by established American commercial loads. HOWEVER, WE ASSUME NO LIABILITY FOR ACCIDENTS WHICH OCCUR THROUGH THE USE OF CARTRIDGES OF NON-STANDARD DIMENSIONS OR THAT DEVELOP PRESSURES IN EXCESS OF COMMERCIALLY AVAILABLE AMMUNITION THAT HAS BEEN LOADED IN ACCORDANCE WITH STANDARDS ESTABLISHED BY THE SPORTING ARMS AND AMMUNITION MANUFACTURERS INSTITUTE (SAAMI).
EXAMINE EVERY CARTRIDGE YOU PUT IN YOUR BDA 380 PISTOL.
The BDA 380 pistol is designed and chambered for .380 ACP cartridges only. We cannot assume any responsibility for the use of unsafe or improper arms and ammunition combinations. It is your responsibility to read and heed all warnings in this owner’s manual and on ammunition boxes.
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12 DISCHARGING FIREARMS IN POORLY VENTILATED AREAS, CLEANING FIREARMS OR HANDLING AMMUNITION MAY RESULT IN EXPOSURE TO LEAD AND OTHER SUBSTANCES KNOWN TO CAUSE BIRTH DEFECTS, REPRODUCTIVE HARM AND OTHER SERIOUS PHYSICAL INJURY. HAVE ADEQUATE VENTILATION AT ALL TIMES; WASH HANDS THOROUGHLY AFTER EXPOSURE.
13 DO NOT SNAP THE FIRING PIN ON AN EMPTY CHAMBER — THE CHAMBER MAY NOT BE EMPTY! Treat every gun with the respect due a loaded gun, even if you are certain the gun is unloaded.
14 KEEP YOUR FINGER AWAY FROM THE TRIGGER WHILE UNLOADING AND LOADING — UNTIL YOU ARE READY TO SHOOT.
15 BE SURE OF YOUR TARGET AND BACKSTOP. Take additional care during low light periods. Know the range of your ammunition. Never shoot at water or hard objects.
16 DROPPING YOUR BDA 380 WHEN LOADED CAN CAUSE AN ACCIDENTAL DISCHARGE EVEN WITH THE “SAFETY” ON. Be extremely careful while hunting or during any shooting activity, to avoid dropping a loaded firearm.
17 ALWAYS COMPLETELY UNLOAD YOUR PISTOL’S CHAMBER BEFORE CROSSING A FENCE, CLIMBING A TREE, JUMPING A DITCH OR NEGOTIATING OTHER OBSTACLES. Never place your BDA 380 on a car, or on any unstable object.
18 IF YOUR BDA 380 FAILS TO FIRE, KEEP THE MUZZLE POINTED
IN A SAFE DIRECTION. Hold this position for a minimum of 30 seconds. Carefully open the action and remove the cartridge.
If the primer is indented, the cartridge should be disposed of in a way that cannot cause harm. If the primer is not indented, your firearm should be examined by a qualified gunsmith and the cause of the malfunction should be corrected before further use.
19 WEAR EYE AND EAR PROTECTION WHEN SHOOTING. Unprotected, repeated exposure to gunfire can cause hearing damage. Wear hearing protectors (shooting ear plugs or muffs) to guard against
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such damage. Wear shooting glasses to protect your eyes from flying particles. Always keep a safe distance between the muzzle of your firearm and any persons nearby, as muzzle blast, debris and ejecting shells could inflict serious injury. Also, wear eye
protection when disassembling and cleaning your pistol to prevent the possibility of springs, spring-tensioned parts, solvents or other agents from contacting your eyes.
20 BE DEFENSIVE AND ON GUARD AGAINST UNSAFE GUN HANDLING AROUND YOU AND OTHERS. Don’t be timid when it comes to gun safety. If you observe other shooters violating any of these safety precautions, politely suggest safer handling practices.
21 SUPERVISE AND TEACH FIREARMS SAFETY TO ALL MEMBERS OF YOUR FAMILY. This is especially important when children and non-shooters are involved. Closely supervise newcomers to
the shooting sports. Encourage enrollment in hunting/shooting safety courses.
22 NEVER DRINK ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES OR TAKE ANY TYPE OF DRUGS BEFORE OR DURING SHOOTING. Your vision and judgment could be dangerously impaired, making your gun handling unsafe to you or to others.
23 PERIODIC MAINTENANCE — AVOID UNAUTHORIZED SERVICING.
Your BDA 380 is a mechanical device which will not last forever, and as such, is subject to wear and requires periodic inspection, adjustment and service. Like all Browning firearms, your BDA 380 should be serviced by a Browning Recommended Service Center or by our service facility in Arnold, Missouri.
WE CANNOT ASSUME ANY RESPONSIBILITY FOR INJURIES SUFFERED OR CAUSED BY UNAUTHORIZED SERVICING, ALTERATIONS OR MODIFICATIONS OF OUR FIREARMS.
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Read and heed all warnings in this owner’s manual, on ammunition boxes and with all accessories that you install on your firearm. It is your responsibility to secure the most up-to-date information on the safe handling procedures for your Browning gun. We assume no liability for incidents which occur when unsafe or improper gun accessories or ammunition combinations are used.
Do not, under any circumstance, alter the trigger, “safety” or parts of the firing mechanism of this or any other firearm. Failure to obey this warning may result in injury or death to yourself or others.
BE CAREFUL!
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FIGURE 1
Rear Sight |
Extractor |
Slide |
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Hammer |
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Muzzle |
Rear |
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Front |
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Frame |
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Takedown Lever |
Decocking “Safety” |
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Front Sight |
Lever |
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Grip |
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Magazine |
Serial Number |
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Takedown Lever Stop |
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Trigger |
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Slide Release/Stop Latch |
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BDA 380 |
Magazine Release |
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N O M E N C L A T U R E
In conventional gun terminology, the position and movement of pistol parts are described as they occur with the pistol horizontal and in normal firing position, i.e. the muzzle is forward or front; the pistol grip is rearward or rear; the trigger is downward or underneath; the sights are upward or on top. For general nomenclature refer to Figure 1.
S E R I A L N U M B E R
The serial number of your BDA 380 Pistol can be found stamped on the left side of the frame, in front of the trigger guard (Figure 1).
I N I T I A L C L E A N I N G
Before the first firing, clean the inside of the barrel, slide, and frame. Use a clean rag and light gun oil such as Browning Oil. For general
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cleaning procedures, see instructions under the section “Cleaning and Lubrication” on page 25.
A M M U N I T I O N
Your pistol must be used only with .380 ACP ammunition as shown by the inscription on the exposed portion of the barrel (visible through the ejection port when the slide is fully forward). The barrel and action of this pistol have been made with substantial safety margins over the pressures developed by established U.S. commercial loads. Nevertheless, Browning can assume no responsibility for incidents which occur through the use of cartridges of nonstandard dimensions or those developing pressure in excess of SAAMI (Sporting Arms and Ammunition Manufacturers’ Institute) established standards.
M A G A Z I N E C A P A C I T Y
Browning BDA 380 pistols have a magazine capacity of 13 rounds plus one in the chamber, for a total capacity of 14 rounds. However, some states limit the magazine capacity to 10 rounds plus one in the chamber, for a total capacity of 11 rounds. All BDA 380 pistols sold in these states will be shipped with reduced total magazine capacity in compliance with state law. IMPORTANT: Current 13 round magazines will have a “13” stamped under the lowest index hole on the back of the magazine. 10 round magazines can be identified by the number “10” stamped below the lowest hole. Make sure you have verified the capacity of your magazine before loading it in your pistol.
G E N E R A L O P E R A T I O N
Your Browning BDA 380 is a blowback operated semiautomatic pistol. The slide is forced rearward by the cartridge pressure and continues rearward travel to accomplish extraction, ejection, and cocking. The recoil spring then causes forward travel, feeding a loaded round from the magazine and returning the slide and barrel to the firing position. The slide of this pistol is designed to stay open after the last cartridge has been fired and ejected.
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