Browning Bda 380 Owners Manual 03218BFA/Buckmark 22 OM

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PISTOL OWNER’S MANUAL

BDA 380

THANK YOU FOR CHOOSING A

BROWNING BDA 380 PISTOL

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

avariety 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.

2

YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR FIREARMS SAFETY

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.

1

ALWAYS 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.

2

NEVER 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

aloaded, ready-to-fire firearm.

3

DO NOT CARRYYOUR 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.

4

THE 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.

5

WHENEVER 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.

6

DO NOT TRANSPORT YOUR BDA 380 LOADED.

Keep it unloaded,

whether stored in a holster, gun case or other container.

7

HUNTING FROM ELEVATED SURFACES SUCH AS TREE STANDS IS

DANGEROUS,

and mayincrease 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.

8

BEWARE 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.

3

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.

9

BE 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.

10

ALWAYS 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.

11

USE 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 BDA380 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 toread and heed all warnings in this owner’s manual and

on ammunition boxes.

4

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 COMPLETELYUNLOAD 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

firearmshould beexamined 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

5

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

byour servicefacility in Arnold, Missouri.

WE CANNOT ASSUME ANY RESPONSIBILITY FOR INJURIES SUFFERED

OR CAUSED BY UNAUTHORIZED SERVICING, ALTERATIONS OR

MODIFICATIONS OF OUR FIREARMS.

6

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!

7

8

NOMENCLATURE

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.

SERIAL NUMBER

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).

INITIAL CLEANING

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

FIGURE 1

Rear Sight

Decocking “Safety”

Lever

Front Sight

Hammer

Magazine

Extractor Slide

Frame

Muzzle

Grip

Trigger

Slide Release/Stop Latch

Magazine Release

Serial Number

Takedown Lever

Takedown Lever Stop

BDA 380

Rear Front

cleaning procedures, see instructions under the section “Cleaning and

Lubrication” on page 25.

AMMUNITION

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.

MAGAZINE CAPACITY

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 willbeshipped 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 belowthe lowest hole. Make sure you have verified the

capacity of your magazine before loading it in your pistol.

GENERAL OPERATION

Your Browning BDA 380 is a blowback operated semiautomatic pistol.

The slideis 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 beenfiredand ejected.

9

OPERATING THE “SAFETY” DECOCKING LEVER

The ambidextrous, thumb-operated “safety”/decocking lever is located

on both sides at the rear of the slide. It has twin finger pieces located on

each side of the slide so that it can be conveniently operated by a left-

or right-handed shooter. Both finger pieces are serrated for positive

manipulation.

CAUTION: BECAUSE THE “SAFETY” IS ALSO THE DECOCKING LEVER, SPECIAL

ATTENTION MUST BE GIVEN TO THE POSITION OF THE LEVER WHEN CLOSING

THE SLIDE — FAILURE TO PLACE THE SAFETY IN THE “OFF SAFE” POSITION

PRIOR TO CLOSING THE SLIDE MAY RESULT IN A DAMAGED DECOCKING

SYSTEM. WHEN DECOCKING THE HAMMER, ALWAYS MAKE SURE YOUR PISTOL

IS POINTED IN A SAFE DIRECTION.

MANUAL “SAFETY” FUNCTION

“On Safe”— To place the pistol in the “on safe” position, press the

“safety”/decocking lever fully downward with your thumb (Figure 2A).

When the “safety”/decocking lever is pressed fully downward, the ham-

mer will move to the decocked position (if it was in full cock position

when safetywas presseddown).

“Off Safe”—To place the “safety” in the “off safe” or ready-to-fire position,

press the “safety”/decocking lever forward and up, exposing the red warning

dot. The redwarning dot appears on both sides of the slide (Figure 2B).

With a round in the chamber and the magazine inserted, the pistol is

ready for firing with a pull on the trigger. NOTE: This pistol cannot be “on

safe” with the hammer in the full cock position. Because the “safety” is

also the decocking lever, depressing the “safety”/decocking lever will cause

the hammer to move to the decocked position (if the hammer was cocked

before you placed the pistol “on safe”). This does require firm pressure on

the “safety”/decocking lever. Do not press the “safety”/decocking lever

partially downward, leaving the hammer in the full cock position, and

assume the pistol is “onsafe.”

Itis not.

If the hammer does not movefrom

the full cock position to the decocked position, the “safety”/decocking lever

is not in the “on safe” position. The hammer cannot be cocked with the

“safety”/decocking lever in the “on safe” position.

10

DECOCKING LEVER FUNCTION

The “safety”/decocking lever also functions as a decocking lever to provide

asafer method of lowering the hammer from full cock to the decocked

position without having to depress the trigger. With the muzzle pointed in

asafe direction and your finger away from the trigger, simply depress the

“safety”/decocking lever fully down with your thumb (Figure 3). The

hammerwill lower to the decocked position.

CAUTION: THE HAMMER SHOULD ONLY BE LOWERED TO THE DECOCKED

POSITION USING THE COMBINATION “SAFETY”/DECOCKING LEVER. WHEN

DECOCKING THE HAMMER, ALWAYS MAKE SURE YOUR PISTOL IS POINTED

IN A SAFE DIRECTION.

DO NOT ATTEMPT TO MOVE THE

HAMMER TO THE DECOCKED POSITION

BY PULLING THE TRIGGER AND

LOWERING THE HAMMER WITH

YOUR THUMB AS WITH SOME

OTHER STYLES OF FIREARMS.

NOTE: Be sure to fully depress the

“safety”/decocking lever to lower

hammer from the full cock to the

decocked position. Keep your

finger away from the trigger. Be

sure the hammer moves to the

decocked position. 11

FIGURE 2A FIGURE 2B

“On Safe” position.

Depress the “safety”/decocking lever.

“Off Safe” or ready-to-fire position.

FIGURE 3

OPERATION OF THE HAMMER

The Browning BDA 380 has an exposed hammer with dropped,

decocked, and full cock positions.

DROPPED POSITION.

This is the momentary position of the hammer after the trigger is

pulled (Figure 4) when dry firing or if a round failed to fire in the

chamber. In the dropped position, the hammer is fully fallen and resting

against the inertia firing pin, but the firing pin is not in contact with

the cartridge primer. (The firing pin must be struck forcefully by the

hammer in order to achieve enough momentum to contact and

indent the primer, causing cartridge ignitions.)

DECOCKED POSITION.

The decocked hammer position is between the dropped and full cock

position (Figure 4). This is the position the hammer should be located

in at alltimes when carrying or storing your pistol. The decocked

position is provided as the primary, safest location of the hammer at

any time the slideis closed.

FULL COCK POSITION.

When at full cock, the hammer is all the way to the rear (Figure 4). In

the full cock position, with the “safety”/decocking lever in the “off safe”

position, and with a cartridge in the chamber, the pistol is ready to fire

by pulling the trigger.

12

FIGURE 4

Dropped

Position

Decocked

Position

Full Cock

Position

FIGURE 5

Slide Release/Stop Latch

Depress the slide release/stop latch.

SLIDE RELEASE/STOP LATCH

With an empty magazine inserted, the slide can be “locked” open

simply by grasping the slide serrations immediately forward of the

“safety”/decocking lever and drawing the slide fully rearward until the

slide release/stop latch automatically rotates upward into its appropriate

recess. (If a magazine is not inserted, the slide release/stop latch must

be manually pushed upward into its recess in the slide.) After the last

shot has been fired from the magazine the slide will “lock” rearward.

This position is an additional safety measure and allows easy inspection

of the barrel chamber. This is also the recommended attitude of the

pistol at all times prior to loading and while storing the pistol. To

close the slide, be certain the “safety”/decocking lever is in the “off safe”

position and your fingers are away from the ejection port and trigger.

With the muzzle of the pistol pointed in a safe direction, simply

depress the slide release/stop latch located on the left side of the frame

(Figure 5). NOTE: Failure to put the “safety”/decocking lever in the

“off safe” position while closing the slide may cause damage to the

decocking system. After closing the slide, be certain the

“safety”/decocking lever is moved to the “on safe” position, which will

also decock the hammer.

INSERTING CARTRIDGES INTO THE MAGAZINE

1 With the slide closed, the “safety”/decocking lever in the “on safe”

position, and the muzzle pointing in a safe direction, press the

magazine latch on the left side of the frame at the rear of the trigger

guardand removethe magazine. As a safety precaution, operate

the slide manually and visually inspect the chamber to eliminate

anypossibility of a cartridge being in the chamber. Close the slide,

remembering the “safety”/decocking lever must be in the “off safe”

position toprevent damage to the decocking system.

2 It is possible to lock the slide open before inserting a loaded

magazine. However, we recommend that the slide be closed before

inserting a loaded magazine. If the slide is locked open when a

magazine is inserted, and the slide is then closed using the slide

lock, a cartridge will be fed into the chamber as the slide closes.

The pistol could then be fired with the pull of the trigger. 13

14

3 Insert the cartridges into

the magazine by pushing

them down and sliding them

rearward with your thumb

(Figure 6). Start the cartridge

into the magazine (bullet

forward) by pushing downward

on the front of the follower

with the base of the cartridge

and then pushing the cartridge

rearward under the lips until

the cartridge is fully rearward.

4 Subsequent cartridges are loaded similarly, with the base of the new

cartridge being pushed down on the already inserted round until

the newcartridge can be slipped under the lips of the magazine.

REMEMBER: The recommended maximum carrying capacity of the

BDA380 is 13 rounds with the chamber empty (10 rounds in limited

capacity magazines with the chamber empty). The number of cartridges

in the magazine can be visually verified following the instructions

under “Other Features” on page 22 in this owner’s manual.

LOADING THE MAGAZINE INTO THE PISTOL

Donot load a cartridge into the chamber until shooting is imminent.

Insert the loaded magazine into the magazine well at the base of the

grip, being certain that the magazine is pressed in completely until

retained by the magazine latch. The “safety”/decocking lever should

remain in the “on safe” position.

TO LOAD THE CHAMBER

To loadthe chamber, point the muzzle in a safe direction, keep your

finger away from the trigger and place the “safety”/decocking lever in the

“off safe” position and pull the slide completely back. Allow the slide to

move forward under spring pressure, feeding the first cartridge from the

magazine intothe chamber. CAUTION: The pistol is now cocked and

FIGURE 6

Loading the magazine.

15

can be fired by simply squeezing the trigger. Be sure the

“safety”/decocking lever is placed in the “on safe” position immediately

after feeding the first round (which will decock the hammer) unless

shooting is imminent.

SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS FOR LAW

ENFORCEMENT AND COMPETITIVE SHOOTERS

Several BDA 380 functions are for specialized purposes in law

enforcement and competitive shooting only. They are the loaded

chamber indicator and the procedure for loading a full magazine with

the slide locked rearward (below).

LOADED CHAMBER INDICATOR

CAUTION: Remember, under all conditions, always assume that the

chamber of your BDA 380 is loaded. But, to be of assistance, especially

in the case of alaw enforcement officers, the BDA 380 has a special

loaded chamberindicator. The loaded chamber indicator is to be used

only to confirm or verify that a round is in the chamber. In any situation,

to use the loaded chamber indicator, (1) shooting should be imminent,

(2) you havealreadyloaded the chamber, and (3) you are in a situation

where it is an advantage to confirm that the chamber is loaded. Never

use the loaded chamber indicator to determine whether the chamber

is loaded or not. When there is a round in the chamber, the forward

portion of the extractor will cam outward slightly, exposing a red

index mark. This index mark is

located onthe top, forward sur-

face ofthe extractor. The

extractor is a slender bar, about

11⁄4"long, located on the right

side ofthe slideimmediately

behind the ejection port (Figure

7). With practice, the protrusion

can be both seenand felt.

Remember, the loaded chamber

indicatoris only for confirming

that a round is in the chamber

when shooting is imminent.

FIGURE 7

Protruding Extractor

The protruding extractor (with red index mark)

confirms that a round is present in the chamber.

16

CAUTION: WHENEVER USING THE LOADED CHAMBER INDICATOR TO

CONFIRM THAT YOUR PISTOL’S CHAMBER IS LOADED, ALWAYS FIRST

MAKE SURE THE BARREL IS POINTED IN A SAFE DIRECTION AND THAT

THE “SAFETY”/DECOCKING LEVER IS IN THE “ON SAFE” POSITION. DO

NOT USE THESE INDICATORS WITH LIVE AMMUNITION UNLESS AT AN

APPROPRIATE SHOOTING LOCATION AND WHEN ALL SAFETY RULES ARE

ADHERED TO.

CAUTION: DO NOT DEPEND ON THE RED COLOR ALONE TO INDICATE YOUR

GUN’S SAFETY STATUS, AS TIME, EXPOSURE TO THE ELEMENTS, AND THE

ABRASIVE ACTION OF CLEANING AGENTS CAN ERASE IT.

CAUTION: THE LOADED CHAMBER INDICATOR IS NEVER A REPLACEMENT FOR

CHECKING THE LOADED STATUS OF YOUR PISTOL BY OPENING THE ACTION

AND REMOVING ALL CARTRIDGES FROM THE CHAMBER AND MAGAZINE.

LOADING WITH THE SLIDE LOCKED REARWARD

If you are shooting in competitive matches or for law enforcement

purposes, and shooting will be imminent after firing an entire magazine,

it is possible to load a fresh magazine while the slide is still locked

rearward, and then chamber a round when the slide is closed. The

slide of your BDA 380 locks rearward after the last round from the

magazine is fired. Under most conditions you should immediately

remove the empty magazine, close the slide and place the

“safety”/decocking lever in the “on safe” position, while a new magazine

is inserted. Under special law enforcement and competitive shooting

conditions, you can leave the slide open after the empty magazine

is removed. With the slide locked rearward you can insert the full

magazine and release the slideforward by pushing downward on the

slide stop/release lever with your thumb. The slide will close under

spring pressure and feed a cartridge from the magazine into the

chamber. Remember, the pistol can now be fired by simply squeezing

the trigger. If for some reason shooting is no longer imminent, you

must immediately push the “safety”/decocking lever downward, placing

the “safety” in the on position and at the same time, decocking the

hammer. From this point the pistol can then be fired by moving the

“safety”/decocking lever upward to the fire (“off safe”) position and

17

squeezing the trigger. If shooting is not imminent, the loaded round

should be removed from the chamber as explained under “Unloading”

on page 18.

Be sure the muzzle is pointed in a safe direction and your finger is away

from the trigger while you are decocking the hammer, performing any

loading or unloading procedures or confirming the loaded status of

your pistol. Remember: Always treat your pistol as if the chamber is

loaded and it is ready to fire.

FIRING

DOUBLE ACTION FIRING

With the pistol decocked, the first shot can be fired double action by

raising the “safety”/decocking lever to the “off safe” position and simply

squeezing the trigger. In order for the trigger to operate the hammer,

the magazine must be inserted in the pistol.

SINGLE ACTION FIRING

If you wish to fire the first round single action instead of double action,

simply raise the “safety”/decocking lever to the “off safe” position and

cock the hammer. Be sure the muzzle is pointed in a safe direction and

your finger is away from the trigger while you are cocking the hammer

with your thumb. The first shot is now ready to fire simply by pulling

the trigger, as long as the magazine is in the pistol.

CAUTION: REMEMBER,

WHEN YOUR PISTOL IS AT FULL COCK THE TRIGGER PULL IS SIGNIFICANTLY

SHORTER AND LIGHTER THAN WHEN PULLING THE TRIGGER FROM THE

DECOCKED POSITION. ALWAYS TAKE SPECIAL CARE TO KNOW THE STATUS OF

YOUR PISTOL’S HAMMER.

FIRING SUCCESSIVE SHOTS

After the first shot has been fired by double action or single action

describedabove, the pistol will automatically eject the fired cartridge, cock

the hammer and feed a loaded round from the magazine into the chamber.

Thus the shooter may fire the pistol until the magazine is empty simply by

pulling the trigger for each shot. Immediately depress the “safety”/decocking

lever(with your fingerremoved from the trigger) if you do not wish to

18

fire or if shooting is no longer immi-

nent. After the last shot is fired, the

slide lock on the left side causes the

slide to remain back. At this point,

we recommend that the magazine

be removed and then the slide

closed (by releasing the slide

release/stop latch), before a loaded

magazine is inserted in the pistol as

previously described in the

“Loading” section.

CAUTION: YOU WILL HAVE OBSERVED, BY PULLING THE SLIDE BACK TO

COCK THE PISTOL, THAT THE SLIDE MOVES REARWARD ABOUT

3

⁄

4

" PAST

THE REAR OF THE FRAME (FIGURE 8). IN SHOOTING, NEITHER HAND

SHOULD BE IN A POSITION WHERE IT COULD BE HIT BY THE SLIDE IN ITS

REARWARD MOVEMENT, NOR SHOULD UNORTHODOX SIGHTING METHODS

BE USED WHERE THE PISTOL IS HELD CLOSE TO THE EYE OR FACE.

UNLOADING

1 With the muzzle pointed in a safe direction and the “safety”/decocking

lever in the “on safe” position, depress the magazine release on the

left side of the frame and remove the magazine.

CAUTION: KEEP

YOUR FINGER OFF THE TRIGGER WHILE REMOVING THE MAGAZINE,

AND THROUGHOUT THE UNLOADING PROCESS. GRIP THE SLIDE AND

DRAW IT SHARPLY REARWARD AND LOCK THE SLIDE TO THE REAR BY

RAISING THE SLIDE STOP. THIS WILL CLEAR ANY ROUND THAT MAY BE

IN THE CHAMBER AND EJECT THAT ROUND.

2 Visually inspect both the chamber and magazine channel to be

sure your pistol is unloaded.The safest way to store your pistol is

toleavethe slidebackand the magazine removed.

3 Strip any loaded cartridges from the magazine by pushing forward

on the rear of the top cartridge and sliding each cartridge out, one

at a time, as each moves up in the magazine. Also, be sure to fully

FIGURE 8

The slide moves rearward about 3⁄4"past the

end of the frame.

unload any spare magazines at the same time. The magazine and

cartridges should be stored separately from the pistol.

DISASSEMBLY

WEAR EYE PROTECTION ATALL TIMES WHEN PERFORMING MAINTENANCE

ON YOUR PISTOL.

It is important that you become adept at

disassembling (field stripping) your BDA 380 pistol. Disassembly

intomajor component groups is necessary for thoroughly cleaning

your pistol and assuring reliable operation.

FIRST, BE CERTAIN YOUR PISTOL IS COMPLETELY UNLOADED

by removing

the magazine and inspecting the chamber as explained previously. Be

sure to use eye protection whenever disassembling and reassembling

your pistol due to the spring-tensioned parts.

1 Be sure the “safety”/decocking lever is in the “on safe” position.

2 Unload your BDA 380 by removing the magazine, as explained

under “Unloading” on page 18, and visually inspect the chamber

to ensure no rounds remain.

3 Lock the slide rearward by pulling the slide back and engaging the

slide stop/release latch into the disassembly recess on the slide

(Figure 9A).

4 Depress the takedown lever stop (Figure 9B). This is the small,

button-like part that extends out of the frame just forward of the

slidestop/release lever. The takedown lever stop passes through the

19

FIGURE 9BFIGURE 9A

Slide

Release/Stop

Latch

Take Down Lever Stop

Press and hold the take down

lever stop.

Move the slide rearward and push in slide

stop to lock it rearward.

frame of the pistol from the left to the right side. The takedown

lever (on the right side) will not rotate unless the takedown lever

stop is pushed in (on the left side), releasing the lever to rotate.

With the “button” depressed, rotate the takedown lever on the

right side of the frame 90 degrees downward (Figure 9C).

5 Place the “safety”/decocking lever in the “off safe” position.

6While holding the frame with one hand, and the slide with the

otherhand, pull the slide rearward slightly to release the slide

release/stop latch, then guide the slide forward off the frame. The

slide will be under spring pressure for part of its travel. Carefully

push it the rest of the way off the frame.

7 Push the slide forward on the frame rails until the slide is

completely removed from the frame.

8 While holding the slide, press the head of the recoil spring guide

forward to release the head of the recoil spring guide from the

barrel. Remove the recoil spring and its guide.

9 To remove the barrel from the slide, lift up the barrel lug and slide

the barrel out rearward (Figure 10). Disassembly to this point is

sufficient for normal maintenance of your pistol (Figure 11).

No further disassembly is recommended as the pistol is now

stripped adequately for normal maintenance and cleaning.

WARNING: IF FURTHER DISASSEMBLY SHOULD EVER BECOME NECESSARY

IT SHOULD ONLY BE PERFORMED BY OUR SERVICE FACILITY IN ARNOLD,

MISSOURI, OR AN AUTHORIZED BROWNING SERVICE CENTER. NO OTHER

20

FIGURE 9C FIGURE 10

Lift out the barrel.

Takedown Lever

Rotate takedown lever 90 degrees downward.

21

PERSON SHOULD ATTEMPT TO PERFORM FURTHER DISASSEMBLY/REASSEMBLY

PROCEDURES. INCORRECT REASSEMBLY COULD RENDER THE BDA 380

INOPERATIVE OR UNSAFE. FAILURE TO FOLLOW THIS INSTRUCTION CAN

RESULT IN DAMAGE TO YOUR GUN AND POSSIBLE SERIOUS INJURY OR

DEATH TO YOURSELF AND OTHERS.

You are now ready to clean your BDA 380 as explained under

“Cleaning and Lubrication” on page 25.

REASSEMBLY

1 Replace the barrel into the slide.

2 Replace the recoil spring and barrel into the slide. The head of the

recoil spring guide is positioned rearward. Compress the recoil

spring by pushing on the head of the guide until the head of the

guide can be inserted in the shallow, concave recess of the barrel

lug (Figure 12).

3 Replace the slide on the frame and hold it fully rearward. Lock the

slide rearward by moving the slide stop/release latch upward into

the notch in the slide.

4 Depress the takedown lever stop and rotate the takedown lever

rearward and upward 90 degrees. Be sure the barrel is in its most

rearward position. NOTE: If the takedown lever has been removed

for any reason, be sure to replace it prior to closing the slide.

Failure to do so will cause the recoil spring and guide to eject out

the front of the pistol.

FIGURE 11 FIGURE 12

Barrel Lug Barrel Lug Recess

Slide

Barrel

Barrel

Lug

Recoil Spring

Recoil Spring Guide

Magazine

Frame

When assembling, be sure the head of the

recoil spring guide is inserted in the concave

barrel lug recess.

Disassembly to this point is sufficient for

normal maintenance of your pistol.

Head of Recoil Spring Guide

22

5 Release the slide by depressing the slide stop/release latch.

6 Place the “safety”/decocking lever in the “on safe” position. This will

also decock the hammer.

7 Replace the magazine, or leave it out if you are storing your pistol

or performing other maintenance.

MAGAZINE MAINTENANCE

The BDA 380 magazine is unique to the BDA 380 and should not be

used in any other pistol. Neither should any other magazine be used in

your BDA 380. Its specialized, advanced design makes it highly reliable

and makes maintenance and cleaning extremely easy (refer to

“Cleaning and Lubrication” on page 25 in this owner’s manual for

details).

Disassembly takes just a few seconds and should be a normal part of

your pistol’s maintenance. Component parts are designed for ease of

disassembly and reassembly (Figure 13). This gives you extra confidence

whenconducting maintenance in the field.

SPECIAL NOMENCLATURE

The top of the magazine is the portion where the follower is exposed

when unloaded. The bottom is the end with the buttplate. The front

is the rounded, curved side of the magazine body. The rear is the flat

surface with the cartridge status view holes.

OTHER FEATURES

On standard BDA 380 magazines, three view holes are provided in

the rear of the magazine to allow you to assess the number of rounds

loaded in the magazine. These are indexed with the numbers 4, 8, and

13. If the base ofacartridge shows in the 13 hole, your magazine is fully

loaded. The top (number 4) hole simply offers an estimate of the

remaining cartridges.

On BDA 380 limited capacity magazines, there are only two numbers to

allow you toassess the number ofrounds loaded in the magazine. These

23

are indexed with the numbers 5 and 10 (Figure 14). If the base of a

cartridge shows in the 10 hole, your magazine is fully loaded. The top

(number 5) hole simply offers an estimate of the remaining cartridges.

The extended lip on the floor plate allows easy manipulation and

removal ofthe magazine under all conditions.

MAGAZINE DISASSEMBLY

WEAR EYE PROTECTION ATALL TIMES WHEN PERFORMING MAINTENANCE

ON YOUR PISTOL.

1 Release the buttplate from the magazine by pressing on the release

“button” through the hole in the bottom of the buttplate. The

button is simply a protrusion on the buttplate retainer that engages

in the buttplate under pressure from the magazine spring. You can

use a thin screw driver or other suitable object to disengage it.

2 With the “button” held depressed, slide the buttplate off of the

rails toward the front of the magazine.

CAUTION: THE SPRING IS

UNDER HEAVY TENSION AND WILL TEND TO SPRING OUT.

3 Carefully remove the magazine spring. The buttplate retainer

willusually stay connected to the spring. Note its position. Be pre-

pared to retain the spring, as it is compressed and may spring out

unless controlled.

4 Allow the spring assembly to release its tension, then remove the

FIGURE 14

Disassembled Magazine. Indexed view holes are marked with the numbers

5and 10. (10 round magazine shown.)

FIGURE 13

Buttplate Follower

Magazine Spring

Magazine Body

24

spring from the magazine

body.

5 Remove the follower from

the magazine body. Note

its position.

6 Perform any cleaning and

maintenance as outlined in the

section “Cleaning and

Lubrication” on page 25.

MAGAZINE

REASSEMBLY

1 Positionthe followeron the spring with the notch in the top of the

follower upward. The follower will fit into the top coil of the spring

at about a 45 degree angle. The notched end of the follower will be

toward the top.

2 Insert the spring assembly (with the follower attached) into the

magazine body. Make sure that the notched (or upper) part of the

follower is facing toward the front of the magazine. Leave the

spring hanging out, uncompressed at this time.

3Make sure the buttplate retainer is attached to the magazine spring.

Insert the end of the spring through the keeper on the buttplate

retainer: round edge to the front, release “button” downward.

4 Push the spring and retainer the rest of the way into the magazine

body. Be very careful. The spring is under tension and will tend to

spring out.

5 Hold the retainer down, inside the magazine with one hand while

you slidethe buttplate onto the rails — starting the buttplate at

the front of the magazine body and sliding it rearward — until the

buttplate retainer snaps into position. The shape of the buttplate

corresponds to the shape of the buttplate retainer and the overall

shape ofthe bottom of the magazine body — rounded edges all to

the front, flat edges all to the rear.

6 The magazine is now ready for use.

FIGURE 15

Windage adjustments on fixed sight models.

SIGHT ADJUSTMENT

The BDA 380 is equipped with a fixed front sight and a windage

adjustable rear sight. Before adjusting the sights,

BE CERTAIN YOUR

PISTOL IS UNLOADED.

The windage adjustment (horizontal correction) is preset at the factory.

However, should it ever be required, the rear sight may be moved in

its dovetail slot in the slide. This is accomplished by lightly tapping the

base of the rear sight in the same direction you want the bullet to

move; i.e., if you want the point of impact to move to the left, tap the

rear sight to the left; if you want to move the point of impact to the

right, tap the rear sight to the right.

Asmall wooden dowel or comparable nonmetallic object should be

used to bear against the sight base during tapping to avoid marring

the finish (Figure 15). Correct adjustment is a process of trial and

error using the method described above.

CLEANING AND LUBRICATION

FIRST,BE CERTAIN YOUR PISTOL IS COMPLETELY UNLOADED. REMOVE

THE MAGAZINE AND VERIFY THAT THE CHAMBER DOES NOT CONTAIN

ACARTRIDGE. KEEP ALL AMMUNITION AWAY FROM THE CLEANING SITE.

NEVER TEST THE MECHANICAL FUNCTION OF YOUR PISTOL WITH LIVE

AMMUNITION. WEAR EYE PROTECTION ATALL TIMES WHEN CLEANING

AND PERFORMING MAINTENANCE ON YOUR PISTOL.

Different cartridge loadings, weather and shooting conditions all

contribute to the frequently required in cleaning your pistol. A good

rule to follow is to clean your pistol after every use. If extensive shoot-

ing will be performed, it is wise to clean your pistol after each 500

rounds. Excessively dirty rounds may require more frequent cleaning.

Excessive grit and dirt can affect the function of even the finest

firearm. Cleaning cannot be overemphasized.

1 Disassemble the pistol as previously described on page 19 in the

section titled “Disassembly.” Clean the bore using a pistol cleaning

rod and patch made for .380 caliber pistols, working back and

25

forth until a patch comes through clean. Be careful not to impact

or mar the crown of the muzzle as it can affect accuracy. Cleaning

from the breech end can reduce this danger.

2 Depending on the amount of use, the barrel may need to be

cleaned with a good quality nitro solvent. Ordinarily, a light

lubricating oil like Browning Oil will suffice for this purpose.

3 The slide assembly may be cleaned with solvent or oil and then

wiped dry with a clean cloth.

4 Use a small brush to remove dirt or other foreign matter from the

other parts of the action.

5 Totally wipe all parts clean.

6 Lightly lubricate all moving parts, sparingly, with oil. Pay special

attention to the slide rails and the bearing surfaces of all levers and

moving parts. A good rule to follow is to oil all major components

and internal parts, then wipe away any excess. A light film on

moving parts is sufficient. IMPORTANT: Fine oils tend to

evaporate. If your BDA 380 has been stored for any length of time,

completely relubricate before shooting.

7 Periodically wash the magazine in a good gun cleaning solvent to

keep the magazine spring and follower functioning well.

Disassemble before cleaning, as explained previously. Bullet

lubricants, oil and dirt can make these magazine components

sluggish. Do not heavily oil the internal parts of the magazine,

as the oil can serve to collect grit and foreign matter. A fine film

is sufficient.

8 It is appropriate to wipe the external parts of the pistol with a

slightly oiled cloth after handling and to put a drop of oil on the

friction points from time to time. Frequently inspect your pistol

and magazine to determine a need for cleaning.

26

DO NOT TAKE YOUR GUN’S ACTION APART BEYOND THE EXTENT

EXPLAINED IN THIS OWNER’S MANUAL.

This is a specialized, finely fitted mechanism, and you may mar it for

life by an attempt to disassemble the inner mechanism assemblies. Do

not disassemble the trigger mechanism or any other parts more than

described. If further disassembly is required, take your gun to a

Browning Recommended Service Center or a competent gunsmith.

27

28

NOTES

SERVICE OR REPAIR

If your firearm should require service or repairs, we suggest you

first contact a local recommended Browning Firearms Service

Center. Contact your Browning sporting goods dealer or call our

Service Department for the address of the Service Center nearest

you. Otherwise, you may send your firearm directly to our own

Service Department. For technical questions about your firearm

or service, contact:

Browning Service Department

One Browning Place

Arnold, MO 63010-9406

Phone: 1-800-322-4626

Canadian Customers call or write:

Browning Canada Sports Ltd./Ltee,

5583 Chemin St-François

St-Laurent, Quebec H4S 1W6

Phone: (514) 333-7261

When returning your firearm for servicing, you must

do the following:

1 Be sure it is completely unloaded.

2 Package it securely in a cardboard container.

3Enclose a letter with your firearm that clearly describes the

trouble experienced, the ammunition used and the repairs

desired. Also include your name and a phone number where

you can be reached.

4 If convenient, send a copy of the letter to us separately.

5 Never return ammunition with your firearm. It is against

postal and most commerce regulations.

If you have any questions about this owner’s manual or

about any other Browning products, call or write our

Consumer Information Department:

Browning Consumer Information

One Browning Place

Morgan, UT 84050

Phone: (801) 876-2711

BROWNING.COM

BROWNING US: Morgan, Utah 84050-9326

BROWNING CANADA: Browning Canada Sports Ltd/Ltee, St-Laurent, Quebec, H4S 1W6

BROWNING INTL: Parc Industriel des Hauts-Sarts, B-4040 Herstal, Belgium

NEU05011.5/04426