From: fiddler@concertina.Eng.Sun.COM (steve hix)
Newsgroups: rec.guns
Subject: Re: Info wanted:  Browning BDM
Date: 22 Dec 92 00:00:28 GMT
Organization: Sun

In article <168C2FEAB.UC390136@mizzou1.missouri.edu> UC390136@mizzou1.missouri.edu (JON HALL) writes:
#Does anyone have any experience with or opinions about
#the Browning BDM? 

Yep.  :}

#Is the Pistol Mode/Revolver Mode feature
#anything more than something a marketing-type dreamed up?

Some police departments may require DAO operation for its
officers, the Treasury Department apparently is going after
Browning to make a version of the BDM without the selector
as a DAO pistol.

Some people just prefer either DAO or normal double-action
(first shot DA, succeeding shots SA).  Actually, the gun
can't be called DAO, since you can manually cock it and
shoot SA if you want.

#Is this Browning's attempt at a "new" wondernine, one to
#keep a place in the market, until they think of something
#better?

They spent long enough coming up with this, I wouldn't hold
my breath waiting for a followup.

#All I've read about it are brief mentions in various gun
#magazines. All they say is it's a double-mode, narrow-
#framed, high-capacity 9mm autoloader. I've seen no reviews
#(If you know of any reviews, please let me know. I'm even
#willing to send someone a SASE for copies of reviews.)

Lots of reviews out there...don't have any to hand, though.
There is a fairoly recent issue of American Rifleman with the
BDM on the cover.

#I've also seen the two-page spread in Browning's catalog.

Probably shows the earlier version of it.  The shipping BDM
has a different method of securing the rear sight, simpler.

#Two local gun shops carry the BDM, but neither has had much
#experience with it nor have they heard anything from
#the one or two customers who have bought one.

If I could scrape up the cash, I'd get a second one.  My daughter
would *really* like for me to get her one...I'm still explaining
why she can't have one of her own.

#Is the gun reliable? 

I see no reason why it shouldn't be as reliable as a Hi-Power.

#Accurate? 

I'm fairly pathetic with a pistol.  My daughter and I both
manage to keep everything within 4-5" at 50', offhand.  (She
may be a problem, though...first time she picked up a pistol,
she settled into a classic Weaver stance.  Only fix needed was
to remind her to not lean back a couple of times.  :}

#How would you rate it WRT SIGs, Berettas, Glocks, etc.? 

It's my favorite so far (I *paid* for mine).  The I'd rate the rest:
Hi-Power, SIG 226, Glock17, S&W, Desert Eagle .44,...with Ruger P85
down in tenth place.  I'm leaving open slots for other pistols who
*have* to have a better trigger than a P85, if they have no other
redeeming virtues.

#How does it like different kinds of ammo? 

I've got 800 rounds through it so far.  Two jams, caused by daughter
letting down the slide partway before releasing it.  She knows better
now.

#How does the narrow frame feel, when you fire it (aiming, recoil, etc.). 

Great!  Grip feel was one of the main reasons I went for it.  Shooting
is very pleasant...good reason for me to be reloading, too.  :}

#Workmanship? Material? Low-/high-maintenence? Mediocre?!

Good.  Good. Low (as near as I can tell). Better.  No sharp corners to
snag on clothes.  Small enough for my daughter to use comfortable, but
big enough that I don't feel that I'm holding a capgun.  Her hands are
not all that small, though.

#Right now, I'm leaning toward the Beretta 92FS-series.

There's no accounting for taste.  :}

#The SIG is good, but lacks a true safety. 

The BDM's "safety" is described by Browning as a "combination
lever", since it acts as safety/decocker/slide release.  In practice,
this means that SA cocked-and-locked is out.  OK by me.  (If you
drop the slide with the (small) slide release, you're holding a loaded
pistol, safety off, cocked, single action.)  As long as you know...
Otherwise, using the combination lever leaves you loaded, decocked, and
safety on.  I can deal with it.



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