Baby Rock & Browning's "The Right 380"

S

SEKLEM

New member
I went to a LGS a few weeks ago and until now nearly forgot about it, but I saw two new firearms of some interest there.

They had a couple "baby" 1911's chambered in .380 acp.

Despite the brand, Browning still doesn't make a .45 acp chambered 1911 but they do offer a scaled down version chambered in .22lr and now in .380 acp. Browning dubs theirs as "The Right 380" as it offers better grip than the current crop of 380 pocket pistols and more familiar controls.

At a much more reasonable price range they had the Rock Island Armory, Baby Rock. In typical Rock Island Armory fashion the Baby Rock was dripping with oil and other liquid substances. It looked and felt rougher than the Browning, which is to be expected.


I don't know all the details of these two firearms, but I will say they felt "nifty" in my hand. As far as I know these are the only two makers of a 1911 style chambered in .380 acp. I will say that I'm not a big fan of the .380 acp cartridge, but could these little pistols being viable in the market of conceal carry with shooters that desire something familiar and easy to handle?
 
The Browing .380 is, as you note, a scaled-down 1911. It is also a polymer frame, which is all I need to know to decide that I'm not interested.

The Baby Rock doesn't appear to be a scaled-down 1911, at least not directly. The detail at the bottom of the grip frame/mag well is what I consider the tipoff: it looks like a direct copy of the now-defunct Llama .380 pistols from Spain. I haven't had an opportunity to handle one of the Baby Rocks yet, but I hope to soon.

Baby Rock:
51912_1911-a1_gi_baby_rock_380_2-450x300.png



Llama .380:
llama-model-III-380.gif
 
I would think a downsized 1911 chambered in .380 would be appealing to many 1911 fans. There are smaller .380s, but the Browning has them beat on capacity. However, the Browning looks too big for pocket carry. Familiarity is a natural selling point.

Interestingly, some 1911 aficionados go out of their way to say that SA EMPs in 9 Luger and .40 S&W are not 1911s, but are they not the same as Browning's 1911-380, shrunk to caliber?
 
I was going to buy one or the other of them. They took a while to become available, though, and I ended up finding a good deal on a Colt Government 380, so I bought it instead.

The Colt Government is kind of heavy for cc, and I don't prefer a single-action handgun for that role. However, it is a very comfortable plinker. The combination of steel frame and locked breech makes the recoil extremely mild. If the Browning and RIA are pretty similar to the Colt, which I believe they are, they would make good introductory center-fire handguns for new shooters, or a HD pistol for someone who can't take much recoil.
 
Wow, I either completely forgot that the frame on the Browning was composite or plain didn't notice. I'm not sure which is more embarrassing. :o
 
Have wanted the Browning 1911 380 since its introduction. My LGS still haven't gotten one. Not a .380 ACP fan, but have three of them. One is a carried on my person, the others are kept in cars' doors. Like 1911's, a 380 would be nice to have.
 
The Browing .380 is, as you note, a scaled-down 1911. It is also a polymer frame, which is all I need to know to decide that I'm not interested.

The Baby Rock doesn't appear to be a scaled-down 1911, at least not directly. The detail at the bottom of the grip frame/mag well is what I consider the tipoff: it looks like a direct copy of the now-defunct Llama .380 pistols from Spain. I haven't had an opportunity to handle one of the Baby Rocks yet, but I hope to soon.

Baby Rock:
51912_1911-a1_gi_baby_rock_380_2-450x300.png



Llama .380:
llama-model-III-380.gif
 
rt,

Not a .380 ACP fan, but have three of them. One is a carried on my person, the others are kept in cars' doors.
Click to expand...

What do you do with guns chambered in a caliber you like? Your behavior with .380s has a waft of fandom lingering. What brand/model .380s do you pack on you and in your cars?
 
I've been carrying a 1911-style .380, a Sig p238, for about six months and love it. It is super accurate at 7-10 yards, recoil is just a big stronger than a .22 but barely noticeable, I love having a safety, not as light as some of the plastic offerings, but ... plastic ... if cost is important, and it usually is to me, you might want to look elsewhere, but I decided to bite the bullet, so to speak ... traded in an old 1911 to bring the price down and I am a happy camper ...
 
My wife carries a P238, too, and it is a very impressive little pistol.

The comparisons to 1911-style pistols is often made, and is true to the extent that it is a SA with a frame mounted safety. It has no grip safety, though, and no barrel bushing, making field strip a bit different; whether you consider those positives or negatives is up to you. It is a very pleasant little pistol to shoot, the most pleasant and easiest to shoot well of any of the pocket pistols I have tried. I wouldn't mind picking another up for myself next time I see a good deal on one, and I'm not one to own multiple copies of the same model.
 
I was able to handle one of the browning 1911-380's in store, I liked it, but somehow my grip was high enough to engage the ambi safety, so unless they make a simpler no frills model, and preferably with a metal frame, its not for me.
 
The photo of the "Baby Roc" if it ever materializes, is indeed close resemblance to the Llama, but not the one you picture, their last offering the Micro Max. I have five or six of them in different configurations including a Ceracoat FDE Micro with standard hammer that looks like a shrunken USMC issue. I love shooting that size pistol but for carry I prefer my G42, Sig P238 or Kimber Micro for their size and ease of carry.
 
For me, the King of 380's is the Beretta 84F. I bought a used Israeli surplus 84F a year or so ago, mainly just to try out, and as an investment.
A trip to the range or three later, and I carry it instead of other more powerful carry guns.
 
The photo of the "Baby Roc" if it ever materializes, is indeed close resemblance to the Llama, but not the one you picture, their last offering the Micro Max.
Click to expand...

They are now out there in the Wild. Cabelas got the first shipment of them. There have been a few on GB, so they do exist.
 
Limnophile,

My favorite caliber is 9mm. I sometimes carry a Kimber SOLO 9mm, sometimes a HK p7m8 9mm. I shoot the 9's at my local range, firing at least six guns during two weekly sessions. Carry guns get fired every month to keep me familiar with me.

I carry a SIG p232 .380 ACP, a lot; sometimes switching off the other two guns just mentioned. The other .380's that are carried in the cars' doors are a Beretta 84fs and a Browning bda. I like the guns (comes from the past) and shoot them well. Just not too fond of the round. I find it snappy, m/b because the guns are blow back. m/b not. Probably not, I have several .22 blow backs; that round is soft, whether in a bolt action, or blow back.

I also own several .45 ACP guns. Not a huge fan of that round either, but it doesn't have the snap of the .380 round; is more pleasant to shoot for an extended period. Besides, how can one a 1911 without at least one of them being a .45?:)

Also keep a couple of .38 Special/.357 revolvers around for home defense. My wife prefers a revolver.
 
This is my Colt Government Model 380. It is noticeably larger than the Mustang, more like the RIA or Browning. I like it a lot.


Colt20380_zpsi17ywq4d.jpg
 
I have one of the Beretta 84's also. it is a different concept: double action, alloy frame, double-stack magazine, blowback.

It is also an excellent firearm. I got this one for around $230 because the finish is worn in places. It shoots great.


501aa97d-769e-40a2-9c97-9df6ee5a882e_zps9pyzbxyc.jpg
 
Tall ball, Yes you do have a neat pistol produced by Colt but actually a clone of the Star S model pistol, even the mags interchange. Both are a neat size for plinking and/or home defense.
 
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