What ever happened to Browning's BDM?

B

Bullwhip

Inactive
I was going through some old magazines that I had last night and came across the Browning BDM, a new 9mm for them in 1991. It had the option of selecting the mode of fire of either double action only or traditional double-single fire, with the turn of a screw.
Did this ever make it to production or importation? Anyone heard of it?
 
It died a slow, lingering, and fitting(IMO) death. :) Introduced at a time when DAO had not yet caught on like today. The safety switch is frame mounted just like the 1911/BHP, BUT, it operates just the OPPOSITE: down to safe, up to fire! I would've bought one if not for that glaring fault, as everything else about it seemed attractive.
I still see them occasionally at shows, many still NIB. If that problem doesn't bother you, take the leap. I believe they come with 15 rounders?

[This message has been edited by VictorLouis (edited February 17, 2000).]
 
I've seen several and my former shooting buddy was an employee at FN here in Columbia.

They had a couple of systemic problems - one was a lack of accuracy. There was also a high rate of manufacturing problems that kept profit in the basement.

Hi-Caps for the gun seem very high if available and ten rounders are not common either. The FN folks were selling them to employees for $ 200 or so (IIRC).

Giz
 
What VL said, the same reason I never got one. The grip was very thin and comfortable for being hi-cap but that goofy safety...oh well, still got my Model 35. The early High Power-based double action gun (which I think was sold in Europe) would have been a better seller and I thought they were going to bring it in after the BDM failure but they never did.

You can get the BDM really cheap nowadays.

- Ron V.
 
Alas, it was too much for one pistol to bear. The choice of DA/SA or DAO and then a bewildering safety system drove the BDM to an early grave. It wasn't helped any by the fact it lost the Secret Service to the P228. Browning poured alot of money into modifying the pistol in hopes of landing that contract. If you see one NIB at a fair price pick it up. They might go in value, but then again they might join the Colt 2000 in the corral of forgotten designs.

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So many pistols, so little money.
 
A buddy of mine uses one as his daily carry piece, and it really is a surprisingly great gun. It's slim, well balanced, has a womderful grip, even for my huge hands, and is quite accurate. No jams, either. The only gripes are that the finish is easily scratched, and hi-cap mags just DO NOT exist, it seems.
If you can find one at a bargain basement price, pick it up. I know I will.
It never hurts to have one more in the collection, huh?
 
BrokenArrow,

Thanks for the links. Those are some good looking pistols. The compact HP DAO looks odd with the angled trigger guard and long slide, however.

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So many pistols, so little money.
 
Greetings Broken Arrow, I just visited your
web site; real nice job with pic's and details. I have read many of your post
here on TFL, and I am very impressed.
Just curious, What's your favorite CCW,
for a handgun?

Best Wishes,
Ala Dan, N.R.A. Life Member
 
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