Anyone own Browning BDA45?

[Dezrat]

I have owned a Browning model BDA45 since I bought it new in 1979. From what I understand, it was the forerunner to what was eventually sold as the Sig P220. It says "Sig Sauer System, Germany" on the slide along with "Browning". It has a "Heel" type magazine catch. I was curious as to the rarity of this pistol as I have never encountered another one while at ranges and such and have never seen a used one at any LGS. Are there any others here that own one of these?

[Ronin2]

I have owned a Browning model BDA45 since I bought it new in 1979. From what I understand, it was the forerunner to what was eventually sold as the Sig P220. It says "Sig Sauer System, Germany" on the slide along with "Browning". It has a "Heel" type magazine catch. I was curious as to the rarity of this pistol as I have never encountered another one while at ranges and such and have never seen a used one at any LGS. Are there any others here that own one of these?

I used to own one I bought new as well. While not common they are not really collectible unless they are complete with all boxes and paperwork and are NIB/unfired. A a shooter, the heel mag release really impacts their value negatively.

[Dezrat]

Thx for the reply. Didn't figure they were collectible since I never hear them mentioned anywhere. I have always liked mine and don't plan on parting with it. It has been the most reliable .45 I've ever owned. Wonder if the rarity is because of the heel catch being undesirable or maybe because of the price at the time. I remember it was hard to lay out the $325 when there was the new Colt series 70 next to it for $270. Those were the days...

[9mmepiphany]

The Browning BDA was always pricey, because that is how Browning saw their market...it is like the price difference between a Browning Hi-Power and tan FN P-35

Of the Browning BDAs, the 9mm version was the most common with the .38 Super being the most rare.

This model of the SIG Sauer 220, in 9mm, was adopted by the Swiss Army (P-75), as well as those of Japan and Denmark

[Dezrat]

Thanks Epiphany. So was it a heel release version that those Armies used?

[Gryff]

My father has had one in .45acp since he bought it new. I think it was the first .45 gun I ever fired. I really like it, but wish it didn't have the heel release. That's the only think I think keeping it from being a great home defense gun.

[9mmepiphany]

Yup it was.

Just like the SIG 210 that it replaced, the original 220 was designed with a heel release that didn't let the magazine fall free. If a gun is designed for service in a Nordic county's military, you really don't want to try finding a dropped magazine in the snow. The original Glock 17 also was designed to not drop it's magazines when the mag release was pressed.

The first SIG with a magazine release located at the root of the trigger guard was the P-6 (225)

[BigRich]

These were actually made by SIG for Browning. I have one in 38 Super. Great shooter.

[jyo]

Yeah, before SIG imported their guns, Browning imported them under the BDA label---yeah, they all had the heel-release---stayed that way for many years. Fine, quality pistols---I have a couple of heel-release pistols (Walther P5 9mm, Walther TPH 22, and the SIG P210-2)---doesn't really affect my feelings for these guns---just different. And besides, the speed reloading thing is overated---unless you are competion shooting...

[Beelzy]

As the late Jeff Cooper would say, "nice Crunchandticker".
I don't know why folks find the European mag catch an issue, it keeps one from ever accidentally dropping the mag like that little button on the grip frame can in a fit of passion.

[bnielsen]

I have one that I purchased new. Still love it, very accurate.

[Dezrat]

Well, there is one out there that owns one, a .45 that is. It does seem from this informal survey that it is a pretty rare animal though.
Mine still seems as accurate as the day I bought it too. At least 3k rounds or so later.

[westcoast362]

I bought a .45 and two .38supers when they first came out. They made less than 800 of the .38supers. I thought they would be a rare Browning collectable, but I guess they never caught on. I traded the .45 and one of the .38's in very good deals years ago. I still have one .38 new in the box. Maybe one of these days I will shoot it.