Thanks for the review. I can't believe you actually reviewed a BDM! I didn't think anyone remembered them or cared about them anymore. I bought mine brand new back in the day and I love it. For me, it had the perfect combination of features and attributes. Because production mysteriously stopped, I don't think they ever got the respect that I think they deserved. The only negative I ever heard, was the issue of having to reset the decocker after putting in a new magazine, but like you said, that's just an issue of training and familiarity with the gun. It has never been an issue with me. Anyway, thanks again for a great review and a "blast from the past" (pun intended).
Whoa! I've wanted to know more about this gun from some years back. I cant thank you enough for featuring this simply because there isn't that much said (detailed info with comparisons) about this short-lived gun.
Man I can't say enough about the Browning BDM. Such a nice trigger for a DA/DAO well balanced, all steel but light weight. This is a great unique pistol.
I have owned a BDM for many years and it is by far my favorite fun handgun. It does not go with me on every trip to the range, but it goes more often than any other handgun except for my every day carry piece. I disagree with sootch00 about the decocker, it is no problem at all, just different. If you were to use the BDM for self defense you would just need to train with it and it becomes 2nd nature very quickly. I also like the pistol/revolver mode selector option. Usually I shoot with it in pistol mode but sometimes I feel like switching to revolver mode and it is like having a different gun. A twofer you might say. I am sorry that the BDM was not a success for Browning, but in a way that adds to the coolness factor. If you get one you will -probably be the only guy on the block to own one.
I inherited one of these as a moving present from a family member. was trying to figure out how to strip and clean it. yours is the best video out there for this information. the two others I found left out key information. thanks for the video.
One of the security officers who worked for me, 15-20 years ago carried one of these as his duty pistol. He had very small hands and that was why he liked it. He had 2 15 rd mags and his second spare was a 10 rd, because he couldn't find another 15. He always shot really well on his qualifications we did every 6 months and there were never any issues with it. IIRC he always kept it in pistol mode.
Thanks Don, for another excellent video. You are the one who sealed the deal for me when I purchased my new XD Mod 2. I simply loved your review of this pistol, and it put me on the track to purchasing it. Thanks so much for all of your inspiring, informative videos!
One of the thinnist & most comfortable to shoot ,full size handguns ever made.My gun was stolen & of course the BDM is no longer made.Though it failed to be a commercial success,it is an excellent combat handgun & i would still take it over many of the newer pistols!
I do love this guy - he is a superb asset to the firearm community, he is a fine human being and he can laugh at himself... and the bloopers are pure gold! God bless Mr. Sootch!
This was the first "new" pistol I bought when I turned 21. It is the only pistol that I have ever had that has never failed to go bang 1st time, every time......after 8k rounds it is a safe queen now.
I had one of those years ago. I bought it new. I have owned and own a lot of hand guns. I would trade any of them to have that one back.... Loved It!!!
Would love to have one of these… A buddy of mine has one wasn’t able to shoot it but did get to handle it. Great feeling pistol, it does remind you of a Hi-Power which is my favorite pistol of all time.
I've had mine about 20yrs. Love the old school steel frame not the new polymer. It can be a head banger if needed 😅😂. Looks just like mine. Much slimmer than my Ruger P95 or my Colt Commander.
Have you shot a FEG R-9? It's a double action Hi Power. It's like a mix between a H Power and a Smith and Wesson Model 59. Very narrow and it uses 13 round magazines. Magazines from the Beretta M9 can be modified to be used with it too.
This was the very 1st pistol I ever owned, many many years ago. I don't think I've ever heard anybody talking about it before, except for a small clip on "Forgotten Weapons".
I bought one of these a few years ago out of curiosity. Did not know about the decocker releasing the slide stop. Unfortunately for me, the grips are a little too thin and the knuckle on my thumb has a tendency to bang up against the decocker lever. Still not a bad gun - been 100% reliable for me. I love all my Brownings. I lucked out with mine - came with 2 pre-ban magazines. And you're not kidding about the mags being expensive for these guns!
Such an underated pistol. I own two and love them. It always gets attention at the range because they aren't very common atleast in my area. Most recognize it from the Matrix 2 Seraph uses two of them
It's funny, I just took mine to the range today. It's been way too long since my last range trip, and it showed. But the best accuracy I had was with the BDM. Being California I only have the 10-rounders, but I have a lot of them. I occasionally think of selling it, then I take it to the range again and change my mind.
Love my BDM's it's very thin reliable accurate pistol. Loved it so much I snagged another one at a 2000 gun show. And an one more in 2021. 3 BDM's it's a great great gun. DA/SA is great as is Revolver DAO action. Pre cock position in DAO. I jus don't like polymer pistols. Plus it's a FN/Browning look at the Browning Pro 9.. Great pistol as well early FN Fnx
This was my first carry gun and I carried it until I wore the finish off. Glad I bought two when they came out. Wish I had two more. The feel of this gun is about perfect. I’ve carried a Glock 42 or 43 for years once they came out, but I still love this gun. The only thing that even feels close to as good in my hand is my P365
I own one.. did not even want it when I bought it.. but.. I have to admit that it is pretty cool.. it is indeed very thin.. it is also very ergonomic for me anyway. The trigger is pretty good. The gun is really accurate for a 9mm. I will admit that I don't shoot many 9mm guns but this one is at least as accurate in my hands as a Hi Power. while the gun seems rugged to me.. I am afraid to shoot it much since parts are rare and the gun seems pretty complex.
I bought one of these the first year that they were introduced. I was sorely disappointed in the rough, gritty action, especially compared to my Hi-Power and BuckMark. I proceeded to tear it down and polish the parts and I had it operating pretty smoothly until I tweaked a part just a little too much and it became inoperable. I called Browning to order the new part and was asked for the serial number of my pistol. When I told them, they said they couldn't send me the new part and that I had to send the pistol back to them. I explained that I didn't want to do that because I had it shooting smoothly but they said I had no choice. OK, I sent it to them, they sent it back with ALL NEW parts and I was delighted to find that it now fires smooth and sweet like a Browning should. It has truly become my favorite pistol, especially because of the high capacity magazine and the very thin ergonomic grips. If you can get ahold of one, I highly recommend this pistol.
I used one for my on-duty weapon. Loved it and kept in it DA as per department rules. I really missed it. I ended up trading it for a British SLR L1A1. So I don't miss it that much! ;)
I bought one when they first came out, it would gag on ball ammo. I was making a lot of money, and sold it and bought my next fancy Glad you had much better luck.
Just looked up review . Everybody likes it . A local dealer has a few new ones but wants a lot with Only one mag . Mags are the issue for me still on the fence . But always thinking about it. I like the P1 Walther so all the control's are ok with me.
Thanks Sootch for another outstanding presentation. Have known of this sidearm for years but you made the best show and tell' of the features and benefits. BDM has elements of, as you pointed out, Browning Hi Power, CZ, and SiG, had FN made more of and aggressively marketed this pistol it would have sold very well to this day. Could be updated with a compact butt using Hi Power magazines and possibly a lightweight frame material, alloy or polymer. BTW, curious as to why it failed to win the FBI contract. ?
I have the two tone BDM, it’s just awesome, again the magazine issue, I would like to have about 10 mags. Performance, at 7-10 yards it’s so easy to remove the target just by shooting the tacks out of the target it’s just plain fun..... my wish is they would make more magazines.
In my opinion, the Hi-power with the walnut grips, is the most beautiful pistol in the world. The BDM looks like a great gun, but I've wanted a Hi-power for as long as I've been buying guns and if they ever get off their hi-horse and drop the price, I'll buy one.
The first semi-auto I purchased AFTER TURNING 21was a new Belgium Browning Hi-Power. I bought it from a friend who was and FFL dealer. I paid 350.00 for it. I carried it for many years when I worked as Investigator. Today, while shopping at Gun Show I ran across a Browning BDM. They were asking 399.00 and I was able to get a cash price of 350.00. Only one magazine but I was able to purchase 3 more for magazines for 90.00. Thirty-three years have passed since my first Hi-Power purchase...... I can still put all 13 rounds in a hole the size of a quarter at 25 yard...... I can't wait to take the BDM out and see if it shoots as well as the first.
The ultimate semi-auto 9 mm as far as I'm concerned they were still making them when I was a very young man was well old enough to buy one and I wish I would have now you probably can't even find them in decent shape now
Heeey, Sootch. You always do good videos but this one was first rate. You always show the overalls AND the details without all the hemming and hawing, or extra prattle, which is so rare on the 'tube these days. There are some quirks to this piece, which many just don't quite have their head around... But even if someone didn't know a Browning from a brownie, this did them right. I also noticed this is "Parked." I would buy one of these today but I just added to my collection a rare " T" model Hi Power which also has very good Parkerizing job which is very hard to find as most are either blued or nitrided (not so rare), so this will have to wait for further funding. I'll be putting your AR building tips to good use soon, time for a custom build (also why i can't afford a BDM today). Thanks again...
I really want one, if i found one for that price and mags i wouldn’t be able to help myself. Not a big fan about the whole double action mode but just being a browning and a more ergonomical hi power with browning not producing any other 9s makes me want it the most
I bought 2 browning BDM pistols in 1995 I still have them I got extra magazines from midwayUSA .com last year they were about 200. Dollars for four magazines 15 round each a high price but they shot good I love my bdm’s iv had so many hand guns since then my favorite hand gun now is a glock
Handsome practical gun.... it would have been a good duty gun. We had revolvers until we went to the Beretta 92FS. The 92FS has a thick grip...and for some people, it affected the draw speed, because they have to adjust their grip. The grip on your gun is a good size, easy to get to, and easier, no doubt, to get out of the holster..Cool video, good old gun.
I remember handling those in gun shops. I thought it was a very interesting design. The safety was actually more intuitive than you might imagine. It's too bad it went the way of the dodo. I think it had a lot to recommend it. Anyway, if I am not mistaken, when the pistol is in "Revolver Mode", I believe it is not a true DAO, in that you can still thumb cock the hammer to single action, like a revolver. Is that your experience Sootch ? Also, do it have a magazine disconnect safety ? If so, how does that operate ? You make good videos. :)
It’s really clever. But at the same time I think the gun doesn’t know what it wants to be. The frame mounted decocker I like, and using it to drop the slide is a neat idea. But then there’s the issue of dropping the hammer for the first shot, forcing the user into DAO, affecting shot speed and accuracy. I have no idea who the dual mode selector is for. Training wheels for the one guy remaining at the FBI who worked with Elliot Ness and only knows how to use a revolver? Anyone can see it’s a gimmick like the Bren-Ten’s mag drop selector Ian from Forgotten Weapons calls in jest “The most tactical”. And Browning then decided to use the “Dual-Mode Selector” as the name of the gun? It’s like living in Death Valley and buying a diver’s watch. It can go to 300m? Fascinating, except we’re surrounded by sand as far as the eye can see. I normally laud anything Browning does, but this seems like an overcomplicated CZ-75, which itself was an updated Hi-Power. At the same time I’m not seeing in this Browning a gun that offers more than a S&W 5900 series, Sig 226, or even Beretta 92. Honestly, I think Browning created a gun which on paper possessed all sorts of features that would seem exciting for buyers and government contracts. The sort of things guys bring up at the clubhouse after a few drinks and the brilliant ideas start flowing. But in reality it has an identity crisis offering lots of different appeal but doing nothing truly well. That’s the same formula and approach that created the Pontiac Aztek... which is slightly unfair because the BLM looks sexy as hell while the Aztek has the appeal of a Chevy Citation and a Honda CRX having a child with elephantitis.
I bought one not long after they came out. I was told by a local gunsmith the quality of the BDM wasn't as good as the Highpower. Needless the to say I sold it for what I paid for it.
I have one in like new condition, with six new + two factory 15 round magazine's. Thinner than a 1911 but holds 15 + 1 9mm.My understanding is was developed for the Secret Service. However, it did not make the cut.
Can you do me a huge favor Sooch !!! Can you see if the CZ75 magazine fits in the browning Bdm and what mods would need to be done to it to fit it in which I think is just something to do with the mag catch.... can you let me know please before I order one ?
FWIW: Browning was working with the US Secret Service for possible adoption, not the FBI. Remember that the FBI was still trying to field their 10mm S&W 1076 pistols in 1991.
