Browning BDA-380 Pistol

The BDA-380 Pistol was introduced in 1977 (and discontinued in 1997) as a compact and lightweight pistol for police and civilian use. The gun was manufactured in Italy under contract from FN Herstal (Belgium) and marketed as FN model 140DA (in Europe) or Browning BDA 380 (in USA). Some sources said that BDA 380 is a copy of Beretta 84, but close inspection shows some differences (i.e. Beretta 84 has frame mounted safety while BDA 380 has slide mounted safety). The manufacture of the BDA 380 was ceased circa 1997. It was adopted by Belgian police.

The BDA 380 is a blowback operated, double action semi automatic pistol. It has aluminium alloy frame and steel slide. Ambidextrous slide mounted safety switch disconnects the trigger from the hammer when engaged. The pistol featured low profile fixed sightst and was available in either polished steel or blued finish, with wooden grip panels.

The gun deserved good reputation as reliable and comfortable to fire.

Specifications: Calibre: 9x17 mm (.380 ACP, 9mm Browning, 9mm Short, 9mm Kurz, 9mm Corto)
Magazine capacity, rounds: 13
Barrel length: 89 mm
Overall dimensions: 173x109x26mm
Weight, unloaded: 0,67 kg (with empty magazine)
Trigger mechanism: SA/DA

Other calibre: 7,65 mm

Source: World guns, Browning

SIG SAUER P220

The SIG P220 was developed for the Swiss Army as a replacement for the SIG P210, which had been developed during World War II; in service it is known as "pistol Model 75". For development of the P220, SIG collaborated with J.P. Sauer of Germany, thus, the P220 and all subsequent pistols from SIG are properly known as SIG-Sauer pistols. The P220 operates by the locked breech short-recoil method pioneered by John Browning.

The SIG-Sauer P220 is short-recoil operated, locked-breech pistol. The locking is of modified Browning type, where the barrel engages the slide with single large lug entering the ejection window. The unlocking is controlled by a cam-shaped lug under the barrel, which interacts with the steel insert set into the aluminium frame. The slide is made from sheet steel by stamping and forming processes, with the separate breechblock pinned into the rear of the slide (machined slides are available on some current production .45 caliber models). The standard trigger is the double-action type, with an automatic firing pin block safety and a frame-mounted decocking lever.

Specifications: Calibre: .45 Auto
Magazine capacity, rounds: 10
Barrel length: 112mm
Overall dimensions: 198x140x36mm
Weight, unloaded: 1,1 kg (with empty magazine)
Trigger mechanism: SA

Other calibre: 9x19mm


Source: Wikipedia

HECKLER & KOCH USP COMPACT

H&K pistol based on the full-size USP models, these handy pistols combine compact size with optimum effective shooting performance. USP Compacts are smaller and lighter than large frame USPs. The reduction in trigger reach and grip circumference increases concealability and enhances shooting ergonomics. Unlike some subcompact semiautomatic pistols that use a difficult to shoot “ two-finger grip” frame, the USP Compact uses a narrow, full-hand grip frame with a choice of interchangeable extended or flush-fitting magazine floorplates. This makes the pistol easy to shoot without sacrificing concealability.

Thanks to the use of an improved Browning locking system with a patented buffer system, the USP recoil behaviour is unobtrusive even during the use of the highest powered ammunition. The buffer system reduces recoil forces and increases both service life of the pistol as well as improves recoil behaviour.

To reduce the length of the slide and barrel on the USP Compact, the mechanical recoil reduction system found on large frame USPs has been replaced by a specially designed flat compression spring contained in the captive recoil spring assembly by a polymer absorber bushing. Service life is still engineered to exceed 20,000 rounds.

Specifications: Calibre: .45 Auto
Magazine capacity, rounds: 12
Barrel length: 112mm
Overall dimensions: 200x141x38mm
Weight, unloaded: 0,89 kg (with empty magazine)
Trigger mechanism: SA/DA

Other calibre: 9x19mm, .40S&W


Source: Heckler & Koch

Walther P99

Pistol was presented in 1996. The main target was to develop new, modern style police and self-defence handgun that incorporates all latest developments and will cost less than its predescessor - Wapther P88, that did not achieve any significant commercial cussess, mainly due to high prices.
Walther P99 is a recoil operated, locked breech gun, that used modified Browning style locking via extraction port in the slide. It is striker fired, and has no manual safeties and three automatic safeties: Striker safety, Trigger safety and Out of battery safety. Also, it has manual decocking button in the rear upper part of the slide. Also Walther developed QA action, which has partially pre-charged stricer that must be manually charget to full stroke via each trigger pull (somewhat similar in appearance to Glocks' "safe action").
P99 has polymer frame with removable backctrap of the handle, to provide to shooters better fit in the hands (3 sizes are standart). Also P99 incorporates recoil compensator.
"Military" version of the P99 differs only in the color - frame is in "military green" color instead of standart black.
Licensed wersion of the P99 is manufactured in the USA by Smith&Wesson under designation of the Smith&Wesson 99. This guns has USA-made slides, the frame and mechanism are Germany-made.
This guns is reported as extremely reliable and very accurate, especially in 9mm version.

Specifications: Calibre: 9х19 mm (9 mm Luger)
Magazine capacity, rounds: 15
Barrel length: 102mm
Overall dimensions: 181x137x32mm
Weight, unloaded: 0,65 kg (with empty magazine)
Trigger mechanism: DAO

Other calibre: .40S&W


Source: Walther, Modern firearms

Springfield XD9

Historically, the XD-9 began life as the HS-2000, which itself was an improved version of I.M. Metalworks (Karlovac, Croatia) HS-95 of 1995. But it actually first appeared as the PHP in 1991, though that particular pistol was fraught with a few quality control problems due to the ongoing Croatian civil war. Vukovic's design team continually refined the PHP and HS-95, correcting its design and metallurgical weaknesses, the final version being designated as the HS-2000 (evidently inspirated by Glock). At this point, I'll forego further historic commentary because it would be redundant, since the HS-2000 was covered in detail in a previous issue of COMBAT HANDGUNS. Shortly thereafter, Springfield Armory acquired importation rights and re-designated the weapon as the XD-9.

The XD pistol features three safety mechanisms. The first is called a 'trigger safety', similar to that found on Glock handguns. The trigger safety requires the shooter to depress a secondary embedded trigger while pulling the primary trigger. This ensures that the gun cannot be fired unless the trigger is depressed. The second safety is called a 'grip safety', most often associated with the many variants on the market.

Specifications: Calibre: 9х19 mm (9 mm Luger)
Magazine capacity, rounds: 15
Barrel length: 103mm
Overall dimensions: 178x138x33 mm
Weight, unloaded: 0,71 kg (with empty magazine)
Trigger mechanism: ATS (Action Trigger System)

Other calibre: .357SIG, .40S&W, .45ACP, .45GAP


Source: Springfield Armory, Wikipedia