NRA Gun of the Week: Browning Black Label 1911 .380

by
posted on November 7, 2015
** When you buy products through the links on our site, we may earn a commission that supports NRA's mission to protect, preserve and defend the Second Amendment. **
Browning has taken the same basic platform as its M1911-22 85-percent size pistol to the next level by building it as a locked-breech center-fire pistol chambered in .380 ACP. The new 1911-380 is a marriage between classic form and modern engineering, incorporating a polymer frame and all the features of a full-size pistol. Bilateral safety levers, a beavertail grip safety with memory pad and a drift-adjustable rear sight are just a few of its standout features. Low recoil from the .380 ACP cartridge and a longer-than-typical sight radius make it an easy handgun to shoot well. Additionally, the longer barrel maximizes the little cartridge’s potential—especially when utilizing modern defensive loads. Check out this "NRA Gun of the Week" video as Senior Executive Editor Brian Sheetz walks through all of the features of the Browning M1911-380. For more information, visit browning.com.

Specifications
Manufacturer: Browning
Model: Black Label 1911-380
Action: recoil-operated, center-fire, semi-automatic pistol
Caliber: .380 ACP
Slide: steel, matte blue
Frame: aluminum-reinforced polymer
Sights: combat-style, post front, ramped rear
Barrel: 4.25”
Trigger: single-action; 5-lb., 10-oz. pull
Overall Length: 7.25”
Weight: 17.5 ozs., empty
Capacity: eight-round, detachable box
Accessories: owner’s manual, hard case, lock
MSRP: $670

For more on the Browning M1911-380, please enjoy the following articles:

New! Browning 1911 .380 ACP

Latest

Sar Gotw Web
Sar Gotw Web

Gun Of The Week: Sarsilmaz SAR9 SC Gen3

As part of a new family of guns, SAR USA offers its SAR9 SC Gen3, a small, subcompact, striker-fired design made for daily carry. Watch our video to see this concealable pistol in use on the range.

The Armed Citizen® Nov. 7, 2025

Read today's "The Armed Citizen" entry for real stories of law-abiding citizens, past and present, who used their firearms to save lives.

Review: Taurus Model 58

Announced publicly in April 2025 at the NRA Annual Meetings and Events convention in Atlanta, Ga., Taurus USA has filled the traditional double-action void of full-size .380-ACP-chambered handguns within its American catalog by launching the Model 58.

Smith & Wesson Announces $150 American Guardians Rebate

Smith & Wesson's American Guardians Rebate program allows military veterans and first responders to get a break on the cost of Smith & Wesson firearms or Gemtech suppressors.

Rifleman Review: Smith & Wesson Bodyguard 2.0

Smith & Wesson went back to the drawing board with its Bodyguard .380, and in 2024, the company rolled out the Bodyguard 2.0, which is one of the smallest and lightest defensive pistols in the S&W lineup.

The Glenfield Model A: Ruger Revives A Storied Brand

Following Marlin's resurrection, Ruger is now reviving another storied brand, Glenfield Firearms, and the brand's inaugural design, the Model A, borrows design elements from Ruger's Gen 1 American rifle.

Interests



Get the best of American Rifleman delivered to your inbox.