Tested True: Browning Model 1911-380 Black Label Medallion Pro

Published on June 2, 2025 Jace Bauserman

I have a buddy who has a safe full of handguns. I call him the HGG (Handgun Geek), and he loves it. Do I like handguns? Yes, I own several. I just haven’t gone crazy about every new release from every handgun manufacturer. I know what I want, and I stick to it.

From bear country excursions to the dangers of everyday life, I typically have a handgun on my person or very close by. For me, one model shines above the rest. This model is accurate, has stood the test of time, and fills me with shooting confidence. It also creates a lack of handgun fascination with other frame makes.

Enter the legendary Model 1911, a pistol with a storied history. The Model 1911 was designed over a century ago by legendary firearms maker John Moses Browning. The U.S. Army opted for Browning’s newly developed Model 1911 chambered in .45 ACP to replace under powered revolvers.

During World War II, the Model 1911 was mass-produced by several manufacturers, making it the most popular handgun design in history. Today, the Model 1911 remains a handgun staple, still used by law enforcement, military special operations, and individuals exercising the right to keep and bear arms.

Browning’s Model 1911-380 effectively blends two John M. Browning creations: The Model 1911 and the 380 ACP cartridge. In 1908, John M. Browning developed the 380 ACP, also known as the 9mm Short or 380 Auto. The reason for the cartridge was for compact, self-defense handguns with the promise of manageable recoil and easy concealment.

The real story about the Model 1911-380 Series, though, is the handgun's size. Scaled to approximately 85 percent the size of the original .45 ACP versions, the single-action Model 1911-380 sports a weight-reducing composite frame that promises easy handling and shooting control.

Browning Model 1911-380: First Impressions

No one will ever convince me there’s a better design than the Model 1911. I shoot them accurately, and I love their fit and feel. Their function and reliability are remarkable. After removing the magazine and chamber checking, pressing the spring-loaded button below the muzzle and rotating the bushing starts what is a quick and easy disassembly process. You can field strip and clean this firearm in minutes.

The Model 1911-380 Black Label Medallion Pro is a stunner. The blackened stainless-steel slide with silver brushed polished flats, and the rosewood-colored grips with Buckmark branding give the firearm a racy appeal. I couldn’t see this handgun in a glass case and not ask to hold it. Other notable first impressions include the steel three-dot combat sights, sizeable controls, and removable 8-round magazine. The 4-1/2-inch stainless-steel barrel handgun without ammunition weighs 18 ounces. With a full magazine, weight is 21.4 ounces.

Browning Model 1911-380: A Deeper Dive

Before loading the magazine and sending ammo downrange, I wanted to familiarize myself with the handgun.

The magazine ejection button is on the left side, behind the trigger guard, and in front of the rosewood grip. The magazine ejects easily and loads quickly.

With the magazine removed, I worked the slide, which features seven (per side) grooves to maximize slide grip. The slide is smooth, easy to grip, and promotes fast, positive loading and clearing. The slide stop is on the handgun’s left side, directly below the slide. The slide stop extends enough for positive thumb contact without causing the handgun to hang up in a holster.

I love the Model 1911’s two-part safety. With a round in the chamber and the hammer back, push the extended ambidextrous safety lever, located next to the trigger and below the slide, into the groove in the slide. The safety engagement prevents the slide from going forward.

The second part of the safety equation on this handgun is the beavertail grip safety. For the Model 1911-380 to fire, the safety lever must be set to fire, and the beavertail grip safety must be pushed in with the shooter’s dominant grip hand. Both mechanisms are easy to operate, a plus because quickness and safety are of the essence in any self-defense situation.

The composite frame reduces weight while boosting durability and corrosion resistance, and is reinforced with a 7075 aluminum subframe and slide rails. The simple single-action, tilting barrel design is tough to beat.

Browning Model 1911-380: Full Send

The Model 1911-380 is small and lightweight, without being too small. Browning found the sweet spot — this is the Right 380. It is an excellent everyday handgun, whether concealed or not, and is the perfect choice for training and shooting on the range. Not everyone wants a handgun on their person. Many hand gunners prefer to visit the range, clang steel, and punch paper. This handgun in this caliber is perfect for that.

The grip lets the shooter get deep and high up on the back for maximum control and pointability. I also appreciate the textured rosewood grips, front strap, and mainspring housing. The trigger box allows ample index-finger room, and the offhand falls into an ideal thumb-forward grip. The handgun’s ergonomics are remarkable.

I like the adjustable three-dot combat sights, and after some slight tinkering, I put solid groups together at 10, 15, and 20 yards.

The ultra-light recoil lets the shooter maintain a positive grip, stance, and sling lead quickly and accurately. This smaller handgun is a joy to shoot and quickly builds shooting confidence.

After putting 50 rounds through the Model 1911-380, my wife decided to give the handgun a little dance. I’m not getting this one back. After emptying the magazine at 15 yards and putting all eight rounds in a sub-10-inch diameter, she said, “I'm keeping this one. It doesn't kick.” She means recoil, but she always calls it kick.

My bride discovered she could shoot the handgun quickly and accurately. Between each trigger pull, she could get back on target due to the reduced recoil and quickly send another round. This gave her shooting confidence, and confidence is key. What good is a magnum-caliber handgun if the person shooting it closes their eyes and flinches every time they pull the trigger?

Browning Model 1911-380: Carry

We don’t need to waste a lot of ink on this. This handgun comfortably carries at appendix, kidney, etc. It works excellently in a concealed-carry purse.

Though the 380 isn’t considered a backcountry bear caliber, maybe it should be. The 9mm has gained traction with backcountry wanderers. Why? Lack of recoil leads to accuracy. Those in a life-or-death situation need pinpoint accuracy. This happens when the shooter can stay on target and put multiple rounds where needed.

Browning Ammunition's 380 Automatic 95 Grain X-Point Defense ammo promises excellent stopping power. X-Point Technology guards the extreme hollow point for consistent expansion and penetration. Energy transfer to the target is immediate, creating instant knock-down power.

Browning Model 1911-380: Final Thoughts

You can’t beat the Model 1911, which is why the design has survived the trials of combat and time. That’s right; The U.S. military officially adopted this tried-and-true handgun model on March 29, 1911.

I think it is fitting Browning continues to honor John Moses Browning by crafting new firearms (that aren’t so new) loaded with new bells and whistles while filling the shooter with nostalgia each time they pull the trigger.

Browning’s Model 1911-380 is available in a number of different models to please every shooter, from the 1911-380 Medallion Stainless Engraved Compact to the 1911-380 Black Label Full Size - Cerakote to the1911-380 Stainless Compact With Rail.