Problems with Browning BPM-D (very similar to Browning BDM)

[Idaho 45 Vaquero]

Hi all

Feeling a little frustrated

I am having some issues with my 1990's 9mm Browning BPM-D semi-auto pistol. The Browning BPM-D is a scarce model that is similar to the Browning BDM (Browning double mode) and is interchangeable with most of its parts. The BPM-D is basically a BDM without the change mode feature, and is basically just a double/single action automatic with a de-cocker.

I have had this pistol for almost 5 years and bought it in new condition in box. It worked well right after I bought it, and is a very very accurate pistol. I kept it as a home defense pistol and kept the hi-cap magazines loaded for 3 years and did not fire it much. This year I have been trying shoot it. It would not feed any new rounds from the magazine but would eject the spent cases fine. It would also not hold the slide open when empty; so I assumed magazine springs had gone weak. I replaced the springs in my old magazines with increased power Wollf springs and bought some new magazines from Triple K.

But, even now it doesn't cycle reliably much of the time. The most common feeding problem is that ejects the old case fine and then closes on an empty chamber without feeding new round. The second most common problem is that it will jam with the front half of the bullet pointed into the chamber and the back of the case under the slide (bolt face); this problem doesn't happen near as often as the slide closing on an empty chamber.

The pistol seems to be different on different days, there have been a few times it has cycled for 40 or so rounds completely reliably. Other days, I have to manually rack the slide for about 60% of the shots for it to feed. It seems to cycle some better with +P loads and my hotter hand-loads but still doesn't cycle completely reliably.

I am wondering what should I do next, I just competed in a slow fire college pistol competition with it and won 2nd place, even though I pretty much had to load it by hand 60% of the time. It is an extremely accurate and comfortable gun and I really don't want to get rid of it. I think that the slide is not coming back far enough, especially with non-hot loads to feed in a new round. I am thinking about putting a slightly lighter recoil spring in it.

ANY SUGGESTIONS or INFO?

[Snyper]

I am wondering what should I do next

Give it a thorough cleaning, blow it out with an air hose and then put a TINY dab of Lithium grease on the rails

All your symptoms suggest the slide isn't moving fully to the rear

[lechiffre]

bought some new magazines from Triple K.

That could be part of the problem.

I would try replacing the recoil spring.

Then I would get some real Browning magazines.

[Shadi Khalil]

There could be any number of issues and it might take a gunsmith to figure it out. Once you do get the issues sorted out, shoot it more. If it's something you are counting on for SD, it's worth your time to shoot it once a month .

[AustinTX]

I replaced the springs in my old magazines with increased power Wollf springs and bought some new magazines from Triple K.

But, even now it doesn't cycle reliably much of the time.

Does the problem occur with all magazines? Triple K mags are generally considered to be garbage and a common source of reliability issues.

[burrhead]

Triple K mags are junk. More importantly, what brand and weight of ammo are you using? I suspect the ammo doesn't have enough power to fully cycle the slide.

[Idaho 45 Vaquero]

Thanks very much folks,

I'll keep all your suggestions in mind, I do clean it thoroughly every time I shoot it, so its not dirty, I'll try using a little grease in the slide though. I quit using this pistol as my primary home defense pistol. I'm really a big bore revolver man by heart, and my revolver can be kept loaded without me having to worry about magazine springs. I'm mostly wanting to get this semi-auto pistol into college competition shape.

As for magazines, I have Browning mags with weak springs, Browning Mags that I have altered with 15% increased power springs, and some new Triple K mags. The big problem with getting new Browning Mags is that there are none; Browning hasn't made them since the BDM was discontinued in the 90's. I can find them on gunbroker, but I bought one and paid quite a bit for it and I was disappointed because I'm pretty sure it was being sold for having a weak spring. Other than gunbroker, Triple K is the only one who makes magazines (particularly 15rd. ones) for it. The mags with increased power springs are I think sufficient, and they hold the slide open reliably when the gun is empty.

The guide rod for the recoil spring is made out of a polymer plastic stuff. It has some friction against the spring and the spring makes scratches in it. My father is a machinists and is going to help me make a stainless steel one this weekend. Hopefully that will help out some, while getting rid of the ugly plastic.

If that doesn't get rid of the cycling issues, I'm going to try putting a slightly weaker recoil spring in it. The gun does work noticeably better with hotter ammo so I think that the slide is not coming all the way back against the pressure of the recoil spring every time.

If that doesn't work, I'll curse at it, and I guess one of my Vaquero's will just have to do.

Thanks, everybody.

[Pilot]

Only use the factory Browning BDM mags, NOT the Triple K. Get new mag springs from Wolff. Replace ALL of you mag springs in your factory mags, and give that a try.

http://www.gunsprings.com/Semi-Auto%...ID1/mID3/dID48

[lee n. field]

The guide rod for the recoil spring is made out of a polymer plastic stuff. It has some friction against the spring and the spring makes scratches in it. My father is a machinists and is going to help me make a stainless steel one this weekend. Hopefully that will help out some, while getting rid of the ugly plastic.

Plastic guide rod should not be a problem.

But, while you're at Wolff getting magazine springs, you might want to pick up a new recoil spring, of whatever weight the factory used.