Slide milling the Browning 1911-380 for an optic?

[-]

ZeroPointSpecter@reddit (OP)

Thanks for the input, guys! I opted for a service that custom-fits an optic plate to the rear dovetail without altering the slide.

[-]

ZeroPointSpecter@reddit (OP)

I'll drop some photos in here when it's done in case anyone else is interested.

[-]

therealearlhickey@reddit

buying an optic ready 380 makes far more sense than mutilating a Browning

[-]

This is my wife's gun. One she really values, and she’s interested in exploring whether there’s a way to mount her spare optic on it. Telling us to “just buy an optic ready 380” doesn’t actually address the question being asked here.

[-]

SilenceDobad76@reddit

Just Google it. Odds are one or two shops nation wide does this if at all. Its a niche gun, theyre not wrong for telling you to just get something intended to do this.

[-]

ZeroPointSpecter@reddit (OP)

> "Just Google it."

Might as well not reply at all if this is your advice. I'm not interested in what search results come up, I was looking for people with personal experence...

[-]

therealearlhickey@reddit

It's your gun, plenty of lesser value optic ready 380's around that are more compact for carry. If she truly value's it why would she want to devalue it? Perhaps the rear sight can be taken out and a optic plate adapter can be added, but imo milling the slide would be unwise

[-]

ZeroPointSpecter@reddit (OP)

Devalue it? My man, it's not a collector's item, and she's not reselling it.

All I'm asking for her is if anyone has experience doing this, or knows places that do it. Either via CNC or by adding a dovetail plate.

What I'm not asking is whether it's a good idea or which other .380s we should look at.

[-]

therealearlhickey@reddit

Browning 1911's are collectors items, how many other 380's retail for $750 or more? Do you want you want, good luck.

[-]

ZeroPointSpecter@reddit (OP)

Collector’s item? 😂 It’s a scaled‑down 1911 in .380 with a Browning rollmark, not a pre‑war Colt. It’s a nice pistol, but let’s not get carried away.

Also, $700–$800 for a .380 isn’t exactly rare territory anymore. There are plenty in that range:

Springfield 911 .380 (when available)
SIG P238 / P938 variants can get close
Kimber Micro .380
Even some higher‑end Ruger LCP Max setups and custom builds creep up there

The Browning’s just one of many in that price bracket, not some unicorn.

> "Do what you want,"

Thanks for the permission. I will.

[-]

wildmanheber@reddit

That is a great looking 1911.

[-]

Stock_Block2130@reddit

I chose the Sig 238 with tritium sights although did try the Browning. Can’t imagine an optic on a smallish .380 but that’s me. Could imagine tritium sights on the Browning if someone could make it happen. Good luck with the customization.

[-]

hitemlow@reddit

[-]

DayManFOTNightMan@reddit

I’d assume anyone that can mill a standard 1911 could do this.

Are the outside dimensions the same?

Also, out of curiosity why 380? I’ve seen lots of 9mm 1911s, but I didn’t know 380 -911s were a thing

[-]

ZeroPointSpecter@reddit (OP)

> Also, out of curiosity why 380?

It's the wife's. She loved 1911s, but they are too big. The 380 is basically a 1911 scaled down to 85% the normal size. It just fit her hand well, and she liked it a lot more than the Bodyguard 2.0 and other alternatives.

[-]

DayManFOTNightMan@reddit

Nice. Smaller form factor makes sense.

I’d give FabricatedArms/JagerWerks/whoever a call and see. As long as the slide is steel, I’d think it’d be an easy enough job.

[-]

ZeroPointSpecter@reddit (OP)

This is the 1911-380 vs a Kimber 1911.