Update on Bersa 380 Jams

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rdoty

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A couple of weeks ago I posted a message concerning multiple jams (11 out of 40) with a new Bersa Thunder 380. I had indicated that I had Emailed Eagle, the importer, about the problem and one of the responses suggested that they neverrespond. Au contraire....I did get an Email back and they pointed me to the local service center in Fort Collins (Colorado Gunworks).
I got the pistol back and took it to the range yesterday. This time much better...2 jams out of 60 rounds. Don't know what they did since there wasn't any explanation but it is improved. It does seem to chamber with a little "catch" i.e. not real smooth so I'm thinking that there's a rough spot somewhere that will likely smooth out with more use. I really don't expect the quality to be up to that of my 92FS.
Anyway, didn't want anybody out there to think that this isn't a good pistol because it does seem to be made pretty well and others have rated it very highly. And it does have very good accuracy.
 
IS the Bersa .380 about the best gun for the money in the mouse sized gun? I want a .380 but do not want to put much money in it.,
 
I paid less than $200 new from Buds Gun Shop in Paris KY. Following my original post I got lots of responses from individuals who were extremely happy with theirs. Even though I had a lot of problems with jamming I can't say that I'm disatisfied with it and I think eventually with enough use it will smooth out. Be aware it's not built like a Beretta or Colt i.e. some of the machining is a little rough but in places where it really doesn't matter. I will attest to the fact that it seems to have excellent accuracy.
 
I bought one several years ago, and I have never had a jam at all. They seem to be a good gun, especially for $200.
 
I haven't experimented with this, but it seems a bit likely. Check the recoil spring when you disassemble it. There are two ends to the spring, one that fits snugly on the barrel, and one that slides easily over it. Make sure that the snug side of the spring goes on the barrel first, holding the spring on.

If that spring is reversed, it could be giving you the roughness in the motion of the slide. I'm not sure about this, but it's a very easy thing to check and the first thing that came to mind.

/Arcli9ht
 
2 out of 60 is to many for a Bersa Its not normal Check the spring. My Bersa is over 2 years old suffered its first jam.( Round failed to fully chamber) last week. Was Russian Brown Bear Ammo. That was only round in Box that failed and only time ever for my Bersa. Try different brand of ammo Several have complained about Win White Box . I have not had any problem with it.

http://bersatalk come visit
 
Crue4 said:
IS the Bersa .380 about the best gun for the money in the mouse sized gun? I want a .380 but do not want to put much money in it.,
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You may have considered this already, but the Makarov is about the best $-for-$ deal in a small blowback pistol you are ever going to find. There are some Russian ones floating around in .380 caliber (some of these are actually double-stack "high capacity" models), but the ones that are easier to find and bargain priced are chambered in 9mm Makarov (a caliber very similar to and perhaps slightly more powerful than .380).

Apologies if this is old news to you.
 
Crue4 said:
IS the Bersa .380 about the best gun for the money in the mouse sized gun? I want a .380 but do not want to put much money in it.,
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I think so. I own a Bersa .380 that I had purchased used for about $170.00. It eats everything that I have fed it and is accurate to boot! The Bersa is a fine pistol for the money. No doubt about it. :cool:

Scott
 
(Off Topic)

Budsgunshop.com has the best prices on the internet of any gun I have been interested in.

Their email repsonces are very quick, evin when their store is supposed to be "closed"

A+ Dealer
 
I watched the hammer break on one. Potmetal

On what? The Bersa .380? A cannon? A clock? There are four different guns mentioned before your post.

Under what conditions did the hammer break?

Sorry, don't mean to pick. I just see these unqualified declarations from time to time, and they're like a thorn in my paw.

jmm
 
Bersa Reliability?

Mine was reliable with no jams and accurate until I hit the 1200 rd mark.

Then the trigger mechanism broke. Got a Mak and haven't looked back (no pun intended :evil: ).
 
grimjaw said:
I watched the hammer break on one. Potmetal

On what? The Bersa .380? A cannon? A clock? There are four different guns mentioned before your post.

Under what conditions did the hammer break?

Sorry, don't mean to pick. I just see these unqualified declarations from time to time, and they're like a thorn in my paw.

jmm
Click to expand...

Was at Gunworks Range in Everett, WA about four years ago. It was a Bersa 380 in the rental pool. Guy was shooting it with factory PMC ammo.

Shot a box or two and came back to us with the top part of the spurred hammer in his hand. Snapped off in a jagged manner. You could flick the letal off as it crumbled.

So yeah, that batch of Bersa' may have had some metal problems.

I had a Thunder 22 and it was nice but the fit and finish was all you could expect for a $175 gun. Spray on finish - not actual blueing.

Not anything I'd put in my holster for CCW.
 
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