I am extremely satisfied with my Bersa Thunder 40, but sometimes it bothers me on my belt, especially going toward the summer when you want to dress lighter.
It is surprisingly compact and light to be a full size pistol, for example ,today I compared it with the SIG P226 (that incidentally costs more than double, $800 + tax versus $320 + tax....) which has the same barrel length (4.4 inches). Well, the SIG is wider, heavier and overall bigger and with less magazine capacity....made me very happy thinking about the money I saved.
Even compared with the P229 and the Stoeger Cougar, which are "sub-4 inch barrel" hanguns, my Thunder 40 "feels" more compact.
So I started looking for a VERY small handgun that I can literally put in my pocket (I'm not that tall, only 5,7)..I figured, if i have to put it in my belt with an holster, I rather keep using my Thunder 40 and save the $$$.
Well today a gun shop proposed me a couple of Kel-Tec in 9 mm, one single stack and one double stack magazine.
They are polymer made and the salesman literally told me, "do not put lots of rounds throught it at the range...use it just for emergency"...Well that didn't give me a lot of confidence in it....they were not exactly cheap (they were asking $299 + tax) but definitely they looked cheaply made...
No external hammer and no safety....hmm I'll pass..
An other store showed me an interesting supercompact 2 tone finishing 9 mm which I do not even remember the brand because the price was way way out of what I intended to spend (they were asking $650) and no external hammer but it had safety and it seemed of way better quality compared to the Kel-Tec.
So seems that the widest choice for a super compact is in 380 caliber (CZ, Bersa, SIG, Walther, etc..).
I did look at the Bersa Tunder 380 and it is a very cute little gun very well made....I "tested" the concealed carry version (even smaller) in my pocket, it fits ok and I can sit relatively comfortably.
So I may go with the Thunder 380 but I have some reserves about the 380 ACP round...I nevert tried it but people tell me that is not exactly a powerhouse and you have very little margin for error...what is the general cost of ammo compared to the 9 mm??? Is the ammo as easy to find as the 9 mm??? "Wal-martized"??? ;-)
I would definitely feel more comfortable with a 9 mm....
Any other ideas or suggestions about a supercompact pockeatable decent quality 9 mm (preferably with external hammer) without breaking the bank???
Can someone with experience about the 380 round give me more advice?? It is reasonable for defense or barely acceptable??
Thank You!!
Regards
It is surprisingly compact and light to be a full size pistol, for example ,today I compared it with the SIG P226 (that incidentally costs more than double, $800 + tax versus $320 + tax....) which has the same barrel length (4.4 inches). Well, the SIG is wider, heavier and overall bigger and with less magazine capacity....made me very happy thinking about the money I saved.
Even compared with the P229 and the Stoeger Cougar, which are "sub-4 inch barrel" hanguns, my Thunder 40 "feels" more compact.
So I started looking for a VERY small handgun that I can literally put in my pocket (I'm not that tall, only 5,7)..I figured, if i have to put it in my belt with an holster, I rather keep using my Thunder 40 and save the $$$.
Well today a gun shop proposed me a couple of Kel-Tec in 9 mm, one single stack and one double stack magazine.
They are polymer made and the salesman literally told me, "do not put lots of rounds throught it at the range...use it just for emergency"...Well that didn't give me a lot of confidence in it....they were not exactly cheap (they were asking $299 + tax) but definitely they looked cheaply made...
No external hammer and no safety....hmm I'll pass..
An other store showed me an interesting supercompact 2 tone finishing 9 mm which I do not even remember the brand because the price was way way out of what I intended to spend (they were asking $650) and no external hammer but it had safety and it seemed of way better quality compared to the Kel-Tec.
So seems that the widest choice for a super compact is in 380 caliber (CZ, Bersa, SIG, Walther, etc..).
I did look at the Bersa Tunder 380 and it is a very cute little gun very well made....I "tested" the concealed carry version (even smaller) in my pocket, it fits ok and I can sit relatively comfortably.
So I may go with the Thunder 380 but I have some reserves about the 380 ACP round...I nevert tried it but people tell me that is not exactly a powerhouse and you have very little margin for error...what is the general cost of ammo compared to the 9 mm??? Is the ammo as easy to find as the 9 mm??? "Wal-martized"??? ;-)
I would definitely feel more comfortable with a 9 mm....
Any other ideas or suggestions about a supercompact pockeatable decent quality 9 mm (preferably with external hammer) without breaking the bank???
Can someone with experience about the 380 round give me more advice?? It is reasonable for defense or barely acceptable??
Thank You!!
Regards