Tried a Bersa T. .380 for the first time-fun!

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Primarily because the Sig 232 has been out (for repairs) all three times I've asked about it, it was time to try their Bersa Thunder.

It was much more fun than my two friends' Polish P-64 in 9x18 Mak. (too snappy). Though I've never received any extensive instruction on any handgun (never owned one), my shots were mostly in a very tight group from about twenty feet.

If the Sig 232-maybe it will function for a week when it returns?-turns out to be less pleasant to shoot and is noticeable thicker, then I will probably skip the Sig name brand appeal and, one day, buy the Bersa as the first handgun. Could be retired in a couple of years, and will want a handgun for the car, and maybe for a part-time carry weapon. Will train often, but might decide to Never, or seldom carry.
 
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Most people find the BT a nice pistol. It can have a little more felt recoil than the larger locked breech 380s, because its a blowback. My BT is accurate, and reliable. My only complaint is the finish it blotchy, and new out of the box, it had several scratches. Its a black model. I also have the BT 22 in nickle, and its a nice pistol.
 
Glad you found the value in Bersa pistols. I bought mine used in 2008, and was utterly amazed at how well it ran everything I fed it. From new ammo to decades-old, crud-cased aluminum stuff from the eighties, it chewed 'em all up and spit 'em right where I wanted it to with nary a hiccup. Easy on the hands, and on the wallet. I carried it for two years, until a PF9 I wasn't even seeking came into my possession. The Bersa is the more-enjoyable piece to run at the range, however.

Until the Ruger LC380 came out, I would probably have touted the Thunder as one of the best values in a compact (not sub-compact) pistols in the caliber. For many, it may still be, as I don't know the "real-world" pricing on the Ruger around here yet.
 
Thanks for the post. My wife borrowed her dad's Sig p232 for her CC class and loved it. As much as I would love to buy her the Sig, the cost is prohibitive right now, and we plan to go have a hard look at the Bersa as I've read nothing but good about it.
 
I have had several BT 380s and a Firestorm 22. They all performed admirably. I went without one for about 6 months. Then I picked up a 380 CC at a gun show last month. I think this one will stay with me for awhile.
 
akar80: the Bersa 9UC looks like a very compact and effective weapon: Google, Wiki, Youtube.
The first item which popped up with "9UC" was some sort of Uzi! That would be hard to conceal, but would get one's attention....
 
My Bersa was relegated to the drawer but not because of issues with the gun, but because I either carry a much more compact LCP (which is no where near as pleasant to shoot as the Bersa) or the very thin Walther PPS in 9mm.
I bought my Bersa 10 years ago. Put a lot of rounds through it with no problems. Started having a few FTEs and sent it in. Embarrassed to say it was a dirty magazine causing the problem. Had a Walther PPK/s (Interarms) that is about the same design/size. I would prefer the Bersa on the range to the PPK any day.
 
I like the feel, function and accuracy of mine but am currently on my 3rd trigger spring. I love to shoot it but I don't trust it to carry anymore.
 
I often hear the Bersa 380s have more recoil due to being blowback but the one I owned had extremely light recoil. In fact I gave it to my mother in law for home defense for that reason. It kicks much less than my BG380 and it was wonderfully accurate. I plan on getting another for my daughter.
 
You know, there are some drawbacks to Bersa, as there are with any gun, but they fulfill my main requirement in any gun: functionality. I am sure that someone could accurately tell me stories about their Bersa being picky or whatever (case in point, the trigger spring issue in this very thread), but overall I haven't read much negative about them, nor have I been disappointed in the handful of examples that I have shot.



sent from my Galaxy Note II.
 
You know, there are some drawbacks to Bersa, as there are with any gun, but they fulfill my main requirement in any gun: functionality. I am sure that someone could accurately tell me stories about their Bersa being picky or whatever (case in point, the trigger spring issue in this very thread), but overall I haven't read much negative about them, nor have I been disappointed in the handful of examples that I have shot.



sent from my Galaxy Note II.
What are the drawbacks?
 
^^ Though he should have included an explanation of his statement, he's probably simply referring to two things that can be deal-breakers for some. One is that the gun's size is large for the caliber, making many people wonder if they should go for a more-powerful chambering since they're going with a bigger gun (or if they should go with a smaller gun.)

The other may be issues with the transition between the double-action and single-action firing modes. Some people have, or think they have, trouble with this.
 
Medwheeler hit the nail on the head. Large for caliber is 99% of my point, fit and finish would be the remaining 1% and I concede that is subjective given the price.

Also, drawbacks are present in every gun and are not necessarily negatives to everyone. Perfect guns are often perfect only to their owners, which for the most part is all that matters. Try and convince me your Nambu is perfect though...

sent from my Galaxy Note II.
 
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