arcus or bersa?

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wnycollector

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what some thoughts about a Bersa Thunder 9mm or the Arcus 94c 9mm as a first gun since my budget is ~$350? I have not been able to find a whole lot of info on the arcus and most the the articles on the bersa are for the .380! any input would be appreciated. Also I am not averse to any other suggestions about a 1st handgun.
 
My only experience with the Bersa is with the .380 auto. A very nice gun for the money.

Your first gun does not have to be a 9x19. The smaller Bersa .380 is easier to shoot and easier to carry. I recommend it.
 
I almost never read anything bad about the bersa .380. That is the reason I am hoping to find aout about the .380's "big brother"

I plan on purchasing the .380 thunder for my wife when she gets her carry permit!
 
If your budget is $350 and you want a 9 consider the Stoeger Cougar. I think it's one of the better deals going right now.
 
Well, I can't help you with the Arcus, but I can offer personal experience with the Bersa Thunder 9/Ultra Compact.

I paid $305.00 + tax for my BT9/UC about a year ago. I think at that time it retailed for around $440.00 or so.

My BT9/UC has been 100% reliable and VERY accurate from day one. My understanding is that Bersa used the excellent (and very expensive) Walther P88 to draw from in the BT9's design. I've read where the full size Bersa Thunder 9 and the Walther P99 slides will actually interchange.. Don't hold me to that, as it's just something I've read. I know the Bersa Thunder 380 is derived from the Walther PP&PPK's, so apparently someone in Argentina loves Walthers.. (Heck lots of ex-Germans love Argentina.. (It was the vacation spot of choice as WW2 was winding down. ;) )

Bersa/Firestorms come with a lifetime warranty to the original owner.

There seems to be only one downside to Bersa/Firestorms... Extra factory mags are expensive. I paid $50 for a 13rd factory mag for my BT9/UC altho I see them for around $40 elsewhere now.

100_4897.gif

Here's my BT9/UC with the Argentine CAT laser on it.

I have nothing but positives to say about Bersa/Firestorms I've had experience with (I also have a Firestorm FS22).

Hope this helps.

Best Wishes,

J. Pomeroy
 
The Arcus is a fine pistol that does not get the attention it deserves.

I have not shot the Bersa 9mm, but I have a Bersa 380 and think it's a good gun, but it is not built like an Arcus.

If size is important, the Arcus is on the large size.

The Arcus (bottom) is a close copy of the Browning HighPower (top).
-
highpowers.jpg
 
Well, here's a 2nd opinion..

I had never heard of Arcus (my bad) so after my initial post I "googled" em, and what I found was surprising.

Apparently the Arcus is basically another Browning High Power Clone, and I mean that as a good thing.. I think the original BHP's were super pistols.

www.gunblast.com did a test on a Arcus on 9/20/06 and thought a lot of it. You might want to read the article.

www.worldguns.com also thinks very highly of them.

So, my new advice would be that you probably will be well served with EITHER the Bersa or the Arcus. If there is any advantage to my mind it would the the lifetime warranty offered by Bersa, but for all I know Arcus has a good warranty too..

I read where the Bulgarian Army uses the Arcus, so it must be adequately reliable for harsh military use.

Another option if you are looking into BHP Clones would be the FN's... I understand they are basically identical to the original BHP's but I'm not sure of that.

Looks like either choice would be nice...

Hey, another thought.. Ever considered CZ's? I really have read good things about the CZ75's and the new CZ01's (I think that's the model).

Too many choices! :D

Best Wishes,

J. Pomeroy

100_6392_01.jpg
 
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I'll just note that consumer response to the Bers Thunder 9 has been overwhelmingly enthusiastic --exceeding even the positive opinion
lavished on the Thunder 380.

The Thunder 9 comes in fullsize and compact configurations, with the
comnpact getting the lion's share of US distribution and sales.
 
Thanks Kokapelli for the input. I tend to lean twords the arcus. They also make the bulgy makarov and it seems like that is ultra reliable! I currently collect com block surplus rifles (e.g. mosin-nagant/sks/ak's) and they go BANG EVERY time I pull the trigger no matter what the condition or ammo! I am looking for that no frills functional reliability in my choice of pistols.

The size issue is not a big deal to me it will mainly be for home defense/plinking. If I am going to carry something it will probably be a keltec or bersa in .380.
 
It looks like I am going to have to buy the arcus as my 9mm, the bersa as my .380 and toss in that full sized bersa in.40:p I'm glad Xmas is coming santa NEEDS to buy me a new gun safe!!!
 
If your budget is $350 and you want a 9 consider the Stoeger Cougar. I think it's one of the better deals going right now.
Click to expand...

+1000 - Either this or a Ruger semi-auto.
 
I think the cz's are about $100 out of my price range:( Also, the arcus is a high power clone so the CZ75 is like a kissin cousin;)
 
I would think the Arcus would be easier to shop for (mags, etc). Bersas, while being highly regarded due tend to cost more for parts/mags.

The Stoeger Cougars would be a great buy also. They are the same as the Beretta Cougars (8000s) except for the fact that Stoeger is owned by Beretta and using the old machinery to crank them out in Turkey where the labor is cheap.

They feel nice, somewhat similar to the PX4, and they are aluminum and of decent size for carry (though not really small).
 
I bought one of the first Arcus 94's that was imported. I really like it as far as the way it feels and performs. The only drawback IMO is the slide finish is a little "thin" IMO. I removed the mag safety , stoned a couple of burrs and am one happy shooter.
 
as a first gun since my budget is ~$350?
Click to expand...

What are you looking for in a gun? What's it for? $350 can get you into a lot of different handguns. Rugers, various Taruii, CZ maybe (if you shop well or get real lucky), used S&W or Ruger wheelgun.

Who supports (as in warranty) Arcus?
 
Bersa T9FS Experience

I had owned a Bersa Thunder 9 Full Size(T9FS). It was okay for a time, but a metallurgical flaw in the slide caused a failure. Rather than detail it here, just utilize this link to a post on the Bersa Talk forum:

http://bersatalk.com/forums/thread/12635.aspx

I've not owned a Stoeger Cougar, though I do have the Beretta 8045 Cougar, which was the original design/manufacturer of the Cougar line. A very good pistol.
 

as a first gun since my budget is ~$350?

What are you looking for in a gun? What's it for? $350 can get you into a lot of different handguns. Rugers, various Taruii, CZ maybe (if you shop well or get real lucky), used S&W or Ruger wheelgun.

Who supports (as in warranty) Arcus?

The Arcus is supported by Century International Arms who is the importer.

I paid $249 new in the box for my Arcus and at that price, never even considered who supports it!

If it needs major work I figure for $249, it's a throw away gun.

Now at around 5000 rounds, it still functions perfectly.
Click to expand...
 
One ugn you might also look at is the FEG PJK-9HP. It is a close copy of the HP and mine has a sweet polished blue finish and has been very reliable and accurate. I bought mine for 225 bucks and I have been very happy with it.

I also owned a Bersa Thunder Mini-9 that I was never really satisfied with. Mags a really expensive and there are NO aftermarket options for this gun other than the laser pictured above. And it was a little thick on the end which made it uncomfortable to carry (for me anyways) and I never did shoot very well with it.
 
Don't rule out the Taurus PT-111.

I was looking at a Bersa .380 and couldn't get one in a reasonable amount of time, so instead I got the Taurus PT-138, which is the same as 111 only in .380 and it turns out I like it better than the Bersa.

Plus the mags are cheaper...
 
If you can squeeze another $30.00 or $40.00 out of your budget the Daly HP is a gun made from the same blueprints as the BHP for about $380.00 - $390.00 if you shop well. Also the FM M95 or 90 from Argentina Same price range as the Daly's. I love my Argentine and it takes all the BHP parts you can find.
 
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