Bereta M85 or Bersa .380?
- Thread starter Lone Star
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As far as I know, the noise doesn't lessen with use. The sound (as far as I can tell) is caused by very faint lines going around the barrel contacting the recoil spring.
If you lock the slide back and scrape your fingernail along the length of the bare barrel, it will make a similar noise. Kind of like scratching the grooves of a record with your fingernail.
The noise has nothing to do with the aluminum frame, it's caused by these small grooves on the barrel. The sound is normal and doesn't cause a problem. The Bersa is a quality gun, but if you have reservations, buy the Beretta.
If you lock the slide back and scrape your fingernail along the length of the bare barrel, it will make a similar noise. Kind of like scratching the grooves of a record with your fingernail.
The noise has nothing to do with the aluminum frame, it's caused by these small grooves on the barrel. The sound is normal and doesn't cause a problem. The Bersa is a quality gun, but if you have reservations, buy the Beretta.
Your allusion to scraping the grooves on an old record is apropos. I'll check for these lines on the bbl. the next time I check out a Bersa. Sounds as if they may just not have finished the barrel exterior well.
I did see another tonight, and this store did take off their lock, so I could check the cocking and trigger actions, which were examplary. I was quite impressed. However, the tip of a spring within the trigger was protruding a bit behind the trigger, and one could get snagged on it. I'll soon know if this is unusual.
At this point, I'm leaning strongly toward buying one of these .380's.
On another note, I decided NOT to consider the S&W-made PPK/S, after fighting the heavy recoil spring and actually cutting my left forefinger on the sharp rear sight while trying to cycle the slide. With the heavy spring and the thumb safety making a good grip hard to take, the Walther left me underwhelmed. But I usually have those problems with the PP series, just never cut a finger on one before.
Looks like Bersa, at this point.
Lone Star
I did see another tonight, and this store did take off their lock, so I could check the cocking and trigger actions, which were examplary. I was quite impressed. However, the tip of a spring within the trigger was protruding a bit behind the trigger, and one could get snagged on it. I'll soon know if this is unusual.
At this point, I'm leaning strongly toward buying one of these .380's.
On another note, I decided NOT to consider the S&W-made PPK/S, after fighting the heavy recoil spring and actually cutting my left forefinger on the sharp rear sight while trying to cycle the slide. With the heavy spring and the thumb safety making a good grip hard to take, the Walther left me underwhelmed. But I usually have those problems with the PP series, just never cut a finger on one before.
Looks like Bersa, at this point.
Lone Star
MICHAEL T
Member
Get the Bersa. People all over are loving their Bersas . You almost never hear of trouble with one. I own one and its a fine pistol.
Kramer Krazy
Member
My wife and I got to fire our consecutive serial number, matching "Duotone" Thunder 380s last night. She put 50 rounds through hers and I shot 84 through mine (saved 16 so we both could have one in the barrel and a full mag). Her gun seemed great, and she had no complaints. She actually loved the way the gun felt, the trigger action, and the reduced felt-recoil (she normally shoots a S&W 5903 9mm, but also shoots my Colt 45ACPs and even my Colt 44 mag).
My gun seemed to be shooting a little to the right, so I adjusted the rear sight a little to get it closer to center. After half a box adjusting the sights and getting the feel for the trigger and ergonomics with the other half of the box of ammo, I decided to grab another box to check out its accuracy. I was shooting two-handed, unsupported, at about 12 yards and put the last 34 rounds into a group that was 2" wide and 3 1/4" tall (remember, I saved the last 16 rounds). I can't complain about this. Rapid fire was very controllable, also, on a B-27 target at 15 yards. I was doing mags of 5 with 4 body shots the 5th round being a head shot. The little Bersa just chugged along. Now, we just have to look into finding a good deal on 1000 rounds of 380.
My gun seemed to be shooting a little to the right, so I adjusted the rear sight a little to get it closer to center. After half a box adjusting the sights and getting the feel for the trigger and ergonomics with the other half of the box of ammo, I decided to grab another box to check out its accuracy. I was shooting two-handed, unsupported, at about 12 yards and put the last 34 rounds into a group that was 2" wide and 3 1/4" tall (remember, I saved the last 16 rounds). I can't complain about this. Rapid fire was very controllable, also, on a B-27 target at 15 yards. I was doing mags of 5 with 4 body shots the 5th round being a head shot. The little Bersa just chugged along. Now, we just have to look into finding a good deal on 1000 rounds of 380.
Lobotomy Boy
Member
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- Feb 16, 2004
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- 2,449
I find the Bersa a great gun for practicing rapid-shooting drills from a low-ready position. I also shoot mine very well with the pointing method we learned in our CCW class. In any sort of quick-shooting drills I shoot the Bersa better than any of my other autoloaders. I've been thinking about picking up an extra magazine and trying it for league shooting some night.
Unfortunately I may not have the gun much longer. My wife has taken a liking to it. If the MN lawsuit goes as planned and the judge's ruling is overturned next week, she may claim it as her own. If she does, I think I'll try to talk her into getting one of the ultra-compact carry versions when they come out later this year so I can get the Thunder back. I've really become attached to the gun.
Unfortunately I may not have the gun much longer. My wife has taken a liking to it. If the MN lawsuit goes as planned and the judge's ruling is overturned next week, she may claim it as her own. If she does, I think I'll try to talk her into getting one of the ultra-compact carry versions when they come out later this year so I can get the Thunder back. I've really become attached to the gun.
Kramer Krazy
Member
Anyone know how well the Bersas handle steel-cased ammo? I found FMJ and hollow-points for $5.00/50 rnds if you buy 1000 rounds:
FMJ - http://aimsurplus.com/acatalog/Silver_Bear__380acp_FMJ.html
HP - http://aimsurplus.com/acatalog/Silver_Bear__380acp_Hollow_Point.html
FMJ - http://aimsurplus.com/acatalog/Silver_Bear__380acp_FMJ.html
HP - http://aimsurplus.com/acatalog/Silver_Bear__380acp_Hollow_Point.html
Lobotomy Boy
Member
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- Feb 16, 2004
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- 2,449
Mine will eat aluminum-cased CCI Blazer all day long without a hiccup. I haven't tried steel.
The one thing to watch for is that if you don't clean the magazines regularly after shooting dirty, cheap ammo the follower won't catch the slide and the slide won't lock open after the last shot. I always make a point of cleaning the follower and the upper half of the magazine every time I clean the gun.
The one thing to watch for is that if you don't clean the magazines regularly after shooting dirty, cheap ammo the follower won't catch the slide and the slide won't lock open after the last shot. I always make a point of cleaning the follower and the upper half of the magazine every time I clean the gun.
In general, most pistols don't like steel-cased ammo. I think the Makarov may be designed to tolerate it, but it sometimes shears extractor hooks on most guns.
Jeff Cooper wrote years ago that Marines fighting against the Japanese found steel-cased ammo okay in SMG's, but oiled the cases if they had to fire it in M1911's to hopefully lessen the chances of breaking an extractor.
The local Academy Sports has Winchester white box .380 ammo with a truncated cone (flat point) bullet at $8.99 a box. That's cheap enough for me, as much as I'd shoot a .380. I'd sure check one out with the Federal Classic JHP and Hydra-Shok rounds that I'd carry for business, but that bullet shape should should penetrate well on humans (in .380 terms) and may feed better than JHP's in some guns.
If you want to shoot cheap, buy a .22!
Lone Star
Jeff Cooper wrote years ago that Marines fighting against the Japanese found steel-cased ammo okay in SMG's, but oiled the cases if they had to fire it in M1911's to hopefully lessen the chances of breaking an extractor.
The local Academy Sports has Winchester white box .380 ammo with a truncated cone (flat point) bullet at $8.99 a box. That's cheap enough for me, as much as I'd shoot a .380. I'd sure check one out with the Federal Classic JHP and Hydra-Shok rounds that I'd carry for business, but that bullet shape should should penetrate well on humans (in .380 terms) and may feed better than JHP's in some guns.
If you want to shoot cheap, buy a .22!
Lone Star
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