"BERSA .380 Thunder" Im looking for a good .380, Any suggestions??

[mdauben]

Im looking for a good .380, Any suggestions??

My first choices for CCW .380 would be either the Kahr 380 or the Sig P238. Two high quality .380 pistols in Glock-style, striker-fired and 1911-style, single-action, respectivly. Only drawback is that neither gun is particularly cheap (around $550 each).

 

[Dr_B]

Good gun for the price. All of the ones I've shot, owned, or sold were reliable.

 

[tercel89]

Check out this video of the Bersa . Some parts of the video are pretty neat on how it extracts and ejects the case.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZHmoQEk2qAs

 

[Fastcast]

I have both the bersa 380 and original Browning DBA. The bersa shoots better and can handle more stout loads than the Browning.

+1 for Bersa.

Oh, really?....You'd think if one owned a BDA he'd know it's not a DBA.

I sure wish my S&W-P&M shot as good as my Bersa!

 

[JSpear]

I have one I picked up not to long ago, i love it!!! Hasn't failed on me once, and shoots very well, almost no recoil, and straight as can be! I would recommend one to anybody!

 

[Gun Nerd]

A Bersa Firestorm .380 was my first pistol purchase. I've had it for almost nine years, and after countless rounds, have never had a problem with it. When I took my eighteen year old daughter shooting for the first time this summer, she had to try everything. Took me a week to clean all those guns! That little Bersa was her favorite. It's nothing fancy, just a well made dependable hand gun. I carried it IWB for many years until I could afford better, but would trust my life with it. One day soon, my daughter will take it away from me. I know it will protect her well, if she ever has a need for it.

 

[gtd]

I had a Bersa Thunder .380, and I wish i hadn't sold it. I'll probably get another one soon.

A new one needs a field stripping and lube job, especially in the decocker. Put a drop or two of break-Free on there and let it drip through. then it wil be good to go.

Once that was done, mine was 100% accurate, reliable, and easily concealable.

I wish I hadn't sold it!

 

[Frozen North]

I am another fan. I have a Thunder CC 380....

The trigger is freakishly good for such a low priced pistol.

 

[SorenityNow]

A Bersa Firestorm .380 was my first pistol purchase. I've had it for almost nine years, and after countless rounds, have never had a problem with it. When I took my eighteen year old daughter shooting for the first time this summer, she had to try everything. Took me a week to clean all those guns! That little Bersa was her favorite. It's nothing fancy, just a well made dependable hand gun. I carried it IWB for many years until I could afford better, but would trust my life with it. One day soon, my daughter will take it away from me. I know it will protect her well, if she ever has a need for it.

Wow this really says ALOT for a 380 pistol, that even after 9 years of use this gun can be dependable to protect the family.. I originally was picking one up for a family member but now i should get one for myself too.. Thanks everyone for this very helpful feedback.

 

[Otis is DaMan]

Looking at the Bersa right now for the wife. It will be her first weapon. For the price of the Sig we could get two Bersas.

 

[wrangler708]

My Bersa Thunder .380 bought new in 2007 is a FTF/Jam-o-matic.
Also, the trigger sometimes doesn't work... as in you pull the trigger and nothing happens. Hammer doesn't move etc. etc. Biggest POS I own.
Do not recommend.

Warranty sucks as well.

 

[LibShooter]

Get one asap. But be care full. You might end up with more than one [like myself].

Yep, we're a two Bersa family now. A few months ago my wife got her Thunder. She and a few friends go out for dinner, wine and range time (NOT in that order) every so often. Before she got her Bersa, she was always borrowing the other ladies' guns. The last time she went, nobody could get enough of her .380. The Kimbers and Walthers and a pink-gripped Taurus were all but ignored while everybody took turns with the Bersa. They loved it. I think she helped sell at least one that evening.

So when it was time for a 9mm, I decided on the new BP9. Got it today, hope to shoot it Thursday.

 

[Deaf Smith]

Hey all, Im gonna start to take a good hard at some 380's. I love the look of the Walther PPK, but it field strips a little wierd and cost alot of $$$. The lcp is priced right, but another polymer wonder and I have enough plastic Glocks.... The Bersa, hey this might be right up my alley. It field strips like a regular pistol that i can work with.. Kinda looks like a Walther PPK with no plastic/ polymer and I like that, and the price is right. Usually about $300 or so.. Thats three things that the Bersa has going for itself. The thing is that I dont know much else about em.. I hear they are reliable, What do y'all think?? If you own a Bersa please fill me in on the pros & cons.. Thanks

Bersa is a fine gun.

Now get the .22 lr version and PRACTICE!!

.22 ammo is alot less than .380 and skill is number one.

Deaf

 

[DanTheFarmer]

Hey Wrangler708,

Try pulling the right grip panel off. There's a spring (for the magazine disconnect) that will sometimes pop out of place. I'm not mechanically inclined and I spotted the problem and solution right away. If this is the problem it will get your pistol working again for no cost and almost no trouble.

I'm not sure why you say the warranty isn't good. It is a lifetime warranty for the original owner. If my idea above doesn't turn out to fix the problem (or if the spring keeps jumping out) send it in to a warranty center and have it fixed on Bersa's nickle. Seems pretty good to me.

Good Luck.

Dan

 

[shootingthebreeze]

I like my Kahr P380; feels great in my hand, extremely accurate at 10 yards, invisible carry.

 

[jj1962hemi]

My brother has owned two BTs. He shoots them a lot. The first one failed at between 3-4,000 rounds, with "an internal part" breaking. This is his CCW. He felt that, for $300, the reliability was acceptable. Before he could repair this pistol, it got stolen from his home (long story) and he fervently hopes that the thief never tries to fire it until he really needs it!

I am currently selling a Llama 45 because my gunsmith has told me the "guts" of it (not the barrel) are of lower quality materials. I like the idea of a gun that can take thousands of rounds and not fail, particularly because I'm a used gun accumulator. That said, many of the "mini-" and "micro-guns" are not typically used to this extent.

I realize that this information is anectdotal and that everybody has positive feedback on their Bersas, I just wanted to share it. BTW, I own several Tauri, just to put my collection in to context for you!

 

[wrangler708]

Hey Wrangler708,

Try pulling the right grip panel off. There's a spring (for the magazine disconnect) that will sometimes pop out of place. I'm not mechanically inclined and I spotted the problem and solution right away. If this is the problem it will get your pistol working again for no cost and almost no trouble.

I'm not sure why you say the warranty isn't good. It is a lifetime warranty for the original owner. If my idea above doesn't turn out to fix the problem (or if the spring keeps jumping out) send it in to a warranty center and have it fixed on Bersa's nickle. Seems pretty good to me.

Good Luck.

Dan

I've adjusted the spring and removed the mag disconnect and it did improve the trigger cycling somewhat but if I hold my mouth just right I can still squeeze the trigger and nothing happens.

Warranty sucks because Bersa doesn't do the work. You send your gun to some LGS somewhere that is an "authorized" service center and u pay the shipping. When I called around to see who I wanted to send it to I can tell you that they were all just as disinterested in servicing it as any other LGS with too much work to do.
If I have a brand new pistol that needs work I want some service damnit not some crusty old gunsmith who couldn't give two craps whether I sent him my gun or not.

 

[GLOOB]

My friend had a Bersa. Felt good, shot good. Nice trigger. Was her favorite CC until she had a squib and kept shooting.

The barrel got a nice ring in it and the split ring holding the trigger bar fell off. The gun still shot great after putting it back on, but she lost some confidence in it after that and sold it. She didn't get it that it was the ammo, not the gun.

I think it's a great gun for the money. I personally prefer my very similarly sized/shaped PA-63 in 9x18 @ $100 less. But I had to put a lot of work into it to get it there. Out of the box, I'd take the Bersa, hands down.