Bersa 380 Thunder

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Bluegunner

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Just a personal observation - Purchased a Bersa 380 Thunder to use as a CC weapon. When I first picked one up I like the feel and it fit perfectly in my pocket, but I wasn't sure if it was going to shot well. One trip to the range removed any doubt about the value of my purchase as the little 380 performed better than expected. Shooting from 25 yards (yards not feet) the 380 puts five shots groups in a pie tin grouping, and the groupings are getting smaller each time I go to the range. Loading my own ammo I had anticipated possible cycling problems but the gun never misses a beat. Because the 380 is a lighter weapon than the 9mm or up I wanted a PP load that I could feel confident in should I ever need to use the gun for that reason. After a bit of research and visiting with several bullet factory techs I settled on Barnes solid copper personal defense bullet. Loaded 10 rounds and went to range. Great groups at 25 yards and the info provided by the tech at Barnes leaves me with confidence in my Bersa 380.
 
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I carried one for more than a year, until I got my Kel-Tec PF9. The Bersa is probably the most reliable autoloader I've had, and the most pleasant centerfire one to shoot. Mine functioned flawlessly, even with old (20+ years) ammo mixed in the magazines with various newer stuff. Fed 'em all, spit 'em all pretty much right where I wanted 'em. I do still own it, and continue to enjoy to shoot it.
The Thunder 380 is, in my opinion, one of the best values for a defensive pistol that any competent member of the household should be able to press effectively into service. Explore www.bersachat.com for more Bersa love..
 
I bought one a few years back and it was a total POS. Trigger stopped working after 100 rounds and then when it came back form repair shop, the barrel pin worked loose an jammed it up tight. You just can't taper pin aluminum to steel in a blow back pistol. That is just terrible design. I took a hammer to it and felt better after I smashed it. Best $200 lesson I ever had.
 
I too am a Thunder 380 fan. I have owned 2 and bought one for my nephew. He carries it daily. I also own a Firestorm 22 lr. It is the same gun in the most affordable caliber.
 
I took a hammer to it and felt better after I smashed it.
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I never understood the approach of "taking a hammer to it" with a malfunctioning gun, yet I've read a surprising number of similar posts. Even a total POS can be sold, recouping at least some of the loss. I wonder how many of these occurrences are actually thought-out actions to remove a "problem" gun from circulation so as to "save" the rest of us, and how many are simply anger-management issues. Of the latter, I bet at least some of those people are better off not owning a functioning gun (as are those around them.)
 
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I have a CC model that has 2000 rounds through it. No problems whatsoever. If mine is an example of Bersa's quality, then I'd have to say they're an excellent value.
 
MedWheeler said:
I never understood the approach of "taking a hammer to it" with a malfunctioning gun, yet I've read a surprising number of similar posts. Even a total POS can be sold, recouping at least some of the loss. I wonder how many of these occurrences are actually thought-out actions to remove a "problem" gun from circulation so as to "save" the rest of us, and how many are simply anger-management issues. Of the latter, I bet at least some of those people are better off not owning a functioning gun.
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It is called satisfaction there friend and works great for the soul at times. I would do it again in a heartbeat and enjoy it even more. The best cure for a bad gun is a sledge hammer and the financial loss makes you smarter the next time you buy something. I don't buy Taurus, Bersa or Kimber anymore!:barf:
 
It is called satisfaction there friend and works great for the soul at times. I would do it again in a heartbeat and enjoy it even more. The best cure for a bad gun is a sledge hammer and the financial loss makes you smarter the next time you buy something. I don't buy Taurus, Bersa or Kimber anymore!
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:what:Wow! I guess I don't feel like I have enough money to be willing to crush a tool (which is what a handgun is for me) because the
the barrel pin worked loose an jammed it up tight.
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I would have fixed it, and then sold it to recover some of my money.
 
jimk0512 said:
:what:Wow! I guess I don't feel like I have enough money to be willing to crush a tool (which is what a handgun is for me) because the

I would have fixed it, and then sold it to recover some of my money.
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Let me tell you the truth. You came into this world naked and broke and you will leave this world naked and broke! There is just no way of getting around that. If I want to smash a gun with a hammer you should not get upset and really should not comment on it. I don't like Bersa, Taurus or Kimber guns and make no bones or excuses about it. I have had bad experiences with all and will share that with anyone I choose too.
 
You have the right to"smash" and he has the right to be "upset and comment"- you know what they say about opinions?
 
will share that with anyone I choose too.
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Then you should be able to handle it without offense when someone else "returns the favor".
I wasn't upset; I simply stated that I didn't understand it. I placed such actions into one of two categories, and your case seemed to fit, so I guess I'm pretty close to understanding it after all.
 
Put me in the column of happy Bersa Thunder Owners... I had the front sight break off during the second magazine through the gun out of the box. It was fixed for free and has had over 1000 rounds through it since then with no problems...
 
Another satisfied Bersa 380 owner. I have put close to 1000 rounds through it and am completely confident in it. Currently it is being carried by the missus.
 
xjsnake said:
Put me in the column of happy Bersa Thunder Owners... I had the front sight break off during the second magazine through the gun out of the box. It was fixed for free and has had over 1000 rounds through it since then with no problems...
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Well as far as I am concerned, front sights do not fall off good quality guns requiring a out of the box repair. I will reiterate that Bersa is cheap junk again. I bought a $100.00 Makarov mil surplus commie gun that has about 50 thousand rounds through it now and nothing ever fallen off it yet in 10 years. Just saying!
 
Another Bersa fan. Sold it to fund the purchase of a Walther ppk/s. Big mistake.
 
I really like my Bersa Thunder. It feeds, ejects, and shoots every brand of .380 I put into it. My son liked it so well I bought him one for Christmas. Chock up 2 more satisfied owners. (About 500 rounds through it so far, with no malfunctions) Best $280.00 I've spent for a gun.
 
Add me to the list of satisfied BT380 owners.

@jimmygrish: Sorry the gun didn't work out for you, but if you can't recognize how ridiculous you sound letting THR know how you handled a gun that didn't work out for you instead of just leaving it at "The gun didn't work out for me because of etc..." and then get offended when someone calls you out on your own commentary... sorry friend, you earned every bit of that public retort to your public comment. I wish I could afford to just destroy $200 of something that didn't work out for me, but that I could have easily put back into the market and mitigated my loss.
 
Had one for years. Got it when they first came out.
Fantastic gun, especially for the price.
Mine has just developed a little problem that the slide won't lock back either manually or on the last shot.

AFS
 
I have both a PPK/S and a Bersa. The PPK/S weighs considerably more than the Bersa. The Bersa is definitely not a boat anchor.

Actually, I haven't shot the Bersa much at all so I can't say much about its reliability or accuracy. I bought it on a whim due to the price and reputation. I'm pretty much neutral on it right now. By today's standard in Hobbit-sized firearms, the Bersa is large. Bigger than the PPK/S. IMO, that's not necessarily a bad thing.

Apparently there has been some quality control issues with the company in the past, leading to a vocal group of detractors. But you can find that with every brand.
 
I will agree with jimmygrish on one thing. It is a very satisfying feeling to smash and thoroughly destroy an object that causes you nothing but grief over long periods of time. I once worked as a photographer. I owned one particular Nikon camera that intermittently froze up--always at the precise moment that I needed it to work the most. No matter how many times it was sent for repairs, it always ruined assignments. The last time it screwed up, I smashed it into pieces on the sidewalk, swept up the pieces and felt really good about it.
 
I love my Bersa 380 plus (15 pound clip) feeds and shoots every thing Ib put in it so far will buy a nother if i get a chance currently looking at a thunder 22
 
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