Lvl21nerd
Member
thoughts on Bersa pistols?
anyone have a thunder full size in 9mm or even .40 s&w?
anyone have a thunder full size in 9mm or even .40 s&w?
Bersa 9mm Thunder
- Thread starter Lvl21nerd
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Check in over at the bersachat board to see what owners think about their Bersa's. Most appear to be pleased, including those who also own non-bersa handguns.
Frames are alloy, slide & barrel are steel. From what I've seen, fit & function are fine, finish is matte and controls are reasonably situated and ambidextrous. Double action trigger pull is a bit long, single action is decent with short return for trigger reset. New magazines may need to be disassembled, cleaned & siliconed to avoid the potential for a follower hang. They come with 2 mags and a carry case, additional factory mags are a bit pricey ($40-50).
I felt comfortable enough with a full size Thunder .40 to use it during a CCW class & qualification (I'd tended to use a P95D for prior LEOSA certifications). No problems & the instructors were impressed at what was available at that price point (~$400 w/tax).
Nick
Frames are alloy, slide & barrel are steel. From what I've seen, fit & function are fine, finish is matte and controls are reasonably situated and ambidextrous. Double action trigger pull is a bit long, single action is decent with short return for trigger reset. New magazines may need to be disassembled, cleaned & siliconed to avoid the potential for a follower hang. They come with 2 mags and a carry case, additional factory mags are a bit pricey ($40-50).
I felt comfortable enough with a full size Thunder .40 to use it during a CCW class & qualification (I'd tended to use a P95D for prior LEOSA certifications). No problems & the instructors were impressed at what was available at that price point (~$400 w/tax).
Nick
Snowdog
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I wholeheartedly disagree with this opinion. I've owned my Bersa only for a year now and had little experience with them before then. However, since I purchased my UC9, I have had the pleasure of firing other Bersa's belonging to several friends. I have yet to fire one that gave vibes as being low quality. Granted, Bersa's are marketed to those on a budget and aren't known for their finish, but fit is usually quite decent.
My UC9 Pro has yet to experience a hiccup of any kind, even when "dirty" (I've been putting rather fouling handloads through mine for the past few months).
It's one of those rather rare pistols that offer excellent features, great reliability and decent accuracy for under $400 new.
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Ignorant statement here:
"Bersas's are a low quality firearm. I had a Thunder .380 for a short while.
I will never buy another Bersa.
You get what you pay for."
You had one Bersa and you come to the conclusion that they are
all low quality? Every manufacture puts out lemons, even Glock, HK,
Clinton & Wesson etc....
I'd like to get one of the Bersa Thunders 9mm full size to
carry in the car. I've heard nothing but good about these.
"Bersas's are a low quality firearm. I had a Thunder .380 for a short while.
I will never buy another Bersa.
You get what you pay for."
You had one Bersa and you come to the conclusion that they are
all low quality? Every manufacture puts out lemons, even Glock, HK,
Clinton & Wesson etc....
I'd like to get one of the Bersa Thunders 9mm full size to
carry in the car. I've heard nothing but good about these.
thunder173
Member
I have three of the Firestom versions,...same guns,....the FS-22, the .380, and the Mini-Thunder in .45 ACp. They have all given great service, function well, better in many cases that some I have owned that cost a whole lot more,...and are,..or at least were,... priced right. Guess I must be really ignorant for having them,..being they are of such "poor quality",......but also suspect I'll keep em thank you very much.
Bersas are the best value for the money in the market right now.
Very ergonomic and light, very nice look, accurate, great features.
Finish is not top notch (the fit is), a SIG is better in that regard but the price tag is not SIG either...
Lifetime warranty and great CS (not that you will likely need it)
They are service grade handguns, used my military and police forces in South America.
I'm not even commenting on that statement...waste of bytes that can be used more constructively.
Very ergonomic and light, very nice look, accurate, great features.
Finish is not top notch (the fit is), a SIG is better in that regard but the price tag is not SIG either...
Lifetime warranty and great CS (not that you will likely need it)
They are service grade handguns, used my military and police forces in South America.
I'm not even commenting on that statement...waste of bytes that can be used more constructively.
thunder173
Member
Saturno V: I wasn't quibling price,...have had mine for some time,...have no idea what they run now. Bought the .45 for $ 235 bucks otd........prices on the 22 and 380's were about the same a year later...and this was 6+ years ago btw.....but If I needed another one,..I'd buy it. Ya See,..I actually LIKE them! In fact,..I can see a need for the UC in 9mm.....hmm....got me thinking. That can be a dangerous thing ya know.
Tell me about it....for me, the Thunder full size is the best looking pistol in its category (full size, metal, non striker fired) other than being one of the lightest and more ergonomic.
I was ready to buy a Beretta 96 or a SIG 226 when, after careful research, I fell in love for the Thunder 40....
thunder173
Member
Well now,..I'd never claim it in the same catagory as a sig or the beretta,...though not as pretty maybe, ...it works just as good in my opinion,..and for what it's worth,..I really don't give a cr^p where it was made.
Comparing the Bersa to a Beretta or a Sig is kinda like comparing dating the prom queen to dating her not so good looking and less refined little sister. Either way I win. As before the night is over,...I am gonna have a smile on me face either way.......
Comparing the Bersa to a Beretta or a Sig is kinda like comparing dating the prom queen to dating her not so good looking and less refined little sister. Either way I win. As before the night is over,...I am gonna have a smile on me face either way.......
ojibweindian
Member
Haifisch
You realize that most Springfield parts are made in S. America, right? Are all Springfields therefore crap?
You realize that most Springfield parts are made in S. America, right? Are all Springfields therefore crap?
thunder173
Member
to Ojibweindian:
I think Haifisch has possibly retreated? Suspect he found too many Bersa folks here at THR......
Migwich.
I think Haifisch has possibly retreated? Suspect he found too many Bersa folks here at THR......
Migwich.
mgmorden
Member
Ruger P-95's and S&W Sigmas are both cheaper, and both American made. Don't get me wrong, between those, I'd RATHER have the Bersa, but there will always be a group of people who have it in their mind the companies that stuff should cost cheaper to come from. South America, Russia, Africa, China, the Middle East, etc. If a gun from there costs more than comparable guns from here - regardless of quality, then they're no longer a good value in their eyes. In their eyes the country of origin itself, outside of any other factors, is viewed as a negative that they should get a discount for.
On the other hand if it's from Europe, then they get a pass and those guns are allowed to cost as much or more.
Don't take this is me having this opinion myself (b/c I don't), but psychology enters into the situation.
A S&W Sigma is a striker fired polymer pistol...different animal.
But you are right, I would put Ruger in the same ballpark as Bersa...however Ruger full size metal pistols are still more expensive than Bersas, not as pretty (IMHO) and bulkier.
Beretta and SIG have simply a more refined finishing no doubt at all...but that's all about it....personally I prefer the aesthetics (and the lighter weight and ergonomics) of a Thunder full size compared to the Beretta or SIG equivalent but, again, that is a personal opinion....
victoryredchevy
Member
I currently own a Bersa Thunder 380 and I owned a Thunder 9UC previously. I had to sell the 9 because of financial reasons. Both pistols were smooth out of the box. Trigger is great. Accurate pistols, even the 380. Very few ftf's. In my experience they're a very dependable, affordable, quality brand of firearm. I've read thousands of reviews on the Bersa brand and the ratio has been probably 10/2 in favor of it. What about it being made in Argentina makes it low quality? Like said before, there are lemons in all bunches. Try more than one before assuming. That's just my opinion, but it makes sense right?
PX15
Member
FWIW:
I "had" a Bersa Thunder 9/UC.. It was an excellent compact, altho I found the "Ultra Compact" name a bit of a stretch..
My BT9/UC was always reliable and surprisingly accurate. I only sold it because I was stricken with the 3rd Generation S&W fever and had to "sell to buy"...
I still have the Firestorm FS22, which is a very, very good little rimfire pistol.
Tracing the heritage of these Bersa/Firestorms will lead you right back to the fine Walther pistols. (PP/P88/etc.)
The only downsides I found with the Bersa/Firestorm I own/owned is the finish is simply not top notch, but neither is the cost to buy one. Just maintain the finish as you should anyway, and no problem. The other negative is the price of extra mags... Sorta high.. But you don't need but 2 or 3, so that's not a big deal.
Respectfully, MY opinion is that anyone who considers the Bersa/Firestorm line of pistols as anything other than excellent bargains, and very good performers for the money, hasn't had the experience with his/her Bersa/Firestorm pistols that I have.
I'd recommend a Bersa to anyone without reservation...
www.Bersatalk.com is full of folks who are more than pleased with their pistols, Bersa or Firestorm. And in fact the BT380 is a favorite of the ladies, or gentleman with small hands..
No offense.
Jesse
I "had" a Bersa Thunder 9/UC.. It was an excellent compact, altho I found the "Ultra Compact" name a bit of a stretch..
My BT9/UC was always reliable and surprisingly accurate. I only sold it because I was stricken with the 3rd Generation S&W fever and had to "sell to buy"...
I still have the Firestorm FS22, which is a very, very good little rimfire pistol.
Tracing the heritage of these Bersa/Firestorms will lead you right back to the fine Walther pistols. (PP/P88/etc.)
The only downsides I found with the Bersa/Firestorm I own/owned is the finish is simply not top notch, but neither is the cost to buy one. Just maintain the finish as you should anyway, and no problem. The other negative is the price of extra mags... Sorta high.. But you don't need but 2 or 3, so that's not a big deal.
Respectfully, MY opinion is that anyone who considers the Bersa/Firestorm line of pistols as anything other than excellent bargains, and very good performers for the money, hasn't had the experience with his/her Bersa/Firestorm pistols that I have.
I'd recommend a Bersa to anyone without reservation...
www.Bersatalk.com is full of folks who are more than pleased with their pistols, Bersa or Firestorm. And in fact the BT380 is a favorite of the ladies, or gentleman with small hands..
No offense.
Jesse
modifiedbrowning
Member
Bersas are great underrated pistols. I have three 9mms and all three have been 100% reliable from day one. My two Ultracompacts have over 1K rnds through them and my Fullsize has over 5K rnds through. No soft metal in my Bersas.
"Maybe thinking they are quality is ignorant?
Cheaply made, cheaply priced, made in Argentina."
You stated they are low quality firearms. I've owned three Bersa's,
you have owned one. Is a sample of one of a production line an
accurate representation of the whole brand? Do you have any other
evidence to support your silly claim except for one sample out of tens
of thousands(maybe hundreds of thousands) of firearms produced by Bersa?
I'm not saying they are higher quality than a Sig, HK, Glock etc., but
the three thunder .380's I've had over the years were flawless. It seems
like most of the folks on this thread like them. I guess we are all
wrong and you are right based on one sample. What do you know
about Argentine quality control that we don't. Please enlighten us sport...
Cheaply made, cheaply priced, made in Argentina."
You stated they are low quality firearms. I've owned three Bersa's,
you have owned one. Is a sample of one of a production line an
accurate representation of the whole brand? Do you have any other
evidence to support your silly claim except for one sample out of tens
of thousands(maybe hundreds of thousands) of firearms produced by Bersa?
I'm not saying they are higher quality than a Sig, HK, Glock etc., but
the three thunder .380's I've had over the years were flawless. It seems
like most of the folks on this thread like them. I guess we are all
wrong and you are right based on one sample. What do you know
about Argentine quality control that we don't. Please enlighten us sport...
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