I am considering purchasing either a Bersa or Firestorm in 22lr. I figure it will be small enough to carry occasionally yet large enough to shoot well. Will have the ability to practice a lot due to ammo cost. I took my wife shooting last week and she found the recoil of a 38 a little much and 9mm while she enjoyed and shot pretty well still wasnt up to her shooting with my S&W 22A. I had a friend at the range with a Beretta 21a and she enjoyed shooting that.While I realize 22lr supposedly isn't ideal for self defense having it with her and being efficient and having confidence with it is. I am curious if anyone has or has had one of these and if so what are your thoughts.
Bersa/Firestorm 22lr
- Thread starter camsdaddy
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mje
Member
my feeling is if she's happy with the 21a, go with that. It's a well made gun, and as is often said, no one wants to get shot, even with a .22.
(I carried my 21a in the summer before I got my LCP.)
(I carried my 21a in the summer before I got my LCP.)
jimk0512
Member
I don't own a Bersa/Firestorm 22. On the Bersa Chat site, under the Bersa Chat forum, they have a forum for Bersa 22 and Firestorm 22 Models:
Bersa Chat
Bersa Chat
While I'm personally undecided on Kel-tec's quality, there are many here who like them just fine. If you (and her) are in that crowd, why not a .32ACP Kel-tec?
What about a Bersa .380? Or how about the CZ82 (or CZ83) or a similar 9x18 Makarov gun? Can be concealed and are heavier, helping her with recoil.
What about getting her a 9mm with a .22 conversion kit (or a separate .22LR gun that's the same platform i.e. Ruger LCR in .38 and another in .22)? If she can handle the 9mm and .38 for small stretches then she could get good practice in on the .22 with a little practice on the larger gun. She even has the option of carrying .22 until she gets more comfortable with the larger caliber.
What about a Bersa .380? Or how about the CZ82 (or CZ83) or a similar 9x18 Makarov gun? Can be concealed and are heavier, helping her with recoil.
What about getting her a 9mm with a .22 conversion kit (or a separate .22LR gun that's the same platform i.e. Ruger LCR in .38 and another in .22)? If she can handle the 9mm and .38 for small stretches then she could get good practice in on the .22 with a little practice on the larger gun. She even has the option of carrying .22 until she gets more comfortable with the larger caliber.
danez71
Member
I really like my Firestorm FS22.
With CCI minimags and Blazers its been 100% reliable for about 1300 rounds total of those two.
With the really cheap bulk pack stuff... not so much. Lots of failures to extract seemingly due to not cycling the slide correctly. This seems to be a 'depends on the gun' issue.
I also have the Ruger SR22. I like this one too. Its liked all the ammo Ive put through it (mini mags, blazers and 3-4 different cheap/bulk pack stuff). I only have around 350 rounds through it. Zero failures.
Of the two, I think the FS22 has a little better trigger but it also has more rounds through it.
The SR22 has a little bigger sight and are easier to see.
Id say both are same accuracy wise but Ive never benched them.
The FS22 has the safety/decocker on the slide... right where you grab it to rack the slide. Not the most comfortable spot.
The SR22 has it on the frame and is more comfy to rack the slide.
I think both are very easy to to take apart.
If I had to guess... I think the FS is more over built and it being a derivative from their .380, that shouldnt be a stretch.
With CCI minimags and Blazers its been 100% reliable for about 1300 rounds total of those two.
With the really cheap bulk pack stuff... not so much. Lots of failures to extract seemingly due to not cycling the slide correctly. This seems to be a 'depends on the gun' issue.
I also have the Ruger SR22. I like this one too. Its liked all the ammo Ive put through it (mini mags, blazers and 3-4 different cheap/bulk pack stuff). I only have around 350 rounds through it. Zero failures.
Of the two, I think the FS22 has a little better trigger but it also has more rounds through it.
The SR22 has a little bigger sight and are easier to see.
Id say both are same accuracy wise but Ive never benched them.
The FS22 has the safety/decocker on the slide... right where you grab it to rack the slide. Not the most comfortable spot.
The SR22 has it on the frame and is more comfy to rack the slide.
I think both are very easy to to take apart.
If I had to guess... I think the FS is more over built and it being a derivative from their .380, that shouldnt be a stretch.
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toivo
Member
I have both a Firestorm and a Bersa .22 -- yes, I liked it so much I bought another. 
They're a blast to shoot, and 100% reliable with Mini-Mags. It's really not a self-defense gun, but any gun is better than no gun, I guess. Anyway, it sounds as though you're looking for a range/fun gun that she also might carry. The Bersa/Firestorm would fit that bill.
I'm one of those who likes my Kel-Tec P32 just fine, but it is not, repeat NOT, a fun gun to shoot at the range. Ammo is crazy expensive, for starters, and it's hard to shoot accurately at anything over up-close-and-personal distances. It's not super-snappy, but it does rap the web of your hand with that narrow little grip, which gets old fast. I shoot it just enough to know that it works and that I can hit with it, and then back in my pocket it goes. If you're looking for defense and defense only, then I'd say "yes" -- if you want some fun in the equation, I'd say no.
Keep in mind that the Bersa also comes in .32:
Bersa Thunder .32
MUCH more fun to shoot than the Kel-Tec. Ammo is still expensive, though.
They're a blast to shoot, and 100% reliable with Mini-Mags. It's really not a self-defense gun, but any gun is better than no gun, I guess. Anyway, it sounds as though you're looking for a range/fun gun that she also might carry. The Bersa/Firestorm would fit that bill.
I'm one of those who likes my Kel-Tec P32 just fine, but it is not, repeat NOT, a fun gun to shoot at the range. Ammo is crazy expensive, for starters, and it's hard to shoot accurately at anything over up-close-and-personal distances. It's not super-snappy, but it does rap the web of your hand with that narrow little grip, which gets old fast. I shoot it just enough to know that it works and that I can hit with it, and then back in my pocket it goes. If you're looking for defense and defense only, then I'd say "yes" -- if you want some fun in the equation, I'd say no.
Of those, I'd say to go for the CZ82. You can buy Brown Bear and Silver Bear 9x18 ammo online for decent prices (like $10 or $12 a box), so practice won't break the bank.
Keep in mind that the Bersa also comes in .32:
Bersa Thunder .32
MUCH more fun to shoot than the Kel-Tec. Ammo is still expensive, though.
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MedWheeler
Member
If she's already used to the DA-to-SA hammer action, the Bersa/Firestorm guns are great tickets. I would never disparage anyone who carries a reliable .22LR weapon for protection. Those who don't know why never will. True, it's not the so-called "best" round, but there are few, if any, people who would cease to be a threat when countered with a well-executed centerfire defense, but would soldier on with their mischief against a well-executed rimfire defense. Of those who would, the odds are your wife could live ten lifetimes and never meet one of them.
I don't carry a .22LR for defense simply because I have other choices, but I'd not shake in my boots any more if I did go out one day armed only with my much-liked Taurus PT-22.
I like the Bersa line. My Thunder 380 is a great shooter, and was my EDC for over a year, until getting bumped by the lighter, more powerful (and less-pleasant to shoot!) Kel-Tec PF9.
I hope the majority of responses continue to address your actual question, rather than try to convince you of what a mistake you're making by considering a .22LR pistol for defense. You no doubt already know its limitations, as well as its attributes.
I don't carry a .22LR for defense simply because I have other choices, but I'd not shake in my boots any more if I did go out one day armed only with my much-liked Taurus PT-22.
I like the Bersa line. My Thunder 380 is a great shooter, and was my EDC for over a year, until getting bumped by the lighter, more powerful (and less-pleasant to shoot!) Kel-Tec PF9.
I hope the majority of responses continue to address your actual question, rather than try to convince you of what a mistake you're making by considering a .22LR pistol for defense. You no doubt already know its limitations, as well as its attributes.
toivo
Member
You can buy the rubber finger-groove grips off the Bersa website.
http://www.bersa.com/grips/rubber-wrap-around-grips.html
With those on a Bersa, the only difference from the Firestorm is the shape of the trigger guard.
chicharrones
needs more ammo
If the size of the gun isn't a concern, I recommend the Bersa/Firestorm .22 over the Beretta Bobcat. I have both.
The Bersa is still small enough to fit small hands perfectly and the Bersa will run through hundreds of rounds before needing a cleaning compared to a Bobcat that will need the chamber swabbed out every 50 or so rounds to continue functioning.
The Bersa is a much better plinker, too.
A couple other selling points for the Bersa over the Bobcat are:
Has an extractor
Has a decocking safety that is easy to flick on and off
The slide is easier to pull to the rear (IMO)
Has a simpler slide recoil spring mechanism
Has a 10 round magazine
The Bersa is still small enough to fit small hands perfectly and the Bersa will run through hundreds of rounds before needing a cleaning compared to a Bobcat that will need the chamber swabbed out every 50 or so rounds to continue functioning.
The Bersa is a much better plinker, too.
A couple other selling points for the Bersa over the Bobcat are:
Has an extractor
Has a decocking safety that is easy to flick on and off
The slide is easier to pull to the rear (IMO)
Has a simpler slide recoil spring mechanism
Has a 10 round magazine
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MICHAEL T
Member
Here's a PLUS For next 3 weeks I will be having drawings for a Laserlyte it will fit the 22 32 or 380 Will not fit the 389CC model I open contest on monday night around 9 close on Wed about 9PM and draw 2 winners . Have 6 more winners to pick over next 3 weeks. Just need to be a member to play.
http://bersachat.com
http://bersachat.com
Wetz
Member
I am also looking for a .22 LR semi-auto handgun. Will you let us know what you ended up getting and how you like it?
Trad Archer
Member
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CCI ammo! Avoid the cheap stuff.
bikerdoc
Moderator In Memoriam
Great choice.
See my range report here:
http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=665405
My wife is a dedicated 38 revolver shooter and this is the first auto she enjoys shooting. Calls it her new gun.
Might have to get another.
See my range report here:
http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=665405
My wife is a dedicated 38 revolver shooter and this is the first auto she enjoys shooting. Calls it her new gun.
Might have to get another.
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