Bersa Thunder .380 Slide Issue

[TravisLAvery]

Sorry in advance if I am posting this in the wrong section, I looked and this seemed to be the best one.

I recently got a Bersa Thunder .380, not yet fired. I noticed an issue while testing the gun, when I put a loaded magazine (safety off) into the gun then attempt to rack the slide back, the slide gets stuck in the back position while the slide stop has not caught the notch. All I need to do is tap the rear of the slide with my palm and the slide will move forward like it is suppose to. I noticed that if I try a different method of racking the slide, like I normally do but add a quick push, it fixes the situation but I feel as though I should not have to do the extra motion. Also if I rack the slide hard enough it seems to fix the slide from being stuck back but again, I feel as though it should not have to be racked so hard. Do I just need to get used to racking the slide harder with my bersa or is this issue more with the slide itself?

 

[Furncliff]

Just a general suggestions for new firearms. Take some time to do a field strip and good cleaning / lubrication. You may want to use a good gun oil (instead of grease) on the slide, for a box of ammo or until the moving parts wear into each other.

My wife chose a Bersa 380 over a bunch of other handguns, I like the pistol too, but it's new and I'm still working out some kinks that some new pistols have.

Welcome to THR.

 

[Panzerschwein]

Bersas are some of the finest production handguns currently available for the price. They are superb defensive handguns.

Clean the gun. Give it time to break in, and congrats.

It's a Bersa.

 

[GoPappy]

New Bersas come with a lot of cosmoline (or whatever) on them to protect them. Make sure you've cleaned all that off and then put some proper lubrication on it. I suspect that it will be fine after you do that. If not, fire a few mags through it and it should loosen up.

And remember that, if all else fails, Bersas come with a lifetime warranty to the original owner.

 

[CZ9shooter]

I agree with the others. See what happens after some break in time. My wife's BT380 has never displayed that problem. However, I tend to rack slides with authority and have taught her to do the same. Pull back hard and let her fly home. Maybe that makes a difference, maybe not.

 

[MutinousDoug]

My Bersa exhibits a similar problem only if I leave the safety/de-cocker engaged, it retards the slide return to battery as it uses some of the recoil spring energy to drop the hammer. I've never had this problem if the de-cocker is off.

Mine has 8-900 rounds through it and still stops short if I ride the slide home while the de-cocker is engaged. A slight push with my thumb takes the slide home.

 

[MedWheeler]

Another thing you'll possibly notice at some point is that the slide, when locked open, will snap closed upon briskly slapping in a loaded magazine. Keep it pointed downrange!

As others have said, they're great guns. Until the release of Ruger's LC-380 models, and the newly-arriving SCCY CPX in .380, they were quite the "undiscovered value", and still are for those of us who like an all-metal, simply-built handgun.

 

[herrwalther]

Bersas are imported so they come with thick import grease for protection and shipping. AS others have said, give it a good cleaning. The manual points out a few places to put lubrication to help it wear in a little better.

 

[lysanderxiii]

You will also find that with many semi-auto pistols stripping the first round out of a full magazine will hang up the slide.

 

[MICHAEL T]

Clean all the shipping gunk off the pistol . I always rack mine with the safety /decocker on . Then flip off before holstering Pull all the way back fast and release. My oldest Thunder is 10yrs old. Never had 1st problem. Need more help. Try shooting it . That might after good cleaning and proper lube make problem disappear.

Join http://bersachat.com Lots of owners and a warranty smith will answer most questions

 

[PapaG]

I'm assuming this is a recently made Bersa. Some of the first ones had a galling problem on the underside of the slide. I worked on a couple that would fire fine for a couple shots then fail to feed. Discovered the hammer was galling the underside of the slide. Polish it up and it was good for a magazine or so. Polished hammer, slide and maybe two mags.
One of the owners sold his, the other kept it loaded and figured he'd never need that second magazine full. Against my advice.
We've sold a ton of them in the past seven or eight years and had no problems
Clean, lube and make sure there are no burrs.