bersa thunder 380

I was looking at another pistol but it has been sold and I found several bersa thunder 380. I like The look and size but I know nothing about bersa. I mostly want one for target practice and maybe carrying down the road im not quite sure thanks

 

I had a Thunder 380 for a while. It seemed well built and was accurate enough. But it didn't fit my hand very well, so I just couldn't fall in love with it. I think the Bersa's are a good value and from what I can tell, they have a pretty good reputation in general. I actually wish I liked it more, as there's a sharp looking black and gold one at my LGS that I could pick up for $280.

 

Great pistols; probably one of the better "secret values" in defensive .380 caliber guns.

As mentioned, they use a gas-operated ("blowback") system, which can produce a little more perceived recoil than an identically-balanced and weighted gun with a recoil-operated system.

The Thunder also uses the once-normal DA/SA trigger operation, so the hammer, cocked after chambering the first round, can be lowered, and the gun fired from that state. Each subsequent shot would be fired from the lighter, hammer-cocked, state.

The finish on these tends to be fairly Spartan and lackluster, usually a matte-black painted finish on black models. The frame is aluminum, and the slide, steel. The gun balances well in most hands (a higher-capacity "Thunder Plus" model that fills the hand even more is available) and I find it easily-controlled, and surprisingly reliable with all kinds of old and new ammo I've run through mine. Pretty accurate as well. I'm glad to own mine.

In a nutshell, I'll give it thumbs up for: excellent reliability, good balance, crisp trigger (especially in SA-mode), three-dot sights, generous beavertail, easy takedown, and value.

I'd give it a thumbs down for: lackluster finish (though it does keep cost down), budget-feeling plastic grip stocks, and (to some people) excessive size for the caliber.

 

I have two and agree with what MadWheeler said.

 

I have a Bersa 85 from the late 80's, the all steel pre-Thunder model. The barrel is hard attached to the frame like the Walther 380's. My Bersa 85 (15+1) is super accurate and reliable. They appear from time to time on GB but don't last long.

 

I have a nickel plated Thunder and a Bersa CC and both have been really good guns in every respect.

 

It's been my carry gun for the past three years. GreAt for concealment in a front pocket carry.

 

I have a duotone model with the 9 round mag.
All around good gun.
They also have a 22 version of the same gun.
I picked one up for cheaper plinking.

 

The Bersa's a good pistol, but IMO no match for the Colt or Sig .380, but at considerably more money.

I prefer the SAO trigger on those two - as in the 1911.

 

I saw a nickel plated one for sale locally to me, looks sweet! I would totally get it if .380 wasn't so pricey and hard to find.

 

I have the standard model. Mainly bought it for the GF to shoot at the range. A little bigger and better sights that most 380's on the market. I put the factory rubber wrap around grips on it. It is a little snappy due to the blowback design, but it shoots and handles very well. Often times the slide will come forward when seating a fresh magazine. Not a big deal, just an observation.

 

I'll just echo what everyone else has said.

I have a Thunder 22, a Thunder 380, and a Thunder 9 UC.

All three are reliable as all heck,,,
And none broke the bank to purchase them.

The Thunder 22 has seen three people qualify for their carry permit,,,
I've "sold" so many, Bersa should give me a commission.

Aarond

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I have 3 Bersa Thunders and liked so well I started present board


http://bersachat.com Hit the 7000 member mark .today.

 

I have a T380 with the rubber wraparound grips paired with the "deluxe" 9 round factory mag, giving 9+1 for carry. It's a very good shooting, reliable gun. The trigger is wonderful after several hundred down range. Very nice DA and a perfect SA for such a small inexpensive weapon. Does need a bit of breaking in to get there, though-- but that's the fun part!

 

I think Bersa makes a good solid working gun. "Self defense" accurate, but not a bullseye shooter in any caliber. Reliable and durable. At least all that describes mine.

 

I have the duotone. I'm going to basically echo what everyone else is saying. It's reliable, it's accurate, it's affordable. I replaced mine with a Ruger LCP for CC. The Bersa is far more pleasant to shoot and way more accurate than the LCP but the little Ruger is just a lot more pocket Friendly. I had a chance to compare it to a coworkers original Walther PPK. The Bersa is lighter, has a nicer trigger and is much easier to take down. ( I did not shoot the PPK but the Bersa has a more pronounced beavertail making slide bite less of a concern ). In spite of the fact that I seldom shoot mine these days I like it too much to get rid of it.

 

I have a Thunder model and my reloads Hot/Mild usually will be shot threw it before I use them in my G42 and Pico Beretta 380. As the barrel is a bit longer I can say I don't remember any issues as of yet? And yes the accuracy is very good as I stated before as once was said by another member on our forum you can shoot a black bird off the fench post w/one very well. Just my input. Merry X-MAS!

 

I find my Bersa Thunder 380 to be extremely accurate and fun to shoot. I don't carry it but I do take in the car with me once in a while. Highly recommended.

 

Wife had a Bersa Thunder for carry and may shortly have another again, as she misses it. Very similar to a Walther PPK/s in operation, but much lighter since the frame is made of a lighter material than the typical steel on the Walther. Even with her weak hands, it was very comfortable to shoot and carry once we put the rubber wrap around grips (about $25) on it. DA/SA operation where the safe position is a decocker. So it is very safe to carry hammer down, live chamber, safety off with a long DA trigger pull on the first shot.

 

I have the nickel Bersa Thunder .380 thunder CC. The good is that it is amazingly accurate and manageable for such a small gun. The bad is that my first disconnect spring broke after about 50 rounds in and the new one started falling out of place about 50 rounds after that. I have since adjusted the grip screws as Bersa suggests and have not had any problems since but the issue made me very uncomfortable carrying it as my CC choice.

I have several hundred rounds through it since this problem. If it makes it a couple of hundred more, it will go back into my rotation.

 

I use blue loctight on my Bersa screws No more problems . Some use small O rings on their Bersa Thunders.
All the newer 380 Thunders(last 10 years or so) have a firing pin-block again making it safe to carry round in chamber hammer down ready to fire .

At present I have 3 Bersa Thunders in house. My 2 9mm UC Bersa have moved on to others in my family that need a pistol.

Bersa are sold world wide . Warranty work on those sold in USA is really very small . Internet make it seem a lot larger as 1 person will post his dissatisfaction on many boards. Then every time he see a question asked about a Bersa. I find this also hold true for any brand Be it Bersa, KelTec ,Taurus, Para, Colt. One bad get years of I had one and was junk from that X owner on net

 

I took this out of the box, loaded it up and these are the first rounds out.



I have a BT 380 and CC.

 

I bought the Bersa Thunder 380 on a lark and was surprised at the accuracy and ease of use. I liked it enough to go back and buy the Thunder CC version a little later to make it smaller in my pocket. One of very few pistols I have owned that have never experienced a jam from the get go. I still have both pistols. Buy them as shooters and not collectables