rbernie
Contributing Member
If you were in the market for a low-cost double-stack 9mm semiauto pistol and these were your only two possible options - which would you choose and why?
Bersa Thunder 9mm or Ruger P95?
- Thread starter rbernie
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Me personally I'd get the P95.
Reasons:
Cheap and readily available hi-cap mags (factory ones)
Durable
Reliable
USA made
Also if somehow you found a way to break it Ruger will take care of you (they're known for their excellent customer service)
I have an older model P95, and it's been all of the above (except the cust. service...never needed it) 100% and my mom liked it so much she bought the new version with the tac rail for herself
Reasons:
Cheap and readily available hi-cap mags (factory ones)
Durable
Reliable
USA made
Also if somehow you found a way to break it Ruger will take care of you (they're known for their excellent customer service)
I have an older model P95, and it's been all of the above (except the cust. service...never needed it) 100% and my mom liked it so much she bought the new version with the tac rail for herself
MICHAEL T
Member
Bersa Well made and relieable and not as ugly as a ruger
rantingredneck
Member
I'd get the P95 for all the reasons NovaDAK listed. I own 4 ruger P series pistols, though not a P95, and they've all performed flawlessly.
modifiedbrowning
Member
I would buy the Bersa. I have three now (one fullsize and two compacts) and all three have been excellent. I probably have 10k between the 3 of them and couldn't be happier as they cost $350 each.
They only ship with one mag and extras cost $40 to $50, not cool.
Bersa is a quality pistol at a good price and the 9mms are based on the Walther P88, one of the best Wondernines.
They only ship with one mag and extras cost $40 to $50, not cool.
Bersa is a quality pistol at a good price and the 9mms are based on the Walther P88, one of the best Wondernines.
CZ57
member
Does anyone remember the Walther P-88? It was considered the ultimate wondernine. The Bersa is a clone of the P-88. How good a clone I can't say, but P-88s approached $1400 when importation stopped.
The P-95 is a great value. I like Rugers, but you will have to live with the unrefined nature of their pistols. Accuracy can be good and reliability outstanding.
The Bersa doesn't get much attention because of their lack of advertising in the gun rags, so, if you can get your hands on one and shoot it before you buy either, it will be worth the effort. The P-95 is worth the price without question. The Bersa could be a bit better than what you'll have to pay for it.
The P-95 is a great value. I like Rugers, but you will have to live with the unrefined nature of their pistols. Accuracy can be good and reliability outstanding.
The Bersa doesn't get much attention because of their lack of advertising in the gun rags, so, if you can get your hands on one and shoot it before you buy either, it will be worth the effort. The P-95 is worth the price without question. The Bersa could be a bit better than what you'll have to pay for it.
HorseSoldier
Member
Like ModifiedBrowning alluded to, I'd take the Bersa because it's a close to a Walther P-88 as I'm going to get for less than $1500 these days.
OP
OP
rbernie
Contributing Member
Is there any known reliability or build quality differences between the two?
boomer1911a1
Member
Restart
Restart this thread as a poll.
And I vote for the Ruger.
Restart this thread as a poll.
And I vote for the Ruger.
Not really. It takes many of the P88's design features and very close dimensionally but there are significant differences. More of a derived copy.
Of the two, the Bersa (full size). Slightly smaller, 17 round mag, very easy disassembly (only gun easier is the P88). I never liked the idea of slicking your finger into the ejection port of the Rugers with the slide locked back to push down the ejector to disassemble the gun. IMO, a very poor aspect of the design (not engineered very well).
CZ57
member
Sorry, modified! I walked right passed it and it was right in front of me. At least 2 or 3 of us know!
Those who claim the P95 is unrefined haven't handled one of the newer ones. A great fine shooting pistol, not ugly at all and an exceptional value. American made with great customer service and readily available parts. I picked one up recently for $299 and its worth every penny and then some. Plus you can't kill a Ruger and it'll eat anything you feed it.
gaudio5
Member
i dont like the bulkyness of the ugly ruger pistols but they go bang every time the grips just kill it for me.
Keeterbird
Member
I have a P95 DAO action has been perfect. Eats everything fed to it. Accuracy almost matches my CZ75. These two pistols make me a competent shooter. That is great for me.
P95. I picked one up in stainless two years ago for $225 plus tax & transfer fee.
It shoots great, is completely stainless, mags are available, and was cheap. If anything, the grip to too narrow for me, but I have large hands. Although I haven't compared it to the Bersa, it's probably smaller, if that's an issue for you.
Is the Bersa available in stainless? That'd be a big issue for me.
-John
It shoots great, is completely stainless, mags are available, and was cheap. If anything, the grip to too narrow for me, but I have large hands. Although I haven't compared it to the Bersa, it's probably smaller, if that's an issue for you.
Is the Bersa available in stainless? That'd be a big issue for me.
-John
DevilDog0402
Member
Ruger. I have had my P93 since 1998, and it is a great shooter. I swapped the grips out for Houge's, and couldn't be happier with it.
putteral
Member
Just got the stainless P95 15 shot capacity and love so far. No jams yet and very accurate too. Am going to use it as my carry gun
if you're worried about the bersa having 17 rounds (in the fullsize model) and the Ruger only having 15, then just get a Mec-Gar 17rd mag for the Ruger. Mec-gar makes the factory mags for Sig and Browning (and more) and I've never heard a single bad thing about them (and mine have been good in the sig variety too )
And about the disassembly, at least I know that my Rugers can't be taken apart unless I WANT them too (I've seen someone's beretta's slide come off (not break in half and shoot of )because the take down lever was in the incorrect position while in the middle of shooting at the range)
I was able to teach my mom how to disassemble her new KP95 in a few minutes so I don't think it's that hard...
Some smith-wessons are the same way
)And about the disassembly, at least I know that my Rugers can't be taken apart unless I WANT them too (I've seen someone's beretta's slide come off (not break in half and shoot of
)because the take down lever was in the incorrect position while in the middle of shooting at the range)I was able to teach my mom how to disassemble her new KP95 in a few minutes so I don't think it's that hard...
Some smith-wessons are the same way
SouthpawShootr
Member
No-brainer. Ruger. Better known. Extraordinary reputation for tough guns. The company seems to be very responsive CS-wise. As long as you don't blow the gun up with nuclear powered handloads, they'll take care of you.
kristop64089
Member
- Joined
- Sep 10, 2007
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- 5
Well, This is my first post here, so I might as well jump in with both feet.
I have never personnaly owned a Ruger p95, but, I have appx 2500 rnds thru a close friends.
I do own a Bersa Thunder 9mm, and (INMHO) the Bersa beats the Ruger hands down in Fit, Finish, Accuracy, Cleaning, & Trigger feel.
I can't comment on reliability as it is still new to me.
I'm not knocking Ruger, I just personnaly don't like them.
The Bersa Thunder ( is night and day different in qualit when combared to the Bersa thunder .380(in my case at least)
What I see as Bersas biggest hurdle, is the fact that they don't advertise. But dollar for dollar(and i will say this over and over) They are as good as anything at this pricepoint, and as good as any thing in a pricepoint twice there value. Plus they have a lifetime warranty to boot.
I will now nominate myself the official Battle Flag carrier for Bersa
Oh, and it's good to see ya'll, some I have seen on TFL ome are new. Thanks for letting me join the club!
I have never personnaly owned a Ruger p95, but, I have appx 2500 rnds thru a close friends.
I do own a Bersa Thunder 9mm, and (INMHO) the Bersa beats the Ruger hands down in Fit, Finish, Accuracy, Cleaning, & Trigger feel.
I can't comment on reliability as it is still new to me.
I'm not knocking Ruger, I just personnaly don't like them.
The Bersa Thunder ( is night and day different in qualit when combared to the Bersa thunder .380(in my case at least)
What I see as Bersas biggest hurdle, is the fact that they don't advertise. But dollar for dollar(and i will say this over and over) They are as good as anything at this pricepoint, and as good as any thing in a pricepoint twice there value. Plus they have a lifetime warranty to boot.
I will now nominate myself the official Battle Flag carrier for Bersa
Oh, and it's good to see ya'll, some I have seen on TFL ome are new. Thanks for letting me join the club!
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