Bersa Thunder reviews

[Tiomoid]

My gf has recently received her CCW and is looking for an acceptable carry pistol. Currently she is toting around my little Walther p22 until she finds a gun she likes in a slightly larger cal. At the recent gun show she handled a much used Bersa Thunder .380 and really liked the feel and how easily she was able to get on target with it. My question is this: How hard is the slid pull on a new Thunder and has anyone had any personal issues with one?

Thanks for the help.

 

[Landor]

I have the 380 CC version. It is not hard at all to pull back. You will need to put about 300 - 500 rounds through it before you can trust it. Good luck on finding ammo right now. They conceal well but are not that fun to shoot. Being a small gun they have a bit of a recoil for petite women. Now the Bersa 9MM UC. That is an awesome gun.

 

[schnarrgj]

My wife loves her Bersa Thunder and I love mine. Being able to pull the slide was concern for her. So far it has well over 1500 rounds threw it without a failure. They are great reliable and accurate pistols. It is her ccw.

 

[cyclopsshooter]

i just bought a bersa 380 and am happy with it as a kick around- if a p.o.s. davis industries is a 1 and a interarms walther ppks a 10, the besa is a 5 or 6. it handles well and shoots very well, its comfortable! but some of the partls like the trigger can be made from better materials... but for 250 bucks one cant complain all that much

 

[russ45]

I carry a Bersa Thunder 380. I recently weighed it with my J frame and my lightweight Colt Agent. Loaded, the Bersa weighs the same as the lightweight Colt and is lighter than the J-frame Smith, and carries 8+1 vs 5 or 6. Carries great, shoots great. I handload for it, so I have plenty to practice with and use the factory loads for ccw. Spare mag was available for $26. Those tiny Rugers are also popular but are really small.

 

[Tiomoid]

Thanks for the immediate response guys, looks like we finally found her gun. Now all I have to do is find ammo for it, thank God a few of my friends work behind the counters of various gun stores.

 

[mattlove444]

Bersa is GREAT gun. PROS: cheap, accurate, reliable

CONS:NONE

 

[putteral]

Good Luck trying to find any .380 Ammo. There doesn't seem to be any to be had.

 

[cyclopsshooter]

in the last two months the shop i work at has only got in 150 rounds of 380... never made it to the shelf-

 

[gmh1013]

Love my Bersa 380
I bought 10 boxs of 380
from Cabelas in Jan when it was 15 a box.
sold 3 boxs at the range for 140 past weekend

 

[DougW]

Both of my Thunder .380's have been totally reliable for the past 8 years. Never a problem. One is ALWAYS close at hand, even when I am carrying one of my Glocks.

 

[MedWheeler]

Pros: Inexpensive, accurate, durable/reliable, easy to shoot and manage.
Cons: Larger than many other guns chambered for this questionable caliber, especially since many 9x19mm pistols can be found that are just as easy to conceal. Availability of ammunition.

Those being said, it's a great piece to have at one's disposal. I'm wearing mine now.
Edit: Forgot to mention: Meet other Bersa fans over at www.bersatalk.com..

 

[Snarlingiron]

I taught my Son's girlfriend to shoot a pistol with my Glock 19. After she got her Concealed Carry license, my Son bought her a Bersa .380. She loves it. Never any issues of any kind. Great gun for not much money.

 

[CorpITGuy]

If you can find ammo, it's just about the best ccw for chicks. My wife has one.

 

[cyclopsshooter]

you calling me a chick?

 

[CorpITGuy]

LOL, sorry, let me elaborate. To the OP, whose girlfriend is looking into a Bersa 380 - yeah, it's perfect!

It's also perfect ccw in general... what it lacks in stopping power it certainly makes up for in its ability to be concealed. I may buy a second one for myself before too long.

 

[Deltaboy1984]

Good little guns.

 

[CorpITGuy]

I ran into another happy Bersa owner last night. My brother-in-law walked into my MIL&FIL's house... plopped his pistol down on the mantle... it was a Bersa .380 Thunder. We got to talking... apparently it's his favorite ccw gun for summer carry. Everywhere I go, these days, I run into happy Bersa Thunder/CC owners.

BTW, nothing girly about this guy... motorcycle type, 300 lbs.+, always wears mean-looking leather.

 

[Kindrox]

The Bersa Thunder Plus has 15+1. It is a great gun.

 

[cyclopsshooter]

i just put a morning mag thru mine in our indoor range- such a great way to start the day!

 

[Aka Zero]

Got one on hold, picking it up tuesday, Wife turns 21 sunday, will be HER first gun.

And ammo is killer for 380, and I haven't back ordered any..... Anyone know any good places to put a hold on it?

Got 1000 round fmj, and 350 rounds jhp 9mm back ordered, should be here next month, but didn't know a 380 would be entering the family.

 

[mactex]

I'll be the nay-sayer, at least a little bit. I have both the BT380 and 380cc and like both guns. However, I have had problems with both that had to be worked out. The BT380 has broken its e-clip under the right hand grip three times now. Sent in for repairs once and the problem continued. Decided that since I didn't carry it, I would just deal with the problem as it occured.

My 380cc has not been quite a kind. The disconnector spring has been replaced twice and continued to cause me grief until I had about 800 rounds through the gun. Since then it has been fine.

Bottom line: Most of the Bersa guns are good, but there can still be a few bad ones that slip through. It may take a trip or two to the repair shop to get things ironed out, but at least you have a lifetime warranty!

Just my .02 cents worth.

 

[Deltaboy1984]

They are great guns for the price.