CZ 83 vs Sig P250 vs Bersa plus in 380

I am wanting a double stack, high capacity, 380 as a range toy. I really enjoy reloading and shooting the 380acp. It is quick and cheap to load and fun to shoot. I am currently wanting a higher capacity double stack. I want to keep it in the $450 or so range. I have narrowed it down (for now) to:

CZ 83
Sig P250
Bersa Thunder Plus

Couple of questions. As far as I can tell the Sig is fairly new (at least in 380). Does anyone have any experience with it?

Also can anyone compare the CZ and Bersa? Is it worth the $125 more for CZ over the Bersa?

Any others I should look at. The Taurus are something I looked at but they are just ugly

 

I can't speak of the Bersa. my CZ 83 has been flawless. I have shot it side by side with a sig p232 and the two are just as well built, the sig just looks like a Walther and holds only 7 rounds...in spite of being about the same size/weight as the CZ. (NOT trying to start a Sig war here....the Sigs are great and I'd like to add the little p238 to my safe)

Isn't the Sig p250 in 9mm???? Or did I miss a 380 variation of this pistol???

I did a video review (I'm a pretty crappy videographer, so excuse the dark pictures) I ran 1200 rounds of averything from the Tula surplus, S&B, wwb flat points, cheap arse wal mart remmy hollow points....no cleaning...not a single malfunction, even purposefully limp wristing I could not get the gun to misfire.

So far, in excess of 3k rounds and zip, zero, nada malfunctions.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eNJz_E3bR_g

 

I didn't know a Sig 250 was made in 380. I have a single stack Bersa thunder 380 and it's a great handgun. I also have a CZ 83 and it's nice as well (it stovepiped once so I feel slighted).

I have a Makarov in 9x18 and one in 380 and both may be better than the Bersa and the new CZ83. I've shot a lot of CZ82s and they are very good.
Shoot a Makarov and then decide.

 

The CZ-82 is the same gun as the 83, just chambered in 9x18 Makarov. The 9x18 round is a little hotter than the .380, and good hollowpoints are available from Hornady and other manufacturers. As a result, it's a better defensive choice. My honest recommendation is a 9x18 milsurp over just about any commercial .380 gun. They're more solidly built and overall more reliable.

Compared to a Bersa .380, the Makarov itself has a much better trigger. It's physically identical in size, but a little heavier. It holds 8+1 rounds to the Bersa's 7+1. The Bersa I shot had a particularly horrible double-action trigger. Extremely long and heavy, to the point where your fingers start to lose strength from having pulled too far. It was MUCH worse than my P-64 with the 18-pound hammer spring.

The 9x18 gun closest to the Bersa in both size and weight is the FEG PA-63. It's a nice-looking piece, and the trigger is pretty good once you install a 13-pound hammer spring. It's probably my favorite 9x18 pistol overall. However, the magazine does not drop free on this pistol. All the other 9x18 pistols, except for the CZ-82, use a heel release, and the magazine drops free once it's been pressed. The PA-63's does not.

Based on my experience, I'd recommend a Makarov or a PA-63. The CZ is a lot bulkier than the Makarov, and also heavier. The smaller P-64 is also a good choice, and it's what I carry. However, some people dislike it because its hammer is not drop-safe with the safety off. The best choice overall seems to be the PA-63. It's lightweight, it holds 7+1 rounds, it looks good, and it has a firing pin block similar to a Series 80 1911.

 

I think you can also get
MilSurp (or at least used) CZ 83's with round trigger guards (older style) for under $300. You can find the 83 chambered in .32, .380, or 9mm Mak. with .380 being the most common I've seen. The CZ 82 have always, from what I've seen, been chambered in 9mm Mak.

 

Thanks for all the info. The Sig P250 in 380 (sub compact) is new as far as I can tell. It is a 15rd

 

First, I don't know where you shop, but the Bersa should be the cheaper of the two pistols... at least if both are new. A CZ83 around here is $400 and up, whereas the Bersa Plus goes for around $325.

The Bersa is lighter in weight by quite a bit.

The Bersa has a decocker, the CZ does not.

The Bersa holds 15 rounds versus 12 in the CZ

IMHO, the CZ is a higher quality than the Bersa but either is an OK gun.

If $450 is the price limit, then I'd suggest a used Beretta 84, a better gun than either, but if your heart is set on one or the other, then the Bersa would be my choice just because it feels better in my hand than the CZ and it is cheaper.

 

I just realized I typed the cost backwards.

What I am seeing price wise is
CZ $466 (nickel)
Sig $396
Bersa $345 (nickel)

Thanks for the info

 

+1 on this. I love my Beretta 84B.

 

Interesting. http://www.sigsauer.com/CatalogProductDetails/p250-sub-compact-nitron-380.aspx

I have some experience with a standard single stack Bersa and just got a CZ 82. The first thing that comes to mind about the CZ is how the mag release is hard to press due to the standard grips being thick in that area. Not a big deal on a range gun I would think.

Anyway, back to that Sig. Being Double Action Only, it will be a different animal for range shooting compared to the SA/DA of the Bersa and CZ. Also, I'd expect the felt recoil of the Sig to feel different because of the Sig's locked breech vs. the blowback action of the other two. That might even make the Sig's slide easier to rack since the Sig's recoil spring may be a tad lighter.

All I can do is wonder.

 

I found a CZ-83(not 82,yes they made a small run in the 83) satin nickle 9mm Makarov at LGS couple weeks back for $289 unfired. A steal in my opinion as the .380 was about $75.00 more(ammo availability?) I also own a Bulgarian Makarov. The CZ is a beautiful piece and takedown is as simple as it gets(as is Mak). CZ fits like a glove and other than ejecting brass into the next county, is a piece of art. Just my two cents

 

Nice find! Does it have the round trigger guard or the more modern 'combat' trigger guard?

A stiffer recoil spring should help with your brass flinging problem.