Just got a Bersa Thunder .380

[clubsoda22]

I've fired both a sig 232, walther ppk and Bersa thunder in one sitting. I must say the bersa was the best of the bunch. For one, the walther and sig bite, the bersa doesn't, I found that the trigger on the bersa was better than either the sig or walther, mainly for double action as single action they're all about the same. Walther double action felt kinda like the infamous trigger pull on a VP70. It felt like it was around 18lbs. Sig was slightly better, but the bersa was SWEET. Definately was in the single digits as far as trigger pulls go. Single action was nice on all of them. I like the sights on the bersa better. I also like the trigger guard on the bersa better. It can accomidate a gloved hand whereas the sig and walther are a struggle (this should be taken into consideration for a pocket pistol). The bersa is also lighter it seems. Overall, the accuracy was about the same with all the pistols in single action. In double action the bersa was the clear winner, with the sig in close second and the walther far behind, simply because i couldn't pull the oppressively heavy trigger. The sig won for left handed friendly because the decocker can be accessed with the index finger of a left handed shooter, but i found it to be a moot point as A) none of the guns were really lefty friendly as far as safetie go, and B) Who the hell uses the safety on a long DA pull? With the bersa you don't get what you pay for, you get a lot more than you pay for. A gun that is at the very least equal for half the price.

 

[FlyinGN]

Of course the Bersa is gonna have a lighter trigger and thus a easier shhot in DA because the Bersa has a safety anf the Sig don't/ The decocker and hammer 1/2 way down is the safety on the sig. MUCH better in a combat situation.. Just squeeze the trigger. No need to remember to click off the safety.
I can tell ya that the Bersa trigger is in *NO WAY* as smooth as my Sig.

Frank

 

[Ky Larry]

I looked at a new Bersa .380 yesterday. It seemed well built and solid but the safety was stiff and the trigger was very stiff and gritty. Then I looked at a CZ-83 and was reminded why I like CZ's. Fit and finish were 10 times better than the Bursa. The trigger was great both S/A and D/A. The CZ was,IMHO, a much better gun than the Bursa.
Bursa cost NIB $232.20 OTD
CZ-83 cost NIB $312.00 OTD
For $80 more I got 3 times the gun.
I had my dealer order a CZ-83 in satin nickel finish.
Flame away. I've got my Nomex suit on.

 

[Matthew_Q]

Well, no flaming here. Most of us know that CZ makes some FINE pistols for not a lot of money. I'd give them #2 position after the Bersa in the 'bang for the buck' catagory.


I got my Bersa Thunder .380 almost a year ago. Only have about 400 rounds through it, tho. Gonna run a couple hundred more this weekend. The trigger has a little take up in single and double action, but it has smoothed out. The safety was pretty stiff, so I flipped it off and on for a while, and it's gotten smoother. I keep it in condition 2 (round chambered, hammer down, safety OFF), and feel confident with it. Not one malfunction so far.

Absolutely the best $200 I've ever spent on a firearm. My only disappointments are:

Not too many holsters are made for it yet
$30 for magazines. (factory. Promag makes some, but they don't have the finger rest, which I need)

That's IT.

Now I will say this, don't shoot +P loads with it! I've heard of frames being cracked. They work fine with standard velocity and should last quite a while. I highly recommend for a .380/ppk style pistol. When I get my damn CHL, I'll carry it frequently.

 

[Newton]

They are $199 at Gander Mountain right now, I think that was for the 2 tone which is my favorite anyway.

Newton

 

[13xx]

I bought my Bersa thunder 380 at a pawn shop for 200 out the door and have yet to have any problem with it.

I have put somewhere over 700 rounds through it with various loads and brands of ammo.

I have 2 holster for it (both of which fit perfectly and are technically made for a PPK) and have found 7rnd mags for it for under $30, 10 rnd for about $35-40.

Side by side with my buddies PPK the bersa is lighter that an empty ppk while the bersa fully loaded 10+1 and the Walter's slide has a tendency to cut your hand if you have large hands.

Pound for pound I have found the bersa to be just as good as a ppk if not better in some respects. Although the mag safety I could do without.

 

[blue86buick]

Heh...got mine at Gander Mountain for 199. Should've spent the 20/30 bucks more, and gotten the black with silver rather than the silver with black....I (now...didn't at the time) think it looks better. Then again, I was impatient and poor, didn't want to wait until I had 30 more bucks. :banghead:

(that's the reason I'll probably buy a Hi-Point at some point )

 

[gtd]

I've had my Bersa .380 for two years. Use it all the time, CCW. It's great, it's very accurate, it does not bite, and the price is right.

"Question; was your Bersa extremely stiff? Seemed like all the ones in the case were hard to rack and the safety was very hard to engage."

I had this same problem with the safety, at first. Then I had the "brilliant" idea to spray some Break Free into the safety mechanism. No more trouble.

By the way, just use the safety, and you seriously reduce the possibility of shooting yourself in the a$$. It's not that hard to use.

 

[clubsoda22]

GN: i'm left handed so i don't use the safety on the bersa anyway...why anyone would with a long double action, i dont know.

I think most of the bersa critics have never picked one up and shot 100 rounds through it. I got a similar reaction from a gun shop owner i went shooting with. His first reaction was "For a bit over $200, how good can it be?" He is, of course, a sig and walther stocking dealer. So, I loaded up a magazine and started a shooting drill. I holstered the gun, safety off, hammer down, one in the chamber. I started walking forward from the 25 yard line (The range was outdoors and empty, perfect for shooting drills) and the second I hit the 15 yard line, while continuing to walk forward, i drew and emptied the gun as fast as i could while staying on target (about 3-4 rounds per second). The slide was locked back by the time i crossed the 10 yard line. Every shot landed in the head and neck of the shilouette.

Needless to say both the shop owner and my friends jaws were dropped. My buddy said something to the effect of, "who cares if it's a .380 if you shoot like that." So i handed it over and let everyone play. After giving them a few turns with the bersa my friend is looking to get one from the shop owner who has decided to now stock bersa. It's a fun gun and is completely suitable for concealed carry.

After another range session, I think my dad might end up getting another, as this one was a gift for me. He's thinking if he has a gun that's suitable for carry, he might be prompted to go out and get a CWP.

 

[13xx]

one time me and a friend both tried out my bersa in one hand and his ppk in the other and then switched hands with each. the bersa was both easier to point and had less felt recoil in each hand for the both of us.

im left handed and normally shoot right but on occasion switch up just to keep the left in practice and with either hand and a little practice i can hit the safety quickly and easily.

 

[Mannlicher]

lucky you. The Bersa seems to have the same cult like following as Kel Tec and CZ52, and Makarov. Wonder guns, that out preform the best of the best, and at a 10th the price.

 

[mlk18]

I am also a huge Bersa fan. Picked one up in a multi-gun trade off and was amazed at it's build quality and performance. More accurate than my EG Makarov (in my hands) with the benefit of being thinner, lighter and having better sights. I have amazed more than one of my friends with the little Bersa, most of who know want one. Very good CCW if you want a .380acp and excellent for the price.

mlk18

 

[clubsoda22]

that one in the pic is close to what mine looks like...though the matte nickel looks darker than that....

 

[Selfdfenz]

Mag-wise, I picked up some replacements from CDNN for about 8 dollars that seem to work just fine. The follower is blue(d) and they have metal bottoms rather than plastic with the pinky rest, otherwise they look about like factory mags and fit flush.

I would love to know where to get some mags that hold 9-10 rounds for thsi pistol.

S-

 

[clubsoda22]

bersa has factory mags that hold 9 rds. Personally, I don't like how they look in the gun. It adds some legnth to the grip. The pro mags on CDNN don't have a pinky rest. Probably good if you want to do deep cover with the gun, but i prefer the pinky rest.

 

[Selfdfenz]

I agree that the pinky rest is a plus

 

[clubsoda22]

it helps both with control and it really goes with the lines of the gun.

 

[Solinvictus70]

The dealer I just got my CZ70 from has Bersa .380's for about $200. Once I get my Mauser 24/47, the Bersa is next.

 

[bblmelt]

there was a small clip under the grip that broke in mine so that the trigger would only work if the gun was held sideways I ordered a new clip and it broke as well. So I cobbled one up from a piece of wire and that has worked fine for 200 rounds now. I gave it to my cousin for a nightstand gun and I kinda miss it!

 

[blue86buick]

As much as I like my Bersa, I'm thinking of selling it to a friend. Well, as he doesn't have a permit to buy (pistols), he's going to give me money so I can buy a new gun (9mm or .40), then when he DOES have a permit I'll write him a reciept. As his GF hates guns though, it'll stay in my safe, and I'll be taking it out periodically to give it a "function check".

When I can convince my sherrif to give me a CCW, I might pick up a Bersa again, but in black...it's purdier. For my current needs (plinking, target, HD maybe), it's not the best tool for the job.