Kel-Tek P-11 or Bersa .380?

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PawDaddy

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After carrying a revolver for years, I think that I would like to have an auto for concealed carry. I know that there are other guns that may be a better choice, but these two are in my price range, so please keep focused on these and not other, "better/more expensive guns". Thanks!

Which, in your opinion, would be the better carry gun?

Please give the pros and cons of each.
 
hmmm discounting price??

P-11 carriers more rounds and fires a more powerful round than the bersa...problem is it is thicker...but not so much that you cant get a pocket holster for one...the DAO trigger can be a bear for some people to shoot properly..has given some people trouble in the past...

Bersa...Thinner..single stack...fires a less powerful round...better reputation for quality...has better trigger...thinner in the pocket and on the belt..

that all being said...I own and carry a p-11...I havent gotten around to getting a Bersa yet...but I have only heard good things about them

Hope this helps...
 
Kel-Tec p11.

you can use S&W 15 round magazinesand S&W 12 round magazines.

I like 9mm a bit better than 380acp. the p11 handles the recoil well for its weight and size.
 
I am familiar with the Bersa, having owned one years ago. My son has one of the newer ones and it has been very reliable. I like the way the gun handles and feels. I have never fired a P-11, but have held one. It feels okay in the hand, but I am a little concerned with the recoil because of the size/weight of the gun.

I know that I can probable get better follow-up shots with the Bersa. That is why I would lean toward it. But, the 9mm would be cheaper to practice with.
 
a magazine pinky extension and a small hogue handall or similar rubber type grip that fits over the handle will do wonders.

with 115gr 9mm recoil is no concern. now if you use +p 9mm you could get a sore hand after shooting it a while and follow ups would not be as easy. the trigger on the other hand drives people away though you can fix that too.
 
Hi PawDaddy :)


I have no experience with the 9mm Kel-Tec P11.

The chief limitation of the Thunder 380 is really the cartridge it carries.
.380 ACP is not going to deal as much damage (per bullet) as 9mm Parabellum. However, it may be easier to develop marksmanship and ROF with a 380 ACP platform, and particularly so with the Thunder 380.

Before cartridge terminal performance can come into play, the bullet has to hit, no? Even then, terminal effects depend hugely on WHERE the bullet hits, again resting on your marksmanship under stress.

A gun that is fun to practice with is going to let you get more practice and marksmanship training, so maybe a trip to a range that offers both the Thunder 380 and the P11 for rent is in order, for you to assess which one really suits you better.


Good luck!
:)
 
I have shot both...

the Bersa is reliable and nice to shoot....but the .380 is NOT a good primary carry round.

the P11 trigger pull is long and 8 1/2 pounds....almost like that of a revolver. It has 10 +1 9mm vs. Bersas 8 total .380. The pinkey extension works wonders from what I am told. The P11 is lighter. The recoil is very managable if you have ever fired a 4 inch .357 magnum...there is no comparison. The Kel Tec has a lifetime warranty and I don't think it is any wider. The grips of the 2 side by side? the kel tec is slimmer but the bersa has a slimmer and longer barrel.

I, since firing one fully intend to purchase a Kel Tec as my backup on duty weapon.

Its the lightest, smallest, highest cap 9mm I can find thats worth the money.
 
I own and shoot both!

PawDaddy!

As you post the issue is IMHO not so much a choice between pistols as it is between calibers. Both the Kel-Tec and the Bersa are solid, reliable pistols and will serve well as concealed carry weapons. I own both but my concealed carry choice is the Kel-Tec as I prefer 9mm ammo. Also, there is an accessory clip that you can put on the P-11 which allows you to clip it to your belt or pants waistband as an IWB carry mode without a holster. It works very well and is convenient. Good shooting;)
 
I know that the P-11 costs a little more, but with the price of ammo, it shouldn't be that much of a consideration.

I have shot the Bersa and like the way it handles, but there is no range anywhere close by and I do not know anyone around these parts who has a Kel-Tek. The local dealer sells alot of them and maybe there is someone that he has sold to that I know or would let me try it out.

And, as someone mentioned, shot placement is vital. I know of a shootout that occured here several years back in which two guys went at it with each other. One was shooting a .38 and the other a .22. The guy with the .22 walked away. The other other one stepped into eternity.
 
I haven't shot the Bersa but I've heard good things about them.

I have the P-11 9mm/40cal.

I trust it to be my carry/boot gun if I can't carry the normal Kimber.

The P-11 isn't a lot of fun for a lot of range shooting.


For price range have you considered the Makarov? (I've got 9 and 2 on order, good guns)
$120 used with 4 mags and $150 new at AIM (back ordered until Mar 17,) http://www.aimsurplus.com/acatalog/index.html

The power of the 9x18 is about halfway between the .380 and 9mm. Close to 9mm with some loads.

Very accurate and as 100% reliable as any semiautomatic.
Comfortable to shoot and carry.


Another sleeper is the Polish P-64. It's also a 9x18.
Nice small carry gun. (Proven military sidearm)
Under $180
Very accurate but kicks pretty good.
Very reliable (I've got 3, I like them)
 
I will take a look at a Mak. I am going to Montgomery later this week, so I will try to find a shop that has one so that I can handle it before I buy. I like to do that, if possible.
 
If absolute reliability is a must, get the bersa. Kel tec has an excellent warranty, but knowing the'll fix your gun for free doesn't help if it breaks at the wrong time.

8 rounds of .380 ranger is still formidable.

That being said, when i get my CWP i'm going to start saving up for an HK p2000 sub-compact because 10+ rounds of 9mm ranger is more formidable.
 
I have had both. I kept the Bersa and traded the Kel-Tec. I could never shoot the Kel-Tec as well as I would have liked. It was less reliable than the Bersa also. In the end that was the deciding factor.
 
I'd vote Bersa. Reliable, accurate, easy to shoot, low recoil making it easier to stay on target. Can dump a mag very quickly with remarkable accuracy (for me) without effort. Would expect (note: assumption) the Kel-Tec would have more recoil. Combined with the universal complaints I have read here about the trigger would expect (assumption) that it would be harder to shoot the Kel-Tec as quickly and as accurately as (I can) shoot the Bersa. Bersa requires no "fluff and buff" nor a "trigger job."

I'd also vote Makarov as well. Though the sights on the Bersa are easier for my aging eyes to see...I can shoot a Makarov almost as quickly with the same results.

Did I mention reliability out of the box..no modifications, adjustments, or gunsmith intervention necessary?
 
I've owned both. I own the Bersa. Get 380+P Magtech for carry. Double tap speed is amazing. Very accurate and pleasant to fire. I couldn't hit the paper at 25 with the keltec. Most worthless trigger in an otherwise good handgun. I can shoot ragged holes with bersa, glock, revolvers etc..

KelTec if your listening
great trigger-su16
good trigger-p32,p3at
worthless trigger in need of redesign-p11
 
I have owned both. Currently own a Bersa and am looking for another P11. I don't think you can go wrong with either. In my experience both are accurate, reliable, quality autos. The Kel-Tec may need a little fluff-n-buff work where the Bersa most likely will not. I put both through their paces at a 50 round (back up) qualification course and managed a solid 98% S.O.M. hits with each of them from 3-25 yards. IMNSHO, I think the Kel-Tec trigger issue is more about weak fingers and less about too heavy of trigger pull.

mlk18
 
I just found out that I have Osteoporisis, or the equivilant to it because of being on blood thinner for years. Shoud I consider DA instead of DAO for this reason? Right now I do not have a problem with double action triggers, but who knows for how long?
 
BERSA, reliability, accuracy, DA/SA, trigger pull, etc.

Something you might want consider is that when the barrel length is shorted to .380 length (9 mm Short) & less the 9mm loses a lot of velocity ....
 
Plainly, the P11. My favorite carry gun. Even more than my 1911, snubby, Makarov or Glock 30. It is light, small, very concealable, reliable, and shoots to POA within say, 15 feet. It is the gun I ALWAYS have with me if I don't have one of the others. Although, I am sold on the Bersa 380 and am quite interested in the the compact .45 they offer.
 
I looked at a Bersa Firestorm 380 last night and really liked it but found one feature troubling. After decocking the hammer with the decock lever and moving the lever back to the "fire" position, it was impossible to return to the "safe" position. Not that I would ever do this--I would prefer a decock only--but it worried me that a mechanical component was malfunctioning right out of the box.
 
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