Picked up a Bersa 380 this evening.

[stogiegila]

Picked up a dual tone model tonight. It feels great in my hand and I picked up an extra mag (without the pinky extension) for $32. I bought it for my wife, but unfortunately she found the initial trigger pull too difficult. She may end up with my G26, which means I have to buy another one , she likes the trigger better (but hasn't shot it yet).

I have not shot the Bersa yet, but did notice that my decocker was extremely stiff versus the model in the showcase. I hope running some rounds through it will help loosen it up a bit. It's slimmer than my G26 so should conceal better, but overall I'd still prefer the Glock (I love this gun).

Overall the Bersa seems well made (except for the stiff decocker). I'm looking forward to going to the range this weekend and breaking it in.

I bought it specifically to be an ankle gun when I can't carry my Glock IWB. I'll see how well I like it after shooting it.

Should I bring it back to the dealer to get the safety worked on before shooting?

 

[The_Shootist]

Nod

Hope you have better luck with yours. I just got mine back from my gunsmith as after 400 rounds, the trigger mechanism broke.

Turns out it was an easy fix and likely caused by a misstep in original manufacturing. I'll run a couple hundred rounds through it today to see if thats the case.

But yeah, my de-cocker is a bit stiff too, so it could be a characteristc of that pistol.

 

[bestseller92]

I bought one a couple months ago and pretty well like it. I've had one FTE, but other than that it's been perfect, and it is VERY accurate.

 

[highfive]

I have one, two tone also and haven't had a problem with it yet. And yes the de-cocker is a little bit stiff too. Looks like is something about the gun. I do like the gun and is very accurate. All I can say is enjoy, you'll like it

 

[DAdams]

Bersa Bt 380

I have had mine about a year. 700+ rounds through it flawlessly.



I like it and it spends most of its time in my truck with 10 rounds and two extra mags.

 

[stogiegila]

Well just came back from the range. 270 rounds later and not one problem with the Bersa. I fed it 50 rounds of Remmington FMJ, followed by100 rounds of WWB, then 20 rounds of Federal Hydra shock JHP, then 150 more rounds of WWB. Both mags and the gun functioned perfectly.

The decocker is still stiff, but definitely getting better. Initially I was shooting high and to the right. A quick adjustment to the rear sight (incredibly simple) and I was more on center, albeit I'm not that great of a shot.

Overall recoil was noticeable but comparable to my G26. Not bad. I did get beamed a few times with empty cases, but it was usually when I eased up on my grip.

I really enjoyed this gun. It was fun to shoot, accurate and so far problem free. If the decocker loosens up more I would be totally satisfied.

It won't replace my G26, but I have no worries carrying this on my ankle when I can't bring the G26 on my hip.

 

[DAdams]

Good For You

Glad the BERSA is working out. There is a BERSA Forum if you have any questions and some nice folks.


http://bersatalk.com/forums/default.aspx

http://www.geocities.com/bersa_thunder/
And the ultimate in BERSA information.

Just don't get the spring on backwards when you put it back together.
Common mistake and whacks operation out.

The decocker/safety will loosen up over time. Sit and work it a few hundred times. If it doesn't work in, your thumb certainly will toughen up.

 

[SAG0282]

I loved mine. Only reason I don't have it is because I gave it to a very close friend of mine. Her apt. had been burglarized and she wanted a handgun.

 

[scurtis_34471]

The slide release and the double-action trigger pull will both ease up over time. I've put over 1200 rounds through mine and the SA pull in particular is beautiful. They are fantastic little guns. Even with its crappy low-profile sights, I'm more accurate with my .380 CC than any gun I own. They are also highly controllable for rapid fire.

 

[denfoote]

She may end up with my G26, which means I have to buy another one , she likes the trigger better (but hasn't shot it yet).

I feel your pain!!!

My wife confiscated my G26 years ago.
Yeah, I was forced to get another one!!!

Yeah, they seem to be nice pistols, but I've had my PPK/S for years and can't see buying a Bersa.

 

[Ala Dan]

Of the many handguns I own, one is a Bersa "Thunder DT .380", that I
bought when I first started working in the gun shop. Its a great little
gun, that has run flawlessly from day one; with all types of ammo. I
don't think I could have beat it, especailly for $160 OTD~!

 

[choochboost]

I have one with 1200 rounds through it. For me, it performs a function that I need it to, but I'm not overly impressed with it. It may do what you need it to do but it is a $250 pistol. For that price it is good value I would say, but just don't have unrealistic expectations of it. My particular pistol is finicky with ammo and I've had to send it in twice now to get fixed after parts broke. I was quite unimpressed with their warranty repair center.

 

[Phaetos]

Academy Sports carries Pro-Mag magazines for the Bersa now and also for the XD-9 full-size. $16 I think they were, better than $32.

 

[MICHAEL T]

Buy Pro mags at you own risk. Most Bersa don't do well with them One thing we have learned a Bersa Talk. Pro mags are a no no. Only factory mags for carry.
A Factory mag (only Bersa makes no one else.) It will say
BERSA cal380 ACP INDUSTRIA ARGENTINA. ON MAG BODY. This is a correct factory mag. If not on the mag body don't buy and don't listen to sales people at gun shows or stores . About they are made for Bersa under contract . Lie.

http://yourgunparts.com has factory mags.
http://bersatalk.com I at times give factory mags away to members in drawings along with other Bersa items.
If you own a Bersa or not come visit.

 

[Dionysusigma]

Had one for a good long while... about two or so years. Ran everything, and I mean everything, I fed it. Barnaul, Wolf, American Eagle, Gold Dots, WWB, UMC, ooooolllllllllld Sellier and Bellot, new S&B, and so on; its favorite by far, however, were the super-hot Santa Barbara SPs.

Had quite a few people from every walk of life try it out. Not a single one of them didn't like it; in fact, the biggest problem that I ever had with it were that all my friends were using up all my ammo before my turn came along.

 

[lance22]

Looks like a great gun to show the wifey. I compared it to the PPK and noticed that the slide is much easier to operate on the Bersa, and all the controls seem easier to reach.

 

[GaryArkansas]

Thunder 380 here. Flawless function, great accuracy. I have never, ever had a failure to feed, extract or eject, ever.

I'm wearing it now, and I carry it, oh, probably 75% of the time.

 

[KenpoProfessor]

Gotta love these Bersa's, and I bought a 2nd one at the last big show for cheap. Let my buddy take it home for his wife to try for her CCW piece. She loved it, and now he carries it LOL.

I did find that both of them don't like PMC ammo. They are fat and won't push all the way into the chamber for some reason. My Keltec ate the PMC like candy but the Bersa was very finicky with this stuff.

Anybody have a similar experience?

Have a great gun carryin' Kenpo day

Clyde

 

[DougW]

I have 2 Thunder 380's that I have carried for 7 years. The decocker is stiff when they are new, but shooting and working the decocker smooth them up. Both are totally flawless, and I carry both just about every day (one IWB or ankle carry, the other in my briefcse). I don't ever recall having a FTF or FTE. I used one to requalify for my CHL. Great little pistols!

 

[AirForceShooter]

really funny part is when we bought them a few years ago the gun guru was asking why we wanted this cheap piece of crap.

AFS

 

[Storm]

Hope you have better luck with yours. I just got mine back from my gunsmith as after 400 rounds, the trigger mechanism broke.

Turns out it was an easy fix and likely caused by a misstep in original manufacturing. I'll run a couple hundred rounds through it today to see if thats the case.

On a visit to my local gun shop they were fixing the trigger mechanisms on three new Bersas that had just been shipped to them. While I have admired the gun that kind of quality control issue really bothers me to the degree that I'll probably continue to spend my money on something else. On that occasion I ended up going with a nice used stainless Sig 232.

 

[benEzra]

I had a Bersa model 383 for years. Very accurate and 100% reliable with everything (including Federal Hydra-Shok) except it didn't like S&B FMJ.

As far as the safety/decocker being stiff, lock the slide back, turn the gun over, and operate it; you'll see that it's a little horizontal cylinder that turns with the handle. With the gun flipped over, squirt some gun oil in there; it may help smooth it up. Flipping it on and off 50 times will probably also help. I remember that mine was stiff to start with and smoothed up over time.

BTW, I don't know if this is true of the newer Bersa's, but the Model 383 was NOT drop-safe with the safety disengaged, i.e. if the safety is off and you drop it on the hammer (even in a holster), it could go off and shoot you. Check your manual, and if that's the case, I'd always carry it safety-on if there is a round in the chamber; it's inevitable that someday it's going to get dropped.

 

[MiamiGabe]

I have one I really like. Very very accurate and excellent trigger. I am actually surprised the original poster's wife had a problem with it. And for a shooter, I have wimpy hands. Maybe just an overly tight piece, put a few hundred through her (the pistol I mean) and it will probably be fine.

I've probably put about 600 rounds through mine and had no real problems. I did have one day at the range, where it jammed up a couple of times, but I think that may have been an ammo problem. I've used Remington FMJ's since and I have had no further problems.

On the new ones, I would recommend you check all the screws for tightness. My rear sight screw flew out of the sight my second day at the range. No problem with the sight, just a loose screw. Today I realized the grip was feeling a little wobbly, another loose screw.

I think keeping the breech face on these pistols is very important. The magazine to chamber trip on this pistol is obviously short and steep. Anything but shiny metal on this route, I think will definitely lead to trouble. I know this is true of semi's, but I think are lovely little Bersa's might be particularly susceptible to this.

 

[Lumberjack98]

I have one and love mine. It's my main CCW.

As far as mags, stick to the Bersa mags. The pro mags stink and tend not to stay open after the last shot.

Congrats on the purchase!!

 

[stogiegila]

gave the gun a quick cleaning, and ran the bore snake through it a few times. I noticed the mag release button seemed to be sticking and wouldn't release the mag unless I pushed up on it from the bottom.

I tried to clean it up a bit more and added some more lube to it. Hopefully it will loosen up some more.

Sweet gun though.