Bersa Thunder .380

[Hazcat]

No problem with me, MB.  I carry a .380 every day and I don't feel under gunned.

[Stephen A. Camp]

Hello.  Like many others, I've had much better-than-ever-expected performance from my Bersa Thunder 380.  I've not carried mine much and while not a big fan of the .380 round, I really do like some of the pistols made for it and count me in as a big fan of the Bersa 380's.  While the .380 is certainly not my first choice for "serious" endeavors, neither is it my last.  \


Essentially a Thunder, this is the earlier Series 95 and is electroless-nickled.  I prefer its rounded trigger guard to the "combat" type on the Thunder. I got the opportunity to pick this one up at a nice price; never looked back and have not regretted it one iota.


Here is my Bersa Thunder 380 and my old S&W Model 042.  I normally do not go "lighter" than my 24/7 snub (Model 642) loaded with Remington 158-gr. LHP +P, but when a broken right hand was mended but still sore, I found that my best bet at the time was the .380 automatic as recoil was much more painful than expected.  I have now gone back to my snub for 24/7 and BUG use, but the .380 provided a very nice alternative in for several months.  I was able to practice with it, something I just couldn't do with my harder-recoiling snub at the time.  (I can now and do, but have to admit a certain appreciation for what the neat little Bersa provided me.)

While I own several .380 ACP pistols that run the gamut in price, I own none that I enjoy shooting any more than the Bersa.  Though subjective to be sure, I find none of my others as comfortable nor with the sights as well-regulated except for maybe the SIG-Sauer P232.

When I bought the Series 95, it supposedly came with two factory magazines.  At the range, one of the magazines gave me fits but only with the last shot not feeding.  Turns out that the magazine was NOT a factory Bersa magazine.  Stick with factory magazines in this pistol in my opinion. 

My Thunder has had several thousand rounds fired through it.  Despite some detractors' predictions, the gun just keeps on working.  It may break the next shot but so far, no abnormal/unusual wear and absolute zero malfunctions...as in none.

If you buy a Thunder .380 and have even half as much fun and enjoyment with it as I have, I bet you'll consider the money well-spent.

Best and good luck.

[sig232]

I think for the money the Bersa is one heck of a deal. I moved up to the Sig 232 at a later date but at twice the price.

If you have a limited budget the Bersa is a good value.

[MichaelJ07]

I agree with the Bersa choices.  Best value out there and 100% warrented.  I carry a Bersa 9 Ultra Compact at times.  Several thousand rounds through it and NEVER any trouble with it.  Friends of mine who own the .380 state the same results.  Good company.  One that listens to it's forum members and acts accordingly.  Ya can't go wrong with that.

[John McCreery]

My wife just bought one and loves it.  I played with it the other day and had a ball with it.  I'm going to get some corbonn dpx to run through it and see how it does.  I'll report back later!

[Sponsor]

[ericire12]

Prob will cost more then the gun!

[porkchop]

I asked my wife what she wanted for Christmas last year.
Her reply was "A handgun for concealed carry dear."
Well with a sh!t eating grin on my face off we go to the gun store.

We tried EVERYTHING in the case.  99.9% of the pistols and revolvers were uncomfortable or just plain didn't fit my Wife's grip.
Then we tried the Bersa Firestorm in .380ACP.  It fit like it was made for her hand.

Now we just have to get her CCW permit and she will be on her way to being a gun totin' mama.

[micamper]

The Bersa Thunder .380 with the built-in laser grip is at the top of the list for my wife's ccw.  I want to take her to a range where we can rent one and let her try it out first.

My administrative assistant purchased this pistol a few weeks ago and says she definately prefers it over the S&W (not sure which model) that she'd previously purchased.  She has the integrated laser on both guns, says the Bersa is much easier to use and the trigger on the Bersa is more to her liking.

[DanPatWork]

I bought my wife the Bersa thunder .380 in all blued, with CT Lasergrips for valentines day this year. This wasn't a blind purchase because I made her try the fit of numerous handguns for comfort. She chose her gun over many other brands. After approximately 150 round through the gun, the only ftf or fte were from Tula steel cased ammo. Dirty ammo with poor cycling of the action. Tula may be cheap but not worth the hassle even just for plinking. The bersa ate and spit out every other brand we fed to it. I also had similar results with the ammo in my new Sig P238.

[alfsauve]

In all I'm happy with my little gun, not what I was looking for when I went shopping but liked what I saw when I handled it and started asking around about the performance.
Darrin

That happens sometimes.   It's called keeping an open mind.   


++ on your new acquisition.