Bersa Thunder .380
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Bersa Thunder .380
As I grow older, I'm finding myself becoming more and more in the "Victim" group, and less in the middle-aged guy who can take care of himself, I've been thinking about carrying a little something when I go out. Anyone had experience with the Bersa Thunder .380? They seem to be the size of a Walther PP. Are they as reliable? The price is certainly about right, but I'd rather stay away from junk. Opinions, please. TJ
Last edited by teejay on Fri Mar 04, 2011 2:21 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Everything I've read and heard about Bersas has been positive, except that they can be a little hard to find extra magazines for.
In a larger gun, the Stoeger Cougar in 9mm seems to be rated the outstanding gun for the money, of any size. It's a former Beretta gun, and Beretta owns Stoeger. The gun is made in Turkey on Beretta's machinery, and is said to be just as good as before.
In a smaller .380 than the Bersa, Ruger's LCP or NAA's .380 Guardian get good ratings.
In a larger gun, the Stoeger Cougar in 9mm seems to be rated the outstanding gun for the money, of any size. It's a former Beretta gun, and Beretta owns Stoeger. The gun is made in Turkey on Beretta's machinery, and is said to be just as good as before.
In a smaller .380 than the Bersa, Ruger's LCP or NAA's .380 Guardian get good ratings.
* 2 Ruger Bearcat stainless, w/ EWK ejector housings & Wolff springs
* Ruger SP-101 .22LR, w/ Wolff springs
* 2 NAA Guardian .32ACP
* 3 Zastava M70 .32ACP
* S&W 15-22 Sport (.22LR AR)
* 2 Ruger SR22 .22LR pistols
* Ruger SP-101 .22LR, w/ Wolff springs
* 2 NAA Guardian .32ACP
* 3 Zastava M70 .32ACP
* S&W 15-22 Sport (.22LR AR)
* 2 Ruger SR22 .22LR pistols
Oddly enough, that was the other one I was looking at. It cost just a bit more, but I figured it was good to go, being Czech made. I wanted to know what everyone thought of the Bersa. I kind of liked its' looks. Thaks for the suggestion. TJjrayb95 wrote:If you are looking at a .380 you might want to take a look at the CZ83.
I have the nickel .380 and it has been fool proof. It's easy to take down and clean and I haven't found anything it won't eat including several different reloads. It's typical CZ quality at a reasonable price.
My brother has a bersa thunder. Everything I have read about them said they should be dead reliable, but my bothers is not, at least one stoppage every other mag, hes not very happy with it, he bought it for a CCW but understandably doesn't trust it... Its also big and heavy for a .380, being a gun made before the current generation of micro's... you can get a 9mm smaller and lighter than the bersa thunder, and recoil will be about the same, due to the thunders straight blowback design (vs locked breech tilt bbl for the current generation stuff) If you are happy with .380, you can get an LCP thats smaller and weighs less than half what the thunder does, and with lighter recoil (due to polymer frame + locked breech operation)