Well, I got a call last Friday that my Bersa CC came back from repair inspection. I went in on Saturday to pick it up and shoot it. I was really looking forward to getting this gun back and trying to recapture some confidence in it. There was a repair ticket on it that stated that they had ground and polished the rails, replaced the slide spring , cleaned and test fired the weapon. I took the pistol out of the box and removed the top slide to see where they had "ground and polished" the rails. The inside on the weapon was filthy. There were actually aluminum chips inside the frame under the barrel of the gun. I showed this to the gun shop associate taking care of me. His response: "oh geez, let me take that and clean it up while you shoot and I'll bring it back to you on the range". So, I went and ran 50 rounds thru my wheel gun and then waited. Finally, I went to leave the range area and go find my Bersa. Just then, the shop associate came in and said: " I had to do some more polishing on the rails, once I cleaned it up, I could still feel it grinding internally". Now, I have to tell you, when he said:"grinding internally", it already had me set back just a bit. But then he asked: "Is it okay if I come back with you when you shoot the gun so I can see?" I said: 'Be my guest"..
We proceeded back to the range area where I had previously been shooting. As I had already had three Bersa Mag's previously loaded with .380 ammo, I slid a Mag into the my Thunder CC with great anticipation, aimed at my target down range and squeezed off a round.
To both our surprise, the back of the slide blew off the rails and lodged approximately 3/16" over the frame. Luckily the barrel of the Thunder CC is an integral part of the frame. If it weren't, I'd have probably caught the slide in the middle of my forehead. The Gun Store associates eyes were wider than mine as he stated: "wow, I must not have locked that slide back in correctly!". I didn't even reply. I cleared the Mag out of the pistol, checked to ensure the gun was cleared. I grabbed the slide, pulled it back over the frame and reseated it on the rails and ensured the slide release was seated. I also ran the slide back and forth about six times to ensure it was properly seated. I re-inserted another mag, chambered a round, aimed down range at my target and squeezed off another round.
Anybody want to take a guess?? Bingo.. we have a winner.. Gun failure. Same exact thing. The slide blew back, up and off the rails. Once again, with the integral barrel/frame combo saving my brain housing group. The store associate said, let me see that gun. Obviously, I dropped the Mag, checked for Clear and handed him the pistol. At that point standing there on the line at the range, neither of us could even take the thing (normally called a weapon or a gun, but at this point it was certainly neither) apart.
After about twenty minutes of fidgeting they were finally able to take the thing apart. The internals of this newly created paperweight were so full of aluminum chips and shavings it was ridiculous. The frame was gouged, the end slide opposite the hammer was crimped and had steel rolled over where it had impacted the frame. At that point, the store associate and the owner of the store were now both working with me and my newly acquired paperweight. They stated, well, we'll have to send this back to the gunsmith again! I said: "No shit, eh?"
Then I said: "No, you send this back to Eagle Imports and tell them that I want a 100% full refund of my purchase price, AND, THAT I DO NOT WANT THAT PISTOL BACK, AND I CERTAINLY DO NOT WANT ANY OTHER BERSA THUNDER CC IN REPLACEMENT.
This pistol has left me dead in a gun fight, each one of the last 4 times I've tried to shoot it. I'm done with Bersa, any Bersa.
NO CONFIDENCE... NONE. It is gone.
My apologies to the Bersa Fans out there. My respect to this forum and it's users. I mean no personal disrespect to any of you. However, I personally will never own another Bersa firearm. I will leave this here, simply as my experience and respectfully go away. I will say I really enjoyed shooting this pistol for the first 304 rounds, until it left me dead the next four times I tried to use it.
I wish you all the very best. I appreciate your insight and feedback and I certainly wish you all good health and happiness. Be safe, be well and long live the 2nd amendment and the Republic. I only list the 2nd amendment first, because without it, there will be no Republic.
