[robhic]

Today was 380 day at the range. Took my Bersa Thunder 380 and my Ruger LCP 380 out today. I wanted to cycle a bunch of ammo to do a "shake down" on both pistols. I ran a bunch of RN and as much HP as I could get to make sure of reliability. Started with the (older) Ruger. Fired everything I could throw at it. Zeroed the LaserLyte sight and turned a target center to a big, ragged hole at 5-6 yds. WOW! Not a bad little (and I mean LITTLE) gun. Accurate (laser helped) reliable and no trouble. Did about 100rds of RN PPU ammo and around 40 Starfire HP 90gr. Happy. Shot out to 7-8 yds and some Buffalo Bore 95gr HP to add some zing and it went well, too.

Then I took out the Bersa and figured it would eat the LCP's lunch. Nope! Shot about 100 PPU RN rounds and had a bunch of jams, FTFeed, FTEject and just generally did more tap and rack drills than shooting! This ain't good. I have NO idea what was causing it. I shot 7+1 & 7 only per mag and then did around 40 Starfire HP with similar results. NOT happy. Maybe (I really hope so!) it just needs more break in. This was only about the second part of 240 rounds total through the gun. Most at 5-6 yds and then the Buffalo Bore +P 95gr HP at 7-8 yds and accuracy was good but a few problems (FTF, FTE) persisted. At least the new non-Bersa ProMag magazine performed without problems.

All-in-all it was an interesting, if not a bit unpleasant, trip out. Cleaned the guns and they are resting and drying on the table (yes, I'm looking at YOU BERSA!!!) until our next trip. Possibly a couple of weeks will give them (and me...) a new outlook ....

 

[Tony1990]

Looks like I can stay home all day since there is no work for me today.

Sounds like your Ruger 380 w/laser is a real winner. On the Laser, if you used the Laser to aim at the target how was the recovery of aiming for the second plus shots????
On the Bersa are you saying that you had problems with the Bersa Magazines (Bersa is stamped on mag) but the proMag worked great with no problems. If so did you clean the Magazines when you first got the Bersa?? I always clean the Magazines (disassemble the magazine to clean) with all my new & new old guns before using them.
So is your Bersa working right with the ProMag magazines????

 

[robhic]

Sounds like your Ruger 380 w/laser is a real winner. On the Laser, if you used the Laser to aim at the target how was the recovery of aiming for the second plus shots????

I think "poor" would be an understatement! The trouble with the little LCP is the LITTLE part. One, it is difficult to hold properly. I found using an almost revolver-type grip was necessary so that my strong hand thumb doesn't wrap around in some fashion and rub my trigger finger tip. I tried thumbs forward like I use for my Glocks and it, too, needs to be really precise 'cause there ain't a whole lot of gun going on there! It's just something to play with and keep trying different finger placings.

Two, it is LIGHT. It weighs about 9.5 oz. and is like a feather! When that 380 cartridge goes off the ceiling and surrounding area looked like a disco!!! Red streaks flashing everywhere because that tiny gun was muzzle-flip city! I shot it with the laser and then without. Accuracy was pretty good in close. The laser helped and it is more a toy for the grandudes to shoot and think they're badass and all with the laser! (hahaha)

On the Bersa are you saying that you had problems with the Bersa Magazines (Bersa is stamped on mag) but the proMag worked great with no problems. If so did you clean the Magazines when you first got the Bersa?? I always clean the Magazines (disassemble the magazine to clean) with all my new & new old guns before using them.
So is your Bersa working right with the ProMag magazines????

The Bersa was a LOT different because of its weight. Accuracy was good but the problems I don't think were mag-related. All 3 of the mags (2 Bersa 1 ProMag) functioned fine. I didn't notice more problems with the non-Bersa mag. It is good quality, just 1/2 the cost of the Bersa mags. Made in the USA and not painted, silver metal finish. I didn't clean any of them. They all 3 functioned as well as I'd expect

I'm going to give it a bit more time and a bunch more ammo before I get concerned. I think 240 rounds is a bit too little to make any concrete decisions. We'll see ....

 

[Tony1990]

Good luck. I will be going to the range myself today since I got some low budget ammo I will try out.

 

[robhic]

Good luck. I will be going to the range myself today since I got some low budget ammo I will try out.

Man, this is getting to be like "Thunder Dome"!!!! Ya scratch around trying to find ammo at all, and ammo that is reasonably affordable but it's a friggin' wasteland out there!!! <cue Tina Turner>