[hcaroselli]

Hello All,

I am a new member with a question about the Bersa Thunder 380 and Thunder 380 Plus. The last thing I want to do is ruffle any feathers so if I do, I apologize ahead of time. I am looking for information that will convince me to buy a Bersa. With all the information on the Internet it is very easy to research things. For the last week or so I have reading and watching Youtube videos about the Thunder 380. This may sound weird but this gun sounds too good to be true. So far I don't think I found anything negative about this gun and that is great. Does this gun have any warts at all? Have any of you had any issues with build quality, construction materials failing or anything like that? At this point I have pretty much decided to buy one of these guns but I want to know objectively what they are like.

Thanks in advance for any information you have.

Hector

 

[imarangemaster]

Haha! Welcome to the forum. And yes, the weapon is too good to be true...but it is that good. I carry a Bersa FireStorm (California version of the Thunder 380) as my primary concealed carry weapon. (I am a retired LEO) If I go to an urban area, I will carry my Glock 19 (15+1) or CZ83 .380 (13+1) for increased firepower. Day to day, however, it is the Bersa.

My Bersa is incredibly reliable, and feeds everything I have tried, including Buffalo Bore +P 90 grain flying ashtrays and Hornady Critical Defense. I have never had a FTF or FTE with the Bersa. I had Walther PPK that was a 75% weapon...meaning it would feed 75% of the time. The Bersa, though the same size, is not afflicted with this problem. It comes with a 7 round magazine, but I use the Bersa 380 CC magazines that hold 8 rounds of .380 , for 9 rounds (8+1) onboard. Mec-Gar makes the magazine for the 380CC.

Also, it is incredibly accurate. It always hits what I aim at.

 

[Tony1990]

I have a Bersa 380, Bersa 380cc, Bersa 32 and a Bersa 22. All have been reliable and accurate and I have had them for years, my Bersa 380 has about 19K rounds fired and while you can tell it is well used by the wear marks on it is still fires every time. I may retire it someday and when that happens I will get a Bersa Thunder 380 combat to take its place. Its only problem was that I had to replace the rear sight due to my racking it on my belt to practice clearing a jam if I ever needed to use one arm.
The only other problems I have had is the Slide catch on my Bersa 380cc which I replaced since I screwed it up plus several mags that gave me trouble.
Besides being incredibly accurate and reliable I just enjoy the feel and look of my Bersa 380, it feels comfortable in my hands that I can fire it at the range all day without any discomfort in my hands.
I do have other guns but going to the range I always take my Bersa 380 too. I carry my Bersa 380cc.
Tony

 

[watsonequine68]

I have a Bersa Firestorm 380 and Thunder 380. When I want concealment, it is my go-to gun. I have had no issues with reliability out of either firearm.

Sent from my SM-G930R4 using Tapatalk

 

[robhic]

For what it's worth, I bought one some years back for price reasons and my (then) 12 yr old grandson liked it. He is recoil sensitive but enjoys the Thunder. (I do too!) And we've found it to be very accurate and has never given problems. It's not a hard-use gun, but at the range it just keeps on goin' and the little man (now 14) shoots that more than any other of my guns. He used to be a .38spl man but the Bersa converted him.

 

[Tony1990]

I agree Robhic, which is why when i got the Bersa 380cc to carry I kept using my Bersa 380 at the range. Easy to shoot, never fails, still great grouping on the target, fun to shoot and looks great too.

 

[Plinkasaurusrex]

Frequently, the second to the last round will fail to feed properly causing my 380 Plus to jam. I still like the gun. If I can't accomplish the task with 13 rounds, I probably shouldn't use it for SD.

 

[imarangemaster]

That "2nd to last round jamb" in 380 autos with double stack mags is fairly common. Several of my CZ83 13 round mags have the same issue.

 

[robhic]

Frequently, the second to the last round will fail to feed properly causing my 380 Plus to jam. I still like the gun. If I can't accomplish the task with 13 rounds, I probably shouldn't use it for SD.

What capacity mags are you using? I ask because I had this same EXACT problem when my Bersa was new. Round 6 in the 7 rd mags would double-feed and jam between the slide and breech. So I took the 7 rd mags and forced 8 rds into them and let them sit for a week or so. Went to the range and never had the problem again. (Yes, I took the 8th round out before shooting!!!) There was a lengthy thread around about a year or so ago on this but it was just what I posted: 8 rounds, 7rd mags, let 'em sit, problem solved.