Bersa Thunder 380

redhed · 12-13-2007, 10:39 PM

We were in a nearby gun shop today and the owner had a new stainless/black Bersa Thunder in 380. He was asking 199 for it and I wanted to get some feedback from other Bersa shooters before I decided on whether or not to make him an offer on it.

What problems if any have you, if you own one, had. How are they to shoot? Much recoil? Dependable? Picky with ammo? Should I drive 100 miles again round trip and snatch it up?

Information is highly appreciated.

troylaplante · 12-14-2007, 02:28 PM

I have never had a problem with my Bersa except that it does not like flat nosed lead bullets with a target load of powder, such as you can buy at WalMart in hundred packs.

$199 is a great price. Typically the best price I have ever seen is $209. I paid about $240 or so, maybe a bit less for the duotone, which was the going rate in my area.

I personally love mine. It was the third hand gun I ever bought, since at the time I was very familiar with my primary weapon, a Smith 4506. The Bersa's levers and buttons were exactly in the same place and I was familiar with the operation. I had never heard of Bersa at the time, but I tried it anyway.

I love mine. It is one of the best purchases I have made for quality versus price. It is easy to carry, clean, disassemble, and reassemble.

Shaun · 12-14-2007, 03:07 PM

I have three of the Bersa 380's they are very nice and shoot outstanding

ArkansasHunter · 12-14-2007, 03:10 PM

I like the way they look and have considered one. At that price though it looks new I would find out if it was used.
I would buy it and being stainless steel get it !!!...A.H

rondog · 12-14-2007, 06:26 PM

Buy it!!! I have one and it's a great little gun. Bersa's also have their own forum... :: Bersa Talk :: - Forums Bersa makes a great-looking .45 too.

Bookman · 12-14-2007, 07:16 PM

I'd buy it at that price.

redhed · 12-14-2007, 09:04 PM

I'm going to call the shop owner in the morning and ask him to put a hold on it. Yeah, it's too good of a buy to pass up even though it means reloading a new caliber.

. Good thing my Husband is into reloading and a good guy not to mention an avid shooter...now if I could only get him hooked on swords....

ArkansasHunter · 12-16-2007, 02:41 AM

Swords ?

jerry · 12-16-2007, 06:42 AM

your scari'n AH Red

DWARREN123 · 12-16-2007, 10:02 AM

Not stainless. steel slide and aluminum frame. Sounds like a Duo Tone.
Prices new run between $200 and $260 depending on location.
I have one and not had any problems with it. In my opinion it is a fine little handgun.

Jay1958 · 12-16-2007, 12:58 PM

I have the Bersa T380CC and the Bersa UC9 and they are both fine firearms and both part of my carry rotation.

I have about 1,000 rounds thru the T380CC so far with ZERO problems or jams. The closest thing I've had to a 'problem' is that the grip screws tend to loosen a bit after about 50 rounds fired. I have addressed that with blue LocTite.

squirrelbaster · 01-20-2008, 03:54 PM

BUY IT. i love mine and i paid 240!

bat47 · 01-22-2008, 11:17 AM

New member here. I have the Bersa 380 and have had a lot of problems with it. Last box I ran thru it, I had 8 malfunctions (FTL). Anybody else have this problem or any idea as to what the problem might be? I stopped using it as my carry weapon because of this.

damage855 · 01-22-2008, 01:14 PM

Great gun had some problems with FTL once turned out one of my mags was bent so i threw it out and bought a spare no problems since.

glockguy · 03-04-2008, 05:36 PM

It seems most of the responses here agree that this is a good carry piece, I am looking to purchase either the bersa or the keltec for my g/f to carry. How do they compare? and which one would you prefer?

squirrelbaster · 03-04-2008, 05:38 PM

i say go and have her feel/shoot both and see which she likes better. (imho) the keltec is to small for my fat hands

glockguy · 03-04-2008, 05:53 PM

I forgot to mention that she is a southpaw earlier....A range trip is in the works, I don't know if they have both there or not, but I definately want her to shoot a few different ones and then determine which one is the best for her. I am not familiar with either brand,.Any bitches/moans/complaints about either particular gun?, jamming issues or otherwise?

Shaun · 03-04-2008, 05:53 PM

I have three Bersa's all in 380 and they are great carry pieces

MrsS · 03-04-2008, 06:56 PM

I saw both the KelTec and Bersa Thunder over the weekend. Was debating on buying the bersa because it reminds me of my other gun; slim and compact for me to carry; I wasn't too crazy about the keltec, even though its smaller; not trying to insult keltec or anything and it may be a good gun, but to me the keltec just looks "cheaply" made and was not comfortable in my hand; they had two Bersa's-but lo, I debated too long because when I got out of class, they were both gone!! Now I'll go hunting for one myself!

glockguy · 03-04-2008, 07:55 PM

Any left handed people have experience with either of these?

12-13-2007, 10:39 PM	#1
redhed Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Armpit, Illinois/NEMO,MO, USA Posts: 339	Bersa Thunder 380 We were in a nearby gun shop today and the owner had a new stainless/black Bersa Thunder in 380. He was asking 199 for it and I wanted to get some feedback from other Bersa shooters before I decided on whether or not to make him an offer on it. What problems if any have you, if you own one, had. How are they to shoot? Much recoil? Dependable? Picky with ammo? Should I drive 100 miles again round trip and snatch it up? Information is highly appreciated. __________________ I'm a member of PETA. People Eating Tasty Animals!

12-14-2007, 02:28 PM	#2
troylaplante Moderator Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Selma, NC Posts: 2,223	I have never had a problem with my Bersa except that it does not like flat nosed lead bullets with a target load of powder, such as you can buy at WalMart in hundred packs. $199 is a great price. Typically the best price I have ever seen is $209. I paid about $240 or so, maybe a bit less for the duotone, which was the going rate in my area. I personally love mine. It was the third hand gun I ever bought, since at the time I was very familiar with my primary weapon, a Smith 4506. The Bersa's levers and buttons were exactly in the same place and I was familiar with the operation. I had never heard of Bersa at the time, but I tried it anyway. I love mine. It is one of the best purchases I have made for quality versus price. It is easy to carry, clean, disassemble, and reassemble. __________________ troylaplante.com

12-14-2007, 03:07 PM	#3
Shaun Super Moderator Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Nashville, TN Posts: 8,599 Images: 1	I have three of the Bersa 380's they are very nice and shoot outstanding __________________ "Homeland Security is the responsibility of an armed citizen" ME http://webpages.charter.net/s.s.v/

12-14-2007, 09:04 PM	#7
redhed Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Armpit, Illinois/NEMO,MO, USA Posts: 339	I'm going to call the shop owner in the morning and ask him to put a hold on it. Yeah, it's too good of a buy to pass up even though it means reloading a new caliber.. Good thing my Husband is into reloading and a good guy not to mention an avid shooter...now if I could only get him hooked on swords.... __________________ I'm a member of PETA. People Eating Tasty Animals!

12-16-2007, 10:02 AM	#10
DWARREN123 Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: BETWEEN TN & KY Posts: 833	Not stainless. steel slide and aluminum frame. Sounds like a Duo Tone. Prices new run between $200 and $260 depending on location. I have one and not had any problems with it. In my opinion it is a fine little handgun. __________________ Have a nice day!

12-14-2007, 03:10 PM	#4
ArkansasHunter Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: South Arkansas Posts: 10,912	I like the way they look and have considered one. At that price though it looks new I would find out if it was used. I would buy it and being stainless steel get it !!!...A.H

12-14-2007, 06:26 PM	#5
rondog Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Parker, CO Posts: 1,553	Buy it!!! I have one and it's a great little gun. Bersa's also have their own forum... :: Bersa Talk :: - Forums Bersa makes a great-looking .45 too.

12-14-2007, 07:16 PM	#6
Bookman Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: 10 paces south of Canada Posts: 744	I'd buy it at that price.

12-16-2007, 02:41 AM	#8
ArkansasHunter Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: South Arkansas Posts: 10,912	Swords ?

12-16-2007, 06:42 AM	#9
jerry Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Posts: 11,117 Images: 9 Blog Entries: 1	your scari'n AH Red

12-16-2007, 12:58 PM	#11
Jay1958 Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: North Carolina Posts: 161	I have the Bersa T380CC and the Bersa UC9 and they are both fine firearms and both part of my carry rotation. I have about 1,000 rounds thru the T380CC so far with ZERO problems or jams. The closest thing I've had to a 'problem' is that the grip screws tend to loosen a bit after about 50 rounds fired. I have addressed that with blue LocTite. __________________ http://www.yourweapons.com/

01-20-2008, 03:54 PM	#12
squirrelbaster Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Ohio Posts: 2,511	BUY IT. i love mine and i paid 240!

01-22-2008, 11:17 AM	#13
bat47 Registered User Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 9	New member here. I have the Bersa 380 and have had a lot of problems with it. Last box I ran thru it, I had 8 malfunctions (FTL). Anybody else have this problem or any idea as to what the problem might be? I stopped using it as my carry weapon because of this.

01-22-2008, 01:14 PM	#14
damage855 Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: North Carolina / Lake Norman Posts: 939 Blog Entries: 1	Great gun had some problems with FTL once turned out one of my mags was bent so i threw it out and bought a spare no problems since. __________________ If total goverment control will make us all safer, then why are prisons so dangerous?

03-04-2008, 05:36 PM	#15
glockguy Registered User Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 13	It seems most of the responses here agree that this is a good carry piece, I am looking to purchase either the bersa or the keltec for my g/f to carry. How do they compare? and which one would you prefer?

03-04-2008, 05:38 PM	#16
squirrelbaster Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Ohio Posts: 2,511	i say go and have her feel/shoot both and see which she likes better. (imho) the keltec is to small for my fat hands

03-04-2008, 05:53 PM	#17
glockguy Registered User Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 13	I forgot to mention that she is a southpaw earlier....A range trip is in the works, I don't know if they have both there or not, but I definately want her to shoot a few different ones and then determine which one is the best for her. I am not familiar with either brand,.Any bitches/moans/complaints about either particular gun?, jamming issues or otherwise?

03-04-2008, 06:56 PM	#19
MrsS Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: 16th state. Posts: 1,753	I saw both the KelTec and Bersa Thunder over the weekend. Was debating on buying the bersa because it reminds me of my other gun; slim and compact for me to carry; I wasn't too crazy about the keltec, even though its smaller; not trying to insult keltec or anything and it may be a good gun, but to me the keltec just looks "cheaply" made and was not comfortable in my hand; they had two Bersa's-but lo, I debated too long because when I got out of class, they were both gone!! Now I'll go hunting for one myself! __________________ RUN turkey...RUN! (It's almost thanksgiving!)

03-04-2008, 07:55 PM	#20
glockguy Registered User Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 13	Any left handed people have experience with either of these?