Input on Bersa .380 for CCW

aris_unlimited · 05-05-2009, 06:51 AM

Hey guys. Like the title says I am curious about what you guys think of the Bersa .380. I myself have no personal experience with them so figured I would come to you guys lol.

It will mainly be used for my wife for a CCW. The only thing that makes her nervous about it so far is if it jams or fails to feed frequently. Because she is not as up to par on her ftf drills as she should be.

.22hustler · 05-05-2009, 07:02 AM

The Bersa Thunder .380 was my wife's first pistol, and still her favorite. Expect some ftf when new, until it gets broken in. At least that's what my gunsmith told me. So far the wife's Bersa has been flawless. She actually wanted a PPK but the Bersa does everything the PPK does for alot cheaper. She paid $279.95 for it, new in the box. She also has bought a Kel-tec Pf-9 in 9mm but has yet to fire it. She also picked up, at my urging, a FN 1922 and a German P-38.

White Rook · 05-05-2009, 07:05 AM

I have a Bersa .380 and 3 of my co-workers have them as well. I have never had a problem out of it. The only problem now is finding .380 ammo. You might want to check out a snubbie .357 for your wife to carry. She can carry it with 38 ammo if she finds the .357 ammo a little to much to handle. It is less likely to fail to fire or jam. I carry a .357 snubbie and my Bersa in the warmer months because they are easier to conceal while wearing a T-shirt.

aris_unlimited · 05-05-2009, 07:49 AM

We were actually comparing the Bersa .380 to a Taurus ultra lite .38 while we were at Cabelas. The Taurus was a little more money and only held 5 shots. She was actually leaning towards the Taurus though.

In my opinion I just don't like the Taurus ultra lite. Don't get me wrong it may be a fine gun but my only experience with it is not great.

My brother in law carries one and had a spring break that holds everything together when you pop out the cylinder to reload. He ordered a new spring months ago from Taurus and still has not gotten it in.......so not too impressed with Taurus customer service on that one. Also the first time you look over a gun, and it falls apart in your hands is kinda definitive on your opinion of that firearm lol.

But on the other hand I think my wife was for the Taurus because her dad has some no-name .380 that jams about ever 2-3 rounds. But then again I think I was the last person to clean that gun (cleaned it because of its constant jams, and he had no idea when it had been cleaned last) and that was 2 years ago. And yes it gets shot occasionally with no cleaning done to it......This guy drives me nuts with how he maintains his guns.....but that is for a different time when I need to rant lol.

TXplt · 05-05-2009, 07:58 AM

Bersa's fine--have helped several folks learn how to shoot it.

A TDA demands specific training and practice--especially when it doesn't function quite right.

I might suggest as well a small .38 revolver. Maybe a Smith 442/642 or a 638. These are small, light, well built revolvers which are very reliable and can shoot some pretty powerful ammo (Buffalo Bore, etc.). They also don't have the ammo sensitivity of an autoloader--especially a small one.

Good Luck !

Madcat455 · 05-05-2009, 08:05 AM

I have a Bersa Thunder .380dlx for the wife.. excellent gun. Break it in, and it's reliable.

Very accurate, light... I like it a lot.

Wife never shot it.. I was actually thinking about carrying it, since I think it's more accurate than my .40 Beretta Mini cougar. Lighter too..lol.

Junglesniper888 · 05-09-2009, 01:30 PM

i agree with the other people....my bersa .380 acp is an allaround dependable pistol...i have a nickel-finish one and my dad has one.....we both choose to carry them over any of our other ones....theyre concealable and very small...just make sure that u clean them regularly....other than that...u should b good

take care of ur gun and they will take care of you

cap187 · 12-14-2009, 07:49 PM

Love my Bersa's, but prefer to carry the Kel-Tek P3AT to the Thunder .380 if I'm going to carry a .380. The P3AT disappears in your pocket and you don't have the weight of the Thunder. Both are reliable and reasonably accurate.

Just my 2 cents.

KW Gary M · 12-16-2009, 07:48 PM

I have shot a friend's Bersa .380 several times and it was a fine gun. He carries it everyday and has for years. You also mentioned she likes the Taurus Ultralite. I have a Taurus Titanium Untralite hammerless .357 that I often carry and love it. She won't go wrong with either. How does she normally dress? The bersa is a lot smaller, thinner and easier to conceal.

group17 · 12-17-2009, 07:53 AM

Great gun! very reliable and accurate.
To me a tad large to carry.

05-05-2009, 06:51 AM	#1
aris_unlimited Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Payson, UT Posts: 210	Input on Bersa .380 for CCW Hey guys. Like the title says I am curious about what you guys think of the Bersa .380. I myself have no personal experience with them so figured I would come to you guys lol. It will mainly be used for my wife for a CCW. The only thing that makes her nervous about it so far is if it jams or fails to feed frequently. Because she is not as up to par on her ftf drills as she should be. __________________ "Strength is not in numbers, it's in singular determination." Life Member NRA Life Member NAHC

05-05-2009, 07:05 AM	#3
White Rook Senior Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: South West Ohio Posts: 2,297	I have a Bersa .380 and 3 of my co-workers have them as well. I have never had a problem out of it. The only problem now is finding .380 ammo. You might want to check out a snubbie .357 for your wife to carry. She can carry it with 38 ammo if she finds the .357 ammo a little to much to handle. It is less likely to fail to fire or jam. I carry a .357 snubbie and my Bersa in the warmer months because they are easier to conceal while wearing a T-shirt. __________________ USAF SSgt 80-86 IN GOD WE TRUST NRA MEMBER

05-05-2009, 07:49 AM	#4
aris_unlimited Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Payson, UT Posts: 210	We were actually comparing the Bersa .380 to a Taurus ultra lite .38 while we were at Cabelas. The Taurus was a little more money and only held 5 shots. She was actually leaning towards the Taurus though. In my opinion I just don't like the Taurus ultra lite. Don't get me wrong it may be a fine gun but my only experience with it is not great. My brother in law carries one and had a spring break that holds everything together when you pop out the cylinder to reload. He ordered a new spring months ago from Taurus and still has not gotten it in.......so not too impressed with Taurus customer service on that one. Also the first time you look over a gun, and it falls apart in your hands is kinda definitive on your opinion of that firearm lol. But on the other hand I think my wife was for the Taurus because her dad has some no-name .380 that jams about ever 2-3 rounds. But then again I think I was the last person to clean that gun (cleaned it because of its constant jams, and he had no idea when it had been cleaned last) and that was 2 years ago. And yes it gets shot occasionally with no cleaning done to it......This guy drives me nuts with how he maintains his guns.....but that is for a different time when I need to rant lol. __________________ "Strength is not in numbers, it's in singular determination." Life Member NRA Life Member NAHC

05-05-2009, 07:58 AM	#5
TXplt Traveling Libertarian Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Fort Worth, TX Posts: 4,857 Blog Entries: 2	Bersa's fine--have helped several folks learn how to shoot it. A TDA demands specific training and practice--especially when it doesn't function quite right. I might suggest as well a small .38 revolver. Maybe a Smith 442/642 or a 638. These are small, light, well built revolvers which are very reliable and can shoot some pretty powerful ammo (Buffalo Bore, etc.). They also don't have the ammo sensitivity of an autoloader--especially a small one. Good Luck ! __________________ Old fighter pilots never die.....They just wind up in Texas

05-09-2009, 01:30 PM	#7
Junglesniper888 Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Greer, SC Posts: 8	i agree with the other people....my bersa .380 acp is an allaround dependable pistol...i have a nickel-finish one and my dad has one.....we both choose to carry them over any of our other ones....theyre concealable and very small...just make sure that u clean them regularly....other than that...u should b good take care of ur gun and they will take care of you
	1 members found this post helpful.

05-05-2009, 07:02 AM	#2
.22hustler Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: New York Posts: 2,660	The Bersa Thunder .380 was my wife's first pistol, and still her favorite. Expect some ftf when new, until it gets broken in. At least that's what my gunsmith told me. So far the wife's Bersa has been flawless. She actually wanted a PPK but the Bersa does everything the PPK does for alot cheaper. She paid $279.95 for it, new in the box. She also has bought a Kel-tec Pf-9 in 9mm but has yet to fire it. She also picked up, at my urging, a FN 1922 and a German P-38.

05-05-2009, 08:05 AM	#6
Madcat455 Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Posts: 177	I have a Bersa Thunder .380dlx for the wife.. excellent gun. Break it in, and it's reliable. Very accurate, light... I like it a lot. Wife never shot it.. I was actually thinking about carrying it, since I think it's more accurate than my .40 Beretta Mini cougar. Lighter too..lol.

12-14-2009, 07:49 PM	#8
cap187 Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Idaho Panhandle Posts: 6	Love my Bersa's, but prefer to carry the Kel-Tek P3AT to the Thunder .380 if I'm going to carry a .380. The P3AT disappears in your pocket and you don't have the weight of the Thunder. Both are reliable and reasonably accurate. Just my 2 cents.

12-16-2009, 07:48 PM	#9
KW Gary M Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Key West Florida Posts: 7,079 Blog Entries: 1	I have shot a friend's Bersa .380 several times and it was a fine gun. He carries it everyday and has for years. You also mentioned she likes the Taurus Ultralite. I have a Taurus Titanium Untralite hammerless .357 that I often carry and love it. She won't go wrong with either. How does she normally dress? The bersa is a lot smaller, thinner and easier to conceal. __________________ To Say Guns Kill People Is To Say Automobiles Drive Drunk and Matches Commit Arson. Last edited by KW Gary M; 12-17-2009 at 08:00 AM.

12-17-2009, 07:53 AM	#10
group17 Senior Member Join Date: May 2009 Posts: 112	Great gun! very reliable and accurate. To me a tad large to carry.