Bersa .380 combat or other .380?

M

MMitch

Inactive
First post so excuse me for any improper mannerisms or if this has been posted before.

I'm currently looking for a new gun to replace my S&W Air-weight. I love the S&W but I feel ill equipped with only 5 rounds should there be more than one wrong doer.

So this brings me to my topic. I've decided that I want a gun that my Fiance can shoot and shoot well. She is tiny (like 110 lbs 5'4") and isn't fond of shooting guns:(:confused:. Ideally I would like her to be able to shoot this gun, which is my long winded way of saying that I would like a gun in .380.

I've heard a lot of people praise the Bersa combat for how cheap and reliable it is, but I know there are many other great .380's. So what are your top picks for .380's? Shoot-ability and conceal-ability are the two primary factors here.
 
MMitch said:
She is tiny (like 110 lbs 5'4") and isn't fond of shooting guns. Ideally I would like her to be able to shoot this gun, which is my long winded way of saying that I would like a gun in .380.
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My thoughts...

Let HER have some input in picking it out.

Let HER shoot a variety of handguns before choosing one. Consider an "Into to Handguns" class at a local range; these often introduce students to a variety of handgun types during the shooting segment.

Go to https://www.corneredcat.com/contents/ for some insight on women and firearms.

Do not assume that a traditional DA/SA blowback .380 is the easiest gun for a small woman to handle. Such guns tend to have snappy recoil characteristics, and the necessarily stiff recoil spring makes the slide harder to operate. The long and stiff double-action trigger is an obstacle for folks with limited hand strength, and DA/SA operation makes it tempting to practice in SA mode only, resulting in the DA first shot going goodness knows where. Additionally, the Bersas have a decocker/safety that the shooter needs to learn how to operate. Lastly, the ammunition can run expensive.

Speaking from personal experience teaching new shooters, IMHO you should strongly consider a double-stack compact or subcompact polymer-frame striker-fired 9mm. Most now offer adjustable grip sizes to accommodate small hands. They are easy to learn because there is only one trigger pull and (generally) no manual safety. Locked-breech operation results in reduced felt recoil and easier slide operation, which is also helped by an absence of decocker/safety levers sticking out of the slide. Finally, the ammo is cheaper, which encourages more practice.

I've let several new female shooters fire both my Beretta 84BB (blowback DA/SA .380) and either my M&P9c or M&P Shield 9mm (both locked-breech striker-fired 9mm). All preferred the M&Ps by a substantial margin. Perhaps more importantly, all were able to operate them more proficiently.
 
I also will agree with letting her provide some imput, regardless unless she is part of the process then she will likely not warm up to it. I will also agree that the bersa is a good choice due to it being easy to rack the slide. My personal favorite 380 is the Beretta 843, has 12 rounds on tap and feels great in my hand.
 
It is a bit of a catch-22 to ask a person who doesn't like to shoot which gun they like to shoot. Certainly her opinion should matter, but it might be necessary to consider her results (accuracy and speed) alongside her expressed opinion.

The Beretta 84 line has been brought up. It is a nice size for carry, and most people find the grip quite comfortable, including people with small hands. The comments about the slide being hard to rack and the recoil being a little snappy because of the blowback action are valid. My Sig P238s actually are much easier in those respects than my 84. That is not to recommend a P238 to a new shooter - the small grip and short sight radius are shortcomings for using it as a learning tool.

You didn't specifically say whether you carry it on you. If so, some of the compact and subcompact 9 mm pistols may serve both you and your fiance better. Maybe someone else will think of some, but I can't off the top of my head think of any .380s with a full grip and a locked breach.
 
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If you are concerned about your fiance being recoil sensitive, I would avoid the popular sub compact 380s. Even with that less powerful round recoil can be sharp in such a small, light pistol. There are some companies making somewhat larger framed 380s these days, such as the Bersa and the Ruger LC380. They are still quite conceal able but the longer grip and slightly more weight make the recoil noticeable easier to handle.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G935A using Tapatalk
 
TailGator said:
...I can't off the top of my head think of any .380s with a full grip and a locked breach.
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Although all are still fairly small guns, the recently-produced pistols that IMHO most closely fit this description are the Bersa BP380cc, Browning 1911-380, SIG Sauer P250, and Walther PK380.

The SIG was recently discontinued—albeit recently enough that some dealers may still have them in stock—and my disdain for the PK380 is well documented on this forum. :)

The Ruger LC380 and SIG P290rs are other possible contenders, albeit arguably in a smaller size class. Additionally, AFAIK the P290rs .380 was also recently discontinued.
 
So a few clarifications. Yes, I will be carrying this IWB and I've tried to get her to shoot some 9mm's but she just ain't have'n it. I brought the topic up with her uncle who promptly handed her a .25 acp browning of some sort. She seems to like it and is working on getting her CC permit. I might later look for something a little larger in something like .32?

I like the Bersa's a lot due to their price. Having tried a certain single stack 9 that began with X and ended with DS I'm not fond of stuffing the 9mm in such small and light guns. My winter carry is a glock 19 and always will be. I believe that is the minimum size for me to carry a 9mm. Universities like to take my money and leave me sad and confused as to where my "gun-fund" went. :mad::(:confused:
 
MMitch said:
...I've tried to get her to shoot some 9mm's but she just ain't have'n it. I brought the topic up with her uncle who promptly handed her a .25 acp browning of some sort. She seems to like it and is working on getting her CC permit. I might later look for something a little larger in something like .32?
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IMHO the recoil of a typical all-metal blowback .380 is a lot more comparable to a typical 9mm polymer-frame compact than to a .25 Auto mouse gun.

The perception that .32 Auto is inadequate for self-defense has resulted in a dearth of current-production handguns in this caliber, other than the very small Kel-Tec P32, which is IMHO a very good gun but is probably not ideal for the mission you describe. The .380 cartridge is almost exactly the same size as .32, and almost any gun what works with one will work with the other, so most gunmakers nowadays simply ignore the .32.
MMitch said:
Having tried a certain single stack 9 that began with X and ended with DS I'm not fond of stuffing the 9mm in such small and light guns.
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The Thunder Combat realistically is neither particularly small nor light. It's almost the exact same size as an M&P9c.

I've not fired a Thunder Combat, but based on my experience with similar all-metal .380 blowback pistols, I don't think it's going to be substantially softer-shooting than an M&P9c—and its manual of arms is more complicated.

I'm leaning towards recommending the BP380cc. The Ruger LC380 is a good choice, and is reasonably inexpensive, but many people don't like the stiff DAO trigger (for whatever reason, Ruger has chosen not to upgrade the pistol to the lighter LC9s trigger). The 1911-380 is reportedly a good gun, but it's substantially more expensive, and proper use of the thumb safety is mandatory. The SIG P250 and P290rs are also good possibilities if you can find one and she's comfortable with the long DAO trigger. I cannot in good conscience recommend the PK380. :)
 
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IIRC, the Beretta 84 has an aluminum frame, while the CZ83 has a steel frame. They are similarly sized double-stack 380acp service pistols. I happen to own one of each. They are what I would call medium-sized. Due to their size and weight, I don't consider either to be snappy. The CZ83 is particularly easy on my hands. They are both available online as surplus for under $300 apiece.
 
I like the idea of a double stack .380, but how thick are they? I have trouble concealing double stack firearms in the summer months such as my glock 19. Those stupid millennial clothing trends are hard to work around. :p
 
I'll look into the bodyguard next time I'm at the store. I think a buddy of mine has one so I might be able to get the fiance behind it to try it out as well.
 
I agree with the Bodyguard recommendation but if it has too much recoil for her try renting a Beretta px4 storm compact, it is a 9mm but has a rotating barrel which reduces recoil immensely, and being a slightly larger gun has a better purchase on the grip. Everyone that shoots mine is extremely impressed. There is a subcompact but it has a fixed barrel and not a woman's gun.
 
tallball said:
IIRC, the Beretta 84 has an aluminum frame, while the CZ83 has a steel frame. They are similarly sized double-stack 380acp service pistols. I happen to own one of each. They are what I would call medium-sized. Due to their size and weight, I don't consider either to be snappy. The CZ83 is particularly easy on my hands. They are both available online as surplus for under $300 apiece.
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How does the recoil compare to the Beretta 92 and CZ 75?

I was thinking of recommending the CZ 83 to an aging person I know, but then started hearing that recoil is snappy and a person might as well go 9mm.
 
Did you know that the .38, 38 Special, 375 Magnum and 357 Sig as well as the 9x19 Luger and 9x17 Browning are all the same diameter bullet size of .355/9mm.
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And yet the 9x19 is the only one that is commonly referred to in the US as "9 mm." That gives some clarity - all the cartridges have a commonly used name distinct from the others. I am a little curious how the 9x19 is referred to in European countries where the 9x17 is referred to as "9 mm short."
 
I have a Thunder 380 and a 380 Combat from bersa. Both function fine. My younger sister who is 100lbs wet puchased a one as well and shoots it fine.

If you fiance is really recoil sensitive, get her a ruger SR22. 10+1 of CCI mini mag will ruin any bad guy's day.
 
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