Bersa Thunder CC .380

B

BigMikey76

New member
For those who don't want to read a long post, I'm looking for info on the Bersa Thunder CC model .380. Do you own one? Do you trust it for CC? Do you enjoy shooting it?

For those who don't mind longer and sometimes rambling posts:

I have recently decided that diversification is necessary. I have been a one caliber (9mm) guy since I started shooting. I like the idea of one effective yet inexpensive caliber for all of my guns. Then I ran into a problem - in the week or so before the election, I was having a hard time finding 9mm in my usual places. I guess a lot of folks in my area had decided to stock up just in case. It was only a minor hiccup, but it really made it hit home how badly a real shortage/panic buy/mass hoarding situation could impact a guy like me who only owns one caliber. I have decided to start by adding .380 and .357/.38 to the line up on an accelerated basis, and since the revolvers I am looking at are a bit pricier than most of the small semis, the .380 is first on the list.

Now for the annoying part. I immediately started looking at LCPs, TCPs etc., to fill this niche. I have wanted a little pocket gun for a while, and even tried to purchase one about a year ago (insert long story of backorders and eventual refunds here), but it didn't work out. Now I have to say that I am glad I failed when I tried to buy one. I had the opportunity to shoot an LCP the other day, and it is just plain too small for my mammoth hands. I know, with enough practice, yada yada... I do the want to practice with it. I not only had trouble with accuracy, I had trouble feeling like I could be safe with the little guy. It just wouldn't stay put in my hands, and I decided I needed something a bit more substantial. I never really planned on putting the pocket gun in my pocket, anyway, so nothing really lost, as far as functionality, goes, by getting something a bit bigger.

Now, after all of that rambling, we have come full circle to the inquiry at the top of the post. My eye has fallen on the Bersa Thunder .380. Specifically the concealed carry model with the semi bobbed hammer and the abreviated beaver tail. Why? Because I really do prefer DA/SA, and it seems to be a good size weight compromise between the little pocket guns and the 9mms I already have. I also like the look of it ( I'm thinking James Bond costume next Halloween, perhaps? I know, I know, but the PPK is more expensive).

So, Thunder owners or just those who have some experience with them, what are your thoughts?
 
My Bersa .380 was pleasant. Carried well shot even better. A bit larger than my PPK/S and the additional size was a pleasure. The trigger pull on the first round was a bit easier than the PPK/S as well but in SA they felt equal. One thing the Bersa won't do is EAT you hand between thumb and fore finger. The Walther has a real affinity for that. But, may I offer that you owe it to yourself to consider a Glock 19. Just picked up one and it is SUPER. A lot of folks shy away from the striker fired action, me too. But it really fills the bill for ease of carry, utility and dependability. I have used a Keltec .380 for CC for years but the Glock 19 is stepping into that duty.
 
Thanks for the reply, PolarFBear. I'm guessing you took the short option, though. I already have the 9mm covered. I'm looking to diversify, not add redundancies.
 
If you don't mind the porous monkey metal parts, go for it. I had one NIB where after 60 rounds of factory ammo, the slide stop sheered in half and locked up the slide. I had to send it to a "warranty repair center" to have the gun fixed. When I got it back, I sold it instantly. These low-quality parts are a known problem. Some have better luck. Others fire a few rounds at the range and declare them a great gun.

My life is worth more than that Argentine export gun. I will say, however, that I own a Makarov PM Bulgarian handgun which is very similar in size and function to a Bersa .380 but is more powerful. I have nearly 3,000 rounds of ammo through that gun without one single failure. But, you probably aren't interested in a 9x18mm since you're worried about finding ammo.

I would buy the new Ruger LCP II in .380 before I'd ever buy a Bersa firearm. Just my $0.02.
 
Cole Distributing on gunbroker has a good selection of Beretta 84 14-shot 380's that are Israeli surplus...at bargain prices.
The Beretta 84 may be the best "combat 380" ever.
I bought one more as a investment...something to shoot a bit and eventually trade. I quickly found out I like it a lot, shoot it well, and have had 100% reliability. While I have more powerful service pistols, I don't feel underarmed with an accurate, reliable 14-shot 380...it often gets picked for carry or HD duty.
 
Thanks for the tip, AMD. I had taken a look at the Beretta 84, but the prices put it out of the running. It may be back in now. I still have some reservations, though, mainly because of size and weight. It as big as and heavier than my current EDC, which is a 9mm with 12+1. It seems to me that the biggest benefit of .380 is that it can be reasonably handled in a smaller gun, and putting it in something that is heavier than my current 9mm seems like not taking advantage of that inherent benefit. One of the things that drew me to the Bersa is the listed weight of 16.4 oz. Noticeably lighter than my EDC, but enough heft to make it more pleasant than the little mouse guns.
With all that being said, though, one of those Berettas just might find its way to my safe anyway. Why? Because it would make me smile :D
 
Mine is not a .380 but .22 lr, I have yet to fire a magazine full of ammo and not have at least one malfunction. It has made a trip to the repair facility and given a good bill of health if so they never shot it because all problems still exist. After inspection of the pistol I must agree with Model12win, the parts are cheap but probably in line with the price.
I have one of the Beretta 84's mentioned, nice pistol but too big for concealed carry. The best value and most reliable is a S&W Shield, easily concealed, accurate and in 9mm.
 
I went looking for a SIG p290; found out it was discontinued. My LGS owner knows I love my SIG p232, also .380. He had just taken in a used Bersa 380 Thunder, not the CC. It went home with me; then to the range. Very much like the SIG p232 as to accuracy and handling. I like it. It will get a lot of range time because my wife decided she liked the p232.
 
the Bersa .380 is a decent gun for all seasons. carry a reload and practice will put you father ahead of most ccw'ers.
 
No experience with the 380 Bersa, but I do have the Thunder UC Pro in 9mm and .45ACP.

Both have 2000 or so rounds through them and only a couple of FTFs which were within the first 100 rounds. Since, they have been flawless. I do not think that I was limp wristed, but is a possibility.

Bad thing is that I have not shot them or a couple of my other pistols in quite a while. I have too many (egad...lol) guns for my old body to make the best use of.

I remember being skeptical of the Bersa's prior to purchase because they were a tad cheaper than other hand guns, but in the 5ish years that I have owned them they have been very good when I shoot them. One rides in one of my cars and the other is in a shed. I have no problem relying on them if the need should arise.

Hopefully you go to the Bersa forums (BersaChat is one I think) and check out other owners appreciation of the Bersa product.
 
I got a bersa cc a few years ago. Never had a malfunction in its limited round count. Probably like 750 rounds. BUT I do question the metal they use. The slide stop doesn't really hold back the slide anymore. It does for a few seconds until the gun is jarred / moved a little bit. It's a cool gun and looks good. Works reliably too. Only complaint is the metalurgy.
 
I had one of the earlier single-stack electroless nickel finished Thunder .380s. It was abit more accurate than I had expected but didn't have high expectations for an essentially 7- yard pistol. I was reliable for the testing I did and size for carry wasn't excessive.

However I couldn't get used to a slide mounted safety that worked "backwards" from the Colts I learned on and the double/single action didn't feel right. Also at about 100 rounds there was peening in the slide stop area. So I traded for a single stack single action .380 which I have been carrying for more than 10 years.
 
I had a Bersa Thunder Combat which I traded for a P238. I kept the P238 as the recoil is non-existent in the locked breech Sig. Whereas, the Thunder caused a sharp sting due to the grip and blowback operation. The Thunder to me was uncomfortable to the point of not wanting to shoot it versus almost anything else I brought that day to the range. I preferred the G20 in 10mm to shooting that Thunder. Now the P238 is a different story, it gets a box of 50 almost every weekly range trip.
 
I don't have the CC model, but my Bersa has worked well. I have about 1000 rounds through it and haven't had any serious issues. I've seen the slide not locking back a couple times, but not enough to really worry about it. Accuracy seems good to me - shoots better than I do.
 
I like BERSA's a lot, don't have a CC model though, I bought the regular .380 used several years ago, and it hasn't given me any trouble over several thousand rounds. I'd say they're a decent bit more pleasant to shoot than an LCP as far as recoil goes, and maybe a bit better than a 938, but its certainly not like shooting a S&W5906.

They do leave somewhat to be desired in parts quality and finish, you will see a good bit of wear on the parts in time. Especially if you use the slide stop to release the slide, that part doesn't last long at all. But for all the wear I see on my BERSA, it has no indication of anything breaking. Really though, for their price they don't leave much room to complain if you're being honest with yourself, ymmv as they say.

The .22's only seem to work consistently with HV ammo, mine does anyway. I think the magazine is to blame, but I haven't had the time to test that theory yet.
 
So, out of 13 responses, I count 8 positive, 3 negative, and 2 that I would label as neutral.

For the negative, the comments have focused on metallurgy, most specifically with failure of the slide stop/release. I usually slingshot the slide rather than actuating the slide release, so that is of less concern to me. Last shot hold open, while a good feature, is not even available on some of the smaller .380s, so, again, not a deal breaker.

I wish I could find one to shoot, but no one I know owns one, and the one rental range in my area doesn't have one.

Any other known issues/problems with these guns that a potential buyer ought to know about?
 
I had a Bersa Thunder CC 380 for a while and did rather like it. I liked its size and shape and handling. Mine shot fine but I didn't keep it long. I did notice that even the trimmed down CC model was slightly, just slightly larger than my S&W produced PPKS, though considerably lighter and 8+1 vs 7+1. One thing I did not like about it compared to the Walther and the smaller locked-breech .380 pistols is the integral to the frame feed ramp which in the Bersa's case means an aluminum feed ramp. I just prefer a steel feed ramp though I'm sure that's a small thing.
 
I have Makarovs and a Kahr K9 Elite, both single stack pistols. The Kahr is heavy, but is also 9mm. The Bersa CC model looks interesting, but is still a pretty big gun. I brought home a Ruger LCP II model yesterday. Put a few mags through it. It is definitely one to consider. For the size that the Bersa is, you could go 9mm. If you are wanting a .380 definitely give the new LCP II (2) a look. Mine was $259 plus taxes.
 
I "owned" one - bought it used for switch off for CC. I really liked the size and feel of it and it shot every round I put through it - i.e. no FTF or FTE. However, i had issues with it as the previous owner had done "trigger work" on it - i.e. he "botched it. When firing first shot in DA, all was well - when it went into SA, th trigger pull was so light that I had problems with a second round going off just from very light pressure of my finger upon recoil - not ideal for CC situations. I took it back to whee I bought it and they immediately took it back. I usually carry Smith Model 36 snub or a 9mm Shield now. If I ever run across another Bersa Thunder CC, it will be coming home with me. I would have no problems carrying one but with stock trigger, etc. - i'm not big on guns getting "tuned" by someone who doesn't know what they are doing.
 
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