Bersa Thunder???

M

Model12Win

Moderator
Just bought a Bersa Thunder 380, nickel finish, the original model not the CC.

Pretty inexpensive gun. How do they rate? How is .380 stopping power with modern bullets? I'll probably carry this as my primary CCW, with my current NAA mini .22 LR as backup. Is the Bersa enough gun for primary carry? I see there are 8 shot mags out for them, I'll probably get some and a hybrid style IWB holster. Might also get night sights.

So how are these little guns? Decent? I more or less bought it on whim, so am looking for any feedback both positive and negative. Thanks!
 
You really have no clue about the Bersa, or the .380 in general?

The Bersa is one of the better budget guns. The .380 is considered marginal, at best, but with SD ammo, and good shot placement, will get the job done. Ammo is expensive, but available.

The 8 round Bersa magazine WILL NOT work in the standard Thunder. There is a Thunder PLUS model that has a 15 round magazine. The 15 round magazine WILL NOT work with the standard Thunder. However, there is a 9 round magazine, it was available for the Thunder 380 DELUXE. It WILL work with the standard Thunder 380.
 
The 8 round Bersa magazine WILL NOT work in the standard Thunder.
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I think BERSA recommends against it for potential reliability issues, I've tried them in my standard BERSA and they have worked. That being said, I carry with the 7 rounders and would recommend you do so as well.
 
If you plan to carry your BT380, then use good self defense ammo You will have a round that is very close to 9MM specifications. Use the less expensive ammo for practice. I read more and more theses days that ballistic tests and medical reviews show the differences in modern handgun calibers is nominal. Shot placement is more important than caliber.

My BT380 is one of my carry guns because it is 100% reliable and very easy to conceal and carry all day long. I trust my life with it.

MecGar makes an 8 round magazine that works perfectly in the BT380. The MecGar mags are the ones I use for everyday carry. It's good to know there's an extra round in there.
 
Its stated everywhere that the 8 round magazines do not work. I have first hand knowledge that the 9 round magazines DO work. ttarp says the 8 round magazines do work, so thats good. I never tried the 8 round mags, because why buy them when they are stated as not working, then find out that is correct. The 9 round mags are available, and 9 is better than 8... right?
 
If Mec-Gar makes an 8 round mag for the standard Thunder, then I would trust that it works well. Mec-Gar makes high quality magazines.. The 8 round mag I was referring to in my first post is the Bersa factory mag for the Thunder Conceal Carry model.
 
My first gun was a Bersa .380.
The quality control on these are hit or miss.
There are a lot of things to like about this gun.
Size, weight, nice grip for a small gun, deckockng safety lever, price point, etc...

What you need to do, as with any gun, is put the time in at the range to get to know your gun.
Put at least 1000 rounds through it before you make any judgements on it.
Accuracy, gun function, reliability, etc...........
Test various brands of range ammo and self defense ammo to weed out the good from the bad, and to determine what your specific gun tends to like.

Keep it clean, store it safely, put the time in at the range.
Keep us posted on how it turns out.
 
Would you guys rate .380 as a better CCW round than the .22 LR? I'm currently using My NAA mini as my only CCW.
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Absolutely, the .380 is better than 22 LR for a defense pistol. The 22 LR IS NOT a defensive cartridge. The .380 is
 
I've owned several Bersa's. No problems with any of them. I have used 8 round mags from the CC model in the standard with no problems. I currently own a Combat model that comes with two 8 round mags but works with the 7 rounders too.
 
I've had two of the Thunder 380s. No problems with either of them. The first one was in the matte black finish. It was stolen in a burglary. The second is the satin nickel, which I bought to replace the first one.

They are fun little guns to shoot and very accurate. I have two of the 7-round mags and one of the 9-round mags (all Bersa branded) and have not had any problems with feeding or reliability.

It is a little too big for pocket carry though I have done so in the past (in a Galco pocket holster).

The relative effectiveness of the .380 compared to other rounds has been debated quite a lot and I am sure you will find many opinions. No need for me to add mine. It will outperform a .22lr in most situations, though. Due to the longer barrel, the .380 should perform better out of the Bersa Thunder than one of the smaller pocket pistols.
 
I've owned two Bersa Thunder .380s and both have been 100% reliable. I've only used the 7rd. Bersa mags and would only rely on them for self defense. One extra round or iffy reliability, you choose.
 
Who's to say the Mec Gar magazines will give "iffy" reliability??

You do know that Mec Gar makes many manufacturer's magazines, like the ones that come with CZ guns?

Do you have any personal experience with said magazines to support your claims?
 
What I heard is MecGar makes the factory magazines, but sell the GOOD ones under their label.....and for a better price.

I use MecGar mags in any gun that I have in which they make mags. Never had a problem with any one for any gun in any caliber.
 
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