I Finally Reviewed the Bersa Thunder 380
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- Опубліковано 15 жов 2024
- The Bersa Thunder 380 has been a favorite budget concealed carry pistol for well over two decades now. Is it a rare example of great quality at a low price, or is it a typical example of "you get what you pay for"? After years of relentless pleading from Bersa Thunder fans, I finally bought one to find out for myself.
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There is one word to describe this gun :comfortable.
It's so fucking comfortable I was so surprised at how smooth it shoots too. It makes the PPK seem so clunky
i was looking for a smaller gun, da/sa. decent caliber and to an objective standpoint "stylish". . . i got the 380 plus and i wish i would have bought this thing sooner. easy to shoot, aiming feels natural and instinctive (unlike a glock that requires a thumb point instead of an index point") its nice to carry
the other upside is i get to do the james bond theme song when i tuck or untuck it from my waistband. its silly but it makes me laugh when i catch myself humming it.
I've shot the Bersa Thunder 380 and it was hands down one of my favorite pistols to ever shoot. I have mutiple handguns in various sizes and calibers, but the Bersa just felt like it was made for my hands.
@@imjusttrollingyou.5799 I was set on the Bersa and then Beretta went and released the 80x Cheetah.
Let me shed some light here: Bersa factory, located in Buenos Aires manufactures this pistol (and all of them) with old machinery and manual labor. That's not a negative aspect. It's just the way they work. Their quality control is below average. What you say here that some people have never experienced a failure, while some others seem to have got lemon, is just a result of how they work. Bersa was born as a commercial alternative brand in Argentina to compete with Fabricaciones Militares (FM). At some point, someone noticed that these guns could be exported, making some extra money. Today, the USA market is their biggest target. That said, they never changed their manufacturing mentality or quality controls.
In Argentina (where I am from) whenever you get a "lemon" Bersa, you just take it to their factory, and they will adjust it, or replace the defective part for free. I understand that's not an option in the USA. Most of the time though, the problem is about internal mechanism finishing. You can take it to a certified gunsmith and they can easily correct these defects like filling leftovers or rectify tolerances.
You want to ship a whole bunch of the magazines back to the US for us? We could do some sort of group buy. You could pocket some cash.
ua-cam.com/video/IWaPF8CQcSc/v-deo.html
Hi there, hermano, honest question from your friendly Brazilian neighbor: The gun laws in Argentina makes almost impossible to get a legal gun, like here, or you can get it with "minimal"/"fair enough" effort?
In theory, in Brazil you would need to pass through tests (mental health, safe use, shooting test....) and explain to the federal police why you want a gun, but this process is very expensive and bureaucratic. you need to be older than 25, have a house of your own and you are limited to 4 firearms per house/person (unless you get the collector or hunter license). The problem is that you need to explain to the federal police why you want a gun, and some of the officers will not accept the "recreation use" or "personnel protection" argument, ( with makes the process open to arbitrariness, but it is slowly changing for the best now). I personally gave up Trying to get a gun due to the price of the endeavor. Besides the taxes and all the money expend in the licenses and tests, the cheapest Pt taurus in .380 costs about 700 USD in here (and our minimum wage is about 300 USD). a glock G19 (that is a restricted gun) can have a higher price than 2000 dollars. How is the situation in Argentina?
@@eliasbram3710 that makes me sad. I feel bad for you guys. I live in Ohio and own 14 guns. Three that the government knows about.
My thunder .380 was my first handgun (way back in 2004) the only problems I had were with aluminum cased ammo. I did see slight peening of the steel slide rails but that was after a few hundred rounds. I ended up trading it towards a glock 19. Overall a good experience with the thunder 380, but I wanted more capacity.
Worked at a gun store for a year and a half and never had one come back for gunsmith work. We sold more of those than any gun period. Period.
Love mine shoots like a hi dollar gun for 300 bucks can't beat it what I love is 1911s but they are not double action I can carry the bersa with one in the pipe and not cocked but yet fire if I need to summer carry bersa winter carry my 1911 9mm
@@lonniebishop868NOT A LOT OF PEOPLE KNOWS THE REASON FOR CHANGING TO A HIGH CALIBER IN WINTER 🥶,
😁😁😁 , I DO THE SAME
@@freddy2141 its because you can more easily conceal the gun with bigger clothing, not alot to guess
Great testament. I love mine.
I'm a retired LEO and have carried several different guns over the last 35+ years. Duty, back up and off duty. US Army MP with a 1911. Then as Civilian LEO still in the revolver days, carried a S&W 19 and 66 4" and 2" respectively. Then transitioned into autoloaders in the 80's. Carried a Berretta 92 / 84 combo 9/380. Then dropped the 84 for a Walther Stainless 380 for rust reasons. Then a H&K 40 and the Walther 380. The Duty guns were agency directed, while the backup was my choice. When I retired the Walther was my EDC (before EDC was EDC). Didn't really like the Walther and bought the Bersa. The Bersa has been my EDC for over twenty years now and always go back to it when I fear that things are potentially going bad. I've got a couple pocket guns for when I'm travelling very light. One being a NAA 22 for when I'm in gym shorts. A Ruger LCP for light dress wear in S. Florida summer. Regardless of what others opine carry what you can carry in your situation. A NAA 22 in your pocket is better than a 1911 in the truck when the SHTF.
Great advice
@Ben Woodcock LOL
I failed to mention that I still have my S&W Mod 19 Combat Magnum for any serious hard targets.
Reading Masad Ayoob years ago on the "best" carry weapon he went through several guns' pros and cons. But like you, he concluded that the best gun for self defense is one you will carry. I've passed that on multiple times. Good write up.
I really do appreciate a simple design that’s affordable and delivers the goods
This was my mom's first gun. She's had it for about three years now and has put roughly 2k rounds through it. Not a lot but a lot for my mom which says a lot. We had one malfunction and that's because she went to the gun store without me and bought a pro mag. We got her some factory mags and not an issue. She also is surprisingly diligent in cleaning her guns so I'm sure that has helped. If I could have i would have gotten her the Shield EZ bit they hadn't quite came out yet. Looking into that. Thanks for the video!
You did the right thing. If you love someone, you don’t let them carry ProMag products for serious self defense. Especially your Mom. You got her some factory mags and she’s good to go.
2k of 380 is plenty, most people will barely break 500-1000.
@@leroyjenkins4811 Thanks for the reply man. I honestly don't understand how they stay in business. It's like Russian roulette and I'm not willing to play that game with any of my mom's or my guns.
I hope I can get a bersa or similar 380 or 9mm
@First Last That's good to hear. I haven't had the same experience. I've had a couple of their Glock mags, and an M&P mag. Those combined with my experience in my mom's Bersa has left a sour taste in my mouth. The one Glock mag has worked. But the rest not so much.
The Bersa Firestorm was my very first gun, and I still own it. Went to the range with it many times already and happy to report that not a single malfunction has happened with my Firestorm.
I daily carried my Thunder 380 for about 2.5 years, thousands of rounds, and never really had an issue after the first 50 rounds. Sold it to a friend, he's never had a malfunction. Absolutely would buy another one, or recommend it to anyone.
I picked one up pre-pandemic at a pawn shop for $175. Got it home and cleaned it and there was pretty much zero wear on it. Looked like the original owner put a box or two through it and threw it in a drawer never to be fired again. Not a bad deal for a basically new gun.
new models of 380 bersas ua-cam.com/video/pOCWbFJ6ZQ8/v-deo.html&ab_channel=TiradoresArgentinos
After five years with the Bersa Thunder 380 I have had zero malfunctions.
I just want one to plink with so hearing people have good experiences tells me it wouldn’t be a bad investment as a range gun with so many people who actually carry them.
@@Me2Lancer does it reliably feed and function hollow point ammo?
Bursa Thunder 380 was my first handgun I bought it 15 years ago. I still have mine and I love it
That does drive me nuts when the gun is everywhere but magazines are next to unobtanium
*Cries in Steyr GB*
@@witmoreluke F
Just keep buying new guns, keep the mags that they come with for yourself, then pawn them. Ghetto science
@@F3ST3Rfilms Ghetto Science... I pimp my wife out to pay for her birth control despite me having a vasectomy.
@@witmoreluke Cries in Tanfoglio 10mm, haha
My wife obtained an eight round agazine for my Bersa Thunder CC 380 from Mec-Gar magazines with a pinky extension. It's an excellent magazine. The gun eats everything I throw at it, including Tulammo.
The Bersa 380 was my first carry gun back in the mid 90's. With 3 kids in school it was what I could afford at about $225, I have never regretted it, and I still have it. I have since had a PPK that was nothing but trouble, its gone but the Bersa will remain with me until the end.
Bersa plus is the way to go, same thing but with a double stack and only about 20-40 dollars more.
never had a problem with my ppk-s lol
If I want to buying where should I go orders one???
I bought a ppk /s for the cool factor. It is the worst of all my pistols. Would never trust it in a bad situation and is a mechanical nightmare at target practice. Bersa thunder 380 I have? NO problems at all.
Where was it manufactured? Smith And Wesson PPK's are shoddy to say the least, but the West German/French made PPK's imported by Interarms are built like a tank. I own one from 1967 and it runs all day.
I have one for my everyday carry. Love it. Never had a problem with it. Bought it off my step brother and he got it at a traders market. I paid $75 for it.
As an Argentine, I am very happy you reviewed Bersa!
@Joe Chance
Hi mate!
Bersa use italian mags, the same as Beretta.
Regards!
@Joe Chance Ill start bringing them in myself for all of y'all
@Joe Chance Seriously. It took over two months for the factory mags I ordered to arrive. That was six years ago and it looks like the ready supply has not gotten better.
I have the Bersa 380 thunder plus and have put over 1000 round through it with no issues. I have often wondered why it never seems to make reviewers concealed carry recommendation list, but it never changed my confidence in the firearm. Having shot my brother's PPK many times and suffered the bite on my hand, I'd recommend the Bersa even if it wasn't less than half the price of the PPK.
I have my bersa thunder 380 for 5 years never have any problem
I have owned a Bersa Thunder since the mid 90's and it is one of my favorites. I have fired boxes and boxes of ammo through it and never had a problem. I believe the frame at that time was steel so it was a bit heavy. Unlike Chris I prefer the 3 dot sites over any other so I found it easy to shoot. I started shooting center fire pistols with the S&W 3913 so 3 dot sites are what I learned on and find them easiest to align the sites. I liked the pistol so much I have been looking for a Thunder Plus to replace it as my brother "borrowed" mine and I fear I may never see it again.
*sight
haha love it, mark!
Ditto....
Love my 3913
Bersa is one of the best guns in the World for the money.
I have 2 Bersa 380 buying the first one in 1982. Both are very dependable and easy to shoot
A Bersa .380 was my first handgun. I loved the function and operation - but got rid of it after only a few years. My problem wasn't with the gun, but with the ammunition. At that point, .380 was extremely hard to find and priced about double what 9mm was. Now, when all ammunition is hard to find and unreasonably expensive, I wish I had kept it.
Thanks for deciding to purchase the Bersa Thunder 380. I've had mine for 5 years and it's been the most dependable 380 acp pistol I have. Unlike other 380s I do not find it snappy at all.
I can't recall a single malfunction from my Bersa.
Thank you for mentioning the Smith & Wesson M&P 380 Shield EZ .380 ACP Compact 8-Round Pistol. That's one I may consider.
Yeah, the only other .380 I have fired is my Ruger LCP2 carry pistol, and compared to that tiny thing, the Bersa shoots like butter.
@@sobrcelt I wholeheartedly agree with you. I have a Ruger LCPII. Granted it is small and light but that makes its recoil almost intolerable. I corrected that with a Hogue grip. That helped but then magazine capacity is considerably less than the Bersa.
@@Me2Lancer I hadn't considered a Hogue grip for it; I'll pick one up and try it out. Thanks!
@@sobrcelt I found the opposite (I owned both at one point). The Thunder is direct blowback and the lcp2 is recoil operated.
@@AlossFS The thunder weighs nearly twice as much while being larger and offering a better grip as well, and while blowback pistols tend to deliver more felt recoil than lighter recoil operation counterparts, that is decidedly NOT the case with the Bersa and LCP. It takes much more to bring the little Ruger back on target than it does the Bersa because it pops my hand much further up than the Bersa. I actually take no pleasure at all in firing the Ruger, while the Bersa is kind of fun. I guess your mileage has varied from mine.
I liked my Bersa Thunder 380 so much that after owning it for years and put close to 1000 trouble-free rounds through it, I sold it and bought the Bersa Thunder 380 Plus, with the 15-round magazine. The thicker grip feels better in my hand, and I like having nearly double the capacity. And like my previous single-stack model, I've not had any issues with the Plus.
Thanks, Chris, for doing an honest assessment of the Bersa Thunder.
The Plus has been my go-to-town gun for years. 16 rounds in a compact package is comforting.
The Thunder 380 Plus always appealed to me. Good to hear a firsthand report.
I got a Bersa 380 Thunder.(black). I liked it. Got another 1that was silver. Then I got A plus & then I saw 1 that has Chrome finish & it came with 4 mags. so I said what the hell.😀 let's get it. Now I've got 3 Thunders & 1 Thunder Plus. The plus came with a total of 4 mags and a holster first one had three mags. The satin finish had one mag and the Chrome came with four mags & I found two mags at Academy
I'm eager to get a Bersa Thunder 380 Plus.
I have one too. And it's the best.
Bersa mags can have a lot of storage grease, they need a lot of cleaning when new, and I suspect that's what causes people to have the most problems. It's sticky, and in a place where sticky is not good. The Bersa BP CC is another one worth testing, if you get a chance. You'll either love or hate the trigger.
Hate the BP CC trigger. For a range-only target pistol, it's fantastic because it's so light. The one I tried broke at about 3 lbs. No wall before the break, as I recall - it just rolled. For self defense, maybe be too easy to AD.
@@PatchWorm_bore_cleaners Yep, 3, 3.5 pounds is about right. It's basically a competition trigger on a defensive firearm. They do well at backup gun matches...
@Joe Chance People this deep in the comments might know all the ways to clean a gun, but a lot of people looking for guns on a budget are first-time buyers. They may not know that the stuff these are packed in isn't lube, and not clean them at all, and start having reliability issues real quick.
Yeah, I brought a BP9cc a couple of months ago and the first thing I notice is how much grease they put in it lol. I think the reason is they know how slow burocratics process are in Argentina so they put a lot of grease in case the weapon will be in storage a long time.
I haven't owned one myself, but when I had a chance to shoot a friend's thunder 380 I was surprised by how much I enjoyed it. As a guy with larger hands, I definitely appreciated how well the grips fill out your palms for a sub compact. It was really comfortable to shoot.
Wether it’s Bersa or Hi Point or Taurus there is something to be said about their staying power. We’ve seen how quickly this industry can absolutely destroy companies who can’t deliver consistent reliability and quality (see the Zip .22 or Kimber Solo) If the Bersa were terrible we wouldn’t see them here stateside with the prominence it’s earned. I have no desire to own one nor the desire to try one out. However, I have a respect for the Bersa and the loyal owners that shoot them.
I think that is a fair position to consider. Although here’s a counterpoint for consideration…
As a former small town gun store employee I can honestly say that there are a lot of people keeping companies afloat because they will automatically default to the cheapest option available. Not every customer will experience issues with a budget gun, but then again there are a lot of customers that buy a gun and either only shoot one box of ammo through it, IF they test fire it at all, before loading it up with cheap FMJ ammo and carrying it.
If the largest percentage of a company’s customer base follows this pattern there will be a lot of them who never give a gun the chance to show its reliability or lack thereof. Which in turn creates a lack of data to negatively effect a company’s reputation and sales. There are also several major manufacturers out there that rely on the historical reputation of their brand to allow them to keep selling product, regardless of how good that product objectively is.
So my point is: just because a company has been around for a while might not necessarily mean it makes a good product. That being said, I am a fan of the Bersa Thunder…
The thunder in some form or another has been making its way to American gun counters since the 1980s. With millions of them sold by eagle imports they do what you expect. Not perfect but you could do way worse, they had several other models that are something of a rarity today. I had the high capacity thunder plus model with a double stack .380 and 15 plus one capacity. It beat the LCP max to the market before the original LCP was ever being sold. They also had the optimized to carry thunder CC. The CC was dehorned, given a carry melt treatment and had its sights cut down to speed its draw from a holster or pocket. The only issue was the CC took its own proprietary magazine and didn’t take standard thunder mags
@@calkig This is what I've seen over and over. Lots of new gun owners every year that will start with something cheap.
Insert poster child here, Remington R51.
@@racefan6668 had a redesigned R51 never failed to go bang. But I did use grease instead of oil feeling the thicker grease was less likely to run out of the gun
I find most problems incurred with new guns are the lack of lubrication. Most people just take the gun out of the box and start shooting. The old days of receiving a Cosmoline soaked gun from the manufacture are long gone hence the need to give it a good cleaning. I've purchase several firearms that had a bad rap and all I've done to resolve the issues was clean and lubricate. Most of the time when I purchase a new gun it is dismantled and cleaned and soaked with oil. It usually takes a couple of days for the excess oil to ooze out before I start shooting. Have a nice day!
First day I bought mine, even tho it was new, still took it home and cleaned it. Never had an issue, clean it every month or after a range trip. Easy tear down so it only takes minutes.
I might have missed it, or maybe he didn’t say it, but even with 400 rounds total that gun is just breaking in. I don’t get too concerned if I have a single malfunction in the first couple hundred rounds…sometimes things just need a chance to smooth themselves out.
So many reviews hated on the Taurus Spectrum. Enough that I said ok, challenge accepted…bought one. Couldn’t run a full mag until I hit about 100 rounds…was cleaned of the garbage oil/grease Taurus used from the factory and after each 20ish round range outing. Eventually it ran both FMJ’s and hollow points without issue. I didn’t care for the actual firearm so I sold it but I could confidently say it functioned fine when it left my ownership.
The first time I bought my SIG P365 XL, took it straight to the range and had a casing stuck in the chamber after 20 rounds, went home and cleaned it and I’ve never had an issue since then
I feel like the most reliable pistol I’ve ever shot right out the box and for 1000 rounds after was the Walther Q5 Match SF. I have yet to have a single hiccup
The bersa combat 380 was my first pistol. Put at least a couple thousand rounds through it over the years and was very reliable until a box of Buffalo Bore 100 gr +p rounds cracked the slide at the safety/decocker and broke the safety as well. Being a skilled tig welder, and considerably more skilled than the typical kitchen table bubba gunsmith, and the fact that it was dirt cheap, I opted to remove the safety completely and tig weld the area it once was, and after re shaping, heat treating, and refinishing, you cant even tell it was ever there. Since its double action for a first shot theres no need for a manual safety and I simply added additional serrations to the hammer to make it 100% slip proof for decocking. It it still a bid dated compared to modern standards, especially compared to offerings in the last couple years? Yes but it is still a very functional and reliable firearm for someone who foesnt mind packing around a metal frame of that size.
the bersa firestorm .380 was my first pistol as well. i enjoyed it but now have a beretta 92fs still sticking to the double/ single action and metal frame theme.
My dad got the "combat" version with the Glock-style sights and rubber grips. Very comfortable shooter, and it was reliable until a pin in the trigger mechanism walked out and jammed things up. This mirrors my experience with LCPs (both generations), and it has solidified my position that budget gats can be fine, but they require IMMENSE and routine scrutiny so they don't fail you.
I've had one several years and have purchased a handful of genuine Bersa magazines after determining it was in fact, reliable. I know, I know, more anecdotal stories.
No problems so far. I can afford any pistol, but this felt good in my hand and was lightweight - but not too light so that recoil becomes obnoxious, and it's comfortable to carry using an IWB holster.
After decades of being a cop and firearms trainer, I felt this was a great option. As I liked it so much, I also purchased some custom grips from Altamont. The OEM polymer grips are great; I just wanted some wood grips. I recommend the Bersa all the time.
I also am ex cop, firearms instructor and carry a Bersa. Among other things. For the $$ you can't beat em.
Years ago a shooting buddy had one, it was a steel frame version but I don't remember it being a Thunder. What I do remember, it was reliable and being steel...a nice shooting gun. My carry 380's are pocket pistols so I never attempted to work a 380 into either a OWB or IWB role.
FYI, started carrying, years ago, with 1911 OWB and now use a P365 IWB...times and guns have changed.
How are those Altamonte grips? I've eyed them several times, but have stuck with the factory option rubber grip because I like the slim profile.
@@danielm6049 - The Altamont grips are great - not thick at all. The factory grip that came on mine is a matte finish black plastic. I liked them, but I just wanted something different. I got the checkered ones with a fleur de lis near the bottom and the finish is better than I thought it would be. Actually, I like them so much that a few weeks ago I ordered a set for my Detective Special.
I'm former military and a full-time firearms instructor. My wife is very recoil-sensitive and she is deciding between the Glock 42 or Bersa Thunder (both in .380 ACP) for her carry gun. she is leaning towards the Bersa and I cannot complain. It is a great carry gun for newer or recoil-sensitive shooters.
I've had one for about 8 years.. Hundreds of rounds and never had a failure...
I have fairly large hands and bought slightly larger rose-wood grips for better feel in the hand.
I've had mine for a year now, put a couple hundred rounds through it with zero malfunctions. Best features are the DA/SA as well as the size. In CA, there are almost no semi auto subcompact options with DA/SA, but this is one. Chris is right though, its a little snappy for a 380 in the 20-25 oz range. Wait...I mean I USED to have one. It sunk to the bottom of the harbor last week.
So in Commiefornia,
Is something like a Beretta not allowed?
@@very7962 Some Berettas are, some aren't. Its embarrassing, don't ask. But in this size pistol, there aren't a ton of options.
Magnet??
I bought a BERSA 380 in 1987 used. My 12 y.o. daughter hit a softball sized target at 25 yards repeatedly. 12Y.O.! She still carries it and so far it's seen at least 1000 rounds since I got it and we have never had a jam of any kind. Love that gun.
It took me years to get that song out of my head... and now it’s back. “🎵lightning and the thunder... 🎵”
Thanks Chris. 🤪
My work here is done.
Song is catchy AF...☹
My wife chose one of these for carry, and I was surprised by how much I like the pistol. She used to carry a Walther PPK, and we both like the Bersa a lot more. The grip size and shape is good, the trigger is really good (way better than the Walther), and thus far it has worked well... 0 stoppages in a few hundred rounds. The sights are alright, not great but better than some of the competitors. The slide stop/release is much appreciated but, the mag release is awkward and stiff. The decocker/safety is stiff and requires breaking the grip but, we don't need to do that in a hurry anyway... generally. Recoil is moderate, and accuracy decent. Hopefully our pistol keeps working well. Thanks, Chris.
Nice reply. Maybe I just got a good one, but I'd say the accuracy is noticeably above average for the segment.
@@BennysThoughts I haven't benched it yet, it's probably more accurate than I am.
Sounds good. I was leaning toward a Walther PPK but that $800 price tag for a backup mouse gun seems overpriced. I was considering a Beretta Tomcat or Bersa Thunder as a cheaper alternative and your comment may help my decision. Thanks.
Note to some. The decocker easily breaks/snaps off. We’ve worked on a few and the decocker routinely breaks. Get a few replacements beforehand so you can replace them.
Also note the firing pin in the back is meant to be slightly crooked. Looks odd but it’s meant to be that way so don’t worry
@@06fz1000 the part that breaks or the part I said crooked? Crooked I meant the firing pin. Inside. When you cock the hammer back. Look at the back of the firing pin. You will see it’s flat on one side. But looks lopsided. That’s by design.
Thanks for the review, as we are 2 of those owners who were waiting. Your review was both informative and thorough. A couple of comments that essentially mirror yours.
We bought ours in 2008, specifically because we both worked in a big Midwestern city and despite professional titles and structures, it was "downtown," and you still had to get from your car to the office/hospital. These were purchased strictly as floor guns.
Well, let me say, they quickly became a favorite plinker simply for the ease of drawing the pistol, limited recoil, and it was just a great little gun and fun to shoot over a .357M.
We both had 1 feed issue in the first 25 rounds. We have fired hundreds of rounds of various load and bullet sizes and styles without issue.
It's quick and easy to break down and clean and was the best ($199 and $209) spent money, other than our Beretta Neos .22's.
Mine in 2 tone matte black with satin nickel (199) and hers in full satin nickel (209). Interesting side bar; hers came with a 9 round clip and mine with an 8. Both clips are interchangeable.
Thanks again for the honest review. I don't hunt by proxy but I live to shoot, so our needs for a high-end rifle or sidearm are not as essential as a reliable decent sidearm.
After all this time and probably at least 600-700 rounds, the gun still locks up tightly, looks great, and is a damned fine little gun for the money. 🙂👍
I recently purchased a BERSA Thunder Plus in 380. I love the 15 round magazine capacity. The sights are excellent on the Thunder Plus. I have run about 200 rounds through it with no malfunctions to date. It only came with one magazine, but I purchased two more BERSA factory magazines shortly after I purchased the pistol. Overall I really enjoy the gun. I will likely mostly use it as a range toy as opposed to being part of my concealed carry rotation.
I've owned one for 3 years... What a fabulous gun, great trigger, accurate and for $300 more or less.
I recently bought a Bersa Thunder 380 cc.
Although its minimalistic sights, it shoots straight and with no malfunctions.
I am quite satisfied with it.
I rented a Bersa Thunder at a range a few years ago. I was pretty thoroughly impressed with how the gun handled and shot, especially after learning that the gun had several thousand rounds through it. The only parts that had to be replaced by that point in its service life were the safety lever and the slide stop. Not bad, especially at that price point.
This is a good pistol, very accurate and with light recoil to keep you on target. Bump firing it is pretty fun too, empties the magazine in a second.
My favorite CC of all time. I simply use a pocket sleeve to carry. Fit's my hand perfect and never a malfunction of any kind. Plus I can actually hit the target with it. lol
Had some issues with an early Thunder .380 hanging the slide. During disassembly, noticed some light galling between the slide and the rails on the frame towards the rear. Some light polishing/deburring and zero issues since. Nice little backup piece for relative pocket change.
Had a few relatively minor issues with my 380 Thunder after probably 1K rounds and needed a gunsmith to check and fix. Having heard of some customer service issues (can’t verify them) with Eagle Imports I hopped on the Bersa Forum and read a bunch of rave reviews for Wolfgang The Gun Doctor. I think he stopped doing warranty repairs for EA/Bersa but he got my fully repaired gun back to me 3 days!!!!! after he received it (he in OR, me in NC) and for an amazingly low price. Love my 15 year old BT380 (don’t shoot it enough) and if you need repairs give Wolfgang a try.
I have owned several Bersa .380's (9x17 short) going back to the days when the current 15 shot model was 13 shots.I had two of them stolen,including one that was Magnaported.I bought a new Thunder 380 CC & it,like all my Bersa's has been excellent.The Bersa is of course, a Walther PPK Improved & what an improvement!I have fired them both & it is not even close.(I also have an FEG Hungarian PPK clone with a 15 lb double action trigger & more recoil than a 9x19mm Luger),I have owned everything from Colt's to Wyoming Arms,but i still love the Bersa Thunder 9mm Kurz (Short) (.380)
I love mine, shoots well, a little heavy compared to its plastic counter parts, but besides that, it is GREAT
Gave my kid one of these for his twelfth birthday as his first handgun, and he loved it. He learned handgun safety, how to handle both a single- and double-action trigger, and trigger control better than with a rifle. I loved it when I owned it and he really wanted it, so it's his now. That was fourteen years ago and it's still a beautiful piece of kit.
What a great idea! That double single action is probably ideal in some ways for a new shooter
Wanna adopt me? I promise to call on every fathers day!
@@Saintbow I'll call in every father's day AND visit for Christmas. Pick me!
@@SaintbowNo, pick me! I’ll do all that plus cook!
I have the Thunder Plus. The same gun but with an enlarged grip frame to accommodate a 15 round magazine. Purchased it a few years ago when anything larger than 6 or 8 rounds was hard to find. Been very happy with it. I think Bersa has been an under appreciated brand for a long time.
Yes. A mid frame 380 is a lot of fun.
My first semiautomatic was the Bersa Thunder 380. Carried it for years n had no problems . Bersa has finally come up with a Bersa Plus 380. Slightly larger gun with a 15 round mag. Have not had any problems with it at all. My main carry gun.
Got a Thunder22 ~20 years ago and loved it so much I got a Thunder380 soon after. They've both been 100% reliable in ~500rds/300rds respectively. Lightweight, points naturally, adjustable sights, affordable... I've been very happy with both. Thanks for the review.
I did the same thing.. 22 Lightning then bought the 380 Thunder.. they have always worked as they should and surprisingly accurate as well.
I bought a S&W 380 ez and love it. My wife did not like the feel of the ez but when she held the Bersa 380 she really liked it and after 100 rounds she still prefers the Bersa even with the added recoil, which is not that significant. She has not had any problems so far. With good cleaning after each range outing it run more smoothly with each outing. It does need, at least 200 rounds to break it in as did the ez 380.
I have had two Bersa Thunder pistols now for around 10 maybe 12 Years .
Honestly they have been the most reliable 380 Pistols I have ever owned.
With hundreds and hundreds of rounds threw them both . With everything from Personal protection ammo to lead round ball reloads .
With Zero Malfunctions.
I pocket carry a M&P BodyGuard evey day for work and convenience.
But when I'm not working and don't need the deep concealment.
I will still carry my Bersa Thunder on my side
You open carry a pocket pistol? Kudos to you, I couldn't do it, but I'm 6'5" and it would look like a toy on my hip compared to my g45 or similar size.
I own a second-hand Bersa Thunder in .380. Initially, it had a feed problem. I fixed that by polishing the ramp. Now, it functions great. It is a good pocket carry for me with the right trousers but it is NOT my EDC.
I've both the Bersa Thunder380 & the 15+1 Plus. I love then both. With the extra weight of the Plus, is a little with felt recoil . Both are as accurate as my Beretta. But, for extra mags I stick with Eagle Imports for Original Bersa mags. My keys for the frame locks stay Duck-Tape in the Box, where they belong!
I have a Bersa Thunder 380 it's my edc. No malfunctions, no FTF or FTE . Excellent firearm.
A Bersa Thunder 380 CC was the first semi-auto I ever bought in 2008, and my second gun ever. I haven't fired it in nearly a decade, but it never failed to work 100% through several hundred shots. The sights on that one are abysmal, and slide bite is a thing, but it served me well before I knew a whole lot about guns or could easily afford them.
Left a comment 4 months ago saying I would buy one. I did. Put 300 rounds through it; no issues. Keep it oiled and clean and it runs beautifully.
Carry it every day.
For a budget gun, you’d be hard pressed to find something so well made (got mine “used” for 175$; it looked brand spanking new)
Don’t get me wrong; I’m gonna upgrade when I have the money, but this is a solid gun.
I trust it with my life
I have owned 4, the first one was well made (circa 2003), and I loved it, the rest declined in quality as the year of purchase advanced. The model I bought on line in 2010 was almost unshootable. Glad to see they are every now and again making one that does not look like it is put together with hammers.
I bought a bursa 380 thunder after getti g my carry permit. My 9 was too hard to conceal. This thing has been great to carry. Have carried it for 2 years so far and don't plan on changing.
I picked up a two tone Thunder 380 in the early '90's (no trigger lock out switch); It was so accurate, I bought one for my older brother. Hs wife shot it well too, it became their go to camping gun/outdoor hiking pistol. The newer 380 ammo carries plenty of self defense punch, a plus, as it has always had deep penetration. Myself, I wish the trigger broke a bit earlier, regardless, it was my primary conceal carry pistol for 20 years.
They didn't produce this gun until 1995 and the two tone wasn't available then.
@@B_R_ Glad to know the exact year; time really files; I picked mine up at a large dealer in KY, and had a blue version sent to my brother's Dealer in Indiana.
@@johnshields9110
No problem. My experience with this gun is that it would have never lasted 20 years if being shot regularly. Mine didn't last 2 years before the pot metal slide was warped and deteriorated so bad that it was unsafe to fire. I'm glad you had a better experience than I did.
Your comments and this posting, we’re very helpful. I just bought bersa haven’t had a chance. To put it through its paces yet.
I bought a used Bersa Thunder 380 several years ago and it worked very well for about a year. There is a leaf type spring which is involved with the magazine release safety. When it breaks the gun will not fire. It was a fairly common problem at that time. Even though I bought it used Bersa covered it with their lifetime warranty. I sent it to Colorado Gun Works for repair. They found a small crack in the frame and sent me a brand new gun. I have nothing but good things to say about Bersa and their service.
That is good to hear. I'm glad it all worked out for you.
I bought mine off a friend 23 years ago and still carry it more than my other pistols. I like the way it shoots and I shoot well with it. The down side is that my mags only hold six rounds. I know, boo. But, I do have four mags and usually carry two when I take it. It has only malfunctioned once while using reloaded ammo and has run every other type of ammo I've put through it. My experience may not be typical.
I have both the 380 and the 22... a fun combo. Not bad for introducing a new shooter- get them comfortable with the 22, then move them up to the 380- they feel like they've shot a real gun :)
The 380 has worked perfectly, but I did have problems with the 22 at first- the feed ramp was rough and it wouldn't feed reliably. A few minutes with a dremel fixed it up. (Should have been right from the factory though!)
I bought them both used, only have about invested $400 total. I'm happy, good bang-for-the-buck!
I've been VERY pleased with my Bersa Thunder 380. When I keep it cleaned and then oiled, it works perfectly. I wanted 007's pistol but didn't feel I could afford a new PPK. Have been quite happy with my purchase and I plan to keep it.
I’ve had my Bersa for 3 or 4 years now. I use it as a conceal carry and have found it to be very reliable at the range. I recommended it to my daughter. It’s a ‘good’ pistol at a ‘good’ price.
I owned 2 of these...well sold one still have the other. Never had an issue of any kind.... I had a PRE Thunder pistol in 91 (not a thunder) it shot good... trigger spring broke ( had to manually reset trigger) had to replace...no biggy. For the price have no regrets.
I am so surprised you have not reviewed or owned one until now! The BT 380 was my first everyday carry years and years ago. My wife appropriated my original, so I now have a BT 380 Plus - game changer in the capacity department! That and four mags, I am set for that pistol when I take it for training. I also have a Fire Storm Mini 9mm - both are great carry pistols and shooters.
Like @Mark Coe, I have put many boxes of ammo through my original Bersa, nary an issue. Great value!
This’s my first edc bought the 2-toned version when I turned 21 (a couple decades ago) I can’t remember the ammo I used initially, but had many FTF-FTE, and eventually she was relegated to the safe.
Sold it 6yrs ago, but bought the all black one and with stock mag/ Hornady ammo, this one shot like a dream no issues at all.
I actually have a bersa thunder in 32acp. It’s an absolute peach to shoot!
Lucky you! I'd love to find a Bersa in 32acp. one that was in good shape. 32 is one of my favorite calibers.
I’ve owned mine since 2009 and its never let me down. From what i gather, it seems like owners of the gun love it and don’t have any issues, but instructors and retailers always have their stories. Not saying they’re full if it, but it never surprises me to hear stories about inexpensive guns from people in the industry.
I've had mine for 15yrs. Takes a little break in and likes to run wet, a bit heavy, but mine runs fine and eats everything I give it. I like DA/SA for carry. They do make a double stack version that holds 15rd 380 acp. I have both.
How do you like the double stack? That is on my "wanna get" list. I have the standard and really like it.
@@jacktheripoff1888 I have the commander version and like it. One draw back for me is to make it double stack the grip is fairly wide and it does make concealed carry a bit more difficult. Mags are hard to find.
@@docgillygun9531 wow, I didn't know they had a double stack version. I'll have to keep an eye out for one, I'd buy another.
I also have both. The 380 Plus 15 rounder is my backup carry and my single stack version (with 2 9 rd factory mags is my truck gun. They were both my main carries until I recently bumped up to a 17 rd with 3 mags 9mm.
But both of my Bersa Thunders are very reliable and accurate. They have to be to stake my life on them. My son loves them too. Hes not quite old enough to own a gun just yet. But he will own mine when I'm gone.
I have a Bersa S.A. Model 383 DA. Got it some where in the mid. 1980's. Wood grips. This gun has never failed. I tried to look up the serial number to see when it was made but with no luck. Great little gun.
I have heard no reports of unreliability from any review besides yours.
Looks like he might have limp-wristed it. If so then not the gun's fault. As for the opinions of "professional instructors" there is a whole lot of hit or miss with "opinions."
These is my wife's carry piece, she loves it! Never had a malfunction and she practice regularly. Great value handgun.
This was my first carry gun when I was a broke college student. Once I graduated ann got some money, I upgraded to a Walther PPQ sub compact. Gave the Bersa to my sister as a Christmas present since she had just graduated herself and lives in a sketchy neighborhood.
Appreciate your balanced & thorough review (as usual) of this frequently-mentioned .380 pistol. Cheers!
I have the same exact model in the video. My attraction to the Bersa Thunder was DA/SA, I'm just much more skilled and comfortable with that method of operation. Of course it has a very attractive, old school look to it, which is very appealing to me. Overall I've found it to be a very good shooter!....even w/the aftermarket Mec-gar mags. Thanks Chris for doin this review 👍😎
I have a bersa firestorm that malfunctioned regularly until I took it apart and discovered it had a sharp burr around the chamber that cut in the bullet when chambering a round. I removed the burr and it has been reliable ever since. Factory oversight error I’m guessing. I like it.
Chris you're killing us - a second video in a row with no special words at the end. We miss the real Chris.
The special words were at the beginning this time. Try to keep up, Alex.
The Bersa Thunder with the threaded barrel option is awesome for a suppressor host. Fixed barrel means no need for a Nielsen Device. You can shoot subsonic .380 rounds all day, every day.
Great review. You said Beretta instead of Bersa around 4:02. As you said, nobody bats 1.000 ;)
Hah, oops.
@@LuckyGunner
Comes to mind with the outside trigger bar.
John Paciorek has 1.000, js
Gaedel has a 1.000 at bats which means every time he was up to bat he made it to base.
Btw he was a little person and his number was “1/8”
This was my mom’s concealed carry gun. She passed away a couple years ago and now it’s with me. It’s a decent little gun, I’d never personally carry it, but I do keep it in the get home bag I keep in my truck.
Had one for 4 years. Never gave me much issue. Had to buy a new safety switch, otherwise issue free. A little polishing on the feed ramp, and a little more on the underside of the slide made it run butter smooth. Would buy another if I needed a different cc.
I've had one for 19 years and love it. Fantastic value
I purchased one in the early 2000's. I found it to be very reliable and is still my 'go to' gun for summer carry. I do agree that the safety is a bit akward, and would not be ideal for a novice. I had a lot of muscle memory from the Army M9 Beretta in that regard, so that wasn't much of an issue.
Never heard of this gun until today, my grandfather had this in his collection for a while and gifted It to me today so came here to learn about it 👌
I have the "CC" (Conceal Carry) version (abbreviated beaver tail and smoother sights). I found it surprisingly easy to shoot and VERY accurate. The "smooth body" version does land itself to "no snag" pocket carry, and no slide bite. It is a bit snappy, but quite manageable. Only time I had issues with it is when I used SigSauer ammo. I literally could not finish one mag without stove pipe. With any other ammo- gun was perfectly reliable. And I while it might be in the same size category, I would not compare it to "modern" guns, esp. not the strike fire ones. You are simply not comparing apples to apples.
Just got one and brought it to the range today. Had a couple jams at first, only with a full magazine - I think it just needed some breaking in because I had zero issues after 2 or 3 magazines. Quite possibly user error too, so there’s that. I like that it doesn’t feel like it’s going to fly out of my hand.
I always enjoyed mine even though feature-wise it's a bit outdated. Great for CCW though in the "affordable" price range. Great for smaller hands. As a company (overall) I really enjoy Bersa. Thier older model Thunder Pro 9mm had an amazing trigger!
All Bersa firearms have a lifetime warranty, as least they did when i bought my last one? This applies whether you are the first or the 10th owner from what I understand? While I have never had to use it, others claim its great with no questions asked from what I have read? While I do not have the .380 I have been shooting other Bersa pistols for almost 15 years and my favorite is the Thunder 45 ultra compact pro. The all steel frame is heavy and only has an 8 round capacity (7+1) but I love the DA/SA, trigger pull and it has ambidextrous controls for the decocker and slide catch.
I was taught to shoot by my step dad who was a US Army small arms instructor during the Korean war.and you can bet there was only one pistol he felt worthy enough for his trigger finger? The Colt 1911 and he had quite the collection! With that being said, I have quite the affinity for heavy steel frame pistols like the Bersa 45, 1911 and Beretta M9 etc. He gave me an H&R 9 shot .22 pistol for my 10th birthday and it too was fairly big (At least I thought it was at that age Lol) and they only got bigger as I got older until I "graduated" after some practice with my own 1911 he gave me when I turned 18.
The newer polymer Glocks and others are Ok but I seem to shoot better with heavier weapons? I guess it's all in what you are used to? All in all, Bersa seems to make a decent gun for the money? I have heard stories about people having lots of issues with the first batch of .380's that were imported to the USA but it seems that quality control has been implemented at some point? Just like the Dodge, Chevy Chrysler argument over which one is better, they all break once and awhile? If we both drive and make it 300 miles with you in a 2021 Mercedes and me in a 1977 Ford Pinto the end result is the same I guess?, except it cost me a lot less to get there, Lol
After I bought my Bersa Thunder .380 around 2009, my trigger broke after only 200 rounds when I first bought it. I didn’t fix it for nearly 13 years I was so mad. Then I just got it fixed and have shot over 500 rounds with no issues. I love it…for now.
My sister in law carries one of these, and I find it to be slightly more accurate than even my personal p238. It is bigger so I bet that helps, but as far as recoil, this thing is really snappy in comparison. The fixed barrel really translates into recoil, so the sig p238 with its tilting barrel feels better to shoot. But for an inexpensive gun, it is really good.
Thanks for finally doin a Thunder 380 review. I own one...and I feel your assessment was pretty fair! I myself have been pretty impressed with the example I purchased. I haven't had any malfunctions, and it's a pretty darn good looking handgun. Again...thanks Chris.
If you haven’t checked Mec-Gar yet, they make great magazines for this gun. Unfortunately they’re sold out right now but hopefully your pro mags will keep up for long.
Unfortunately they're sold out of every damn mag I want. It makes me sad.
@@kuuryotwo5153 Damn! I should’ve gotten that Second Amendment stamped 1911 mag when I had the chance.
There's a Mec-Gar in mine right now. Good mags. Zero issues with them, and I can fit in an extra round.
Whenever I go to their website to buy a 1911 magazine with the 2nd Amendment on it they are out of stock.
@@AlexKS1992 Damn. I still need to get me one of those.
I had a 14 round Bersa 380 back in the 90's, it was one of the models made before the Thunder series. This was a wonderful pistol with a nice trigger with great accuracy. Now I'm planning to get a Thunder 380 plus.
I have a Thunder .380. I enjoy it. It fits my smaller hands extremely well and I’m very accurate with it. I have not had any issues with it. I think those are the reasons to own any pistol.
Agreed on that last point. Right after college, I worked night shift at a hotel and was completely broke. I had a 9mm CZ-75B and a Walther P22. I carried the dinky P22 because I could actually afford to practice with it. It eventually fell to pieces, as you'd expect from a mystery metal and plastic gun, but it went a solid 20k rounds before doing so. I make a bit more money now and wouldn't even remotely consider carrying such a gun these days, but that's the advantage of having a bigger budget. Sometimes ammo price really is the #1 determining factor.
My wife has the Bersa Thunder in .380. She really never developed an affinity for it. I like it because...hey...James Bond...c’mon! It shoots pretty good. It doesn’t like my reloads for some reason and I have no idea why. Another reason .380 is not the best choice is it’s way more expensive than 9mm...even before the lunacy of the last two years!
Bought one for my Wife. She had Carpal Tunnel and the recoil was a bit much for her. Got her a different gun and I’ve used it as my secondary Cary gun since. Love it’s accuracy and reliability.
Actually sold a smith and Wesson ez recently because it was unreliable in a novice’s hands. The muzzle blast created such a flinch that it would impede the slide reciprocating properly. They carry a revolver now. It kicks harder, but your grip won’t make it unreliable. Sure training would take care of it, but you need ammo to train, and you might need to protect yourself now!
It's called limp wristing!
I have an older Bersa 380, does not have the lock. Bought it new. first magazine, it jammed every other shot, second mag jammed 3 times. Third mag, no problems and has never jammed since. It is also plenty accurate at self defense ranges.