Bersa Thunder .380 Update

3453 Views 7 Replies 5 Participants Last post by ponderwilu, Feb 2, 2014

ponderwilu

Discussion Starter · Jan 28, 2014 (Edited)

Well, I've owned the "little pistol that could" for a year now. It's a great performer. The original Walther PPK (now manufactured by Smith & Wesson) is priced at twice as much but is it really twice as good?
http://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog/...1_55/products_id/90014/WAL+2246001+PPK+SS+380
http://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog/product_info.php/products_id/25381
Several more trips to the range without any major hiccups using Magtech 95 gr. FMJ and Blazer 95gr. FMJ. I added a few goodies that seem to work well. First is the Bianchi 100 S-9 Inside the Waistband Holster (for lefties). Tip: For break-in; wrap the pistol in regular wax paper and insert snugly into holster and leave it overnight.
http://www.bianchi-intl.com/model-100-professional-inside-waistband-holster
Fits the Bersa like a glove and has a very low footprint with a pull over shirt.
Then I invested in the Crimson Trace Lasergrip LG-442
http://www.crimsontrace.com/products/manufacturer/bersa/01-2440
It came factory preset and needed no adjustments. The Laser is turned "on" with a very small slide switch located on the bottom of the left handle and then can be "activated" by another momentary contact switch, whenever you choose, by the slightest pressure of your firing middle finger... sweet! Batteries are still working after several months of occasional use and nightly bedside storage. Really nice to point and shoot in panic mode knowing you'll hit only what is intended in the dark of night. Worth every penny IMHO.
http://www.crimsontrace.com/products/manufacturer/bersa/01-2440
No complaints. She fits my hand easily and comfortably as if designed just for me. A great little shooter that deserves it's reputation.

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snakeye

· #2 · Jan 30, 2014

Nice set up.....yeah they are great pistols

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ponderwilu

Discussion Starter · #3 · Jan 30, 2014

snakeye said:
Nice set up.....yeah they are great pistols

Thanks! True ... the Walther has a nicer fit & finish but the Bersa shoots great and that's what it's all about.

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qwiksdraw

· #4 · Jan 30, 2014

Good report, thanks!

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Pancho_Villa

· #5 · Jan 31, 2014

A buddy came ove a couple of years ago and we fired his Walther next to my Bersa. He has one of tthe older "Interarms" imports. The recoil on the Walther was a bit more smappy. Size, not much diference. Accureacy of the Bersa was way better especially at longer distances. He liked mine so much, He went and got one.

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ponderwilu

Discussion Starter · #6 · Jan 31, 2014 (Edited)

Pancho_Villa said:
A buddy came ove a couple of years ago and we fired his Walther next to my Bersa. He has one of tthe older "Interarms" imports. The recoil on the Walther was a bit more smappy. Size, not much diference. Accureacy of the Bersa was way better especially at longer distances. He liked mine so much, He went and got one.

I'm 60 now. Boy ... them' years rolled up fast. When I was in my early twenties a buddy of mine and me took up shooting. We both had .357 wheelguns. He bought one of those fancy-dancy Dan Wesson's with a six inch bull barrel and I landed on a beautiful S&W Model 19 in stainless. I couldn't afford to keep shooting new ammo so I bought a base model Lee loader and at the kitchen table reloaded all my spent casings. The point?
I guess I'm "old-school". And when I finally decided to get my first auto I bought into the hype and purchased a pretty as hell Kimber 1911 when they were up and coming as a great manufacturer. Bottom line .... didn't like it. I dunno .... probably just me, but it was a lot of effort to shoot. Heavy recoil ... hard to zero in on targets. Just wasn't fun. A guy at the range had a Beretta 92 9mm. He let me run a few rounds thru it. To me it was night and day over the Kimber. What a pleasant shooting experience. I could have shot that damn thing all day! Relatively low impact recoil and I had no issues zeroing in on the target. I went out the next day and bought my own. But now years later I wanted a bedside companion that was a shade smaller and easier to whip around. I looked at the myriad of choices out there today. But being an old fart I wanted a pistol that I could visually see chambered with a hammer I could control one way or the other. My Nephew is a Sherriff and carries a Glock .40. I can't tell what state that damn things in. Kicks like a mule! He carries it in battery and ready to go. I wanted a few more safety features. I looked at the Walther PPK/S from S&W but there were problems and a recall. Then, by dumb luck, I read some good reviews on the Bersa .380 and after seeing hickok45's YouTube take on it I bought one. What a great underrated pistol it turned out to be. Fun to shoot, easy to clean and the perfect size for this old geezer to keep him safe at night!
Didn't mean to ramble on my brother ... but that's what forums are about sometimes. Peace Mike
[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-_RWl6L0BnU[/ame]

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9UC

· #7 · Feb 1, 2014

ponderwilu said:
Well, I've owned the "little pistol that could" for a year now. It's a great performer. The original Walther PPK (now manufactured by Smith & Wesson) is priced at twice as much but is it really twice as good?
.......No complaints. She fits my hand easily and comfortably as if designed just for me. A great little shooter that deserves it's reputation.

I bought a new Walther PPK 380 three years ago thinking it's lighter slide pull would be better for DW as she has problems racking the BT380. For me, that was a very big mistake. I fired it once, took it apart to clean it and what a pain. to get it back together. After less than a month of ownership and the one firing, I took it back to the LGS and traded it even up for a five year old Bersa Nickle Plate BT380.

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ponderwilu

Discussion Starter · #8 · Feb 2, 2014 (Edited)

9UC said:
I bought a new Walther PPK 380 three years ago thinking it's lighter slide pull would be better for DW as she has problems racking the BT380. For me, that was a very big mistake. I fired it once, took it apart to clean it and what a pain. to get it back together. After less than a month of ownership and the one firing, I took it back to the LGS and traded it even up for a five year old Bersa Nickle Plate BT380.

Glad you decided to chime in. Tell you the truth, I was thinking very seriously of getting a "real" Walther PPK. Damn things look so good. The Bersa is like the red-headed stepchild. Kinda' ugly compared to it's pedigreed sibling. But it shoots so nice and feels so natural I'm happy enough with it's performance to overlook a few pimples here and there.
Knowing me I'll probably wind up with one someday ... but for now, I'm very happy with the ugly redheaded stepchild.
[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C3kShpN_CyQ[/ame]

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Bersa Thunder .380 Update

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