I am trying to make a good decision on my next handgun I've looked at Bersa which people are 50/50 on, had a ruger which was to big to conceal just want a good comfortable and reliable gun to carry can anyone give me any suggestions or advise
Need some pistol advice
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Welcome to the Bersa Firearms Forum markle936 !!
If you looking for a concealed carry firearm for self protection,
Bersa has a great line-up...
http://www.bersa.com/
If you looking for a concealed carry firearm for self protection,
Bersa has a great line-up...
http://www.bersa.com/
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A lot depends on HOW you plan to carry (pocket, inside belt, outside belt, ankle, etc). What model Ruger did you have that was too big?
The right holster and belt can go a long way to making carry comfortable. Concealment is sometimes more of a challenge, though. It all depends on how you choose to dress and what kind of trade-off you are willing to make between convenience/comfort and weapon effectivness.
Of the choices in the Bersa line, the three I'd look at most closely are the 380cc (8+1 round of .380), which is pocketable but still a bit larger than you might want for everyday pocket carry, the BP9cc which is a single-stack 9mm, or the UC 9 Pro, a 13+1 9mm.
There are other good choices out there but since this is a Bersa forum I'm assuming you were interested in that brand and not others.
The right holster and belt can go a long way to making carry comfortable. Concealment is sometimes more of a challenge, though. It all depends on how you choose to dress and what kind of trade-off you are willing to make between convenience/comfort and weapon effectivness.
Of the choices in the Bersa line, the three I'd look at most closely are the 380cc (8+1 round of .380), which is pocketable but still a bit larger than you might want for everyday pocket carry, the BP9cc which is a single-stack 9mm, or the UC 9 Pro, a 13+1 9mm.
There are other good choices out there but since this is a Bersa forum I'm assuming you were interested in that brand and not others.
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Only Bersa models I have owned are the .380s. I had a couple of the 383s and several of the Thunder models. All were used. Never had any problems with any of them. Feed just about any crap ammo I put in them and they wre suprisingly accrate.
I have tried a few of the poly frame guns that were lighter and all DAO. Some compared in size to the Bersa .380 and were 9 mils with more rounds. Always went back to the Bersa .380s. The tiny, light .380s are great for carry, but I found it hard to hit anything small or anything at a good distance. They were strictly up close and personal guns. The 9s were much the same.
So alot of the time I found myself carrying the Bersa .380s. I like the SA/DA guns and external, thumb coclking hammer that the DAO guns lack. It's still concealable, but heavier. But accuracy at a longer range is more to my liking also.
Haven't owned any of the other Bersa models, so I can not comment on them. However, there are others on this board that have had good experieces with them.
I have tried a few of the poly frame guns that were lighter and all DAO. Some compared in size to the Bersa .380 and were 9 mils with more rounds. Always went back to the Bersa .380s. The tiny, light .380s are great for carry, but I found it hard to hit anything small or anything at a good distance. They were strictly up close and personal guns. The 9s were much the same.
So alot of the time I found myself carrying the Bersa .380s. I like the SA/DA guns and external, thumb coclking hammer that the DAO guns lack. It's still concealable, but heavier. But accuracy at a longer range is more to my liking also.
Haven't owned any of the other Bersa models, so I can not comment on them. However, there are others on this board that have had good experieces with them.
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I think the Thunder 9mm UC Compact is a true winner! Of course if you want to go with a "Forty Something" caliber then you can move up to the .40 SW model. As everyone has said, these are all very reliable, full featured handguns that are reasonably priced, sturdy and steel!! You just can't go wrong with one of these!!
I carry concealed a 380 firestorm and it is lite and very reliable true it is a close up gun but in almost any circumstance that you will need a gun for defense it will be most likely up close. I haven't had one bit of trouble and have never had a miss feed of any kind. I have other guns but this isa my primary for concealment
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I have and highly recommend the Bersa Thunder9 UltraCompact Pro in 9mm. Awesome gun, quality, value, and firepower in DA/SA 13+1 capacity! Mine now has over 1,000 rounds through it with FLAWLESS FUNCTIONING! It generally gets four and five star reviews from owners.
I have a BP9CC and like it a lot. Conceals easily, comfortable in my hand, nice trigger feel, hasn't given me a problem of ANY kind. Recoil is minimal; it's a cinch to break down and clean. I've seen comments elsewhere to the effect that slide bite is a problem -- you'd have to really WORK at it to get bit, IMO. What's not to like? I give it five stars.
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I love my BP9cc... enuff said 
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I own 3 Bersas. The Thunder UC 9mm is my favorite to shoot but is not comfortable as a pocket gun which is where I like to carry. I carry the Thunder 380CC daily and think is is great. It is light accurate and comfortable in my pocket. I also have the Thnder 22 just for practice, it is the same size and weight as the 380 but much cheaper to shoot. Many people will tell you that anything less tha a 9mm is too small to carry but I use to be an x-ray tech in a morgue and have filmed many many people killed by a 22 so I think the 380 is very adequate. I hope this helps.
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I just bought my first hand gun, a Bersa Thunder 380. I have been reading different blogs about types of ammo to use, how to keep it clean, etc. but would like to know what I should be doing first. I bought a cleaning kit and have watched videos on how to clean it. Do I need to use anything special to do the initial cleaning before firing it at a range? How many rounds should be fired initially to break it in? Should I do it over a short period of time and after the break in period how often do you recommend going to a range? I am sorry to be asking so many questions but I have not used a weapon since I was in the National Guard in 1976 and that was an M-16. Pistols are new to me and I just want to learn to use it properly for when I may need it. I did sign up for the CC class to get my permit. Would appreciate any advice.
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Got me a thunder 380 and fed Remington thru it with 2 smoke stacks.....this was the first full mag in this new gun......anyone else with this issue after initial out of box cleaning? Is this going to be reliable? I have a glock 26 I can carry as we'll and I know it's reliable...but I prefer the 380 over this in every other way!
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@Zinger55, welcome to the forum! You purchased a very nice handgun that should give you a lifetime of service. It's important to do an intitial thorough cleaning of it however. There is quite often machining debris and crud left over from the manufacturing process. Don't let anyone tell you different and they will. Any good gun cleaner will serve the purpose, things like Rem Oil, Break Free, Hoppe's or Ezzox will do just fine. I recommend using one of the combination products like Ezzox or Break Free, they simplify the process and do a great job of cleaning, lubricating and protecting your new purchase for the years you plan to keep it and depend on it.
As far as breaking it in, that's going to depend on how quickly you want to do it. I suggest putting 200-300 rounds through it before considering it broken in. You shouldn't have any failures to feed, fire or eject following a proper break in period. You may have the occasional failure, we all do but it shouldn't be often by any means. You can't depend on your weapon for protection and certainly not as a concealed carry weapon if you're experiencing failures of any kind. As you're breaking in your new pistol, I would stop every 25-30 rounds and run a wet patch/dry patch down the barrel to keep it clean. That will help with barrel break in. Just make sure your pistol isn't loaded prior to the cleaning process! Always drop the magazine and check your chamber before doing anything to your pistol and always before handing it to another person. I would use a FMJ round, something like Blazer, or Winchester White Box ammunition for general target practice and for your break in. Your choice of defensive ammunition can be discussed at a later time when you're ready. Good luck, be safe and have fun!!
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Thank you for responding. I appreciate the information and watched a video on cleaning my Bersa so now that has been done. Hoping to get to an inside range next weekend. I will keep you posted on my progress).
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