Bersa - Yes? No?

[Fester60]

I like Bersa. I had a Thunder Ultra Compact in 9 and 45 in the past. I got rid of them because I didn't carry them and didn't really need them but they never malfunctioned. I have a Thunder 9 HC now which is their full size 9 and love it. Great full size hammer fired gun. I actually like it better than my Beretta 92FS for what that's worth. Extra mags are a little pricey but aren't impossible to find.

 

[NOVA1]

Blaster,

Yes, I did read the comments. You seemed to indicate that a Bersa was not trustworthy. I apologize if I misread you. I guess I am just passionate about Bersa firearms because I have had very good experiences with them and I believe they represent a great value.

 

[StantonCree]

I don't have a problem with Bersas they do what they are intended to do. I have a problem with folks carrying blowback designed guns.

 

[clandestine]

No. Bersa is junk IME.

I worked on a shit ton of them.

 

[knastera]

No. Bersa is junk.

Every single Bersa? How many models have you owned? My Bersa Thunder 380 is great and I can point at lots of people on MDS that have the same testimony.


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[clandestine]

Every single Bersa? How many models have you owned? My Bersa Thunder 380 is great and I can point at lots of people on MDS that have the same testimony.


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I don't have a repair log in front of me but at least a hundred or more of them over 13 years of being a gunsmith.

 

[SummitCnty]

My wife has the mini 9 and it's worked every time I've pulled the trigger. Granted I don't have thousands of rounds through it but we have been happy with it.

 

[John from MD]

I owned several Bersa's over the years. All of them were reliable and well made considering the lower than most price. In fact, I carried a Bersa .380 for sometime as a backup gun. I have worked on a couple that needed some fluff and buff but never saw any real issues with them. When I carried my Bersa, I competed with it in local and regional IDPA bug gun matches. It never let me down.

 

[knastera]

I don't have a repair log in front of me but at least a hundred or more of them over 13 years of being a gunsmith.

Thanks for sharing that. I can always appreciate an informed opinion. More often than not, when I see a terse statement that derides every gun made by a manufacturer, it is from someone that read about it somewhere and has never actually operated the firearm in question. Did you see any particular pattern? My only Bersa experience is with the Thunder 380 and the only Bersa reviews I've taken the time to read were for that model.

I have found that several of the lower priced lines have good and bad models. Taurus is a good example of that. I have a PT1911 and a Rossi (made by Taurus) R971 and they are both outstanding firearms. Yet I know they had bad runs with the Millennium series.


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[Blaster229]

Blaster,

Yes, I did read the comments. You seemed to indicate that a Bersa was not trustworthy. I apologize if I misread you. I guess I am just passionate about Bersa firearms because I have had very good experiences with them and I believe they represent a great value.

Quite the opposite. I did say it would probably fire that all important first shot and probably wouldn't be a problem at all. I am just a big brand name fanboy.

I look at it this way, which brand would someone take for free, a Bersa or a similar other brand name pistol?

 

[StantonCree]

Quite the opposite. I did say it would probably fire that all important first shot and probably wouldn't be a problem at all. I am just a big brand name fanboy.

I look at it this way, which brand would someone take for free, a Bersa or a similar other brand name pistol?

Same boat bro!!! At least on most models. Everyone has this grand idea that they can draw, two hand grip, aim and fire in a CCW situation. Fact is that's a freaking myth!!! Next shoot I'll reinact my buddy shooting a carjacker....... looked like a damn circus move and I'm pretty sure he said "ahhhh" while 1 handed fire and dive.

Blowback designs are TERRIBLE for this!!!

 

[Jimbob2.0]

I have a Bersa Thunder UC Pro 9 (the 9mm version of the pistol you are looking at). It is a fantastic pistol and is my ED carry. I am thinking about buying a second one as a spare.

I have probably shot about 3,000 rounds through this pistol and I have not had one misfire- ever. I wish I could say the same for my Rugers. I doubt those in this thread who crap on this brand have had much actual experience with the brand.

Buy the pistol. I highly doubt you will regret it.

Isnt that the truth.

 

[HordesOfKailas]

I love my Bersa. I would trust my life to it in a pinch, but I wouldn't EDC. I have a 380 Thunder in FDE and I've shot it quite a lot. So my take is this:

Pros: pretty much POI up to 25 yards, slim, light, generally snag free
Cons: the round (although my preferred SD ammo, Fiocchi Extrema, is honestly quite impressive), blowback (weakish round and limp wristing WILL cause failures to feed), magazine disconnect

I don't use external safeties when I carry (only get to do it outside of MD ) so the presence or absence is not a big deal. I DO NOT like the mag disconnect for SD mainly because it's another thing to break. I love it for teaching because it's another safety for an inexperienced shooter.

It's a good gun in general, great for the price, but maybe not 100% suited for EDC.

 

[Biggfoot44]

It's a 27oz-ish , alloy frame DA/SA . My current favored carry .45acp is alloy framed DA/SA , so obviously I'm not opposed to the concept, and feel it's a viable option for a belt gun.

If the tooth fairy were to give me any pistol for free ( and not requiring an HQL), I probably wouldn't ask for a Bersa . If a new pistol in .45acp with $400-ish price point were a perameter, Bersa would be on the short list to look at. ( I'm being literal. At this price point, I'd have to go hands on with specific pistols in consideration, and not order sight unseen.)( Nobody asked, but in this price range, I would definately look at Stoger Cougar.)

 

[Aamdskeetshooter]

OP
With all the other more well known/established brands what made you choose Bersa? I don't think price should be the number one priority in a self defense gun. I would buy a used name brand gun if money was an issue.


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[Fox123]

Same boat bro!!! At least on most models. Everyone has this grand idea that they can draw, two hand grip, aim and fire in a CCW situation. Fact is that's a freaking myth!!! Next shoot I'll reinact my buddy shooting a carjacker....... looked like a damn circus move and I'm pretty sure he said "ahhhh" while 1 handed fire and dive.

Blowback designs are TERRIBLE for this!!!

I think you are confusing the gun in question with their ppk clone.

The gun the op is considering uses a browning action the same as just about every modern HG out there. It's not a blowback design.

 

[StantonCree]

I think you are confusing the gun in question with their ppk clone.

The gun the op is considering uses a browning action the same as just about every modern HG out there. It's not a blowback design.

I actually did look that up before I responded and saw that! I was responding to blaster cuz there was previous Bersa thread Blaster quoted me on. I'm not a bersa hater just don't want folks carrying there blow back versions.

 

[Aamdskeetshooter]

These are a hell of a deal.

https://www.mdshooters.com/showthread.php?p=4760018

 

[cowboy321]

I have had no issues with the 380 or 22 thunder and would carry either. Please no debates about caliber.
For the price point, they are great. Like any tool, if you take care of it, it will take care of you.

MY 380 is flawless. Bought the day after 9/11. Safety allows you to chamber a round with the hammer blocked. You can get Crimson sights..

 

[clandestine]

Thanks for sharing that. I can always appreciate an informed opinion. More often than not, when I see a terse statement that derides every gun made by a manufacturer, it is from someone that read about it somewhere and has never actually operated the firearm in question. Did you see any particular pattern? My only Bersa experience is with the Thunder 380 and the only Bersa reviews I've taken the time to read were for that model.

I have found that several of the lower priced lines have good and bad models. Taurus is a good example of that. I have a PT1911 and a Rossi (made by Taurus) R971 and they are both outstanding firearms. Yet I know they had bad runs with the Millennium series.


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Its been a few years since I have one any work on them, but here is what I remember being common issues:

-Parts with shallow or insufficient heat treat, or inferior material.
-Poor quality Springs (Mainly Trigger Return or Extractor)
-Broken, dull, or burred Extractors (Feeding & Extraction Issues)
-Rough Breach Face (Feeding Issues)
-Problematic Magazines
-Rough Feed Ramps and/or Rough or peened Chamber Mouth
-Broken Firing Pins

To be fair, all brands of handguns can have this issue, but the overall quality of the guns always stuck me as lacking, but it they often had one or more issues listed above.

My comment is not meant to insult owners, Im just conveying my experience and my personal feelings on the quality of the brand. I wouldnt keep one i it was a gift.