All these people with Bersa Thunder .380s...

[WhoKnowsWho]

...and no comments about after market magazines! (Except one about high priced factory mags)

I was going to order some factory mags for my wife, but at $32 or so a pop, Pro Mag is looking really tempting. Maybe one more factory and two Pro Mags for the range. I have a few Pro Mags for other guns and they work fine, but I wish Chip McCormick or someone would make mags for other guns, like the Bersa, for like $16 or something.

So anyone find a cache of inexpensive factory mags? How bad has your experience been with after market mags for the Bersa Thunder?

 

[WonderNine]

I wonder who has the contract to make factory mags for Bersa? Or do they make their own?

 

[slh02]

I went the cheap route and just bought a pro-mag for the bersa. It has functioned 100% so far (with about 150 rds through it), but the spring is noticeably weaker than the factory mag. For the 11 bucks that they run, I think they are great. They do not have the pinky rest, which can be a good or bad thing depending on intended use.

 

[CWatson]

I got a factory mag from [cdnninvestments.com] for $20 while on sale.They have been out of stock for many months now though.Before that I bought a couple no name ones at a gunshow in Glendale CA for $8.00 each.The metal is thick as a factory mag,not thin like you expect from USA or Promag brands.The follower is shaped like the ones on my factory mags not the flat ones that look like they have been cut from sheet metal you see on the cheapos,the springs feel as strong as the factory ones also.The bottom of the mag is flat without the finger extension of the factory.

I do 90%of my range shooting with these,the other 10% I use the factory ones and shoot up the carry ammo in it to keep it rotated.Over 550 round through them so far and they have no function trouble.I am keeping one loaded and if the spring does not appear to weaken I will start using them for carry because without the finger exstension I can put the gun in my front pocket.

I have the card from they guy I bought them from and the info on it is:[www.bullseyesport.com] ( 562)547-6562 and says his name is Vince Torres,PO Box 2375 Downey,CA .90242.The site does not show them,or any other mags but call the number because he must still sell them because at the shows this guy only sells mags.

Hope that helps,CWatson

 

[WhoKnowsWho]

WonderNine: Well, the Bersa mag says FireStorm and Argentina and such on it. So it looks like their own manufacturing.

CWatson: Yeah, I saw that price too, maybe they get 6 or something a month and I just always call when they run out.

Too bad Wolff doesn't make mag springs for the Bersa.

Guess I will order some Pro Mags next month and see how they work. Thanks all!

 

[Gary A]

Whoknowswho - I'm not sure if you're looking for range mags or extra mags for "real" use and I'm as aware of the cost of firearms and their related expenses as much as anyone, that's for sure, so take no offense when I suggest that perhaps magazines are the very last place to save money on a firearm, especially if there is a chance that firearm could be needed to save life and limb. If it is a defense pistol, I would bitch but pony up for the factory mags. One notable exception is Mec-Gar, in my book abutI don't know if Mec-Gar makes Bersa magazines. Just my .02. Be well.

 

[jzimm9mm]

I got a pair of aftermarket magazines, and for the life of me I can't remember if they were USA Mags or ProMag, but they needed a lot of help to function at all in my wife's Bersa. I spent some quality time with a Dremel tool on the lips to clearance them enough so the mag would just lock into the gun! They have not been reliable at all, and they don't have the finger rest. I bought them so I didn't have to wear out the factory magazine, which has been perfectly reliable since day one. If you plan to use the pistol for defense, pleeeeeze use factory magazines.

Jer..

 

[P95Carry]

I bought an extended mag not too long ago ..... can i remember where?? Was it CDNN ...... was it gun show ....... and make? Damned if I know/remember!!

Lot of help eh?! Sorry.

However .. the outward appearance is good and very ''Bersa like'' .... I did tho have to do some careful needle file work on the mag catch engagement slot ... because when inserted the lip on left just came up against ejector. A removal of only a small amount of material from top of notch - and now it goes all ways in and locks up just fine. Feed seems no problem.

I tend to expect that an after market mag will almost always need a tweak ... if that is all and no serious trouble then I am neither surprised not too disappointed.

 

[itgoesboom]

I have 3 mags for my Bersa, one factory and 2 pro mags. The pro mags have been 100% so far after one year of use.

The only failure I have ever had was with the factory mag.

I.G.B.

 

[Gary A]

itgoesboom - Now there you went and did it...came up with experience completely at odds with the "factory mag" argument. Maybe the better suggestion is to just make sure the magazines someone depends on are proven reliable in that pistol. Thanks for the reminder that every combination is unique to itself and nothiing is certain until proven so.

 

[Backwoods]

Oddly enough a buddy of mine just asked me to fix one of his Bersa .380 pistols. It's one of the older model 83s that were imported by an outfit in Glenview Ill.

The trigger spring is broken, a simple job that will take longer geting the $1.50 part than anything else. I'm going to wait 'til after New Years to order the spring and avoid any holiday mix-ups.

He has another Bersa, identical to this one and swears by them. He bought the one that needs a spring for really cheap, once I get it fixed maybe I can talk him out of it!

I agree that $30+ for a rather simple magazine, sucks.

Don in Ohio

 

[WhoKnowsWho]

Gary A: The Bersa is her carry piece, and the after market mags are for range use. I prefer factory for carry, but as itgoesboom pointed out, they are not automatically flawless. All the mags will be tested thoroughly before she carries the gun with any of them. But she needs to practice more... so Pro Mag it is.

I contacted Mec Gar a while ago about if they are going to make more mags for newer stuff or popular stuff, and never got a response.

 

[horge]

BERSA make their own mags, and account for the bulk of world supply.
As indicated, Pro-Mag and a few other third-party magmakers also support Thunder 380, but usually without including a pinky-rest floorplate.

Bersa Blued 9 rounders cost US$18 here;
Bersa Nickel 9 rounders cost US$27;
Third-party stainless 7 rounders cost about US$32.

I've never had live failures with either factory or third-party, but I once had a Pachmayr snapcap that would get stuck in the factory mags every so often, not coming up enough to get chambered. Turns out, the rim of the casing was a hair too wide.



horge

 

[71Commander]

Hey, Bersa owners, I posted a link in the accessories section for a pair of wood grips for the Thunder. I have a Firestorm Can't use them.

It's not my auction. I just ran accross it looking for mags. Hope it helps someone