Bersa 380 magazine problem

[DAP90]

I’ve been using a Bersa Thunder 380 for concealed carry. I’ve liked both carrying and shooting it but I’m not very experienced when it comes to CC.

Today, while loading a magazine, I dropped a full magazine onto a tile floor. The plastic grip extension on the bottom of the magazine broke. The grip extension also serves as the floor plate of the mag. The spring shot some ten feet and all the rounds fell out of the bottom of the magazine.

I’m now envisioning some self defense situation where I am knocked down and hit the bottom of the gun on the ground, creating a similar situation as today. I’d now have, at best, a single shot gun with the one round in the chamber.

What bothers me, beyond the problem above, is these things aren’t cheap. I can’t remember what I paid for the extra magazines but it wasn’t much below $30 I don’t think.

Is it too much to ask to put a metal floor plate on and a plastic grip extension over that? I’m actually considering selling it over this. Am I over thinking this?

 

[MICHAEL T]

PM sent .

 

[10-96]

I'm not sure of how Michael is helping, but my 2 cents worth is that if you're comfortable with the Bersa (and it's well broken in)- there's no need in getting rid of it. Pro-Mag and I'm sure a couple of other folks make some pretty good aftermarket magazines that are relatively easy to come by. Look around and see if you can find one with a metal base plate, or get in the habit of carrying an extra magazine which isn't a bad idea anyhow.

 

[DAP90]

10-96

You're right of course, and I do like the Bersa. I was more irritated with myself than anything.

I've been pointed to a place that has the factory baseplates and found an aftermarket version that claims to have been subjected to drop tests. No specifics on the tests but I'll email the company and ask.

Still, I'm surprised the baseplate wasn't metal to begin with and the grip extension an add on piece.

No metal base plates that I've found yet.

 

[M1key]

There are many factory mags that don't have metal base plates. Not a problem, unless you drop them...or throw them.

Just don't do it.


M

 

[MedWheeler]

If your gun is like most Bersa Thunder examples, the magazine release is quite stiff. This makes an accidental ejection of the magazine even less likely, so you only need to not drop it yourself during a magazine change which, in itself, is an extremely unlikely event in a self-defense scenario.
I did see once, on eBay, flat floor plates for the Bersa magazine offered for sale to people interested in making the gun a little more discreet to carry, I guess. I think they were made of metal.
I trust my Bersa, and carried it regularly for nearly a year, until I acquired a Kel-Tec PF-9 (the Kel-Tec simply won the "concealment" contest; I had no misgivings carrying the Bersa otherwise.)