Bersa Magazine springs...

Status
Not open for further replies.
O

ohbythebay

Member
Joined
Apr 5, 2014
Messages
644
Location
Snohomish, WA
Suck big time.

Problem is they weaken relatively quickly. The symptom is round 7 of the 7 round magazine stovepipes. So what's the fix?

Well, twice now I have used the take down, stretch the spring about 1 to 1.5 inches. Bake at 425 degrees for 20 minutes. Let cool. Reassemble. Good as new...which is not that good because after about 50 to 60 rounds each, they start to weaken again.

I wonder if there is a strong replacement or if a shim at the bottom? My thought on the shim though is while it will keep it tight at first, will the spring still weaken ?

Thoughts ?

BTW...when the springs are tight, no stovepipe or FTF issues.
 
Are you talking about the Thunder .380? If so I have thousands of rounds through each of my mags over the last decade and they are on the original springs with no issues at all.

If you are having issues with the springs you can get MecGar 8 rounds mags for the .380 that are great as well.
 
Yes, Thunder 380

I wonder if it has to do with Lots...Some people have the issue, others do not. I know from the start they are tight..7th round tough to get in. After a bit, it gets easy where they pop right in...and that when #7 ftf starts.

I am trying an experiment. I ordered a mag spring (8 round) for a walther 380 from gunsprings.com. Going to try it in the 7 round bersa mag.

I know it will be tight but loading is not the issue. Keeping them tight is. I know many people blame the feed ramp...and I would agree if it wasn;t for the fact that when the mag springs are strong, it never happens...we'll see.
 
It could very well be different lots of springs.

Try the new springs and if they work then that's awesome. If not get one or two of the MecGars and try them. I love my MecGars.
 
There are two different part numbers for the Bersa Thunder magazines. Not sure what the difference is because they both look the same. I have both versions and one jams while the other works flawlessly.
 
That seems to be the answer

Like I said, ordered those 8 round springs

1) Hope they fit
2) Hope they are not TOO tight (can a mag spring excess pressure cause FTF ?)

I must have the crappy part number on my 3 mags because they start tight, feed awesome, then they get real easy...and problem arises.

Will report back when I get the experiment done. If It fails, will go with the MecGars...:D
 
ohbythebay said:
Like I said, ordered those 8 round springs

1) Hope they fit
2) Hope they are not TOO tight (can a mag spring excess pressure cause FTF ?)

I must have the crappy part number on my 3 mags because they start tight, feed awesome, then they get real easy...and problem arises.

Will report back when I get the experiment done. If It fails, will go with the MecGars...:D
Click to expand...
Exactly the problem I have also seen. And I would think that excessive spring pressure would cause issues, but I don't know for sure.
 
I have not had any problems with thousands of rounds with either the factory mags or the Promags which have weaker springs than the factory mags.
 
I hope it works for you! As mine has yet to fail but is some what new! I love the gun! It is most accurate and can shoot black birds at 25 yrds.!!
 
I enjoy it also

Pretty damn nice for the price and not a poly gun (I am not against poly guns, I own a Glock 19 Gen 4)...

I found my "dream gun" this past weekend. Amazing. Shot it at the range and now on the hunt to find one. I won't even say what it is until I get one so no one beats me to it...LOL
 
Cure for a too tight mag spring - download it by one. Either the mag was poorly designed and is overloaded with 8 rounds - or the spring was made from recycled Chinese tuna cans. If one extra round causes problems then it's not worth it. Buy the best springs you can find. They won't come from the manufacturer of the gun. They buy wholesale.
 
Have you tried to contact the manufacturer or importer of the Bersa and complain about magazine springs?
 
My Bersa Thunder is 10 yrs old . Still using original mag and spring . Not one bit of trouble and mag is always loaded as I use in my carry rotation
 
Wolff Springs recommends downloading a round or two for long-term storage for mag designs that have springs with little or no "reserve" when fully loaded. Don't know if that is the case with Bersa mags, but the comments in response #18 would suggest that this is NOT the case with your gun (if MICHAEL T keeps the mag fully loaded when it's not in the rotation.)

With some mag designs the springs are NOT fully compressed. If they are fully compressed when fully loaded; with those mags, where the springs are jammed tight, the springs can degrade. Just compressing and releasing the springs isn't the only thing that causes them to wear out: when stored and loaded, those springs are still working, trying to push those rounds against the top of the mag.

Springs that aren't fully compressed when loaded, like those in 7-round 1911 or a 10-round fullsize 9mm mags, will likely outlive the shooter.

(There have been a lot of discussions here on THR on this topic, some of it including a good bit of technical info.)
 
Last edited:
Haven't conatcted Bersa

I do know that a lot of folks have this problem...and some do not...which is why I said it might be lot specific.

I do plan on some spring experiments. I also just received a 9 round dlx mag...very nice ...but I am willing to bet it has the weaker spring also...just a feeling..

I think a lot of people who have had spring issues have blamed the feed ramp. I don't agree as any FTF problems (for me) which could seem like FTF were all mitigated by firming up the mag springs.
 
ohbythebay said:
I do know that a lot of folks have this problem...and some do not...which is why I said it might be lot specific.

I do plan on some spring experiments. I also just received a 9 round dlx mag...very nice ...but I am willing to bet it has the weaker spring also...just a feeling..

I think a lot of people who have had spring issues have blamed the feed ramp. I don't agree as any FTF problems (for me) which could seem like FTF were all mitigated by firming up the mag springs.
Click to expand...
If that's true why do my ProMag magazines with much weaker springs work flawlessly in both of my Thunder 380s?
 
kokapelli said:
If that's true why do my ProMag magazines with much weaker springs work flawlessly in both of my Thunder 380s?
Click to expand...

Can anyone provide a side by side pic of the promag spring and the bersa spring?


Material, wire diameter, heat treating, # of coils per inch, and a lot of other criteria will affect the springs properties.


Some cars/trucks have coil springs that have a more coils per in on 1 end of the spring than the other. They do this to change the ride characteristics (usually to soften the ride and keep the load capacity).
 
I don't know how to post a pic. OBYTHEBAY might? When he tells us about his new toy,:).
 
LOL...

I don't have a promag spring so I have no ability to do a side by side. The issue with stock Bersa springs (the ones that don't work) is that while they start stiff, the soften and break in excessively. Think of it as a ratio.

Amounts for example only

Spring A starts at 6 pounds pressure with 7 rounds, 5 pounds for the last round (as the spring expands).

Now it breaks in and say it is 5 pounds with 7 rounds, 3 pounds the last round. That 3 pounds may be insufficient.

Now, take spring 2 (better quality)starts at 6 pounds pressure with 7 rounds, 5 pounds for the last round (as the spring expands).

Now it breaks in and say it is 5.5 pounds with 7 rounds, 4 pounds the last round. The 4 pounds final round vs 3 pounds would make the difference.


I have Glock springs that have had twice as many rounds through them and no significant change in spring pressure.


So its about quality. Experiment springs on their way.... :D
 
Bersa_s_copy.jpg
[/url]
imag[/IMG]
ohbythebay said:
I don't have a promag spring so I have no ability to do a side by side. The issue with stock Bersa springs (the ones that don't work) is that while they start stiff, the soften and break in excessively. Think of it as a ratio.

Amounts for example only

Spring A starts at 6 pounds pressure with 7 rounds, 5 pounds for the last round (as the spring expands).

Now it breaks in and say it is 5 pounds with 7 rounds, 3 pounds the last round. That 3 pounds may be insufficient.

Now, take spring 2 (better quality)starts at 6 pounds pressure with 7 rounds, 5 pounds for the last round (as the spring expands).

Now it breaks in and say it is 5.5 pounds with 7 rounds, 4 pounds the last round. The 4 pounds final round vs 3 pounds would make the difference.


I have Glock springs that have had twice as many rounds through them and no significant change in spring pressure.


So its about quality. Experiment springs on their way.... :D
Click to expand...
None of that makes any difference to me as long as they work. Here is a picture of my original and ProMag magazines side X side along with the eight round magazine from my CC.

You may ask why I have three Bersa 380 pistols and it's because the first one I purchased was flawless so I decided to get another one and it too has been flawless and so I decided to purchase the CC which has been flawless as well.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Similar threads

O
  • Locked
Bersa Thunder 380 Mag spring fix
Replies
2
Views
1K
ohbythebay
O
Panzerschwein
  • Locked
Magazine Spring Life?
2
Replies
33
Views
3K
RX-79G
R
Hokkmike
  • Locked
Update on magazine spring question - twist!
Replies
3
Views
309
Hokkmike
Hokkmike
O
  • Locked
Bersa Thunder FTF issues - Solution Here
Replies
21
Views
11K
Evil-Twin
E
D
  • Locked
New PPK/S - few questions if anyone has experience
Replies
17
Views
1K
smirnoff a
S
Back
Top