mack69
Member
Now I know it ain't a 1911 but...
Last weekend I was over at the local GM (Gander Mountain) to restock my reloading supplies as they are currently having a sale running. I wandered over to the firearms section for a look see....Nothing really jumped out and grabbed me until I was almost ready to exit...then it happened...A little Bersa .380 Thunder Duo-tone started calling my name...Now I have never even really so much as looked at a little gun like this since I was a youngin and carried a .32 auto (mouse gun I know)...all my other guns are heavy metal...but this thing really caught my eye. So I asked the kindly gent behind the crazed counter if I could check it out. Drop mag, press check smooth...Guy actually was surprised I did that...said most folk don't they just take it for granted the guns are always unloaded Anyway....I fondle it a bit, and dry fire (after asking of course) and like the way it felt. Stripped and reassembled it in under 2 minutes. Action seemed quite smooth, fit and finish was excellent, no wobble slide to frame. Big 3 dot white sights, nice grip with a finger groove on the bottom of the mag. The Thunder has a 3 position manual safety with decock, also has a key lock safety on the frame to deactivate trigger and slide. Only came with one 7 round mag standard. Price tag on it was $199. By the time I was done swappin stories etc with the counter gent I had a new addition to the family...the gun, 2 mags, holster and 100 rounds of ammo $189 OTD. Of course I had to wait the obligatory 72 hours to pick it up...Picked it up on Wednesday afternoon, took it home and cleaned it up...have to say this was the gooeyist new gun I have ever cleaned up. This gun also strips so easy it's almost silly. Cleaned up nice well lubed and all functional.
Took it to the range yesterday to try her out and introduce her to her BIG brothers and sisters. I was very pleased....first shots outta the box were all on paper, though not exactly where I wanted them See the target on right pics below. The rear sight is adjustable and I tweaked it a bit...next shots were all pretty much where I wanted them (yes there are 7 shots on the pic on the left.) after I got used to the generous recoil of this little gun. I have to admit that I did not give this little gun the respect it was due....after all it is a 9mm short... Anyway function was flawless, I put 300 rounds of WWB bulk pack (Wally World) with a combo of FMJ and HP with no issues what so ever. I did find that the WWB seemed to tumble out past 10 yrds...But all things considered I'd never be using this gun for long range work anyway....strictly a pocket protector for close range work.... Plan on using it in place of my Beretta 92FS as a range gun in my pocket while shooting my other guns. Shots all grouped well as you can see by the target below left. I kept my shooting at 7yrds....
The only complaint I had was the 7 round mags....go through em way to fast....First shot DA is long and stiff, but subsequent SA shots are smooth, crisp and fast. Too fast....again 7 rounds go quick.... I found I was able to consistently group as indicated by target on left as fast as I could pull the trigger. Enjoy...be safe....mack
Overall this is a very nice firearm....I'm thinking it may become mrsmacks house gun as she seemed to enjoy the way it felt as much as I did. Also noticed while she was checking it over that the business end is quite large for a little gun..... (yes..it was unloaded and it was intended that I see it.)
Last weekend I was over at the local GM (Gander Mountain) to restock my reloading supplies as they are currently having a sale running. I wandered over to the firearms section for a look see....Nothing really jumped out and grabbed me until I was almost ready to exit...then it happened...A little Bersa .380 Thunder Duo-tone started calling my name...Now I have never even really so much as looked at a little gun like this since I was a youngin and carried a .32 auto (mouse gun I know)...all my other guns are heavy metal...but this thing really caught my eye. So I asked the kindly gent behind the crazed counter if I could check it out. Drop mag, press check smooth...Guy actually was surprised I did that...said most folk don't they just take it for granted the guns are always unloaded Anyway....I fondle it a bit, and dry fire (after asking of course) and like the way it felt. Stripped and reassembled it in under 2 minutes. Action seemed quite smooth, fit and finish was excellent, no wobble slide to frame. Big 3 dot white sights, nice grip with a finger groove on the bottom of the mag. The Thunder has a 3 position manual safety with decock, also has a key lock safety on the frame to deactivate trigger and slide. Only came with one 7 round mag standard. Price tag on it was $199. By the time I was done swappin stories etc with the counter gent I had a new addition to the family...the gun, 2 mags, holster and 100 rounds of ammo $189 OTD. Of course I had to wait the obligatory 72 hours to pick it up...Picked it up on Wednesday afternoon, took it home and cleaned it up...have to say this was the gooeyist new gun I have ever cleaned up. This gun also strips so easy it's almost silly. Cleaned up nice well lubed and all functional.
Took it to the range yesterday to try her out and introduce her to her BIG brothers and sisters. I was very pleased....first shots outta the box were all on paper, though not exactly where I wanted them See the target on right pics below. The rear sight is adjustable and I tweaked it a bit...next shots were all pretty much where I wanted them (yes there are 7 shots on the pic on the left.) after I got used to the generous recoil of this little gun. I have to admit that I did not give this little gun the respect it was due....after all it is a 9mm short... Anyway function was flawless, I put 300 rounds of WWB bulk pack (Wally World) with a combo of FMJ and HP with no issues what so ever. I did find that the WWB seemed to tumble out past 10 yrds...But all things considered I'd never be using this gun for long range work anyway....strictly a pocket protector for close range work.... Plan on using it in place of my Beretta 92FS as a range gun in my pocket while shooting my other guns. Shots all grouped well as you can see by the target below left. I kept my shooting at 7yrds....
The only complaint I had was the 7 round mags....go through em way to fast....First shot DA is long and stiff, but subsequent SA shots are smooth, crisp and fast. Too fast....again 7 rounds go quick.... I found I was able to consistently group as indicated by target on left as fast as I could pull the trigger. Enjoy...be safe....mack
Overall this is a very nice firearm....I'm thinking it may become mrsmacks house gun as she seemed to enjoy the way it felt as much as I did. Also noticed while she was checking it over that the business end is quite large for a little gun..... (yes..it was unloaded and it was intended that I see it.)