Bersa Thunder .380 requires snap-caps or no?

[Logistar]

Guys, I have a friend that just bought a Bersa .380. Understandably she is grinning like Chesire (sp) Cat!

Anyway, I suggested she practice dry-firing it before going to the range (after cleaning and checking it out of course).

I am assuming that this gun should NOT be dry fired without the use of snap caps. If anyone knows for sure, please let us know. She will purchase them if necessary but they will be difficult to come by. (Maybe I can even talk her in to becoming a member here since this is her first handgun!)

Thanks!!!!

Logistar

 

[jval]

I believe the manual says you can dry fire it. But more importantely, I use snap caps for the purpose of teaching my wife how to load and unload the mag and how to unload the chamber after taking a mag out and still having one in the chamber. That's a valuable exercise for someone who's not to comfortable with guns to begin with.

Also, be careful in racking the slide with the safety on (down position). The top of the safefy can slice the top knuckle of your thumb if your hand (thumb) is not positioned low enough on the handle of the Bersa. Smaller female hands should be OK, but be careful.

More advice if you are a new Bersa owner. There's lots of opinions on factory vs. non-factory mags for the Bersa. Before you invest in either, read the threads.

 

[Logistar]

Thanks Jval!

It looked as though we would be unable to find any snap caps locally. EVERYONE was out of .380s. Understandably she wanted to start to get used to it right away. I posted the question hoping the TFLers could help (as always).

Fortunately, I had forgotten about Kiesler's just across the river from Louisville. They had plenty so we have them now and will use them to be sure. - Although $15 for 5 seems a bit steep but then it's been a while since I bought any.

I did search and read several Bersa threads but must have missed the mag discussion. I will look back at them again. I THINK this gun only came with one so I expect her to need more. No hurry on that though. - now on to holsters!

Thanks for the advice!
Logistar

 

[k8ysv]

Logistar, I think your friend will LOVE the little Bersa. I sure love mine. I had some difficulties with FTFs on the factory mag and polished up the follower and that seems to have fixed it. I ran a box through yesterday with zero malfunctions.

I also bought a ProMag aftermarket mag from Midway and it ran 100% out of the box. So in my experience, the factory mags don't work as well as some aftermarket ones without some tweaking. But that's just me

 

[MICHAEL T]

Hope she enjoys her Bersa I have 2 promags and mine also work 100%

 

[slh02]

My pro-mag has actually worked better than my factory. I have only had one failure (slide locked back prematurely), but it was with the factory mag.

So go with the promag, they are like a 1/3rd or the factory mags cost.

 

[jval]

I have to chime in on the mag issue since a sample of two or three is too small. I had nothing but problems with promags. I bought two a few weeks ago. I had to "jam" them up into the mag well. I did not even attempt to fire any rounds. Sent them back immediately. I've had no problems with factory mags. If you find one that works, run it through the mill before depending on it for self defense.

Something else you won't find/or may overlook in the manual. The recoil spring only goes on one way. It's smaller at one end than the other.... the tight end goes toward the rear of the gun.

Check out ebay for holsters. Just type in "Bersa."

 

[horge]

Snap-Caps for the Bersa Thunder 380?
Sure, I mean, --why not?

Snap caps are great for malf-clearance drills anyway (for livefire range-time, include a snapcap randomly among live rounds in a mag... then check the reaction to the simulated "malf").

Congratulate your friend for me.