Bersa Thunder Plus

[film495]

Was looking at Walther PP and PPK pistols and variants/clones. I always overlooked the Bersa because the price is so much less just sort of assumed it was not made well. The plus version in .380 ACP has a 15 round magazine which is interesting.

Looking for opinions, I have a little CZ-70 and like it and am thinking maybe something just a hair larger with more capacity and more power is something I should look at.

Once into this size, are the 9mm pistols of this size any harder to shoot/recoil? I'd think the locked breech would lighten the recoil a little, but never had a bunch of these size pistols together on a table to try one after the other to compare.

 

[Terry G]

BERSA's are well made. My Daughter has a .380 she's been shooting for ten years. I have two .22's that are a lot better made than a lot of home grown .22 semi-autos. The old 23 and a T22. They need HV ammunition, but .very reliable and accurate. Mad to last.

 

[1KPerDay]

I find locked breech makes a key difference, down to a point. I find the Kahr PM9, S&W Shield 9, and Glock 43 far more pleasant to shoot than a Walther PPK or PPK/S in .380 for example. But the Kel-Tec PF-9 is too light and slim and is not fun at all.
A locked breech .380 like the Kahr or the Glock 42 makes the blowback variety feel sharp and rude.

 

[1KPerDay]

Here’s a recent report and video of the Bersa Thunder .380 PLUS if interested https://www.thehighroad.org/index.p...review-shooting-report-pics-and-video.863161/

 

[ttarp]

I have a standard BERSA .380 that I've shot quite a bit, and a Plus that I haven't shot nearly as much.

The recoil is a bit snappy, but I think they're more pleasant to shoot than something like a Sig 938 or the smaller Kel-Tecs.

I don't really have any complaints about the quality of build, they aren't as nicely made as a Walter, but mine have a perfect track record for reliability. What I like about the BERSA is they have a slide stop lever, and I find the takedown to be easier than a PPK as well.

Last I checked(which was a while ago) mags weren't cheap, but not prohibitively expensive either.

 

[Electricmo]

I have the plus and I use it at the range a lot. Very accurate and trouble free. I carry the thunder cc as my ccw pistol due to the smaller grip.

 

[bikerdoc]

I use the Thunder CC for dress up carry. Reliable and accurate.

 

[jstert]

i really tried to like my used bersa thunder but gave up after a sheared off safety lever/decocker and terrible slide bite, both documented issues. my 380acp go to piece is now a new $125 taurus spectrum.

 

[bannockburn]

1KPerDay

I find locked breech makes a key difference, down to a point. I find the Kahr PM9, S&W Shield 9, and Glock 43 far more pleasant to shoot than a Walther PPK or PPK/S in .380 for example. But the Kel-Tec PF-9 is too light and slim and is not fun at all.
A locked breech .380 like the Kahr or the Glock 42 makes the blowback variety feel sharp and rude.

I found that out years ago after trying several Walther PP and PPK/s pistols. Then Colt came out with their Government .380 and Mustang with a locked breech design and I actually enjoyed shooting small .380s again!