just bought a bersa 45

[jims72]

traded in my glock 30 last week for a bersa thunder 45uc pro.I have to say it was the best move i have made in a long time.I tried everything with my glock 30 to get it to function right and it never did!I sent it to glock several times they would send it back it would fire fine for about 50 rounds and then start jamming or failing to feed and a couple of times the slide fell off!So getting sick of the lack of dependability.I traded it in.I was going to get another 1911 but the only one they had at the gun shop was in bad shape so i passed.I was about to trade it in on a kel tec p11 but then saw the bersa tucked away in the corner of the case and my eyes about bounced out of my head when i saw it was a 45 because i didn't really want to down grade to a 9mm ! I knew bersa made 380 and 9mm but a 45 that's gotta be sweet!I have never owned a bersa until now and after 500 rds and zero issues it has proven to be a more dependable pistol than the glock 30 i had ever was.I also like how it has a manual saftey and a decocker as well as everything being ambidextrous.The pistol is also an entirely metal pistol and when i popped it on my scale it is lighter than the glock! it may have only been by a couple oz but it was lighter.the bersa has 7 rd double stack mags as opposed to the 10 rounds the glock had which was nice.But at the same time if i cant send those 10 rounds down the barrel then what good is it?The bersa functioned flawlessly and did just fine with P+ ammo and hollow points.The other thing about the bersa i liked was the price i bought mine at AJI in Mesa AZ out the door for 399.99 brand new! so after all i went through with glock and never being able to resolve my problems with their product i fixed it myself and traded it in on a fully functional quality dependable pistol that costs almost half the price with twice the value.I will never own a glock again as this was the second one i have owned that proved to be a P.O.S. I am however looking to get a few other bersas and i hear they have a 1911 out there by the name of American classic.Searched it out online and a new 1911 can be had for under 400 bucks and it is mil spec!

 

[khegglie]

Shoot it and tell us how U like it, sorry about your Glock problems!

 

[rvehock]

Love my Bersa's got the 9UC and the .380CC, never a failure no matter what I feed them:

 

[The Lone Haranguer]

Glad you like it. I've been intrigued by these pistols for some time, save that the trigger reach is a little bit long. I am surprised you had that many problems with your Glock 30. One I had in the early 2000s was a little fussy, but nothing like that. The Bersa is much less "bulky" - thinner and more rounded - than the rather "chunky" G30.

 

[tekarra]

Hello jims72 and welcome to the forum.
The Bersa is a fine pistol. I have had a Thunder 9 for some years now and it has never had a problem. Have been thinking, of late, of getting a .45.

 

[jims72]

i just love my bersa!shot it some more and it started a ftf problem but it was quickly resolved by myself.the extractor was a bit tight and wouldn't allow the round to seat completely when being stripped out of the magazine so i took her apart and lubed it ,polished the extractor face and feed ramp with a dremel and a #463 bit which is protocol for me anyway and she fires even smoother than before! i also noticed an increase in accuracy.I just can't get over how smooth it cycles! Im talking this thing cycles like a ed brown 1911! so smooth its just disgusting!LOL One of the range masters even commented on it and said "it is way smoother than my hi power" i really like it i have 1000 rounds through it now and it just keeps getting better!I wish they would make one in 357 sig i would so snatch it up! I t is accurate as heck too! i was able to shoot inch patterns at 11 yards!I cant wait to get my tru dot night sights for it! Its gonna be sweet!Bersa has gained a lifetime customer and glock well im just gonna say I will let Mattel stay on the shelf!

 

[Alex23]

They're good guns. I've had a Thunder 9 (full size) for 3 years now and have run ~4000 rounds of anything and everything through it without a single hiccup. It is accurate, fun, and affordable. I think I paid $350 for it too, which is nice. I'd carry the UC but can't stand external safeties and hammers in a carry piece...

 

[intercooler]

Bersas are excellent except one area... sights! None of the companies are making good specific ones for it. In particular adjustables and fiber optics. That's the boat I am in now.

 

[bentongunclub]

My issue with Bersa is the screws on the handguards. Save yourself a lot of trouble and put some loc-tite or something on them as they have a tendency to work loose. They are some funky size and only come from Bersa.

 

[thunder173]

Mine is the Firestorm Mini Thunder in .45,..I bought it in 2004 on a lark,..and it found a home. Couple thousand rounds at least have gone down range thru it without issue. It is basically the Bersa 45 UC,..it was the first of three Firestorms I have acquired,..including one in .380,..and another in .22LR.

All three have been, ... and still are excellent shooters and extremely reliable. The .45 is carried as a CC,..and fits the bill when I feel the need for the .45 ACP. It is also a great handgun for HD. I wouldn't hesitate picking up another. Not the most refined or best finish,..but more than adequate. I think they are a great buy if you can get them for a decent price.

The only down side I have found is that the price of extra magazines is pretty high,..and they are hard to find,..being proprietary,..they have to be ordered from the importer.

Other than that,..a good gun.

 

[The Bushmaster]

Thunder173...Take a look at www.gunbroker.com for your magazine needs.

 

[khegglie]

great pics Rvehock.... that 9 reminds me of the Astra pistols

 

[jims72]

I think for you thunder 9mm uc pro guys i may have found a way to get a taurus pt92 mag to fit.I had an extra left over and fitted it to my 45.everything functioned except for the fact the mag wont swallow a 45acp grrrrrrrrrrrr.I had to use a dremel and make a new mag catch spot on the taurus mag but that was it!Even the feed lips were similar!

 

[MICHAEL T]

Mags can be bought at http://condorsflight.com

These will be factory mags not brand X that don't work 1/2 time If you a member of http://bersachat.com with 10 posts and the pass word get 10% off . This month till 15 Aug orders over 50 get 15% information posted on Bersachat. He have holsters can get you wood grips and more Bersachat is the home of Bersa on the internet.

The 9 and 45 to of the best in the line up

 

[jims72]

yes but the factory doesn't make a hicap mag like is available for the 92.I mentioned this for the possibility of one being able to use the 30 rd mag available for the 92

 

[Snowdog]

My UC9 is one of my carry pistols.

My first was my K9 that served me impressively well until my wife claimed it as her nightstand pistol.

I replaced it with a Bersa UC9 and was impressed with it as well. The only issues I had with mine was an occasional light-strike on some reloads where I used Wolf primers. One in a hundred would require a second strike.

Using Remington, CCI or Winchester (my favorite) primers or any factory ammunition, reliability so far has been perfect. Accuracy is quite decent as well. I have zero complaint of my UC9 and consider it an excellent choice for a carry or home defensive piece on a budget.

Recently, I purchased a M&P40c as I found one NIB for $450, a price too sweet to pass on, especially since I wanted something that I could use a .357Sig barrel.

I carry the M&P40c the most now, possibly just to justify the purchase. However, I feel very well armed with my UC9 paired with Winchester RA9124TP (124gr +P Rangers).

Here are the 3 pistols listed above. Besides my P64 I carry in Thunderwear on hot days or P32 I pocket carry during yard work, they are the only pistols of mine I carry.



Expanded RA9124TP from my UC9 into either wetpack or playdough (I forget now)


5 rapid shots after drawing from OWB belt holster using RA9124TP from my UC9 at 15 yards. It's good enough for me.

 

[potmetal]

Bersa's are great guns. They say they have excellent customer service too, but I don't know, I've never had to use it. The 45 is a great pistol in the compact size. The full size is a great shooter too, it's a clone of the Walther P88.
I think the Firestorm 1911 you mentioned is actually a Rock Island, from the Philipines. They are well made too, and a good price.
We've had a .380 for almost 4 years. It was in my wife's car in the Joplin tornado back in May. The car didn't make it, but the Bersa did and it's now in the glove box of her new car.

 

[Dnaltrop]

Just held the Bersa .45 a few minutes ago at the LGS while scouting for a friend who's been looking for his first CCW gun.

Very pleasant in the hand, good feel on the trigger... I'll be making him grope this one when my buddy comes in with cash in hand looking to scratch his Itch. Also $400 at my LGS as well, good to see no variance in price point on it betwen our locales.

Have had great function out of my old man's .380, and this gun feels very well fit as well.

 

[Trad Archer]

I have a Bersa Thunder 380 and Bersa UC 40. Love them both. They eat everything I feed them. I baffled as to why Bersa doesn't get more praise.

 

[jims72]

I hear ya Trad but on the other hand i like having them "passed up" by those who think "eww a bersa" because it keeps their price down and means more stuff for us!

 

[MICHAEL T]

I baffled as to why Bersa doesn't get more praise.

Bersa doesn't spend money on full page ads in the gun rags. So the gun rags never test them and say how great they are. Even NRA forgets they exist . But make sure they rent them space at the NRA convention..
Bersa is internet and owners word of mouth . I work the NRA convention every year in the Bersa Booth .I am surprised at the number of people that come up and say never heard of you. These people are not on the internet gun boards They are just NRA members who get their information from gun rags or the NRA mag's. .
Bersa at present can't keep up with demand. So they will continue to maintain their low present. The new single stack polymer 9mm has been released by ATF and will be starting to be shipped to Dist. this month. Last I knew. Not a word in the gun rags about it least not I have saw.

`So sell all they make with out spending lots of money on ads and that helps keep price down. Be happy more for those that have bought already and want another.
http://bersachat.com

 

[jon_in_wv]

I think the Firestorm 1911 you mentioned is actually a Rock Island, from the Philipines. They are well made too, and a good price.

they are actually made by another Filipino company called Metro Arms. They are not affiliated with Rock Island. They are also a bit nicer in my opinion.

 

[marine 97-03]

Team bersa smoked the s&w team earlier this year

 

[rvehock]

great pics Rvehock.... that 9 reminds me of the Astra pistols

I also have an Astra A-100 and I think it looks more like a Sig than a Bersa:

 

[jims72]

I can now vouch for bersas customer service.I wrote them a message on the eagle imports fan page on facebook about my bersa not coming with the safety key not 48 hours later i had two of them in my mail box and they even sent me about ten stickers and a free magazine!i also wrote them about producing a uc pro in 357 sig and they actually are taking it into consideration!I also dig their new poly 40 cal they have coming out in the next few months.Glock and smith has some serious competition here.I am now past the 5k round mark with my 45 and it has not jammed one single time!