thoughts on the bersa thunder 22lr

[alexander45]

Any one with experience on these ? I have been looking for a semi auto 22lr and I like the looks of them but I can't find much on the uber net other than finding mags may be a pain in the toosh

 

[usp9]

It's an OK gun. Fun to shoot but rather finicky about ammo. Must use HV ammo for consistent functioning. Sights are good, trigger is so-so as is overall quality. It isn't a Beretta or nice Walther PP, so don't expect perfection. I recently took a bunch of my smaller .22 to the range for an informal "shoot-off". The Bersa simply isn't my favorite when compared to some nicer guns. The newest of group was a Ruger SR22 which I found I enjoyed much more and is about the same price. Just a suggestion... look at one before you buy.

My shoot off group. Tough competition from some classic guns.

The Daewoo is my personal favorite

 

[kokapelli]

It's an OK gun. Fun to shoot but rather finicky about ammo. Must use HV ammo for consistent functioning. Sights are good, trigger is so-so as is overall quality. It isn't a Beretta or nice Walther PP, so don't expect perfection. I recently took a bunch of my smaller .22 to the range for an informal "shoot-off". The Bersa simply isn't my favorite when compared to some nicer guns. The newest of group was a Ruger SR22 which I found I enjoyed much more and is about the same price. Just a suggestion... look at one before you buy.

My shoot off group. Tough competition from some classic guns.

The Daewoo is my personal favorite

Ditto's on the Ruger P22.

 

[bannockburn]

usp9

Nice selection of compact .22s you've got there. My first choice and all-time favorite would be my Beretta Model 70S.

 

[usp9]

My first choice and all-time favorite would be my Beretta Model 70S

Except for those tiny sights, that my aging eyes have trouble with, I'd agree. It's a very fine pistol. A beautiful classic. Yours in particular.

 

[bannockburn]

usp9

Thanks for the compliment. I saw an article in Guns and Ammo when the Model 70S first came out and I knew I had to have one. Mine has been totally reliable, along with being consistently accurate, with any ammo I have run through it. It has served as my constant companion on many a trip though the woods and has been well protected over the years from the elements with it's Metalife hard chrome finish.

alexander45

Sorry for the thread drift.

 

[Wil Terry]

Had a PRE-THUNDER BERSA 22 for 25 years or so now. It is just under 20M rounds fired and has yet to have it first Malf. It shoots dead on the sights, has a perfectly usable SA and a most shootable DA. It is accurate enough to pick off blackbirds out to 35 yards. Magazines were easy to find and all four work perfectly. There are no flies in the ointment of any BERSA I've ever owned, seven or eight of 'em.
And so it goes...

 

[aarondhgraham]

My Thunder 22 is a great pistol.

I've had it for 4-5 years now,,,
I honestly can't remember it's last malfunction.

It's the main pistol I use to start newbies with,,,
It's accurate and fit's anyone's hand.

Mine runs perfectly with Federal bulk ammo,,,
And of course it sings with CCI Mini Mags.

Mags aren't hard to find,,,
They are just pricey as all heck.

I own several DA/SA decocker .22 pistols,,,
The only one I like anywhere near as well is my Ruger SR-22.

But I must admit I love the looks of my Bersa Thunders,,,

And the .22 is cheap practice for the Thunder 380.

I'm not a Bersa Fan-boy because of their looks though,,,
I'm a Fan-boy because they perform so well.

Aarond

.

 

[Furncliff]

I've been looking at the Bersa Thunder .22 myself recently. I happened upon a good deal on a Bersa Thunder .380 which my wife likes and uses for bedside and gone camping gun. We both liked the Bersa over a Sig 232 and a few other .380's for the felt recoil and the way that it feels in hand. The Bersa .22 seems like it would be a good warm up pistol to save on .380 ammo.. My initial impression of Bersa is that it's a surprisingly good firearm for the dollar spent.

 

[Hairy Clipper]

I still have mine and have had the same experience with it. Have owned it for about 20 years and still no malfunctions.

There are not many things that I can say that about.

 

[alexander45]

The sr22 is out for this purchase as I want older style looks and a local shop has a good deal on the blued bersa 22 $262 befor tax but I may look into finding a used daewoo

As for the mags it looks like the importer has had problems keeping them in stock as of the last year or so

 

[chicharrones]

I really like my Bersa made Firestorm .22LR. It is a fun plinker in a nice compact size with classic metal gun looks without costing too much.

It will shoot all .22LR ammo if you want to hand cycle the gun. If you want it to be a reliable autoloader, mine needs CCI Mini Mags or an equivalent.

 

[chicharrones]

As for the mags it looks like the importer has had problems keeping them in stock as of the last

Check Bersa's website daily. The .22LR mags show up briefly and then *poof* they are gone.