Howdy all,
I spent the day at the range Friday, pumping nearly 700 rounds down the pipe between myself and a buddy from out of town when I witnessed somebody do a stunt from the movie, "Lethal Weapon". I couldn't believe my eyes as the mild pop from the shooter a few stalls down from me burped out another round, completing the smiley face on the silhouette target he had sent down range a few minutes before. As he wrapped up his smiley, you could hear the deep rumbling laugh of a large man and the higher-pitched laugh of his skinny buddy as they marvelled at their hijinks. Well needless to say, my curiosity was up and as I stepped back to the loading bench to begin the long and arduous toll of loading a dozen 1911 and Glock 21 magazines, I got an opportunity to introduce myself and find out what they were shooting.

It turns out the bigger fella had just purchased a new Bersa Thunder .380 based on his research online. Naturally everyone at the front counter dissed the gun when he came in, but on the firing line, he showed them how little they knew as he and his buddy proceeded to giggle themselves silly while producing inch and two inch groups at 7 yards with it. While not exactly being a tack driver by tack driving standards, it was obviously capable of producing the first smiley face I've ever actually seen anyone able to put their money where their mouth was. The friendly shooters were more than happy to show their new toy off to me and let me take a good look at the little beast and I was really quite surprised by the little shooter. I'll probably pick one up this week based on first-hand witnessing it in action, the quality of fit and finish, and the fact that this smaller pistol fit so comfortable in my large hands and didn't bite my thumb when the slide cycles like the Walthers tend to do. This is definately a sleeper and if you're looking for a quality ankle or BG to supplement your 1911 for a truly reasonable price, you'll definately get your bang for your buck out of this little bugger.

__________________
Deacon Aegis
-Matt-
They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety.
~Benjamin Franklin
Acta non verba

A smiley at 7 meters is easy. Try doing it at 25, as shown on the film and then tell me! LoRL, you think the Bad Guys would mind if my ... stitching is not up to this level?

__________________
John Caradimas SV1CEC
The M1911 Pistols Organization
http://www.m1911.org

Bersa makes a good pistol, used to have a Bersa Thunder several years ago, i shot maybe 100 rounds through it and it never jammed. For their price they are a good buy. I traded the Bersa and a couple of glocks for a 1911.

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Thunder Ranch Alumni
1911 Collector

A wise action, if I am allowed to say (at least as far as the Glocks are concerned).

__________________
John Caradimas SV1CEC
The M1911 Pistols Organization
http://www.m1911.org

I had a Bersa Thunder .380 I bought from a friend of mine. I was going to give it to the girl I was seeing but after I shot it a few times I decided to keep it. Well the girl turned out to be crazy (imagine that) and the fella I bought it from got back on his feet I sold it back to him. I never shot it much but what I did shoot of the little .380 I cannot say anything bad about it. The only thing that concerned my was using the .380 as a defensive round.

__________________
From my cold dead hands.
If it ain't a Colt its a copy.

John, a smiley at 7 yards might be easy for you and some of the others who shoot competition and have been doing such for years bro, but you'd be surprised in all the years I've been shooting, this is the first time I've ever seen anyone actually pull one off. To be objective though, I've not been around the competition pistol shooters much at all, just the average joes when it comes to pistol. Now my commander is that accurate, though I'm not, and several of my revolvers could put the holes right were they needed to be for a smiley, but out of the autos, the commander is the only one I own that could consistently drill holes that accurately and it is a pretty trick little shooter. My (oh my, the evilness I'm going to feel for this) Glock 21 prints about a 3 inch group consistently in my hind, is probably more accurate than that, but I can't "feel" it if it is... In closing, you know I'm not at all telling anyone to buy a Bersa over their 1911, but for a first or second BG, the Bersa might be an affordable little shooter.

Oh wait, I just got struck by lightening... nevermind.... all hail John W. Hehehehe

Rock on my friends

__________________
Deacon Aegis
-Matt-
They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety.
~Benjamin Franklin
Acta non verba

I bought a Bersa on Gunbroker.com for $180.00 late last year. It shoots well, feeds everything I've put through it, and occupies a pocket in my winter coat.


I've seen them go for almost $300.00 in some places.

The Bersa Thunder was my first NEW pistol. I bought as a starter pistol before upgrading to the SA Champion Pictured with it below. I still own it and do carry it as a backup occasionaly. As far as functionality goes, i have near 1500 documented rounds through it with i believe 8 failures. I Would have to pull my book to give the exact number of FTE and FTFeeds but i believe 8 is the total. The finish on it now after 1500 through and daily carry of about 7 months (before i bought the 1911) is as nice as it was when i brought it home. The only problem i have is wear on the slide release from "slapping" in my magizines to chamber the first round of the new mag. With slow fire at 15 yards i can land the majority of the rounds well within the center ring of a standard pistol target with an occasional flyer. Defensively it is loaded with Federal Hydrashoks. Paid 199 for it new, and will most likely never part with it. Great Gun! Bersa Talk is a great forum for more information from owners.

Bad news. The supply of BERSA THUNDER .380s has dried-up again here in the Philippines. But its not really a wonder that this gun is drawing a lot of buyers, try one and youll know why.

Damn, I was looking at these a few months back at the local Gander Mountain and almost pulled the trigger on buying one, but decided not to.

I may need to rethink that. If nothing else, it'd be a good gun for my girlfriend to shoot.