Not to be one of “those guys” but I’d argue the Glock 42 is more enjoyable. But you can’t beat the capacity here. Btw the G42 is one of the only Glocks I like extensively.
Not to be one of “those guys” but I’d argue the Glock 42 is more enjoyable. But you can’t beat the capacity here. Btw the G42 is one of the only Glocks I like extensively.
@@zerosoma33 Meh, I've seen and encountered many reliability issues in the G42, and guns aren't fun if they don't work. It also doesn't really have a place, as something like the LCP Max is smaller and lighter, while still having more rounds, or there's the Bersa Thunder, which still holds more rounds, fits in the same footprint, but is slightly heavier, more accurate, has a better trigger, and looks good. Glocks all kinda look like toasters. But hey, if you just like it, there's nothing wrong with that. To me, the best 380 is either the LCP Max, or the Bersa Thunder/Thunder Plus.
@@vlogfriendsutopia that's gotta be the only unreliable G42 on the planet. Mine (and my friend's) eats everything including purposefully light handloads. Really surprising you had that issue with it.
@@zerosoma33 It isn't just me, unfortunately. Honest Outlaw has had issues, as well as some other Guntubers. And some of my friends as well. In fact, the G42 is widely recognized as one of the most unreliable glocks
With proper ammo nothing at all wrong with carrying .380 as your primary concealed carry weapon. Shot placement has always been much more important than anything else.
I have the Concealed Carry 8 round version and it's one of my favorite handguns . Always works , feels great in the hand , and field strips in seconds with no tools . Great gun !
A 9mm is a 9x19 and a .380ACP is 9x17. So if you own a 9mm it's very similar to a .380ACP. The benefits to a 9mm is heavier bullet and higher fps. I like how small and light the .380 guns are
Bersa 9 and .380 have been on my mind for awhile..great cost-efficient firearm. Can't wait for your ammo tests.. Thanks for the very well produced vids!
This is true dedication - you and Hickok45 don't do this youtube thing half-heartedly. Actually buying a specific firearm for youtube purposes is just beyond dedication.
Have justnoticed over the years, just how many folks are happy with the Bersa Thunder. Want to check out the cc version. $280.00 at Bud's. Hope all is well.
GPH I have a cc and I like it very much, lot ore than my Interarms PPK-S in stainless. It is a single-stack but it holds 8+1 (one more round than the standard model). 18% lighter than this Plus model more than 20% lighter when loaded, small enough to fit in my pants or jacket pocket without printing, but big enough to absorb the recoil - a VERY soft shooting PISTOL.
During my extensive period of ownership (bought it new), my Bersa Thunder .380 has only gotten better with age and rounds down range. Failure to feed problems have been tracked to a round's specific ogive shape and the construction of the round. I had known of the inherent accuracy and reliability of the Bersa Thunder .380, but was told by my dealer that increased popularity and demand had led to a longer 'break in' period. I found this to be true. My initial FTF sequence ran as follows. Box 1 - 20 Box 2 - 12 Box 3 - 07 Box 4 - 05 Box 5 - 03 Since that box #5, I have moved over 2,000 rounds down range without a problem. The magazines (yes, MAGAZINES), have proven to be reliable. I am now in the market for a Bersa Thunder .380 PLUS. Enjoy, Semper Fi USMC Retired 1966-1989
So what, it's a .380 caliber pistil? It's got 15 rounds of firepower, and it;s as accurate and reliable as anything on the market. What's not to like? Why just use it for ammo testing? Because it's reliable. Why not use it as a primary carry weapon? Hmmm, why not? It's a good gun, period.
After researching the Bersa Thunder Plus I found that it is considered a great little CCW by many. So I went to my local gun shop and I was sold on the thing in 20 seconds or less. It fits the hand like a glove. Both the double action and the single action trigger pull were smooth and fairly crisp. It holds 15 plus 1 (how many do you need?) and the decocker gives me the freedom of carrying in condition 3....all for $379 U.S. I believe there is a gap in an overall understanding of what is considered to be enough firepower in a CCW...380 is not a service weapon; it is not considered a 'one shot dropper', but then neither is the .32 and more people are killed by a .32 round than anything else. I love my Bersa and I personally believe it is more than enough fire power for everyday carry.
+atSHADOWBAT Why do you know-nothings comment on these videos? You're clearly just a TH-cam warrior and have no experience being deployed anywhere near the galactic quadrant. Type One is far superior due to better concealment. Yes, you lose a bit of penetration (e.g. through tritanium bulkheads), but you can still make a variety of attackers vanish and then attend the ambassador's social function with energy to spare. I think I've made my point. (That several of my teenaged years were wasted.)
You are correct, Type Two phasers are harder to conceal. "Hokey religions and ancient weapons are no match for a good Glock at your side, kid" -Sol Hangover
You're both wrong, the Spork (M2, of course) not only proves its penetration abilities, but can also be easily concealed by anyone with at least half a brain. Years of testing have made this the #1 utensil in the Federation. Its innovative design with minor improvements mitigates the need for any other utensils. Check your facts before bringing them to the table. #SporkPerfection
I just bought the Bersa 380 plus and ran 50 rounds thru it and it performed flawlessly. The accuracy was spot on and over all handling was great. The hammer drop/ safety switch was a little stiff but the more I work it the better it will feel. I also have the Bersa TPR9C and it is a great weapon as well. For the money, Bersa is the best gun around and are great EDC weapons.
Thanks TN I've always liked the Bersa, don't own one but this 15 plus 1 is appealing. I didn't hear you say anything about the recoil, It looked light and controllable.
I've had both.. still have the Bersa. Great gun and nicely priced and never had a malfunction ever in over 20 uears..The Glocks are just butt ugly and though good guns I've had more problems with them than other pistols I've owned..and they're pricey for a polymer gun.
I'm looking for a semiautomatic pistol that my wife can rack the slide on. She has arthritis and has extremely weak hands. She tried to rack the slide on a SCCY CPX3 380, but couldn't do it. How would your wife rate the difficulty or ease of racking the slide on the Bersa 380 Plus?
Two other similar .380's are the Browning BDA .380 (very elegant gun, no longer made) and the Beretta 92 Cheetah, also no longer made. Great little guns, easy to hide and they will get the job done. Make sure with the Bersa that you work 'em over to where they are absolutely reliable. Some have problems, some don't.
You really surprised me with this! Never thought I'd see a bersa or a 380 on your channel. I'm looking forward to seeing how it holds up over time. Also ammo testing should be interesting.
Had one of these in the 90s, I seem to recall it used to sting the hand a bit under recoil compared to the easy shooting P228 and G19 that I owned back then. Maybe because it was so light. The more I work at video making, the more I realize how skilled you are at speaking. Making a good TH-cam video is a LOT harder than it looks and your videos are always entertaining.
i have a bersa plus since they first came out, have shot THOUSANDS of rounds through it, WITH NO ISSUES WHATSOEVER!! all kinds of ammo, still no issues! i traded this gun for my edc,and retired my kahre pm 9mm. i opted for a slightly bigger gun because its 15 shot instead of 8....also very accurate out to 50 ft.!!!
Im a Bersa guy..I have the 380 thunder, the ultra compact pro 9mm and the ultra compact pro 45 acp....I recommend and of these guns to anyone and the 380 is my primary conceal carry weapon ...
Easy to carry, and comfortable to handle in the hand, .380 due to it being-double stacked for the 15 round capacity. The 15 round magazines are around $40 a piece though. My other carry choice around the shop, Kel-Tec P11 9mm (10+,1 in the chamber) is my second choice.
I've carried a Bersa Thunder .380 (non + version), off and on, for about 25 years, now. While I agree that 9mm should be the minimal carried, when possible, (my normal ccw being a PPS M2) sometimes an inexpensive~yet~quality, slightly smaller .380 pistol just makes concealment sense, as well as fiscal sense... An excellent little pistol that's more reliable than most PPKs are. I also *love* the magazine safety, as well as the hammer drop safety.
I like the Bersa for its safety features and that its a PPK/PP clone still in production. My dad wants a Walther PPK, I'm thinking of getting him one of these when my little brother moves out.
It really is a nice gun. I don't know why people frown upon this gun. My father has an old Bersa Model 83 i believe I shot it one day and fell in love. Been wanting a thunder .380 ever since.love to have a 83. they are just not easy to find anymore. not to carry just another nice gun in the collection.
Nice demo, I like the .380 because as you can see the pistol stays on target shot after shot, my 9mm jumps all over the place so does my 40 S&W I have better control with the smaller calibers. Will wait for your other tests, thanks
A 32 ACP version of this would hold like 20 rounds. That Would be an awesome gun I would buy it. Just think of the size of the 20 round double stack mags of the scorpion pistols
I've always had a thing for .380s, specially for the Bersa Thunder but never owned one. I did own back in the days an AMT Backup in .380 ACP. On the money @ 7 yds. My AMT barrel was stamped "9 mm Kurz". That's German for 9 mm short which is how they refer to the .380 ACP. For personal defense, close and personal under 7 yds (I call that "danger close") the .380 has enough man stopping power while being manageable to hold point-of-aim, point-of-impact.
I had been wanting to guy a gun for the last year. I'm also intersted in shotguns and rifles. (Covid-19 makes me wished I had hurried). I've been seeing countless of vids on different firearms over the last year. I like many. But, I know this will be my first purchase, once this quarantine ends. I think it's a great starter gun, but I also just like it. The way it looks. Can't wait to start. Hopefully summer.
He put the magazine back in like that because that gun has a magazine disconnect safety. The trigger doesn't work if the magazine isn't inserted. If you were going to actually load this gun, you would start with the hammer down, insert the magazine, rack the slide, then use the de-cocker to lower the hammer.
Continued from below. .. Like you, I have been around the block many times and I currently own several models and caliber of guns. I used to have the "bigger is better" mentality until my wife wanted to carry. The guns I use will NEVER work for her, for a number of reasons, that's why I looked into it carefully and with an open mind. If you do the same I am sure you will come to the same conclusion.
I have a Bersa myself. To be honest I don't know why I bought it.It feels good in the hand but the size like you say is big for a .380.Your videos are always top notch.Buying a gun for your channel I'll have to try that on the wifey!!LOL! Thanks great testing.
Yes it does, on all of the Bersa Thunder guns. It functions ALOT like a PPK, and is a Double-Action / Single-Action gun, meaning it can be left de-cocked with a round in the chamber, yet still be fired (with the safety off) with the hammer down. Subsequent rounds will be full single action (not half way with the hammer only halfway back like on some)
Bought mine 2 weeks ago (Sept. 2021) for $399 (Combat Plus). Rear site now has the Glock style |__| instead of just 2 dot. 380 ammo is tough to find and right now NO one has extra mags for sale...either out of stock or discontinued. I had the 8-rd single stack but this one fits my hand better and the rubberized and slightly longer grip stops the slippage on the snappy recoil. The 8-rd has hard plastic grips and with my pinky frequently overlapping the magazine butt I was constantly having to adjust every 4-5 shots. So far, I love the Plus.
Good luck with your Bersa. I used to have one, but the disconnector/trigger spring broke around 1000-1500 rounds. Outside of breaking, the Bersa thunder is a great little gun and very accurate. I'm considering getting another one for range shooting.
9mm ammo is cheaper than .380 ammo usually. But the .380 guns can be so much smaller and easier to carry which is why people get them over the 9mm. Some 9mm are really small but over all the .380 can be made smaller. I don't find the recoil to be pleasant in any little .380 gun or better than a 9mm myself. But the fact remains that the .380s are generally smaller so I can pocket carry easily. I own several. There are very few instances where the .380 wont be enough caliber. In fact even the 22 will kill the majority of attackers or run them off. Keep in mind the mafia uses the 22s for nearly all of their close kills.
I have both of the Bersa 380 Thunder & Plus. With the hammer down, your looking at around a 9 lbs trigger pull, with the hammer pull back. Its more like 4 lbs trigger, with a "very" short reset. So myself, I got some Orange fluorescent paint at Hobby Lobby. Now the white dots are Orange. The only thing I don't like is the trigger lock, but with the key safely duct tape inside the case. Both of mine are in the mat-black.
I am not disputing his knowledge, but I do disagree. I used to try and have at least one weapon in every caliber, but lately, I have sold some. I no longer feel I need a 40. I do have a thunder 380, a 9mm, and a 45, along with a couple 22's. One of the 22's is a Bobcat with a Galco wallet holster. It was the backup weapon of a local police officer. I hope that I am never tested, but I carry the 380 because I am 65 and at my age, the smaller size, lighter weight and less recoil make more sense.
Why do you feel you no longer need a .40? A G27 is my favorite gun, please dont say recoil. Be a boss and shoot the damn thing, youre 65 not 105. My favorite rounds for .40 S&W are Liberty Civil defense 60 grain 2000 fps (very light weight and low recoil round) and Speer Gold dot 155 grain 1200 fps. My reasoning for .40 cal is basically that any round you can show me in either, .380, 9mm, or .45 - I can find the same round in .40 with higher spec numbers. EVERY TIME, prove me wrong / change my mind! That even applies to 85% of 10mm ammo. 357 sig is probably the only round that comes close to .40 as far as semi-automatic handguns go, muzzle velocity, and muzzle energy - the two things the FBI looks at the closest (not saying the FBI is the most credible source, but they do deal with a lot of shootings)
You should of got the Thunder cc because most the people asking for ammo tests for the 380 is because the have a Taurus of LCP or even the Thunder cc with a 2.8 to a 3.2 in barrel and the micro pistols ammo preforms a lot different out of those tiny barrels just my opinion. When I look for ammo tests I usually look for one being tested out of something with the same length or shorter of a barrel than my edc.
I have a Bersa .380 I bought in 2005. I had the same issue with hollow points when I was shooting it. I polished the feed ramp and had to switch over to factory mags to get it up to 100%.
$40 is a good price. I have seen asking prices up to $75 - $100 dollars. I bought my wife a Thunder Plus. One bad ass little pistol. She is deadly with this gun. Price doesn't matter when you can find any.
Yes it is a double-stack @ 15 rounds worth............I came across this one in the eighties, it winds up fitting my hand just plain perfectly...something the likes of the Glocks with those silly shorty grips don't feel right at all...it's like I'm not holding onto the whole gun....the pinkie finger hanging off the bottom. This Bersa feels just right in the hand! @ double stack to boot!
trike rider I never did get to shoot the Bersa unfortunately. I just was handling one at a gunshow. Another that fit "just right" was the Ruger 5 shot .357, The SP-101. I wound up putting a bunch of rounds thru one at the range. I found it truly easy to shoot & on target. Later I would read about recoil complaints & general bitches about the gun.....besides a wicked muzzle-flash, I found it really a "perfect" gun. Perhaps it is that perfect fit allows us to rather instantly feel comfortable shooting, making us able to put rounds in very good groups in short order. I had a Taurus PT99AF with factory wood grips, I found it impossible to get "comfortable" to shoot...& almost traded it in for something else, As a guess, I swapped out the wood grips for a set of Pachmyr rubber grips. This simple change changed the entire experience, actually making it "comfortable"...a key characteristic for shooting 'good'.
Very nice video I just buy mine is in the 10 days verification process at this time the bad thing is I can only use 8 to 10 round magazines because I live in California but I really impressed how faster you can shoot that very compact pistol I paid for mine 359 dollars brand new and I can wait to take to the shooting range thanks for your nice explain
Yeah, you are right Brent. I did find a couple of extra mags and bought them. Now after the school shooting the prices of mags has jumped (supply and demand I guess) and my Beretta 9mm mags are close to $50 bucks...glad I had already bought them before this and glad also that I got the extra Bersa mags. As hard as it was to find them before, now it is almost impossible...
I have shot about 800 rounds of the Tula ammo through my Bersa .380 and I haven't had any problems with it. It is a bit dirty but I experienced no jams or misfires at all. After careful inspection of my pistol, I could not see any excessive wear caused by the steel casings. This is just my experience with the ammo. . .
Thank you for the review. I am a 45 person myself, but i will be buying one of those for my mom 380 is about the only thing she can shoot decent. Hate the fact that 380 cost way more than 9mm.
Bersa is a good brand of firearm. I have the 380, 9mm. 40 cal. The only issue is with the 380. It has been jamming on the last round. I believe it is the ammo, Winchester 95 gr. FMJ with flat tip.
I have the Berra but not the plus. My capacity is 8+1. I can afford any gun on the market, but loved this gun when I saw it. You seem to put down the caliber but I believe my total 9 rounds will do the trick. I have utmost confidence in this caliber and anyone who puts any caliber down is just ignorant. It’s all about shot placement and if you claim to know anything about guns, you should know that
I have a blue Cerakote model that I fell in love with at first shot. I don't care about the low capacity (that's what extra mags are for). The only thing I had to get used to was the alloy frame and steel slide, which affects balance for me. I'm 64 years old and learned to shoot all-steel firearms, so there is a learning curve to get through. I also want to see if a gunsmith can ease up the slide pull because of my arthritis. Pulling back on the trigger before working the slide helps, but I would like to see if it can be modded a bit to make the slide pull easier. As for the small caliber, I will use a quote from a cop friend of mine: "Let me shoot you with a .22 and see how much you scream for a doctor." Wrong caliber, I know, but that is what he said, and it does apply. Besides, a gun like this will probably never be used past 15 - 25 yards. Enough rounds center-mass at that range will definitely make an attacker reconsider his choices.
Pull the trigger back first , cock it ,so it,s locked back Now pull the slide back and lock it ! Press slide release button or decocker downwards, and your ready to shoot in DA ...
I have a Bersa Thunder in .45 ACP. Never had it jam on me despite often putting a 100 or so rounds through it at every range visit. Most people that I've met have nothing bu t praise for the tough little guns. Couple ranges I frequent that rent these tell me that their guns just fire anything that you feed them and they just keep going despite 10s of thousands of rounds.
correction. ammo is not cheaper. It is much more expensive. However the recoil is less. There is now a new ammo that is much more effective than hollow points. It is Underwood Extreme Defender.
@coveredinblood1111 usually its a shooter problem, not a gun problem. The Bersa is a gas blowback design, and is subject to limp wristing. If you don't hold the gun properly, it can jam.
I just bought the duo tone bersa thunder plus it's very cold where I live so I haven't got the chance to shoot it yet but I really like the gun just hope it shoots good.
Your lucky...I had to pay $450. for mine in Las Vegas,NV. It also only comes with one mag and I bought another one and it cost $40. The .380 ammo is also more expensive than the 9mm for my other gun , a Beretta92FS.
@Jim You must have bought an older model. I bought mine today and it came with 2 mags. I paid $378 out the door and I live two hours away from you (Saint George).
The Bersa Thunder 380 in any iteration is perhaps the best .380 caliber pistol that you can purchase. Can't beat the performance for the price. Sexy to boot. The best safety features. Check out Underwood #145 - 102 grain Golden Saber: 1060 fps or #729 - 100 grain Hardcast: 1150 fps. Standard Bersa Thunder here. Dump the 9mm for CC. This firearm has it all.
Tn you should sell that and get an lcp sized micro pistol. It would be more accurate because most .380s sold are pocket guns with shorter barrels like the lcp. That would be more benefificial for the masses imo. Love the videos btw. I have watched all of them.
I like your approach here, TN. Giving the gun a chance to prove itself. Only advantage I could imagine to a .380 round would be a higher capicity in a smaller gun, though. There's a trend towards less capacity in .380? I didn't know this because I wasn't interested enough but that sounds kinda silly. I also didn't know that .380 ammo was more pricey than 9 mil. Can't be a solid reason for that. Good vid as usual.
Hey TN ....LOVE the POV shooting, gives great insight into what the sight picture looks like on the different firearms..do you think that Bersa is kinda pricey for what it is ?
For a bit over $100 more, you can get a Bersa Ultra Compact Pro 9mm that comes with two 13 round magazines. It is about the same size as the .380 Plus, the barrel a bit thicker and overall heavier. Depending on the season, situation and what type of clothing I am wearing, I carry my 9mm UC Pro, or the Thunder .380 Standard single stack with 7+1 with a double mag pouch. There is now an aftermarket mag for the Standard which holds 9 rounds. At the time, there were no additional mags to be found for the Plus, but plenty for the Standard including Promags which are actually pretty good and half the price.
Hey thanks for this vid. A coworker is considering 1 of these for HD, & I'm sure it will aid my cause in persuading him to consider other options as well.
I would still like to see a comprehensive review and test of the Bersa. Also, you mentioned that it looked somewhat like a Walther PPK. I thought in some ways, it looked a little like a Beretta 92.
I was skeptical about the Bersa thunder .380 at first.. same thinkin about caliber, Bersa etc... I CC my 15+1 all the time... The accuracy is legit for rapid fire follow up shots.. its cheap, it works and accurate enough.. I like the .380 RIP rounds, 62 grain pushing 1250+ fps.. as I got older I realized I don't actually need a .45, .40 or even 9mm for self defense.. shot placement with adrenaline running through your body is more important than the one with "the most stopping power".. have to also remember that you're responsible for every round that comes out in a self defense scenario.. so letting a few .45's fly with that adrenaline rush can get out of hand real quick.. I'd argue the two best rounds for everyday, need a gun hopefully never but just in case, would be the high velocity .380 rounds or 9mm.. but idk anything, just my two cents..
Nice! Knew about the 9mm "kurz" or short thing but I never realized how close the two were in size until your side by side. Looking forward to your ballistics.
THIS IS THE BEST 380 HANDS DOWN , NO QUESTION ABOUT IT , ITS RELIABLE ACCURATE AFFORDABLE FEELS GREAT IN THE HAND AND 15+1 , A NO BRAINER
Not to be one of “those guys” but I’d argue the Glock 42 is more enjoyable. But you can’t beat the capacity here. Btw the G42 is one of the only Glocks I like extensively.
Not to be one of “those guys” but I’d argue the Glock 42 is more enjoyable. But you can’t beat the capacity here. Btw the G42 is one of the only Glocks I like extensively.
@@zerosoma33 Meh, I've seen and encountered many reliability issues in the G42, and guns aren't fun if they don't work. It also doesn't really have a place, as something like the LCP Max is smaller and lighter, while still having more rounds, or there's the Bersa Thunder, which still holds more rounds, fits in the same footprint, but is slightly heavier, more accurate, has a better trigger, and looks good. Glocks all kinda look like toasters. But hey, if you just like it, there's nothing wrong with that. To me, the best 380 is either the LCP Max, or the Bersa Thunder/Thunder Plus.
@@vlogfriendsutopia that's gotta be the only unreliable G42 on the planet. Mine (and my friend's) eats everything including purposefully light handloads. Really surprising you had that issue with it.
@@zerosoma33 It isn't just me, unfortunately. Honest Outlaw has had issues, as well as some other Guntubers. And some of my friends as well. In fact, the G42 is widely recognized as one of the most unreliable glocks
With proper ammo nothing at all wrong with carrying .380 as your primary concealed carry weapon. Shot placement has always been much more important than anything else.
I have the Concealed Carry 8 round version and it's one of my favorite handguns . Always works , feels great in the hand , and field strips in seconds with no tools . Great gun !
A 9mm is a 9x19 and a .380ACP is 9x17. So if you own a 9mm it's very similar to a .380ACP. The benefits to a 9mm is heavier bullet and higher fps. I like how small and light the .380 guns are
Just ordered one of these a couple of days ago. I carried the regular Bersa Thunder for years but wanted the extra rounds.
2019, soon to be 2020 & still relevant Bersa Thunder Plus.
@Jimmy Kimmel Aww. I want to buy my sister the same model as well.
@@denisefolstrom8753 Hi
@@iamshadowbanned699 good for her. She's probably a more accurate shooter than you.
Any idea where and how to get one
@@jst601 thanks for the info out of stock right now but I’ll keep checking
Bersa 9 and .380 have been on my mind for awhile..great cost-efficient firearm. Can't wait for your ammo tests.. Thanks for the very well produced vids!
This is true dedication - you and Hickok45 don't do this youtube thing half-heartedly. Actually buying a specific firearm for youtube purposes is just beyond dedication.
Have justnoticed over the years, just how many folks are happy with the Bersa Thunder. Want to check out the cc version. $280.00 at Bud's. Hope all is well.
GPH I have a cc and I like it very much, lot ore than my Interarms PPK-S in stainless. It is a single-stack but it holds 8+1 (one more round than the standard model). 18% lighter than this Plus model more than 20% lighter when loaded, small enough to fit in my pants or jacket pocket without printing, but big enough to absorb the recoil - a VERY soft shooting PISTOL.
My Interarms PPK-S (in stainless steel) was stolen I replaced it with a two-tone Bersa Thunder CC. I like it very much.
During my extensive period of ownership (bought it new), my Bersa Thunder .380 has only gotten better with age and rounds down range. Failure to feed problems have been tracked to a round's specific ogive shape and the construction of the round.
I had known of the inherent accuracy and reliability of the Bersa Thunder .380, but was told by my dealer that increased popularity and demand had led to a longer 'break in' period. I found this to be true. My initial FTF sequence ran as follows.
Box 1 - 20
Box 2 - 12
Box 3 - 07
Box 4 - 05
Box 5 - 03
Since that box #5, I have moved over 2,000 rounds down range without a problem. The magazines (yes, MAGAZINES), have proven to be reliable. I am now in the market for a Bersa Thunder .380 PLUS.
Enjoy,
Semper Fi
USMC Retired
1966-1989
Semper fi jarhead , just bought a thunder plus ,. love it,. be cool.
.32 and .380 were and are still a very popular round all over the world . Great Shooting !
So what, it's a .380 caliber pistil? It's got 15 rounds of firepower, and it;s as accurate and reliable as anything on the market. What's not to like? Why just use it for ammo testing? Because it's reliable. Why not use it as a primary carry weapon? Hmmm, why not? It's a good gun, period.
After researching the Bersa Thunder Plus I found that it is considered a great little CCW by many. So I went to my local gun shop and I was sold on the thing in 20 seconds or less. It fits the hand like a glove. Both the double action and the single action trigger pull were smooth and fairly crisp. It holds 15 plus 1 (how many do you need?) and the decocker gives me the freedom of carrying in condition 3....all for $379 U.S. I believe there is a gap in an overall understanding of what is considered to be enough firepower in a CCW...380 is not a service weapon; it is not considered a 'one shot dropper', but then neither is the .32 and more people are killed by a .32 round than anything else. I love my Bersa and I personally believe it is more than enough fire power for everyday carry.
Jerre Geary where do live I live in Kentucky I cannot find this gun it's out of stock everywhere
true 32acp needs more luv too!!!
Yep, only thing I don't like is the magazine safety. Would love one in .32.
@@JerresYouTubular killed doesn't mean they were stopped immediately.
Just purchased one of these & I can't wait to take it to the gun range.
I see we are still commenting on a 5 year-old video. I don't feel under powered carrying a 380 or even a 32.
You should feel underpowered with any pistol unless it runs artillery shells...
I prefer a Type Two Phaser.
+atSHADOWBAT Why do you know-nothings comment on these videos? You're clearly just a TH-cam warrior and have no experience being deployed anywhere near the galactic quadrant. Type One is far superior due to better concealment. Yes, you lose a bit of penetration (e.g. through tritanium bulkheads), but you can still make a variety of attackers vanish and then attend the ambassador's social function with energy to spare.
I think I've made my point.
(That several of my teenaged years were wasted.)
You are correct, Type Two phasers are harder to conceal.
"Hokey religions and ancient weapons are no match for a good Glock at your side, kid"
-Sol Hangover
You're both wrong, the Spork (M2, of course) not only proves its penetration abilities, but can also be easily concealed by anyone with at least half a brain. Years of testing have made this the #1 utensil in the Federation. Its innovative design with minor improvements mitigates the need for any other utensils. Check your facts before bringing them to the table. #SporkPerfection
I carry the Bersa 380 plus all the time. It is comfortable, light, and hi capacity. I feel confident in the use of it due to it’s size and firepower.
hey tn thanks for taking a look at the .380. i have always tought it deserved a litte more respect than it gets.
I just bought the Bersa 380 plus and ran 50 rounds thru it and it performed flawlessly. The accuracy was spot on and over all handling was great. The hammer drop/ safety switch was a little stiff but the more I work it the better it will feel. I also have the Bersa TPR9C and it is a great weapon as well. For the money, Bersa is the best gun around and are great EDC weapons.
Thanks TN I've always liked the Bersa, don't own one but this 15 plus 1 is appealing. I didn't hear you say anything about the recoil, It looked light and controllable.
Love the echoing report starting at 4:02. Nothing like the sound of shooting on a cold winter day.
Thank you Sir for the video you helped make up mind about this weapon. IM GOING TO GET THIS.
shooting through the camera, why isn't everyone doing that? Loved the review, keep up the good work.
I've had both.. still have the Bersa. Great gun and nicely priced and never had a malfunction ever in over 20 uears..The Glocks are just butt ugly and though good guns I've had more problems with them than other pistols I've owned..and they're pricey for a polymer gun.
Just bought one for my wife. She loves it, it shoots great, very dependable
I'm looking for a semiautomatic pistol that my wife can rack the slide on. She has arthritis and has extremely weak hands. She tried to rack the slide on a SCCY CPX3 380, but couldn't do it. How would your wife rate the difficulty or ease of racking the slide on the Bersa 380 Plus?
Two other similar .380's are the Browning BDA .380 (very elegant gun, no longer made) and the Beretta 92 Cheetah, also no longer made. Great little guns, easy to hide and they will get the job done. Make sure with the Bersa that you work 'em over to where they are absolutely reliable. Some have problems, some don't.
You really surprised me with this! Never thought I'd see a bersa or a 380 on your channel. I'm looking forward to seeing how it holds up over time. Also ammo testing should be interesting.
Had one of these in the 90s, I seem to recall it used to sting the hand a bit under recoil compared to the easy shooting P228 and G19 that I owned back then. Maybe because it was so light.
The more I work at video making, the more I realize how skilled you are at speaking. Making a good TH-cam video is a LOT harder than it looks and your videos are always entertaining.
Awesome vid! I'd buy that Bersa in a second! Thanks!
i have a bersa plus since they first came out, have shot THOUSANDS of rounds through it, WITH NO ISSUES WHATSOEVER!! all kinds of ammo, still no issues! i traded this gun for my edc,and retired my kahre pm 9mm. i opted for a slightly bigger gun because its 15 shot instead of 8....also very accurate out to 50 ft.!!!
Finally a to-the-point review without ramblings or going on tangents. Nice review!!!!
Im a Bersa guy..I have the 380 thunder, the ultra compact pro 9mm and the ultra compact pro 45 acp....I recommend and of these guns to anyone and the 380 is my primary conceal carry weapon ...
Easy to carry, and comfortable to handle in the hand, .380 due to it being-double stacked for the 15 round capacity. The 15 round magazines are around $40 a piece though. My other carry choice around the shop, Kel-Tec P11 9mm (10+,1 in the chamber) is my second choice.
After I wore mine in (100-200 rounds) I have had zero failure to feeds or malfunctions.
I've carried a Bersa Thunder .380 (non + version), off and on, for about 25 years, now.
While I agree that 9mm should be the minimal carried, when possible, (my normal ccw being a PPS M2) sometimes an inexpensive~yet~quality, slightly smaller .380 pistol just makes concealment sense, as well as fiscal sense...
An excellent little pistol that's more reliable than most PPKs are. I also *love* the magazine safety, as well as the hammer drop safety.
Hi neighbor. Watching from Murfreesboro. Enjoyed your review as I'm thinking about getting a Bersa +. Have a good one, Dave.
i have this bersa in niquel version,ti s a terrific pistol!
good review tn, I'm on my third Bersa, 2 Thunder .380's and now a plus
I like the Bersa for its safety features and that its a PPK/PP clone still in production. My dad wants a Walther PPK, I'm thinking of getting him one of these when my little brother moves out.
hey jonno2summit!, this gun eats 95-115 grain bullets all day long!! i would'nt trade mine for anything!!!
It really is a nice gun. I don't know why people frown upon this gun. My father has an old Bersa Model 83 i believe I shot it one day and fell in love. Been wanting a thunder .380 ever since.love to have a 83. they are just not easy to find anymore. not to carry just another nice gun in the collection.
I edc the Bersa Combat Plus everyday. It hasn't left my holster in the 3 years of ownership.
Me too!
Great pistol, so underrated.....My everyday carry
Until the mag disconnect fails.
I like these bersa thunders. Pretty cool
Bersa pistols are real under rated....they are really good guns for the money.
Nice demo, I like the .380 because as you can see the pistol stays on target shot after shot, my 9mm jumps all over the place so does my 40 S&W I have better control with the smaller calibers. Will wait for your other tests, thanks
I love my Bersa Thunder plus, it's a great little gun to shoot, and it would serve you well as a carry gun.
A 32 ACP version of this would hold like 20 rounds. That Would be an awesome gun I would buy it. Just think of the size of the 20 round double stack mags of the scorpion pistols
I've always had a thing for .380s, specially for the Bersa Thunder but never owned one. I did own back in the days an AMT Backup in .380 ACP. On the money @ 7 yds. My AMT barrel was stamped "9 mm Kurz". That's German for 9 mm short which is how they refer to the .380 ACP. For personal defense, close and personal under 7 yds (I call that "danger close") the .380 has enough man stopping power while being manageable to hold point-of-aim, point-of-impact.
I had been wanting to guy a gun for the last year. I'm also intersted in shotguns and rifles. (Covid-19 makes me wished I had hurried). I've been seeing countless of vids on different firearms over the last year. I like many. But, I know this will be my first purchase, once this quarantine ends. I think it's a great starter gun, but I also just like it. The way it looks. Can't wait to start. Hopefully summer.
He put the magazine back in like that because that gun has a magazine disconnect safety. The trigger doesn't work if the magazine isn't inserted.
If you were going to actually load this gun, you would start with the hammer down, insert the magazine, rack the slide, then use the de-cocker to lower the hammer.
Continued from below. ..
Like you, I have been around the block many times and I currently own several models and caliber of guns. I used to have the "bigger is better" mentality until my wife wanted to carry. The guns I use will NEVER work for her, for a number of reasons, that's why I looked into it carefully and with an open mind. If you do the same I am sure you will come to the same conclusion.
I have a Bersa myself. To be honest I don't know why I bought it.It feels good in the hand but the size like you say is big for a .380.Your videos are always top notch.Buying a gun for your channel I'll have to try that on the wifey!!LOL! Thanks great testing.
I'd like to see more handgun reviews like this. Great job!
Yes it does, on all of the Bersa Thunder guns. It functions ALOT like a PPK, and is a Double-Action / Single-Action gun, meaning it can be left de-cocked with a round in the chamber, yet still be fired (with the safety off) with the hammer down. Subsequent rounds will be full single action (not half way with the hammer only halfway back like on some)
Love my Thunder...bought some of that Precision One ammo I didn't know it's flat head...
Bought mine 2 weeks ago (Sept. 2021) for $399 (Combat Plus). Rear site now has the Glock style |__| instead of just 2 dot. 380 ammo is tough to find and right now NO one has extra mags for sale...either out of stock or discontinued.
I had the 8-rd single stack but this one fits my hand better and the rubberized and slightly longer grip stops the slippage on the snappy recoil. The 8-rd has hard plastic grips and with my pinky frequently overlapping the magazine butt I was constantly having to adjust every 4-5 shots. So far, I love the Plus.
Good luck with your Bersa. I used to have one, but the disconnector/trigger spring broke around 1000-1500 rounds. Outside of breaking, the Bersa thunder is a great little gun and very accurate. I'm considering getting another one for range shooting.
9mm ammo is cheaper than .380 ammo usually. But the .380 guns can be so much smaller and easier to carry which is why people get them over the 9mm. Some 9mm are really small but over all the .380 can be made smaller. I don't find the recoil to be pleasant in any little .380 gun or better than a 9mm myself. But the fact remains that the .380s are generally smaller so I can pocket carry easily. I own several. There are very few instances where the .380 wont be enough caliber. In fact even the 22 will kill the majority of attackers or run them off. Keep in mind the mafia uses the 22s for nearly all of their close kills.
I have both of the Bersa 380 Thunder & Plus. With the hammer down, your looking at around a 9 lbs trigger pull, with the hammer pull back. Its more like 4 lbs trigger, with a "very" short reset. So myself, I got some Orange fluorescent paint at Hobby Lobby. Now the white dots are Orange. The only thing I don't like is the trigger lock, but with the key safely duct tape inside the case. Both of mine are in the mat-black.
I have the same gun, fits my hand perfect! Good shooting gun & 15 rounds also.
I am not disputing his knowledge, but I do disagree. I used to try and have at least one weapon in every caliber, but lately, I have sold some. I no longer feel I need a 40. I do have a thunder 380, a 9mm, and a 45, along with a couple 22's. One of the 22's is a Bobcat with a Galco wallet holster. It was the backup weapon of a local police officer. I hope that I am never tested, but I carry the 380 because I am 65 and at my age, the smaller size, lighter weight and less recoil make more sense.
happy 68th birthday
Why do you feel you no longer need a .40? A G27 is my favorite gun, please dont say recoil. Be a boss and shoot the damn thing, youre 65 not 105. My favorite rounds for .40 S&W are Liberty Civil defense 60 grain 2000 fps (very light weight and low recoil round) and Speer Gold dot 155 grain 1200 fps. My reasoning for .40 cal is basically that any round you can show me in either, .380, 9mm, or .45 - I can find the same round in .40 with higher spec numbers. EVERY TIME, prove me wrong / change my mind! That even applies to 85% of 10mm ammo. 357 sig is probably the only round that comes close to .40 as far as semi-automatic handguns go, muzzle velocity, and muzzle energy - the two things the FBI looks at the closest (not saying the FBI is the most credible source, but they do deal with a lot of shootings)
I just brought this handgun a week ago love it.
I really love this little gun in 380...
specially its doble-stack magazine with 15 rounds...
I want it
You should of got the Thunder cc because most the people asking for ammo tests for the 380 is because the have a Taurus of LCP or even the Thunder cc with a 2.8 to a 3.2 in barrel and the micro pistols ammo preforms a lot different out of those tiny barrels just my opinion. When I look for ammo tests I usually look for one being tested out of something with the same length or shorter of a barrel than my edc.
That's awfully nice of you to purchase a new gun just to please us youtubers. I can't wait to see your .380 ammo tests!
must be accurate- you're nailing the shit out of those targets
I have a Bersa .380 I bought in 2005. I had the same issue with hollow points when I was shooting it. I polished the feed ramp and had to switch over to factory mags to get it up to 100%.
$40 is a good price. I have seen asking prices up to $75 - $100 dollars. I bought my wife a Thunder Plus. One bad ass little pistol. She is deadly with this gun. Price doesn't matter when you can find any.
wonderful.... I love it..... I would like to be clear though that the clip can hold 15 rounds? amazing
Yes it is a double-stack @ 15 rounds worth............I came across this one in the eighties, it winds up fitting my hand just plain perfectly...something the likes of the Glocks with those silly shorty grips don't feel right at all...it's like I'm not holding onto the whole gun....the pinkie finger hanging off the bottom. This Bersa feels just right in the hand! @ double stack to boot!
Ricardo Ellison I feel the same about my Thunder 380; perfect fit!
trike rider
I never did get to shoot the Bersa unfortunately. I just was handling one at a gunshow. Another that fit "just right" was the Ruger 5 shot .357, The SP-101. I wound up putting a bunch of rounds thru one at the range. I found it truly easy to shoot & on target. Later I would read about recoil complaints & general bitches about the gun.....besides a wicked muzzle-flash, I found it really a "perfect" gun. Perhaps it is that perfect fit allows us to rather instantly feel comfortable shooting, making us able to put rounds in very good groups in short order.
I had a Taurus PT99AF with factory wood grips, I found it impossible to get "comfortable" to shoot...& almost traded it in for something else, As a guess, I swapped out the wood grips for a set of Pachmyr rubber grips. This simple change changed the entire experience, actually making it "comfortable"...a key characteristic for shooting 'good'.
Great vid buddy
Very nice video I just buy mine is in the 10 days verification process at this time the bad thing is I can only use 8 to 10 round magazines because I live in California but I really impressed how faster you can shoot that very compact pistol I paid for mine 359 dollars brand new and I can wait to take to the shooting range thanks for your nice explain
Where did you buy it from?
In san diego ca in royal pawn and gun shop the pistol brand new price was 312 dollars with taxes and paperwork total price 402 dollars
If 380 had a perfect pistol this is it
Yeah, you are right Brent. I did find a couple of extra mags and bought them. Now after the school shooting the prices of mags has jumped (supply and demand I guess) and my Beretta 9mm mags are close to $50 bucks...glad I had already bought them before this and glad also that I got the extra Bersa mags. As hard as it was to find them before, now it is almost impossible...
I have shot about 800 rounds of the Tula ammo through my Bersa .380 and I haven't had any problems with it. It is a bit dirty but I experienced no jams or misfires at all. After careful inspection of my pistol, I could not see any excessive wear caused by the steel casings. This is just my experience with the ammo. . .
I have the DuoTone Thunder 380 Plus that I use as my carry gun. It conceals very nicely, in my opinion.
Thank you for the review. I am a 45 person myself, but i will be buying one of those for my mom 380 is about the only thing she can shoot decent. Hate the fact that 380 cost way more than 9mm.
Bersa is a good brand of firearm. I have the 380, 9mm. 40 cal. The only issue is with the 380. It has been jamming on the last round. I believe it is the ammo, Winchester 95 gr. FMJ with flat tip.
yes you can carry chambered and off (although the decocker isn't that hard to use) this has a crossbar safety so won't go off even if dropped
I have the Berra but not the plus. My capacity is 8+1. I can afford any gun on the market, but loved this gun when I saw it. You seem to put down the caliber but I believe my total 9 rounds will do the trick. I have utmost confidence in this caliber and anyone who puts any caliber down is just ignorant. It’s all about shot placement and if you claim to know anything about guns, you should know that
I watch all your reviews,Thanks for all the good info.
I have a blue Cerakote model that I fell in love with at first shot. I don't care about the low capacity (that's what extra mags are for). The only thing I had to get used to was the alloy frame and steel slide, which affects balance for me. I'm 64 years old and learned to shoot all-steel firearms, so there is a learning curve to get through. I also want to see if a gunsmith can ease up the slide pull because of my arthritis. Pulling back on the trigger before working the slide helps, but I would like to see if it can be modded a bit to make the slide pull easier. As for the small caliber, I will use a quote from a cop friend of mine: "Let me shoot you with a .22 and see how much you scream for a doctor." Wrong caliber, I know, but that is what he said, and it does apply. Besides, a gun like this will probably never be used past 15 - 25 yards. Enough rounds center-mass at that range will definitely make an attacker reconsider his choices.
Pull the trigger back first , cock it ,so it,s locked back Now pull the slide back and lock it ! Press slide release button or decocker downwards, and your ready to shoot in DA ...
@@paulmichaud1246 preachin' to the choir, son. I've been handling guns for well over fifty years. I know how to do that already.
I have a Bersa Thunder in .45 ACP. Never had it jam on me despite often putting a 100 or so rounds through it at every range visit. Most people that I've met have nothing bu t praise for the tough little guns. Couple ranges I frequent that rent these tell me that their guns just fire anything that you feed them and they just keep going despite 10s of thousands of rounds.
correction. ammo is not cheaper. It is much more expensive. However the recoil is less. There is now a new ammo that is much more effective than hollow points. It is Underwood Extreme Defender.
@coveredinblood1111 usually its a shooter problem, not a gun problem. The Bersa is a gas blowback design, and is subject to limp wristing. If you don't hold the gun properly, it can jam.
I just bought the duo tone bersa thunder plus it's very cold where I live so I haven't got the chance to shoot it yet but I really like the gun just hope it shoots good.
This is my law:
" Only one .380 bullet placed in the right place,
is better than 8 rounds 9 mm. in a wrong place".
Here’s my law, it’s a fucking bullet. There are people buried because of .22
Bought same gun at local show for 289.00 - love this gun.
Your lucky...I had to pay $450. for mine in Las Vegas,NV. It also only comes with one mag and I bought another one and it cost $40. The .380 ammo is also more expensive than the 9mm for my other gun , a Beretta92FS.
@Jim You must have bought an older model. I bought mine today and it came with 2 mags. I paid $378 out the door and I live two hours away from you (Saint George).
The Bersa Thunder 380 in any iteration is perhaps the best .380 caliber pistol that you can purchase. Can't beat the performance for the price. Sexy to boot. The best safety features. Check out Underwood #145 - 102 grain Golden Saber: 1060 fps or #729 - 100 grain Hardcast: 1150 fps. Standard Bersa Thunder here. Dump the 9mm for CC. This firearm has it all.
I'm glad yours seems to be running great,nice video
Seem like a very stable gun to shoot. I like it.
Tn you should sell that and get an lcp sized micro pistol. It would be more accurate because most .380s sold are pocket guns with shorter barrels like the lcp. That would be more benefificial for the masses imo. Love the videos btw. I have watched all of them.
I like your approach here, TN. Giving the gun a chance to prove itself. Only advantage I could imagine to a .380 round would be a higher capicity in a smaller gun, though. There's a trend towards less capacity in .380? I didn't know this because I wasn't interested enough but that sounds kinda silly. I also didn't know that .380 ammo was more pricey than 9 mil. Can't be a solid reason for that. Good vid as usual.
Hey TN ....LOVE the POV shooting, gives great insight into what the sight picture looks like on the different firearms..do you think that Bersa is kinda pricey for what it is ?
Seems to be running well for a new gun I imagine we will see the Bersa hitting the 80 yard gong at some point !
excelente pistola relación precio calidad y ademas muy portable y segura!
For a bit over $100 more, you can get a Bersa Ultra Compact Pro 9mm that comes with two 13 round magazines. It is about the same size as the .380 Plus, the barrel a bit thicker and overall heavier. Depending on the season, situation and what type of clothing I am wearing, I carry my 9mm UC Pro, or the Thunder .380 Standard single stack with 7+1 with a double mag pouch. There is now an aftermarket mag for the Standard which holds 9 rounds. At the time, there were no additional mags to be found for the Plus, but plenty for the Standard including Promags which are actually pretty good and half the price.
Hey thanks for this vid. A coworker is considering 1 of these for HD, & I'm sure it will aid my cause in persuading him to consider other options as well.
I would still like to see a comprehensive review and test of the Bersa. Also, you mentioned that it looked somewhat like a Walther PPK. I thought in some ways, it looked a little like a Beretta 92.
Great vid! Always appreciated.
I was skeptical about the Bersa thunder .380 at first.. same thinkin about caliber, Bersa etc... I CC my 15+1 all the time... The accuracy is legit for rapid fire follow up shots.. its cheap, it works and accurate enough.. I like the .380 RIP rounds, 62 grain pushing 1250+ fps.. as I got older I realized I don't actually need a .45, .40 or even 9mm for self defense.. shot placement with adrenaline running through your body is more important than the one with "the most stopping power".. have to also remember that you're responsible for every round that comes out in a self defense scenario.. so letting a few .45's fly with that adrenaline rush can get out of hand real quick.. I'd argue the two best rounds for everyday, need a gun hopefully never but just in case, would be the high velocity .380 rounds or 9mm.. but idk anything, just my two cents..
Nice! Knew about the 9mm "kurz" or short thing but I never realized how close the two were in size until your side by side. Looking forward to your ballistics.
Nice, looking forward to some 380 testing!