Affordable Bersa T380M8 Thunder 380 Matte Finish 8rds

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nBersa Thunder 380acp Semi Automatic Pistol 3.5″ Barrel 7 + 1 Fixed Sights Duo Tone Finish THUN380DT
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nThe Thunder .380 is a reliable auto pistol with great ergonomics, controllable power, a perfect trigger pull, and an exceptional price. The Bersa handles recoil well, due to the shape and texture of the grip panels and grooved front and rear surfaces of the frame. The pistol also has a hooked and grooved trigger guard, for those who prefer to place a finger in that position.
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Miscellaneous Things To Be Annoyed By

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There are two other things that bug me about this gun. The first is the action lock. There is a “key” hole on the left side of the frame with an “F” for fire and an “S” for safe. This isn’t a huge problem and I had no major malfunctions with it. But with the already suspect design and reliability I’m understandably skeptical.

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Secondly, there is a magazine disconnect. If the magazine is removed the trigger is dead and the gun is inoperable. This isn’t the first and only gun I own with a magazine safety…but I don’t like it.

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Ok, one more little nitpick and I’m done – I promise. the magazine release is in a non-traditional spot. Most magazine releases – at least on guns of this size – are at the base of the trigger guard. This one is up much higher on the frame. Every other pistol I’ve ever shot appreciably has taught me to go one place, now this one is teaching me to go another.

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Final Thoughts

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For an MSRP (and, seemingly, street prices) around $300, you can probably do better than the Bersa Thunder. Again, I know there are Thunders out there that will run and run and run, but I think the odds of getting one are lower than they ought to be. And even if you get a good one there are some ergonomics issues that I wouldn’t wish on anyone.

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If you do decide to go with the Bersa Thunder, go with something other than the CC model. Get a model with actual sights, a safety lever that hasn’t been thinned down, and a non-grooved grip panel. Or better yet save another $100 and get an M&P Shield.

nThe steel slide features a 3-dot sight system for the prefect sight picture. The Thunder 380 features an extended finger rest on the bottom of the magazine for comfort. This model has a black matte finish.
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Most of the variants are simply variations of the color scheme, but a few have some substantial changes.

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The Bersa Thunder is exactly the type of handgun that normally draws my eye in the gun shop.

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I love off-the-wall, metal guns that deviate from the current striker-fired/plastic SOP.With its clear homage to the Walther PPK/S, the Thunder never fails to catch my eye.

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The Bersa Thunder was something of a disappointment in the “reliability” department. For the most part the gun ran OK…except on the last round of the magazine. The rim of the last round would be held in place by the feed lips, and the round itself would be vertical into the action, fouling it. This was a fairly easy malfunction to clear (just pull out the magazine and the round comes with it) but is certainly suboptimal.

nSAFETY WARNINGS
nEar and eye protection: Use ear plugs or earmuff-type protectors to guard you against cumulative,
npermanent hearing loss as a result of continuous exposure to shooting noise.
nShooting glasses will guard you against powder, gas, carbon residue, lubricant, metallic particles or
nsimilar debris that may emanate occasionally from any firearm in normal use
nAlways make sure that anyone near you is also wearing ear and eye protection.
nSafety mechanism:
n1. Your firearm has an effective, well-designed safety mechanism. However, there’s no safety mecha
nnism capable of substituting your common sense and good safety procedures. No safety can
nguard you against horseplay, carelessness, or improper use. It may become ineffective by break
nage or malfunction due to abusive use, incorrect assembly, or unauthorized adjustments.
n2. While handling any firearm, never allow it to point at any part of your body or at another person.
nNo harm should result if you obey this rule, even if an accidental discharge occurs.
n3. The safety mechanism should be on until you are actually aiming at the target ready to shoot
n4. When turning the safety ON or OFF, point the muzzle in a safe direction and keep your finger off
nthe trigger.
n5. Be sure to put the safety in the correct position or it will not be effective. Some firearms have a red
nwarning dot next to the safety which should be totally covered when the safety is on.
n6. Do not carry the firearm loaded without the safety on (Double action revolvers and some double
naction pistols have an automatic internal safety mechanism instead of a manual one).
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nLoading:
n1. Be sure the muzzle is pointing in a safe direction when loading the firearm
n2. Do not load or unload a firearm in a confined space such as a vehicle or building other than a
nwell-constructed shooting range. In an enclosed area there is not usually a safe direction in which
nto point the firearm, and if accidentally fired, there is a great risk of causing personal injury or
nproperty damage.
n3. Clean all oil and grease from the chamber before loading, and be sure nothing is obstructing the
nbarrel. Any obstruction in the barrel may cause the barrel to bulge or burst when firing it, or
notherwise damage the firearm or injure the shooter and bystanders.
nFiring:
n1. When cocking a firearm, keep your finger off the trigger and point the muzzle in a safe direction.
n2. Never carry a cocked firearm around or leave it unattended! A cocked firearm will fire with the
nslightest pressure on the trigger. If you fall or the firearm is dropped, or someone hits it, an acci
ndental firing may occur.
n3. When firing a semi-automatic gun, keep your fingers, hand, face and all other parts of your body
naway from the ejection port, or any other part of the slide (or bolt) when it is moving. The shooter
nwill not be injured if the firearm is held and fired at arm’s length.
n4. Be sure no one is standing where they may be struck by an empty cartridge case. Ejected cases
nare hot and may cause burns, cuts or eye injuries (if no eye protection is worn). Be sure there is
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I experienced a malfunction roughly every third or fourth magazine. I fired 200 rounds of ball ammo and didn’t really feel the need to test beyond that, as the problem didn’t seem to abate with time. I used two magazines – both with under a hundred rounds on them – to rule out the possibility of a single bad magazine.

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This is the only kind of malfunction I experienced with the Bersa. It’s not the worst malfunction in the world but it’s certainly doesn’t instill confidence. I have heard of some extremely reliable Thunders from some trusted people I know, and maybe one day I’ll run across one…but this one wasn’t it. Since reliability is THE number one criterion for a carry gun, this rules the Bersa Thunder out (or at least this one) for me.

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Accuracy

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The Bersa Thunder is a reasonably accurate pistol. I’m not going to lie: I got much better accuracy out of it than I expected. The accompanying group shows a (very) slow-fire, 8-round group fired at seven yards. Considering the miserable sights, I don’t think this is too bad at all. Which brings me to the sights…

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Most models of the Bersa Thunder have sights in dovetails. Bersa chose to go a different route with the CC. Instead of dovetails, sights are milled into the slide. Calling them “sights” might be a little charitable considering how tiny they are. They are extremely difficult to align in any kind of hurry and don’t provide much precision beyond about seven years.

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Which is a shame. This pistol has much more potential than the sights allow for. On top of that, I’m really don’t see what good reducing the sights has done. The net effect on the pistol overall is minuscule, but the effect on shooting is massive. I wish I had gotten my hands on a standard model Thunder.

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Ergonomics

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This thing seems like a panoply of bad ergonomics. I think a lot of that is due to getting the CC model rather than a more typical Thunder. First, the grip: the built-in finger grooves are just terrible. They place my fingers at a weird spot that never felt comfortable. As I mentioned in my Sig P238 review I don’t mind a pinky handing off the bottom of the grip.

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The Thunder is the exception, though. The spot where my pinky fell was right at the corner of the grip and was terribly distracting. It felt like my finger was neither on nor off the gun. As big as this gun is I should have been able to get my whole hand on the grip like I can with the similarly sized S&W Shield 9 [insert link]. In fairness I didn’t have an issue shooting this gun. I think the size and weight are such that the .380 cartridge is right at home and not unpleasant.

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The ergonomics of the controls also aren’t great. I’m not sure why Bersa chose to thin down the safety lever on the CC model but boy, did they. Though it might modestly reduce the risk of the gun snagging, this dubious benefit pales in comparison to the chances of missing the safety. It is very thin, and very difficult to actuate quickly.

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Unfortunately, in practice the Thunder falls just a bit short of my expectations.

nThere are several different variations of the Bersa Thunder including different caliber options. And while the main differences are listed below, you can these in different colorations from Bersa and other retailers.
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The version we reviewed is the “CC”-model which is, in my humble opinion, the poorest execution of a gun that I would already consider marginal. The “CC” stands for concealed carry.

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Its most notable features are…well, a reduction in its features. No features have been taken away but most of them have been considerably downsized.

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The Thunder CC has a thinned safety, thinned slide release, and sights that are, well, vestigial at best. Let’s take a look.

nTransporting and storing your firearm:
n1. Always keep your firearm unloaded when transporting it to and from shooting activities.
n2. Store firearms and ammunition separately, preferably locked and secured. Keep firearms and
nammunition out of reach of children, untrained individuals or careless, unauthorized adults.
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nSemi-automatic pistols:
n1. Carrying a semi-automatic pistol with a cartridge in the chamber greatly increases the chances of
naccidental firing. Doing so may only be justified in cases of clear and present danger. For in
nstance, in cases of self-defense you may have to fire your pistol instantly, however this is not
nrecommended. The safest way to carry a loaded pistol is to have the chamber empty.
n2. If you MUST carry a semi-automatic pistol with a cartridge in the chamber, be sure the hammer is
ndecocked. If your pistol has a hammer lowering lever, use this lever instead of the trigger to lower
nthe hammer. And also, if your pistol has a manual safety, always leave it on when carrying the
npistol with a cartridge in the chamber until the firearm is aimed at the target ready to shoot.
nAmmunition:
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nproducts where they may come into contact with ammunition. Do not overspray. Lubricants,
nespecially aerosol sprays, may penetrate cartridge primers and cause the ammunition to
nmisfire. Some lubricants may get inside cartridge cases and prevent powder from igniting. If
nonly the primer ignites, the bullet may become lodged in the barrel.
nFirearm care:
n1. When your firearm is delivered it comes in a factory package and has a light coating of protective
ngrease and oil. Clear all this grease and oil from the bore and exposed mechanism before
nloading.
n2. Double-check your firearm is unloaded before disassembling it for cleaning.
n3. After cleaning, make sure you have not left a cleaning patch or any other obstruction in the bore
nor chamber.
nParts:
nBERSA’s distributor has a complete supply of replacement parts. Even though most gunsmiths are highly
nqualified to make the necessary repairs to your firearm, the workmanship of any particular gunsmith, other
nthan those in our Service Department, is totally beyond our control. Should your firearm ever require
nservice, we strongly recommend that you return it to BERSA. Unauthorized adjustments or parts
nreplacement can void your warranty
n1. Use high-quality, original, factory-manufactured ammunition in your firearm. Never use
nammunition that is wet, dirty, corroded or damaged. Never oil or lubricate ammunition or let
nexcess aerosol lubricants, preservatives, or cleaners come into contact with cartridges. This
nmay cause dangerous malfunction problems. Be sure your ammunition has the proper caliber,
nwhich is engraved on the firearm. Do not use ammunition of any other caliber.
n2. Reloading ammunition is a science. Improperly loaded ammunition may cause severe damage
nto your firearm and serious injuries to both the shooter and other individuals. Use ammunition
napproved by the U.S. Sporting Arms and Ammunition Manufacturers’ Institute, Inc. (SAAMI).
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nIt is the responsibility of the purchaser to be absolutely certain that any parts ordered from BERSA are of
nthe correct type and are properly fitted and installed by a competent person. THE IMPROPER
nFITTING OF PARTS OR IMPROPER MECHANICAL ADJUSTMENT MAY RESULT IN A DANGEROUS
nMALFUNCTION, DAMAGE TO THE FIREARM, AND POSSIBLE SEVERE INJURY TO THE SHOOTER
nOR TO OTHERS. Therefore, the purchaser and/or installer of parts must accept full responsibility for the
ncorrect adjustment and function of the firearm after such installation has been made or attempted.
nService policy:
nYour firearm has been carefully inspected and tested before being shipped to ensure it meets our
nspecifications and standards. If your firearm needs adjustments, refinishing or repairs, we highly
nrecommend that you obtain factory service from BERSA.
nIf you have any questions about your firearm’s performance, write to our Service Department and
naccurately describe the situation. If the Service Department feels your firearm may need factory service,
nthey will let you know and give you all the instructions for shipping the firearm adequately.
nBERSA’s distributor will inspect your firearm thoroughly and evaluate the problem or problems you
nmentioned in your letter. If the repairs needed are not covered by the warranty (copy enclosed), we will
nsend you a quotation of the actual cost of the repairs, not an estimate. You must authorize all repairs. No
nrepairs will be made without your express approval.
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nReturning firearms for service:
n1. Federal Licensed dealers may ship handguns via U.S. Mail. The Post Office confiscates hand
nguns mailed by private individuals.
n2. Under Federal Law, you may return rifles by U.S. Mail. Other firearms may be returned by
ncommon carriers such as United Parcel Services (UPS). State and local gun laws vary greatly.
nConsult your local prosecuting attorney about any laws in your area that may restrict shipping
nor receiving firearms. Taking all these facts into account, we strongly recommend that you send
nyour firearm for repairs to our distributor through a Federal Licensed dealer.
n3. All firearms must be sent out by prepaid shipment. WE DO NOT ACCEPT COLLECT
nSHIPMENTS.
n4. The address to return your firearm for repairs is: BOLSA GUNSMITHING 7404 Bolsa Av.,
nWestminster, C.A. 92683 Tel.: 714-894-9100 WALKER ARMS COMPANY 499 Dallas
nRoad 820 Selma, Alabama 36701 Tel.: 205-872-6231 / 205-875-8056 PARTS.
n5. Together with the firearm, enclose a letter indicating the serial number, caliber and barrel
nlength, and also the work that is needed or the problem you have experienced with the firearm.
nBe specific. Do not simply write the words defective or repairs needed. In addition, enclose
ncopies of any previous letters dealing with the repairs. There will be a minimum service charge
nfor repair works that is not covered by the warranty.
n6. YOUR FIREARM MUST BE SHIPPED UNLOADED. Before shipping, double-check the
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nchamber to make sure it is unloaded. By law, BERSA’s distributor is required to notify
nFederal authorities if firearms are sent loaded.
n7. When shipping firearms to us, do not include custom grips or stocks, belts, slings, holsters,
ntelescopic sights, or any other accessory.
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nLiability:
nREVOLVERS AND PISTOLS ARE CLASSIFIED AS FIREARMS OR DANGEROUS WEAPONS.
nBERSA and its Distributors sell them pursuant to the specific understanding that they are not
nresponsible, in any way whatsoever, for the safe handling or resale of the firearm under local laws and
nregulations.
nBERSA and its Distributors do not assume responsibility for any firearm malfunction, physical injury, or
nproperty damage resulting in whole or in part from (1) intentional or negligent discharge, (2) improper or
ncareless handling, (3) unauthorized modifications, (4) defective, improper, reloaded, or handloaded
nammunition, (5) neglect, (6) corrosion, or (7) any other circumstances or effects beyond their direct and
nimmediate control.
nThis limitation is applicable regardless of whether the liability is asserted on the basis of negligence,
ncontract, or strict liability (including any failure to give a warning)
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