:: Bersa Talk ::

Yesterday the better-half and I stopped in at our area Cabela's. The boss wanted to look at the shoe department(no comments please) and of course, I went to cruise the firearms.

Long story short, I ended up trading a Walther P22(which was the second replacement of my original P22) in on a Thunder 9 full size, satin nickel finish. Don't ask what the particulars were on the trade(never what you might, maybe, get if selling privately).

So far I haven't even cleaned the shipping lubricant from the pistol, though I have field stripped and examined the pistol. My example is what I've come to expect from Bersa; perhaps not the best fit/finish in comparison to top shelf manufacturers, but no rough brick either. My likes/dislikes of my full size(hereafter referred to as F/S=full size) Thunder 9:

Likes - balances well(for me, subjective), ambi safety and decocking safety, no Magazine disconnect safety, grip/fit is good(for me, subjective), sights are fairly well defined, front sight is not integral part of slide(like a Beretta 92/96 or Tanfoglio Witness).

Dislikes - front sight is not dovetailed into slide(this would be nicer than Bersa's design choice), grip panel attachment(would prefer conventional screw/bushing arrangement), only one magazine accompanied pistol, top of slide too shiny(should be matte or fine grooved to reduce reflectivity on top of slide, only issue with nickeled finish), fixed trigger over-travel stop on rear of trigger too pointy creates dimple on frame where making contact.

There are other nits, as the trigger pull being heavier than I would like(nothing new there, thank the litigiousness of today's society). The Handbook does not indicate as to whether the mag release is reversible, though it would appear on cursory exam that this may be possible. Has anyone tried this? Did I happen to mention that I think that Bersa should include a second magazine with these pistols? Hmmm, I may have?!?

Future reports will include common ammo tests(with such as WWB, Federal AE, UMC, CCI Blazer[brass cased, of course], Hydra-shok, CorBon, Speer Gold Dots, Rem Golden Sabre, etc.). Of course, my favorite test, the "run it till it stalls test", where I'll use it in consecutive IDPA matches and practice sessions without cleaning in between, until the pistol stops functioning reliably. So far, the top survivor has been a Ruger KP94, which was almost one full season of matches and practice, an estimated 5,500 rounds before a FTF(sorry, lost accurate round count of practice rounds somewhere around 4,000 rounds into testing). A quick dry brushing under the extractor and the slide breech face and off it went for the rest of the season, in excess of 8,000 rounds. I cleaned it that winter. Ah, I miss that beast, though it serves a friend well(it was gifted to him, as he needed a better "combat" type handgun to save his Luger for the safe).

Anyone got a good lead on full size Thunder 9 mags that won't choke the finance minister(my wife)? I seem to remember ProMag(groan ) having them back when the F/S Thunder 9 was first introduced to the USA market(pre-94 ban days), perhaps late 92 to mid 94. Hmmm, I'll have to look into that. Hey if I can make the ProMag Beretta 96 mag work reliably, maybe it can be repeated.... just maybe().

That's it for now, stay tuned for updates! 

I got my Trapper gun spring lit for my Bersa/Firestorm 9mm (they also have .45)from

www.thewarbirds.com

Helped a LOT

 

Frank

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S&W 686 distinguished combat magnum stainless, Armscor 1911A stainless, Alchemy arms Spectre .45, S&W 22A 7" fluted, Taurus Tracker 17HMR 8" stainless, Beretta 92FS stainless, Beretta 8000F INOX, Firestorm Mini 9 stainless

First Update:

I've now used the T9 FS in three IDPA matches and several practice sessions. To date, I've only test three types of 9mmx19 ammo through the pistol; 115gr Winchester White Box Value Pack, 115gr CCI Blazer brass case and my own handloading of 124gr Rainer FMJ/TC bullet. All have been 100% functional through the T9 FS, with the WWB and CCI Blazer being about the same in accuracy, while my handload is around 2/3'rds smaller in overall group size. The POA/POI has been very repeatable with all ammo type, which is a nice surprise. Round count is 435 rounds from matches and practices, with an additional 135 rounds for informal ammo testing, making the total round count of 570 rounds. This is nowhere being near broken-in, but the DA and SA trigger release seems to have smoothed out a little bit, though that has been helped a bit, by dry-fire practice of around 1,000 releases of DA and SA types.

I've found(for me) that the T9 FS has a balance that reminds me of a Browning High Power, with the dual safety and slide release controls like a Walther P88. I once owned a HP and a friend(that had more spending cash than me, as a P88 ain't cheap) owned a P88. The hit factor in the IDPA matches has equaled what I've been doing with my Beretta .40 S&W Brigadier. I've experienced no functional issues and the T9 FS has been a very nice surprise. So much so, that a little trigger work or a lighter hammer spring and a frame buffer(to lessen abuse to the frame over thousands of rounds fired) may be the only alterations/additions I might do.

Stay tuned for later updates. 

In regards to your question about extra mags.

Even tho the extra Bersa mags. are too expensive I still suggest you stick with them.  In the long run the money won't make much difference.  I've had good, and bad, results from aftermarket magazines, so I just buy factory stuff now.

Another suggestion.  The factory 13rd mags are due to be released for sale early in 2006.  I'm personally waiting for those to hit the market..  Having an extra 3rds in the same size mag would be a real plus for me.  You might want to consider holding off for the larger capacity mags.

Best Wishes,

JP 

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"Laus deo"

Since you have a FS Thunder 9, 17 rd mags are already available from yourgunparts.com or from Eagle Imports for about $50. The magazine that came with your gun should be a 17 rd model as well. I bought a FS T9 (satin blue model) about 8 months ago and it was shipped with a 17 rd magazine. The 13 rd mags previously mentioned are made for the UC9. FYI, the FS mags will work in a compact Bersa, but not the other way around. I have two factory mags and two ProMags for my FS Bersa and both work equally well, though I bought both PM's for less than the price of one factory magazine. 

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Thunder 380 & 380 CC
Thunder 9
Ultra Compact 9 (3)
Ultra Compact 45
... among others