:: Bersa Talk ::

    Well, my Bersa came back from Colorado Gun Works after the disassembly lever broke off and seems to be working fine.  However, I am having one major problem with it--I can't get it back together after disassembling!  My daughter-in-law tried, too.  Is there some trick only you guys know about?
    Also, after reading posts, I sent for Speer ammo and had jam after jam.  Wolf worked better for me than Speer, but the gunsmith says not to use Wolf, so guess I will have to try another brand.  Has anyone had a problem with Speer?  Any other reasonably priced recommendations?

First ensure the magazine is out of the well and the dissassembly lever is pushed down and forward with the index finger.

I'm sure someone will be by here soon with better answers than I have, but there's only 2 things I know very important when reassembling the Bersa Thunder 380.  The Recoil spring has two different sized ends.  The tighter end goes toward the chamber and the more open end goes toward the muzzle. If you hold the frame with the spring in place and let it point toward the floor, the spring shouldn't fall off. If it does, turn it around and go from there.

Second. the "bitter end" or the end of the spring should be up in the 12 o'clock position with the open part of the end of the spring up.  Then just slide the spring into the slide, compressing the spring as you bring it farther back toward the chamber all the while holding the dissassembly lever activated with the other index finger. At the extreme travel of the slide to the rear, simply set the slide down on the frame and allow it to advance forward then return the dissassembly lever to the locked position and done.

I have had no feeding or ejection issues with either of my 380's either the Duo Tone or the CC since a break-in period.  Mine seemed to be very short only about 200-250 rounds.  Some people here recommend 4 to 5 hundred.

Enjoy

Bill

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Firestorm FS 22lr Duo Tone
Bersa Thunder 380 DuoTone
Bersa Thunder 380 CC
Bersa Thunder 9 UC Old Model
Thompson AO 1911A1 WGS
Keltec P3AT
Colt 1903 Pocket Pistol
Charter Arms 38 spcl Blued SS
Rossi 357 Blue 2" Snubbie

    I was not holding down the disassembly lever while setting the slide down.  However, as a woman with fairly small hands, I am having a real problem doing these things together.  My son had to put my gun back together.  I hope practice makes it easier.  The next time I clean my gun, I will try to do things in the order you suggest.
    Think I will order MagTech next time.  If it's good enough for Colorado Gun Works, it's good enough for me.  However, I am also having a problem in getting ammo, especially the 6th and 7th bullets, into the magazine.  Between the reassembly and magazine issues, I am not still not entirely sure the Bersa 380 is the best gun for me.  I like it; I don't even mind the recoil, but maybe it requires stronger/bigger hands than I have.
   

Loading mag if you a small person is hard . Load till comfort then shoot. Their is a tool for a few $ that some people use. Couple members here use it  I can't tell you name.

The Bersa is easy to  break down compaired to a PPK/S  It has a stronger spring and the entire trigger guard must be pulled down and held to side while doing the slide thing.  All semi auto pistols have springs to control the slide and chamber the next round . So practice with your Bersa and remember we have other ladies here that also own and shoot Bersa's

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Bersa Thunder,
PPK/S,
1990 Colt Mustang,
380 Kel Tec
380's Rule

"Just say "Lay A Way"

"WWJBD" What Would James Bond Do?

"Hokey religions and plastic glocks are no match for a good 1911 at your side, kid."

Check out this thread for easy reassembly.

http://bersatalk.com/forums/thread/51215.aspx

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p-t-max

I'm no expert, I'm just, well---opinionated!

http://blog648.blogspot.com/

Thanks.  I checked out the website and printed out the pictures.  The next time I disassemble, I'll give it a try. 

Hi Notannie.....If you follow the instructions on the spring placement (and remove the magazine of ourse), then, sit in a chair with the pistol facing forward.

Place it between your knees and use your right hand to hold it (palm on the underside of the grip and fingers underneath the trigger guard), keeping the grip against the bottom of the chair...use your right thumb to hold down the lever.....

Use your left hand to grab the slide and then scoop the end of the recoil spring, then pull the slide all the way back into place.....The secret is to use the right arm and chair for leverage.......Good luck....

 

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"We cannot solve problems by using the same kind of thinking we used when we created them." Albert Einstein

I am assuming from your tag that you ARE female, so thanks for your directions which may prove to be most helpful since you can understand the strength and hand-size issue more than a man can.  Maybe we need a female gunowners section on this forum! 
   

Indeed I am.....there are a handful of us here (females)......but I doubt michael t would give us our own section.....Some of us get a little carried away at times....... and he won't even give the boys a 1911 pistol section and they've been good!.

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"We cannot solve problems by using the same kind of thinking we used when we created them." Albert Einstein

Thanks, AmericanGirl!!  I was afraid to try taking my gun apart yesterday when I got your directions, fearing that I wouldn't be able to get it back together, but I got up my courage today and took it apart AND got it back together on the first try using your chair technique.  Now, no GUY would have ever told me to do that! 

Notannie:

Thanks, AmericanGirl!!  Now, no GUY would have ever told me to do that! 

Yur right, but if you were in my area and if yur kind enough to get me a cold one I'd be glad to show ya.

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Whining is for little girls, babies, mommy’s boys and girly men.
SNIVELING? Now that’s an art form!

BT380CC; BT380dlx; P3AT; PPK
Beretta 92FS
BT45 UC; FS 1911 DLX; Colt M1991A1; DW Bobtail
Taurus .38 UL
CZ fnh Modell 27 WWII Luftwaffe issued to Hauptman Jaeduvel
+ old family guns

GOOD JOB Notannie!! 

We knew you could it. My girlfriend had more trouble assembling her BT380 in the beginning now she is a pro but it took some practice, she likes her Bersa even more  that she can fieldstrip it herself without a "male" around, she even dissassembles my 1911's  for cleaning. GOD I LOVE THAT WOMAN!!

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Free Men Do Not Ask Permission To Bear Arms

You are welcome Notannie.........sometimes brains do prevail brawn......

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"We cannot solve problems by using the same kind of thinking we used when we created them." Albert Einstein

I use Remington 88gr JHP and they work fine in my T380 DLX.  Reasonably priced, too! 

HKS has a speedloader which will solve your magazine loading problem.  $12.95 at most gun stores.

Enjoy!

______________________________________

Cyclops

 

My Bersa HATES the SpeerGold HP, so I have switched to Remington or Winchester FMJ for target practice, and the number of jams has greatly decreased (although were not entirely eliminated).  I haven't tried to find another hollow point yet  but will give the Remington a try when I do.

I bought a S&W Airweight 38 Special, and after the trigger pressure required and the kick from shooting it, my Bersa is a pleasure to shoot.  I even hit the target at 45 ft. today on my first try at that distance. The magazine doesn't even seem that hard to load anymore.  Guess it all is relative. . .   However, the speedloader would probably be a good idea anyway.