Bersa Thunder 380
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Summary: Walt Rauch’s review of and rating for the Bersa Thunder 380, including a description, range report, specs, photo, MSRP, the average user rating and user comments. (Click here to see all of Rauch’s handgun reviews.)
Manufacturer’s Description
The Bersa Thunder 380 double-action semiauto is chambered in .380 ACP. Manufactured in Argentina, the Bersa externally and partially internally resembles the Walther PP or PPK double-action pistols. The trigger mechanism is an amalgam of the Walther and the Beretta 92 designs. This compact pocket semiauto is what is commonly known as DAO; that is to say, the first shot can be fired as if it were a revolver, with a long, double-action pull on the trigger. Alternatively, the external rounded hammer can be pulled back or cocked for a more precise first shot from a lighter, single-action mode. The long double-action trigger pull weighs 12.5 lbs., while the single-action pull [hammer raised or cocked] is 5.5 lbs.
In either case, after the first shot, the slide cycles and the hammer re-cocks to single action. If you don’t want to fire a subsequent shot, you can safely lower the hammer by pushing down on the slide-mounted decocking lever, which also serves as a safety device. When you push the lever down, the body of the lever is located between the hammer and the rear of the firing pin so that the hammer can safely fall forward (this action should still be done in a safe direction because anything mechanical can fail).
The lever, once depressed, can be left in its downward position because it’s not spring loaded to return to its original position. If you do leave the lever down, pressure on the trigger meets with no resistance, and nor can the hammer be manually raised to fire. If you carry the gun with a loaded chamber, this type of safety means you are carrying the gun on safe.
There’s a magazine-disconnect safety, so if you remove the magazine, the gun can’t discharge. In addition, there’s an internal locking system operated by a special key located above the trigger in the left side of the frame. To fire, turn the key so that the lock is aligned with (F). When you turn it to the locked position (S), neither the hammer, trigger nor slide can be moved, nor can the pistol be disassembled.
The Bersa uses an external flat bar on the right side of the frame connecting the trigger to the hammer and sear. Vertical grasping grooves are at the rear of the slide. To load and unload, put the manual safety on (i.e., down) and insert a loaded magazine into the gun. Grasp the slide at the rear using the serrations. Draw back the slide fully to the rear and let the slide spring forward, chambering a cartridge. (Do not ride the slide forward.) You can now place an additional round into the magazine.
Duotone finish.
To unload, first remove the magazine, then retract the slide several times to ensure there’s no round left in the chamber, lock the slide back with the slide stop and look and feel to make sure there’s no round left in the chamber. This seems redundant, but it’s possible for the extractor to slip off the cartridge rim and leave a round in the chamber. If you look and feel, you’re sure.
The Thunder measures .75″ thick in the slide area, and the barrel measures 3.5″ long. The gun weighs 20 oz. and carries dull-black polymer impressed checkered grip panels with slight thumb swells affixed by a screw on either side of the frame. Both the front and back straps are grooved. The standard finish is a dull, non-reflective black; nickel or Duotone finishes are available.
In addition to grasping serrations at the rear of the slide, the Bersa sports a smooth-faced trigger. The front of the trigger guard has a hook or projection on its lower forward face. The Bersa has an external slide stop that gives the user an easy means to lock back the slide for insertion or clearing the arm. The magazine release is located right beneath the slide stop at the top rear of the trigger guard area. The Bersa comes with one magazine, which has cartridge witness holes in its body and a finger rest in the removable base plate.
Range Report
Pocket guns such as the Bersa are designed as personal protection guns, and while the Thunder 380 comes with a three-white-dot sighting system, it’s not meant to be used for precision shooting at 25 yards but rather as an emergency self-defense arm. This was all too well borne out when we did accuracy work at 25 yards. As noted in the table below, while the gun can shoot 2″ groups from a gun-bag rest at this distance, the norm for most all the shooting we performed was 5″ groups of five rounds each.
The rear sight is windage adjustable via a small screw that moves the rear sight blade, and this is helpful because various brands and bullet weights didn’t shoot to the same point of aim.
Here are our results at 10 feet from the rest over a Competition Electronic Pro-Tach chronograph:
- CCI Blazer 88-gr. JHP: 938 fps, 3″ group
- Cor-Bon 90-gr. +P JHP: 1,010 fps, 1.5″ group
- Federal 95-gr. JRN: 922 fps, 2.25″ group
- Federal Hydra-Shock 90-gr. JHP: 978 fps, 2.75″
- Remington 88-gr.: 919 fps, 1.5″ group
- Winchester SXT 95-gr. JHP: 881 fps, 3″ group
- Winchester Silvertip 85-gr. HP: 947 fps, 2″ group
Disassembly for cleaning is simple. After ensuring the gun is unloaded, lock the slide back using the slide stop. On the forward right side of the frame there’s a lever that resembles the slide stop. Pull down on this lever until it’s at almost a 90-degree angle. Now pull back and up on the slide, releasing it from the frame, and ease it forward and off the barrel against the pressure of the recoil spring.
Final Thoughts
The Bersa pistol is a workhorse, and while not as well-finished as some others, it provides most everything found in more expensive pistols of this design. There’s just no particular cachet attached.
Walt Rauch received a BS degree from Carnegie Tech and completed service as a Special Agent in U.S. Army Intelligence. Rauch was a U.S. Secret Service Special Agent and a Philadelphia, Pa., Warrant Unit Investigator. He now operates a consulting company for defense-weapon and tactical training. Rauch & Company services include expert witness testimony on firearms use and tactics.
Rauch is also a writer and lecturer in the firearms field. He’s published in national and international publications including InterMedia’s Handguns, several Harris Publications specialty magazines, Police and Security News and Cibles (France). He is the author of a book on self-defense, Real-World Survival! What Has Worked For Me, as well as Practically Speaking, a comprehensive guide to IDPA defensive pistol shooting.
The Specs
| Caliber | Capacity | BBL | OAL | Height | Width | Weight |
| .380 ACP | 7+1, 9+1 or 15+1 | 3.5″ | 6.625″ | 4.75″ | 1.125″ | 23 oz. |
MSRP: $335
 | Bersa Thunder 380 Black, Conceal Carry Kit (Impact Guns) |  $323.99  |
 | Bersa Thunder 380 (Impact Guns) | $249.99 |
| + 1 others available from Impact Guns ↓ | ||
| | Bersa Thunder 380 Black, Conceal Carry Kit (Midwest Hunters Outlet) |  $312.99 |
| | Bersa Thunder 380 Duotone (Midwest Hunters Outlet) | $269.99 |
| + 1 others available from Midwest Hunters Outlet ↓ | ||
Comment from Greg Newman
Time December 29, 2010 at 11:11 am
Shoots to point of aim.
Great pricing on these as a back-up for concealed carry.
Comment from Lothar
Time February 14, 2011 at 11:53 am
Comment from Walt Rauch
Lothar, you are correct about the mag safety: The latest version of the Thunder 380 does have a mag disconnect. We will edit the review to fix it. Thanks for pointing that out!Time February 14, 2011 at 6:48 pm
Comment from Andy G
Time September 23, 2011 at 10:47 pm
Comment from Peter Santiago
I think it’s called a DA/SA, not a DAO, since the hammer can be pulled back.Time October 13, 2011 at 7:52 am
Comment from Mike Reed
Owned one of these a few years back, but ended up reselling it because it kept biting me between thumb and forefinger. Of course, I was new to handguns in those days and the problem may have been more my inexperienced technique than any inherent design flaw.Time December 16, 2011 at 10:13 am
Comment from Michael DuMonte
I”ve own my 380 bersa for awile now and this gun will never jam for you, great conceal gun, I love the way it shoots, great looking gun looks like it cost more than $500.00Time March 8, 2012 at 11:48 pm
Comment from Michael
Time March 12, 2012 at 12:14 am
Comment from Ryan
I have owned the 7 shot .380 Thunder for about 3 years. I think it’s not only an excellent value, I think it’s an excellent pistol. I’d not be afraid to test it against .380 caliber guns costing twice as much. About 2 years ago, I purchased a new Bersa Ultra Compact Pro 9mm in Duo-tone. This 9mm holds 13 rounds and even though it weighs a wee bit more than my brother’s Glock, he and I both agree that the Bersa 9mm is manufactured with every bit the quality of the Glock and maybe even more!!! How about doing a review on the Bersa Ultra Compact Pro 9mm? I gave $292.60 plus tax, handling and shipping for my Nine. Total cost= $340.60 and I’ll put my Bersa 9 up against any 9mm – not saying my Bersa will win out but it won’t be embarrassed either.Time March 12, 2012 at 12:38 pm
Comment from Lee Shaw
I have the Bersa .380 Thunder Plus with the 15 round mags. A few of the Plus models will drop the mag when fired or the side is slapped. Mine did! I sent it off to a gunsmith to install the fix (they know about the problem). No cost to me except postage. Since I have gotten it back it has never failed to fire or to feed or eject a round. OH! And the mag has never dropped out no matter how many rounds you run through it. Great little pistol now!Time March 18, 2012 at 4:03 pm
Comment from Claude
Time April 11, 2012 at 9:06 pm
Comment from daveZ
I just sold my Walther PPK/S .380 which I loved accuracy-wise, but couldn’t take the beating my hand would take from the short tang. Supposedly bersa has fixed this with a longer tang. any comments? I’d like to buy the bersa, but need to ensure that I won’t have the same issue.Time April 22, 2012 at 12:43 pm
Comment from Aaron Massey
Time April 25, 2012 at 7:00 am
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