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Bera 380

nobama

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I was wondering if the Bersa thunder 380 is too small for OC? I carry an XD sub 9 now but its a little heavier than I want ,do to a neck injury several years ago. I would have to sell mine or trade. I have been eyeballing the Bersa as well as the Glock 26. I shoot LH so the Glock would be easier to find a nice level 2 holster, but the price of the Bera is good. What say you?
 

Michigander

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The Bersa platform is nothing more than a PPK with some mods. This means that the safety needs to be left on when carrying chambered, otherwise if it falls someone might get shot. It also means a solid metal gun, not the lightest thing out there, about 25 ounces loaded if I remember right. And even with that added heft, the recoil might seem pretty stout since it's a blowback gun, don't know how important that might be for you.

When open carrying you also need to be using a retention holster. Even if we disregard the fact there aren't a great many retention holsters for PPK type guns, there is still the fact that you'd have 2 potentially troubling steps to get your gun going, very troubling actually since I believe that Bersa doesn't make guns with left handed safeties, though I may be wrong. And obviously with open carry, a potential need to draw would be in the very biggest of hurries.

When you lastly factor in that the round the Bersa fires has half the power yet twice the cost of 9mm, it becomes difficult indeed to suggest any reason why you should get it as an OC gun. If you're alternatively okay with DAO, want cheap and light yet reliable, and .380 or better, you should probably take a look at Kel Tec's guns.

The Glock will have more power yet less recoil, certainly more holster options, no safety to fumble over and a consistent, more easy to master trigger system. But the big problem I see there for you is that they still weight well over 20 ounces loaded.

I just googled the weight of the subcompact 9mm XD's and it appears they are 20 something ounces unloaded, indicating pretty much all of these are heavier than it sounds like you're looking for. So I will again say that this is a further reason to consider Kel Tec's as the light weight option, if weight and reliability are the primary concerns you have.
 
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nobama

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Thanks for the reply. I do have a Kel Tec pocket gun. The XD is at 27oz empty with the large mag, the glock is at 19-20 oz empty, thats quite a bit of difference. The Bersa cc is 19oz they claim, so The holster issue will be the deciding factor. I will only OC with a level 2 retention, which is what I have now for the XD.
 

j4l

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Its a good little gun. Im still considering grabbing one eventually-but for CC, etc. And Bersa sells some holsters for them themselves, if I recall. Not sure if they are retention types though.
Wouldnt sweat the ammo issue vs. 9mm, if you have an Academy or a Gander anywhere nearby, the ammo runs about the same $$ as anything else from .32-through .50AE.
In fact Im running to Academy now,so I'll sneak a peak at the prices when I pick up some for my .45, and post later.

Just curious though-weight issues aside- why not something bigger for OC. Half the advantage, if not more, of OC is not being limited in caliber choices, firepower limitations, etc.? If your not having to tuck the thing out of sight, may as well sport something with authority. Just skip the whole .380/.9mm./.40 sillyness altogether.
My 845 runs 27 ounces empty, not a noticable amount more when loaded with a full 13 rounds. (though I carry-12. superstitious, I know, but why give Murphy any chances..?) I wear the thing 14-16 hours a day and barely notice. ...
 
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nobama

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Well, i also carry concealed (alot in the winter) so I dont want to tote a chunk.
 

nobama

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Cool website. I bought a gun and holster yesterday, and the winner is................ Glock 26 with a LH Serpa. Nice package, light and comfortable.
 

hogeaterf6

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Love my Bersa 380+. The + has a 15 rnd mag. Really nice. I carried it for 2 yrs. Very reliable and acurate as heck. I now use it as a boot gun, when 1 on my hip is not a good idea. I now carry a Bersa 40 cal. Not as acurate as the 380 but a good gun. I to am left handed and I can find no retention holster for lefties. Fobus does not make any at this time, per fobus. I ended up getting a Bianchi Accumold #7500. It has a button snap but draws really well. It works great for me since I live on a farm and ride MC. I'm in all types of weather and this helps in protection. The plus is a little lighter then the 40 BUT it fits in the same Bianchi. So swapping guns is a plus since I dont need 2 holsters. The bigger Bersa autos have rt/lt safeties. The 380 doesnt but dont matter to me since its never on safe anyway. Bersa's are great guns for the price. The 380 and 40 was close in price. I looked at S&W autos and XD's but Bersa fit better in my hands.

Bersachat.com is good place to hang out and can answer your ??'s.
 

Landpimp

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Nov 9, 2009
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I dont know about newer Bersa 380's, but I have a pile of older ones in the shop with busted trigger springs, great fun to replace, I would say over 50% of the used ones we get in have broken trigger springs, just toss em in a box untill we get bored, then we toss them back in the same box :D
 

Irish_Dave

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Apr 16, 2011
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I don't own a Glock 26 but I have a Glock 36 and the weight is about the same (20oz). I find it to be an extremely comfortable pistol to carry. I had no problem finding holsters for it. I have a Blackhawk Serpa and a G&G leather pancake holster (its model # is B802). If you don't have anything against getting a .45 I really recommend picking one up.
 
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