Bersa Thunder 22?

[BryanP]

After watching Skyfall I have the itch for a PPK'ish gun. As far as I know, nobody makes a PPK style gun in 9x19, so my options are .22lr, .9mm Makarov, .32ACP and .380ACP. I have no particular need or desire for Yet Another Caliber, so that means .22LR.

The only gun of this style in 22lr that I know of is the Bersa Thunder and Firestorm in .22lr. Does anyone know of a shop that carries them locally? Preferably in plain black. Or have some other suggestions?

[Rowdy]

Where would locally be?

[BryanP]

Nashville/Murfreesboro area.

[kieefer]

I hit too many shops this wkend but I think I saw one at Outpost Armory in black, pretty sure it was a .22. Might call'em first.

BTW, my Dad has a Bersa Thunder in .380, a very nice shooter.

[Smith]

D&T has/had them.

[Defender]

Ive got the Bersa Firestorm in .22LR..love it!

[DWARREN123]

I have one, a Bersa Thunder 22, black slide and sliver lower. Fun gun, needs the higher powered type ammo for porper operatin. Mine works well with CCI Mini-Mags and other high velocity ammo from CCI.
Nice little pistol but extra mags and accessories are expensive. Edited November 26, 2012 by DWARREN123

[Garufa]

I'm not gonna go so far as to say it is my favorite pistol but it's pretty far up in the list. It's usually in the range bag.

Mine thrives on Remington Golden Bullets. Go figure. No other .22 I've ever seen can do that.

[tercel89]

They are extremely fun guns and look sexy !!!! I had one and it fed all rounds with ease !

[BryanP]

I'm glad to hear so many positive comments about them. Just for eye candy, here's a comparison:

The Walther (in this case a .32ACP model, but the size is the same)

[img]http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/12/1972_Walther_PP.jpg[/img]


A Bersa Thunder .380 and Firestorm .22

[img]http://www.gunblast.com/images/Firestorm/MVC-2002F.jpg[/img]

[Mason]

If you wanted a 9X19 Bersa has that as well. I have been wanting a .45 cal Bersa for a few years but have only found local. Good luck.

[BryanP]

[quote name='Mason' timestamp='1354078951' post='851790']
If you wanted a 9X19 Bersa has that as well. I have been wanting a .45 cal Bersa for a few years but have only found local. Good luck.
[/quote]

If they made a 9mm the size and appearance of a PPK I'd be all over it. The Bersa 9mm doesn't have the shape and appearance or I'd buy one.

[Guest bluecanary25]

Been a couple years, but I bought a Firestorm/Bersa (same company) 22lr at the Outpost.
After breaking in, shoots well, but is partial to more powerful ammo.
BOSS LADY carries Bersa 380. Great gun for the money.

[Guest HvyMtl]

Guns and Leather carry Bersa. The 9mm, .40, and .45 are a different gun. I have the .45 Ultra Compact. It is the older model, with the groved barrel. There is a new 9mm, which is in the more concealable "pocket" design.
http://www.bersa.com.ar/menu_en.php
About the "Ultra Compacts," and "Pro" Bersa in 9, .40, and .45 - They are based on an improved Browning Petter design. Simple, accurate, and inexpensive. The real negative for all Bersa is the finish wears off. Mine is an older one, as I said, the new ones have polygonal barrels, round in chamber indicators, and Picatinny rails. They are truly ambidexterous. This is why I purchased it, as I am equal handed, and know in an emergency, the hand which reaches the gun first will be the one shooting it. Of the calibers, IMHO, after shooting them, I think the Pro and Ultra Compact 9mm are the best of the bunch. (First time I shot one, a 9mm Pro, I was at a TWRA range. First shot was dead center, all 16 additional shots followed suit. This gun is more accurate than I am.) These guns are easy easy easy to clean.
About the .45 - it is a small firearm, 7+1 doublestack, almost pocket size. Very accurate, and the best recoil of any .45 I have shot, including the venerable 1911. Excellent for such a short barrel firearm (3 1/2 inch.)

As for the Smaller Thunder series, the 22lr up to the 380, these are a blowback design, and are very light weight. They are accurate, and simple. What is not to love? They have had a spring issue in the past, where 1 in 100 or so, had a trigger spring fail. So, if you find a used one, of around 4 years ago, do have the springs checked by a gunsmith. The new ones do not have this issue. There are 2 versions of the Bersa Thunder for 22lr. One is designed to be a competition pistol, while the other is more plinker, and carry. http://www.bersa.com.ar/thunder22_en.php

Argentine military carry the full size 9mm Pro.