Bersa Thunder .380 Any Good??

[borrowedsig]

I'm sure I'm in the minority, a lot of people love to hate .380 as a defensive caliber, and while yes, larger calibers certainly have their advantages, a properly placed .380 hole (the same size as a 9mm hole, mind you) will sure put the hurt on somebody who means to do you harm.

I love to hate it. The facts are that the .380 does not and will never do as much damage as the 9mm simply because it does not have the muzzle velocity or energy to do so. taken from the speer sight the .380 is 990 fps and 196 lb-ft at the muzzle and the 9mm is 1220 fps and 410 lb ft. That is a huge difference especially when you are talking winter clothing and a big person and stopping power. You said it right, a hurt not a kill.


.380 ballistic results.

Cartridge : Federal 90 grain Hydra-Shok Personal Defense (Load # PD380HS1H)

Firearm : Kel-Tec P3AT with 2.75" barrel length.

Calibration : 8.1 ± 0.05cm and 582 ± 0.500 ft/sec impact velocity.

Shot 1 - Penetrated 12.5 ± 0.031"

Shot 2 - Exited block at 11.9 ± 0.031"

Shot 3 - Penetrated 12.4 ± 0.031"

Shot 4 - Penetrated 11.9 ± 0.031"

Shot 5 - Penetrated 12.1 ± 0.031"

Average impact velocity = 843 ± 0.500 ft/sec

Average recovered diameter = 0.469 ± 0.0005"


9mm ballistic results
Cartridge : Various 9x19mm bullets.

Firearm : Recoil-operated handgun with 4.0" barrel length.

Calibration : 11.7 ± 0.05cm and 618 ± 0.500 ft/sec impact velocity.

Shot 3 - 135gr Federal Personal Defense Hydra-Shok. Bullet impacted at 1010 ± 0.500 ft/sec, penetrated to 10.0 ± 0.031" (corrected). Expanded diameter was 0.676 ± 0.0005".

Shot 4 - 147gr Federal Hydra-Shok. Bullet impacted at 981 ± 0.500 ft/sec, penetrated to 14.0 ± 0.031" (corrected). Expanded diameter was 0.588 ± 0.0005".


9mm +p
Cartridge : 9x19mm Luger Speer 124gr +P Gold Dot JHP

Firearm : Glock 26 (3.5" barrel length)

Block Calibration : All depths corrected (From 11.0cm @ 596 ft/sec)

Shot 1 - Impacted at 1201 ft/sec, penetrated to 11.2" and was recovered at 0.679" average diameter.

Shot 2 - Impacted at 1218 ft/sec, penetrated to 11.2" and was recovered at 0.691" average diameter.

Shot 3 - Impacted at 1216 ft/sec, penetrated to 10.3" and was recovered at 0.704" average diameter.

Shot 4 - Impacted at 1222 ft/sec, penetrated to 10.6" and was recovered at 0.682" average diameter.

Shot 5 - Impacted at 1208 ft/sec, penetrated to 9.9" and was recovered at 0.711" average diameter.

All taken from the brassfetcher website. As you can see the 9mm expands more and makes a much wider wound track.


That my friend is science. I carry a .357 magnum over either of those because no matter how much you train or drill there is always a chance that the situation arises that you will need to get one shot not 8 or 75 and it will need to take them down.

That being said enjoy your new gun, its very pretty and it sounds like you got a killer deal .


Matt

 

[AndyH]

I totally agree that a 9MM will always have more punch than a .380.
Honesty 95% of the time I carry a .45 but on the rare occasion when I can not conceal mt .45 I need something smaller, I did look at the small 9MM out there but did not find one that I liked. I did like the Bersa .380 It's slim profile and light weight made it the winner for me.

Double tap has some great .380 ammo
Muzzle Energy:
242 ft. lbs. 3.5" bbl Bersa Thunder
Velocity:
3.5" bbl Bersa Thunder - 1100fps

While not the power of the 9MM it is adequate for the job. And In my book adequate and and proper shoot placement is good enough for me for the 5% of the time I need it.


Desides for the price it was hard to beat.

 

[borrowedsig]

Like i said, if you enjoy it and trust your life to it then buy and carry it. I have huge hands so i dont care for the smaller guns, thats why i carry a revolver, plus im a cowboy like that . either way no matter what you carry at least your carrying something. I just enjoy hating on the .380 and do so to all my friends as well, so dont feel special lol.


Matt

 

[AndyH]

Good times :woot:

 

[wagon]

+1. I have a BT380CC which has been accurate, easy to shoot, reliable and easy to carry. But I just bought a Kahr PM9 this week ..smaller, thinner and lighter. I have a tough choice from now on ...

I totally agree that a 9MM will always have more punch than a .380.
Honesty 95% of the time I carry a .45 but on the rare occasion when I can not conceal mt .45 I need something smaller, I did look at the small 9MM out there but did not find one that I liked. I did like the Bersa .380 It's slim profile and light weight made it the winner for me.

Double tap has some great .380 ammo
Muzzle Energy:
242 ft. lbs. 3.5" bbl Bersa Thunder
Velocity:
3.5" bbl Bersa Thunder - 1100fps

While not the power of the 9MM it is adequate for the job. And In my book adequate and and proper shoot placement is good enough for me for the 5% of the time I need it.


Desides for the price it was hard to beat.

 

[smithmax]

Necroposting for the win!