Talked about before!!!!

[leroy]

40 minutes ago, Moped said:

I could pull that off ( Glock 26 ) in my overalls. Not my slacks or jeans.

HEHEHE ... Yesss . 

I used ta carry a Glock 26 in my overalls n big pockets Carhartt dungarees.  I have tired a commander length 1911 like that too... All years ago.

leroy... 

[Kywldcts]

1 hour ago, deerslayer said:

None of my pockets are big enough for a 365XL, but a plain jane P365 would work.  I’ve occasionally pocket carried a Glock 43 and a Smith 442 over the years and would like to try a P365, since on paper it’s a little smaller than my 43.  With regular shorts and a belt (my typical garb), a 17 ounce 365 would be no big deal for me weight-wise.  But as rarely as I pocket carry, I should probably save that $500. 

I have run and ridden bikes with a 43 and even a 48 in the past with gym shorts, but I always used a belly band.  I’ve also used the belly band with the 48 on a couple occasions when I had to dress up.  It worked well.  

P365 is going to be 23-24 ounces loaded.  Bodyguard 2.0 is 16 ounces loaded.  And it’s still almost 1/2 inch shorter.  That means a lot in a pocket of gym shorts with a flimsy drawstring.  I’m not in any way saying something bigger doesn’t work in that application, but the two side by side aren’t even comparable when it comes to overall size and weight.  It’s about trade offs…smaller size and weight, a better grip and ergonomics, and more shootability vs. a more powerful caliber.  

[deerslayer]

22 minutes ago, Kywldcts said:

P365 is going to be 23-24 ounces loaded.  Bodyguard 2.0 is 16 ounces loaded.  And it’s still almost 1/2 inch shorter.  That means a lot in a pocket of gym shorts with a flimsy drawstring.  I’m not in any way saying something bigger doesn’t work in that application, but the two side by side aren’t even comparable when it comes to overall size and weight.  It’s about trade offs…smaller size and weight, a better grip and ergonomics, and more shootability vs. a more powerful caliber.  

Makes sense.  I just carry too much stuff in my pockets before I even think about a gun to wear gym shorts when I’m out and about, so there’s no point in compromising my carry gun.  

Edited Monday at 01:30 AM by deerslayer

[bersaguy]

I have noticed while reading that a lot of folks talk about all the different pistols they own but I seldom see a Bersa Thunder or a Model 85 mentioned. Is it that it is the fact it is not a small pocket pistol or because it is a 380 caliber? They make the same hole as a 9mm and it is like I said earlier that if you get in a situation that might require self defense that the Bersa 380 might have you under gunned? I have never felt under gunned when I have a Bersa on me because I know I will put a round where it needs to be to stop the situation. Maybe instead of buying a dozen different guns that a person practices with the one they have it will be easier on the pocket book. Not trying to start a fuss but just trying to prove a point.

[leroy]

I like the Bersa sized guns, especially the 15 shooters.  As I remember the single stacks are a Walther PP clone, which I like better than the PPKs.   

I admit to being a pistola horderer for the last 55 years or so, so I like em all.  Most of the pistolas I carry are in that size range.  I carry in owb holsters; except for the SIG p938 and the 238, which go in pocket holsters for easy carry.  They are about 3 inches long. 

If ya got the room in or on your britches, there's nothin wrong with carrying these bigger guns.  I tend to wear big clothes n untucked shirts, so carrying ain't a problem for me.

As to the adequacy of the 380;  they work real well, especially at close range.  I re-remembered that a finished gunman about 70 years old shot a heckler graveyard dead in a movie theater several years ago somewhere in Florida His 380 worked real well.  Sadly, I'ma thinkin they labelled him a psychopathic  murderer and put him away for a while. 

leroy. 

[bersaguy]

18 minutes ago, leroy said:

I like the Bersa sized guns, especially the 15 shooters.  As I remember the single stacks are a Walther PP clone, which I like better than the PPKs.   

I admit to being a pistola horderer for the last 55 years or so, so I like em all.  Most of the pistolas I carry are in that size range.  I carry in owb holsters; except for the SIG p938 and the 238, which go in pocket holsters for easy carry.  They are about 3 inches long. 

If ya got the room in or on your britches, there's nothin wrong with carrying these bigger guns.  I tend to wear big clothes n untucked shirts, so carrying ain't a problem for me.

As to the adequacy of the 380;  they work real well, especially at close range.  I re-remembered that a finished gunman about 70 years old shot a heckler graveyard dead in a movie theater several years ago somewhere in Florida His 380 worked real well.  Sadly, I'ma thinkin they labelled him a psychopathic  murderer and put him away for a while. 

leroy. 

I have an S&W N&P Body Guard that I wish anyone else owned but me. It is just taking up room in the safe. A friend of mine needed some money and I took it as a loan and next time I heard from him he was living in Florida with his girlfriend 5 years ago. the Only good is it's a 380 and I have plenty of ammo for it. Oh yea it has a pocket holster and extra mag. Soon as my grandson comes by I will get a few pictures of it and then post it in the classified to sell. Don't have a clue what to ask for it as I know I paid to much for it.

[monkeylizard]

To me it's like has already been said before: Why bother with a Bersa-sized .380 when there are now comparably sized 9mm guns on the market? When a Glock G26 was considered the "small" 9mm, sure a PP or Thunder-sized .380 would make sense. But now with Kahr CM/PM9, Glock G43, M&P Shield, etc. I'll take the extra punch of the 9mm in a similar sized package.

Also as said above, even though the .380 and 9mm have the same diameter and "make the same sized hole" that does not make them equivalent. The energy in a modern 9mm self-defense cartridge is greater than a modern .380, all else being equal like barrel length. Like David said, a .22 and a .223 make the same sized hole, but nobody would think they're comparable.

The only form-factor to me that makes sense for a .380 is the really small stuff like KelTec P3AT or Ruger LCP and that's only because there's no 9mm gun that small and those only make sense as a true "get off me" gun when one of the other micro-9s can't be carried. And for the life of me I can't think of a case when that's true. I have an LCP that just sits in a drawer.

But that's me. I understand other things like ease of racking the slide and felt recoil matter too, especially for someone who may be losing hand strength due to age or injury. In those cases, a Bersa Thunder might make sense but I think those are the edge cases, not the norm.

It's like asking why most people don't have a land line phone, hike with external frame backpacks, light cigarettes with matches, or mow the lawn with an old timey reel push mower. Because except for some edge cases, there are better solutions available.

Edited Tuesday at 08:08 PM by monkeylizard

[bersaguy]

I am not in a position to dispute what you are saying because since my best friend and Range partner of died 10+ years that use to be at the range religiously. He worked there as maintenance manager and we had free will to use the range and he was more the one that was always experimenting with anything new that came out and if he thought it might be something I might like to shoot he would bring it down to the range. He was the person that introduced me to the Bersa Thunder and I fell in love with the fix box of ammo down the tube. I would like to have another for the safe. I was totally happy and the more powder I sent down the tube the better I got.  Like I said earlier. Most of the people that took the HCP range took the test with 22lr target guns. I took mine with a Thunder. I told you my grades back then.

I had my son-in-law tease me the other day when We went out in the field behind the house to burn some powder and he asked me to shoot 3 of his guns. He has a Glock, Smith &Wesson and a Single action Colt. I didn't crash and burn like I thought I might but I manage to get on the flight deck........He told me he was surprised that I did fairly well with strange guns and I looked at him and said......"it's not the gun, "it's up to the shooter able to adjust. I burned 1 Mag from my Thunder and no it was not 91%. It was about 75% give or take. Not bad for not being in a range or even out shooting out back in the field in over 3 years.

[Tuffus]

4 hours ago, bersaguy said:

I have noticed while reading that a lot of folks talk about all the different pistols they own but I seldom see a Bersa Thunder or a Model 85 mentioned. Is it that it is the fact it is not a small pocket pistol or because it is a 380 caliber? They make the same hole as a 9mm and it is like I said earlier that if you get in a situation that might require self defense that the Bersa 380 might have you under gunned? I have never felt under gunned when I have a Bersa on me because I know I will put a round where it needs to be to stop the situation. Maybe instead of buying a dozen different guns that a person practices with the one they have it will be easier on the pocket book. Not trying to start a fuss but just trying to prove a point.

I have a Bersa Thunder 380 but seldom carry it since I bought a Sig P365 and 365 XL but wouldn't worry about carrying the Bersa if I needed to. I do like the double action then single action with the safety off on the Bersa. 

[bersaguy]

44 minutes ago, Tuffus said:

I have a Bersa Thunder 380 but seldom carry it since I bought a Sig P365 and 365 XL but wouldn't worry about carrying the Bersa if I needed to. I do like the double action then single action with the safety off on the Bersa. 

Just the safety system on the Thunder was one of the things that pushed me over the edge plus I love the double action. I would love to get my hands on another Thunder in good shape just to have another Safe Queen. I'm getting ready to put a gun up for sale in the classifieds I cannot get into these miniature guns.

[gregintenn]

7 hours ago, bersaguy said:

I have noticed while reading that a lot of folks talk about all the different pistols they own but I seldom see a Bersa Thunder or a Model 85 mentioned. Is it that it is the fact it is not a small pocket pistol or because it is a 380 caliber? They make the same hole as a 9mm and it is like I said earlier that if you get in a situation that might require self defense that the Bersa 380 might have you under gunned? I have never felt under gunned when I have a Bersa on me because I know I will put a round where it needs to be to stop the situation. Maybe instead of buying a dozen different guns that a person practices with the one they have it will be easier on the pocket book. Not trying to start a fuss but just trying to prove a point.

I’ve simply never had the opportunity to handle nor fire a Bersa handgun. I’ve nothing against them.

[Garufa]

16 minutes ago, gregintenn said:

I’ve simply never had the opportunity to handle nor fire a Bersa handgun. I’ve nothing against them.

I have a Bersa Thunder 22 that is just dandy.  It eats Remington Golden Bullets like a fat kid in a candy store…or Buc-ee’s.

[pop pop]

I looked at a Bersa, at the Franklin gun Shop, and almost purchased it. I made the mistake of purchasing a PPKS instead. Had to get rid of the S W PPKS after it went back to the factory for repairs and it never was reliable with several different ammos I tried. 

The Bersa would have been a better choice and saved me money and time. I see nothing wrong with 380 and I carried a colt Pocket Lite for 10 years. Just want something bigger now and a lot of the 9 MMs are the size of the little pistols. I wanted the Bodyguard 2.0 380 I just purchased to carry in the weak side for backup pistol. It is filling the need very well for me. 

I have all the revolvers and pistols I need; it is the want to have thing that always gets me Bersaguy. 

[D B Cooper]

I'd never try to convince someone they need to carry "______".

Carry/ Shoot what you shoot best and are most comfortable with. Personally I'd rather face a threat that has a .45 but doesn't shoot it accurately, than someone with a .380 who shoots it very well. The smaller the caliber, the more accurate you need to be, to get the most out of what you're carrying.

Not the same, but similar - why didn't you buy a car that gets the absolute best gas mileage? Probably because you liked / felt more comfortable in the one you did buy.  

The point is - carry SOMETHING, and be proficient with whatever it is.

Edited 17 hours ago by D B Cooper

[papa61]

On 5/20/2025 at 11:56 AM, bersaguy said:

I have noticed while reading that a lot of folks talk about all the different pistols they own but I seldom see a Bersa Thunder or a Model 85 mentioned. Is it that it is the fact it is not a small pocket pistol or because it is a 380 caliber? They make the same hole as a 9mm and it is like I said earlier that if you get in a situation that might require self defense that the Bersa 380 might have you under gunned? I have never felt under gunned when I have a Bersa on me because I know I will put a round where it needs to be to stop the situation. Maybe instead of buying a dozen different guns that a person practices with the one they have it will be easier on the pocket book. Not trying to start a fuss but just trying to prove a point.

I haven't mentioned the Bersa because I've never owned one. I like them, a friend had one, I think they are well designed and built. I just never owned one, yet. I think 380 is adequate for defense in it's place and if one is comfy with it the Bersa would make a fine EDC. I don't like rotating my carry pistol like some and my current "big" gun is a Firestar 45. My P32 goes with me almost everywhere. I'll sometimes leave it if I'm carrying the 45 but most times it's still in my pocket as a NY reload.

I say again, "the best gun to have in a gunfight is the one you have with you".