Bersa thunder 380 problems

[Moe]

moe do you have pics of this mod?

I'm afraid not and I sold the gun last year. I just used a file to work the notch in the slide that is at an angle to vertical 90 degrees to the slide. It was easy. Solved the failure to engage issue entirely. Probably does not do any warranty any good but I like stuff to work.

Cheers
Moe

 

[contact148]

Was able to pickup 3 different ammos

win Whitebox locked open 100% with the 3 bersa mags and 95% with the mecgar mag

remington fmj locked open 100% with bersa mags 50% with the mecgar

blazer brass locked open 100% with bersa mags and 75% witht eh mecgar mag

handloads locked open 100% on bersa mags 50% on the mecgar mags

ZERO light strikes and I was NOT touching the slide release with my grip.

only fire about 15 rnds per each box as it was too cold today will repeat once warmer out

 

[alpining]

Good stuff, thanks for reporting back.

You might get the slide lock to work better with the MecGar magazines with some tinkering. I'd start by removing the slide and checking how the slide stop works with each type of magazine. You might be able to tell if it's an interface problem between the magazine follower and the slide stop, or a weak mag spring problem.

No light strikes, that's great. Working on your handloads might get them to fire consistently, that's where I'd start. If that doesn't solve the problem, you can tinker with your fire control system to get more firing pin energy.

 

[Mikehenrybell]

Use factory ammo only

 

[B]

It's odd that the one magazine gives you issues. Doesn't matter if it says Bersa on the mag, they are made by Mec-Gar.

 

[contact148]

It's odd that the one magazine gives you issues. Doesn't matter if it says Bersa on the mag, they are made by Mec-Gar.

the bersa marked mags have a plastic follower the mecgar mag has a stainless-steel follower I did notice the steel follower tilts forward more than the plastic, so I tweaked it (bent it a bit) to prevent tilt.

shooting today so ill report back later

 

[B]

the bersa marked mags have a plastic follower the mecgar mag has a stainless-steel follower I did notice the steel follower tilts forward more than the plastic, so I tweaked it (bent it a bit) to prevent tilt.

shooting today so ill report back later

Ah, very interesting. I have the same plastic follower in both. I know the follower you are talking about in the Mec-Gar though. In my 10mm SR1911 mags and my .45 1911 mags I had to bend up the part that pushes on the slide stop so you are likely on to something.

 

[contact148]

Ok ran 150 rnds through it the mecgar mag locked open aprox 85% of the time ill tweak the follower a bit more and try next week.

loaded up 50 rnds with campro primers and had 4 fail to fire they all fired second try so it's the primers as I fired 100 rnds after with federal primers and no problems.

right now, I'm inclined to say just order bersa mags having to tweak the mecgar is not worth the $4.00 per mag (plus shipping) i saved

 

[alpining]

...loaded up 50 rnds with campro primers and had 4 fail to fire they all fired second try so it's the primers as I fired 100 rnds after with federal primers and no problems. ....

That is a classic symptom of primers not being fully seated. The Federals probably just seat easier since they're so much softer.

 

[contact148]

That is a classic symptom of primers not being fully seated. The Federals probably just seat easier since they're so much softer.

trust me the primers are FULLY seated each primer pocket was cleaned the campro are known to be hard. ill try some in 9mm when i eventually switch my press over in a few weeks