Bersa Thunder380 Feed Problems - XDTalk Forums - Your HS2000/SA-XD Information Source!

jeff221 · 07-30-2006, 01:27 PM

I always wrote this problem off as "it's a $200 gun" problem. I figure now, since I have access to some well educated people, I'd ask about it.

I've got a Bersa Thunder380 that on EVERY magazine doesn't feed properly at least once or twice. Yesterday, I went out to the farm and shot about 250 rounds (150 Wolf & 100 CCI Blazers) through it. I previously had two mags for the gun and bought a new one for it to check the feed problem.

On all Mags (7 rounds) I had a feed problem at least once, sometimes twice in a row. Ussually toward the end of the magazine, most commonly on the last round. This occured even on my brand new magazine. This gun has had less than 1,000 round total put through it. I bought it years ago, stored it in the safe and never shot more than 50 rounds through the gun. The two orginal mags were stored fully loaded (which was something I thought may have caused the feed issues).

It's not that large of a deal, considering I do not carry this weapon, I generally use it to take along when / if I take friends out to shoot. After yesterdays shooting I have mastered clearing the feed problem, but new shooters become afriad of the weapon when it has a problem.

Any suggestions?

Zeke Menuar · 07-30-2006, 03:20 PM

Stop using Wolf and Blazer. Wolf is for commie guns only. Not for Bersas. Try UMC or Federal.

Are you using Bersa mags? Some of the aftermarket mags don't work well.

My Bersa has run flawless. Over 1000 rounds by now.

ZM

TomSwift · 07-30-2006, 03:21 PM

I had one of these (only traded it to get something else) and never had any problems with it. Was the CCI the aluminum case and the Wolf steel case by any chance? Both of those offer slightly higher friction in the mag than brass casings and might be causing it to be slightly slow in feeding. Try some different ammo, even some Winchester White Box.

Plinkomatic · 07-30-2006, 03:56 PM

Read and post on bersatalk.com and you should be able to find the problem.
http://bersatalk.com/forums/default.aspx

Exmasonite · 07-30-2006, 06:48 PM

i've never had problems with mine using WWB... did you buy it new? i had read on Bersa talk that some people "altered" their bersas so that the slide wouldn't engage when you reloaded a mag (as opposed to having to trigger the slide release lever). at first, i didn't like this feature but after some practice, am a big fan of it (albeit slightly hazardous).

lastly, bersa has a lifetime warranty so you may want to look into that.

jeff221 · 07-30-2006, 08:05 PM

Bersa Mags...

As far as ammo, I'll pickup some WWB from wally world this week and report back... Thanks...

nightraider · 07-30-2006, 08:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zeke Menuar

Stop using Wolf and Blazer. Wolf is for commie guns only. Not for Bersas. Try UMC or Federal.

Are you using Bersa mags? Some of the aftermarket mags don't work well.

My Bersa has run flawless. Over 1000 rounds by now.

ZM

Blazer ammo is perfectly fine.

To the original poster, check the extractor.

jeff221 · 07-30-2006, 09:09 PM

I looked into the firearm a little closer to see if I could find any reason for the FTF issues.

Below is a close up of the feed ramp, it looks like it's got some wear right on the top where it enters the barrel. This is wear normal or could this be the cause of my failures?

I am going to clean the weapon completely, get some WWB ammo and head back out to shoot. I'll report what I find. Thanks for the suggestions!

LINK BELOW (would rather link then post picture, it's very large to see detail)http://www.ellmannet.com/firearms/ph..._FEED_RAMP.JPG

The Tengu · 07-30-2006, 09:29 PM

What kind of feed issues are you having? Can you describe them? Unless you are getting doublefeeds or stovepipes, it is probably not going to be the extractor.

jeff221 · 07-31-2006, 06:40 AM

As I fire the gun at random a round from the magazine will get stuck between the back of the magazine and the top of the barrel at about 45 degree's. I unload the mag, pull the slide and let the round fall into the chamber properly, and reload the mag and it fires... Like I said, ussually on the last round, but sometimes it will happen twice in a row. It looks like the round is feeding at too much of an angle or something.

07-30-2006, 01:27 PM	#1
jeff221 XDTalk 2K Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Northwest Indiana Posts: 2,364	Bersa Thunder380 Feed Problems I always wrote this problem off as "it's a $200 gun" problem. I figure now, since I have access to some well educated people, I'd ask about it. I've got a Bersa Thunder380 that on EVERY magazine doesn't feed properly at least once or twice. Yesterday, I went out to the farm and shot about 250 rounds (150 Wolf & 100 CCI Blazers) through it. I previously had two mags for the gun and bought a new one for it to check the feed problem. On all Mags (7 rounds) I had a feed problem at least once, sometimes twice in a row. Ussually toward the end of the magazine, most commonly on the last round. This occured even on my brand new magazine. This gun has had less than 1,000 round total put through it. I bought it years ago, stored it in the safe and never shot more than 50 rounds through the gun. The two orginal mags were stored fully loaded (which was something I thought may have caused the feed issues). It's not that large of a deal, considering I do not carry this weapon, I generally use it to take along when / if I take friends out to shoot. After yesterdays shooting I have mastered clearing the feed problem, but new shooters become afriad of the weapon when it has a problem. Any suggestions? __________________ Springfield XD40 Sub-Compact Bi-Tone (.40S&W) Springfield XD9 Tactical Black (9mm) Springfield G.I. Milspec Stainless 1911-A1 (.45 ACP) Kimber Raptor II 1911 (.45 ACP) Kel-Tec P-3AT (.380 ACP) Charter Arms "Off Duty" Revolver (.38 Spl) Ruger 22/45 Mark III (.22 LR) Smith&Wesson M&P15A 16in AR-15 (.223/5.56 NATO) BushMaster Carbon-15 (.22 LR) BushMaster XM15 E2S 20in AR-15 (.223/5.56 NATO) Stoeger P350 Tactical Pump Shotgun (12 Gauge) Winchester Black Model98 Canon (10 Gauge)

07-30-2006, 03:21 PM	#3
TomSwift XDTalk 1K Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Nashville TN Posts: 1,133	I had one of these (only traded it to get something else) and never had any problems with it. Was the CCI the aluminum case and the Wolf steel case by any chance? Both of those offer slightly higher friction in the mag than brass casings and might be causing it to be slightly slow in feeding. Try some different ammo, even some Winchester White Box. __________________ Don't handicap your children by making their lives easy. Get Your Free Targets Here Ultrasonic Gun Cleaning

07-30-2006, 08:05 PM	#6
jeff221 XDTalk 2K Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Northwest Indiana Posts: 2,364	Bersa Mags... As far as ammo, I'll pickup some WWB from wally world this week and report back... Thanks... __________________ Springfield XD40 Sub-Compact Bi-Tone (.40S&W) Springfield XD9 Tactical Black (9mm) Springfield G.I. Milspec Stainless 1911-A1 (.45 ACP) Kimber Raptor II 1911 (.45 ACP) Kel-Tec P-3AT (.380 ACP) Charter Arms "Off Duty" Revolver (.38 Spl) Ruger 22/45 Mark III (.22 LR) Smith&Wesson M&P15A 16in AR-15 (.223/5.56 NATO) BushMaster Carbon-15 (.22 LR) BushMaster XM15 E2S 20in AR-15 (.223/5.56 NATO) Stoeger P350 Tactical Pump Shotgun (12 Gauge) Winchester Black Model98 Canon (10 Gauge) Last edited by jeff221; 07-30-2006 at 08:16 PM.

07-30-2006, 09:09 PM	#8
jeff221 XDTalk 2K Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Northwest Indiana Posts: 2,364	I looked into the firearm a little closer to see if I could find any reason for the FTF issues. Below is a close up of the feed ramp, it looks like it's got some wear right on the top where it enters the barrel. This is wear normal or could this be the cause of my failures? I am going to clean the weapon completely, get some WWB ammo and head back out to shoot. I'll report what I find. Thanks for the suggestions! LINK BELOW (would rather link then post picture, it's very large to see detail)http://www.ellmannet.com/firearms/ph..._FEED_RAMP.JPG __________________ Springfield XD40 Sub-Compact Bi-Tone (.40S&W) Springfield XD9 Tactical Black (9mm) Springfield G.I. Milspec Stainless 1911-A1 (.45 ACP) Kimber Raptor II 1911 (.45 ACP) Kel-Tec P-3AT (.380 ACP) Charter Arms "Off Duty" Revolver (.38 Spl) Ruger 22/45 Mark III (.22 LR) Smith&Wesson M&P15A 16in AR-15 (.223/5.56 NATO) BushMaster Carbon-15 (.22 LR) BushMaster XM15 E2S 20in AR-15 (.223/5.56 NATO) Stoeger P350 Tactical Pump Shotgun (12 Gauge) Winchester Black Model98 Canon (10 Gauge)

07-30-2006, 09:29 PM	#9
The Tengu XDTalk 1K Member Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Memphis, TN Posts: 1,771	What kind of feed issues are you having? Can you describe them? Unless you are getting doublefeeds or stovepipes, it is probably not going to be the extractor. __________________ The militia of the United States consists of all able-bodied males at least 17 years of age and, except as provided in section 313 of title 32, under 45 years of age who are, or who have made a declaration of intention to become, citizens of the United States and of female citizens of the United States who are members of the National Guard. United States Code, Title 10, section 311, paragraph (a)

07-30-2006, 03:20 PM	#2
Zeke Menuar XDTalk 100 Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Oregon Monsoon Central Posts: 272	Stop using Wolf and Blazer. Wolf is for commie guns only. Not for Bersas. Try UMC or Federal. Are you using Bersa mags? Some of the aftermarket mags don't work well. My Bersa has run flawless. Over 1000 rounds by now. ZM

07-30-2006, 03:56 PM	#4
Plinkomatic XDTalk 1K Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Posts: 1,307	Read and post on bersatalk.com and you should be able to find the problem. http://bersatalk.com/forums/default.aspx

07-30-2006, 06:48 PM	#5
Exmasonite XDTalk 500 Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 812	i've never had problems with mine using WWB... did you buy it new? i had read on Bersa talk that some people "altered" their bersas so that the slide wouldn't engage when you reloaded a mag (as opposed to having to trigger the slide release lever). at first, i didn't like this feature but after some practice, am a big fan of it (albeit slightly hazardous). lastly, bersa has a lifetime warranty so you may want to look into that.

07-31-2006, 06:40 AM	#10
jeff221 XDTalk 2K Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Northwest Indiana Posts: 2,364	As I fire the gun at random a round from the magazine will get stuck between the back of the magazine and the top of the barrel at about 45 degree's. I unload the mag, pull the slide and let the round fall into the chamber properly, and reload the mag and it fires... Like I said, ussually on the last round, but sometimes it will happen twice in a row. It looks like the round is feeding at too much of an angle or something. __________________ Springfield XD40 Sub-Compact Bi-Tone (.40S&W) Springfield XD9 Tactical Black (9mm) Springfield G.I. Milspec Stainless 1911-A1 (.45 ACP) Kimber Raptor II 1911 (.45 ACP) Kel-Tec P-3AT (.380 ACP) Charter Arms "Off Duty" Revolver (.38 Spl) Ruger 22/45 Mark III (.22 LR) Smith&Wesson M&P15A 16in AR-15 (.223/5.56 NATO) BushMaster Carbon-15 (.22 LR) BushMaster XM15 E2S 20in AR-15 (.223/5.56 NATO) Stoeger P350 Tactical Pump Shotgun (12 Gauge) Winchester Black Model98 Canon (10 Gauge)

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