I picked up a pair of little Bersa 380CC pistols BNIB as a package deal at an auction a little while back. I thought I was getting a real good deal on them - til all the premiums, fees, shipping, taxes, and transfer fees were added in. Once it was all said and done I've got about $270 apiece into them. Not such a great deal after all.

Anyway, I'll probably keep one of them but I'd like to sell or trade the other one. I just don't want to lose my shirt on it. The best offers I've had lately are as follows

1) A sporterized 1909 Argentine Mauser in 7.65x53mm + $120 cash + a 500 round box of 45acp FMJ projectiles. The modifications to the gun look pretty decent - nothing fancy but decent. Of course the FMJ 45's are worth around $50-$70.

2) A Remington 870 Express Magnum 20 gauge with the original wood stock, a pistol grip stock, 3 choke tubes, and about 100 rounds of misc. ammo.

Any thoughts on either of these trades?

If it were me I'd go for the 1909 Argentine mauser as a lot of those actions were used as a basis for building sporters. The $120 cash doesn't sound bad and if you shoot the grand old 45 the box of 500 would be nice. I'd check the argy sporter for matching numbers on the bolt, receiver,stock if they used the original military stock usually located on the right hand side below the receiver ring and least but not last the condition of the barrel. Lotta folks used both the argy military ammo and some made by hirtenberger patronnen (Austrian) which was corrosively primed and if not cleaned properly would leave you with a less than perfect bore. Sewer pipe is one expression I've heard. if all is ok then go for it. As far as #2 I would not be interested. Hope you make out ok. Frank

Take the 870, fewer hassles and a lot easier to resell than an old
sporterized milsurp in an unpopular caliber.

I've owned and used enough Bersa 380's that I wouldn't want them at all. As they are BNIB, they are in their best possible position to be SOLD. Sell them at a gun show or on Gunbroker. Trading them for more junk is simply chasing your tail.

And unless the 500 box of .45 slugs is a known high quality product, there's no way those are worth $50-$70 to me. If they end up being old junk pulldown or poorly plated rather than true FMJ, it's just more low-quality junk.

Yup. Much broader customer base for a well known gun.

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CERAKOTE Svcs.
Class 01 FFL

I would take the 870 and shake the hand of the guy that made that trade... then I would take the other Bersa and walk a gun show hoping someone would buy it from me. Learn a lesson here...

The 1909 Argentine Mausers were manufactured by DWM, premier maker of the '98 Mauser design. Excellent quality, and very well suited as the basis for sporting rifles in just about any of the long-action cartridges (.30-06, .270, etc). "Sporterized" military Mausers are generally worth far less than the originals in unaltered condition, but the Argentine action alone has a pretty good market value by itself. As is, the rifle is probably no more than an adequate hunting rifle for someone on a tight budget, and 7.65 Mauser chambering limits demand due to limited ammo production and availability in the US.

That said, the $120 cash offered, plus the $60 or so worth of .45ACP bullets, leaves you with less than $100 invested in the Bersa, and that is the amount you would have invested in the 1909 Mauser rifle. If you, or a family member, can make use of the rifle that would be a pretty small price to pay for it. If you have no need for the rifle I suspect that you should be able to find someone willing to pay +/- $200 or so for it as an economical alternative to bargain-priced mass-produced hunting rifles, although you may have to wait until hunting season is approaching to find that willing buyer.

The Bersas are not high-end pistols, but they are generally well regarded as a decent inexpensive choice for home or personal defense. Given a little time and advertising you should be able to recover your cash investment, and probably make a few dollars on the deal.

A used Remington 870 Express is no more than an even money exchange at best. I have had a couple come to me in trade deals, and never had any particular trouble selling them, but they don't bring very high prices.

I went thru the auction face this past Summer. Then I saw the fees: 15%-20% bidding fee, tax where applicable, handling fee to box the guns, shipping fees.

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Just hanging with my dogs

Depends on what you want or will take!
One basic trade principle is give something you really don’t want and take something you like better.
If it was me, I wouldn’t take either gun offered.
I Would hold out for a handgun.

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NRA LIFE MEMBER

I have a pair of Bersa 380s. One is a 383 (Steel frame) that I still use as a loaner for classes. Many rounds through that one and still going strong. I've lent it out for CHL tests also, so it's accurate.
I have a bad habit of evaluating firearms based on my experiences, not internet legends.
Conversely, my online evaluations are worth exactly what you paid for them. Although I consider them fairly comprehensive, YMMV.

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I'm with her