New Bersa or Makarov???

dandyrandy · Nov 9, 2016

Which one would you get if you had to decide between the two? The Bersa Thunder 380 is brand new for about $300 with everything including tax and transfer fees. The Makarov 9x18 is old Bulgarian military surplus for in great condition for about $400 even after everything is said and done. The Bersa reviews are good but I dont think its the tough as nails super gun as the old Macky Mak daddy... Though Im not Moscow's toughest detective Ivan Danko chasing VIKTOR!!!!! with my indestructible Makarov I dont really care for some of the features of the super duper Argentinian thunder from down under either... Both pistols seem to be easy to get stuff for but the 9x18 mack daddy is kind of harder to find than the mighty Kurz!!!! but whatev I can buy 9x18 in bulk anyway for a reasonable price. By the way I dont have any 380 or Makarov pistols.... Dang so indecisive!! I like new pistols better over some used commie garbage but I do like a good quality battle proven piece. I never owned a Bersa before and they seemed kind of craptastic many years ago but I had a new one in my hand in a gun shop and was impressed especially for what your getting for the price. The Makarov is like a mini tank and I always liked them. What do you think friends?

OKFC05 · Nov 9, 2016

Would choose a 9mm Shield over both of them. Bersa QC is hit and miss, and while the Mak is durable, rather have standard US 9mm ammo for the same $400 purchase price......with a warranty!

RobertJ. · Nov 9, 2016

The Mak, hands down. Especially if you can get an East German model. A MilSurp wouldn't have the finish, but it's nice to have a gun you don't have to baby.

Even the lowly commercial Russian beats the Bersa, IMO. That's what I've got, it's never jammed with anything, and while I'm not wild about the adjustable sights, it shoots like a target pistol.

I'm sure the Bersa is a fine pistol. If you compare the two side by side, however, the difference in quality is evident.

And now for the standard Dennis Miller Disclaimer:

Of course, that's just my opinion, I could be wrong!

GeoJelly · Nov 9, 2016

It's prolly blasphemy for me to say this on SWF - but if you must have an exposed-hammer .380, I would be tempted to find a used Sig P230/232. There is a beautiful-condition one listed on the gun-trader board here in VA now for $450. All kinds of reasons - ammo availability, resale value and super reliability...

I have a cheapie Russian adjustable-sighted Mak - but it is fairly crude, I'd say, compared to the older Bulgarian's and, needless to say, the East German versions. I just can't get excited about putting a lot of money into a handgun with such limited ammo available.

Bullzaye · Nov 9, 2016

I love Makarovs. I have a half a dozen, or so, of them...plus a smattering of other pistols, CZ-82, P-64, PA-63, chambered in 9x18mm Makarov.

On the one hand, I would advise for the Mak. It's more likely to appreciate in value, and will have better resale later, should that be necessary. Plus, it's just a more interesting pistol. And, I would say, even just on its merits as "just" another gun...it's likely superior to the Bersa. However...

I do own a Bersa .380. It's a fine little pistol, well worth the normal asking price. And, for me, $400 sounds a touch steep for a Bulgarian Makarov. But as I said, they are apt to appreciate...and perhaps that's what has happened. I haven't been keeping up with prices, but I have recently seen some others mentioning Maks, and they do seem to be getting pricier. Still...$400 sounds like a lot for a Bulgy. I would think a used Mak would pop-up, someday, for a better deal.

For the same cost, I'd recommend the Mak all day over the Bersa. But...for $100 difference...it's a close call. Someone may envy you for owning a Makarov...probably not so for the Bersa. I believe the Bersa has a lifetime warranty, at least for the original owner. It's really a personal decision. Which one do you want more? Get that one.

Tim

dandyrandy · Nov 9, 2016

OKFC05 said:
Would choose a 9mm Shield over both of them. Bersa QC is hit and miss, and while the Mak is durable, rather have standard US 9mm ammo for the same $400 purchase price......with a warranty!

Oh you dont have to argue with me on that sir.. The luger is the way to go fo sho! The M&P pistols seem like a very good line of pistols and the Shield would be the way to go if you had any intelligence in your head.... BUT I have to admit though I have this crazy weird thing where I HATE polymer plastic wonder guns... I think I would rather have that 9mm Shield over the Glock though. Mostly just cuz I hate how Glock killed off all really cool cold metal S&W autos.

dandyrandy · Nov 9, 2016

RobertJ. said:
The Mak, hands down. Especially if you can get an East German model. A MilSurp wouldn't have the finish, but it's nice to have a gun you don't have to baby.

Even the lowly commercial Russian beats the Bersa, IMO. That's what I've got, it's never jammed with anything, and while I'm not wild about the adjustable sights, it shoots like a target pistol.

I'm sure the Bersa is a fine pistol. If you compare the two side by side, however, the difference in quality is evident.

And now for the standard Dennis Miller Disclaimer:

Of course, that's just my opinion, I could be wrong![/QU

i agree with you on that but that Deutschland mak is asking to much of a premium price for my taste and not worth it to me

dandyrandy · Nov 9, 2016

Bullzaye said:
I love Makarovs. I have a half a dozen, or so, of them...plus a smattering of other pistols, CZ-82, P-64, PA-63, chambered in 9x18mm Makarov.

On the one hand, I would advise for the Mak. It's more likely to appreciate in value, and will have better resale later, should that be necessary. Plus, it's just a more interesting pistol. And, I would say, even just on its merits as "just" another gun...it's likely superior to the Bersa. However...

I do own a Bersa .380. It's a fine little pistol, well worth the normal asking price. And, for me, $400 sounds a touch steep for a Bulgarian Makarov. But as I said, they are apt to appreciate...and perhaps that's what has happened. I haven't been keeping up with prices, but I have recently seen some others mentioning Maks, and they do seem to be getting pricier. Still...$400 sounds like a lot for a Bulgy. I would think a used Mak would pop-up, someday, for a better deal.

For the same cost, I'd recommend the Mak all day over the Bersa. But...for $100 difference...it's a close call. Someone may envy you for owning a Makarov...probably not so for the Bersa. I believe the Bersa has a lifetime warranty, at least for the original owner. It's really a personal decision. Which one do you want more? Get that one.

Tim

Yes the Makarov pistols are worth in good condition about 4 hondo plus or minus.. That Fatherland makarov are ridiculously expensive for some reason.. Maybe because its the hardest to find and probably the best quality. The Bersa pistol is OKAY to say the least but you get that warranty. On the other hand I dont think you could break one of those commie pistols. You could probably beat a VW engine back to life on the coldest day in Siberia with one of those stupid Maks and it would never hurt the thing. Drop a Bersa once on the ground and it would shatter in a million peices!

dandyrandy · Nov 9, 2016

Im watching the Bersa torture test on youtube now... Lets see what this knuckle head concludes about the Bersa thunder from down under LOL!!!

[ame]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kWUrioSvV6g[/ame]

Big E3 · Nov 9, 2016

The Bersa and the Bulgy are both blowback operated guns and you would therefore experience more noticeable recoil. Breech lock guns are much softer shooting guns and can therefore be lighter to carry. You did not say how you intend to use the gun, carry or range? The all metal Maks are very durable but very heavy to carry. The Bersa is a knockoff of the Walther PP series and are very good guns. The Bersa may never increase in value while the Maks seem to keep climbing. I personally like buying guns that I can shoot for years and still sell them for more than I paid. Mak ammo is going to be readily available for years given the number of military guns of that caliber sold in this country.

dandyrandy · Nov 9, 2016

What about the FEG Walther PPK knocks offs??? Anybody have any experience with those??? FEG seems like a good quality military piece from what I have seen.

dandyrandy · Nov 9, 2016

Big E3 said:
The Bersa and the Bulgy are both blowback operated guns and you would therefore experience more noticeable recoil. Breech lock guns are much softer shooting guns and can therefore be lighter to carry. You did not say how you intend to use the gun, carry or range? The all metal Maks are very durable but very heavy to carry. The Bersa is a knockoff of the Walther PP series and are very good guns. The Bersa may never increase in value while the Maks seem to keep climbing. I personally like buying guns that I can shoot for years and still sell them for more than I paid. Mak ammo is going to be readily available for years given the number of military guns of that caliber sold in this country.

Well I like a do all kind of gun.. A gun you can shoot for fun all day long and carry home as your personal protection piece. I forgot about that straight blow back design of the Walther having more recoil. Although it cant be any more worse than the snub nose revolver recoil that Im used to. Certainly its not going to be as bad as the little tiny 9 oz hand cannon Diamond back that I used to have or that thwee fiddy seven snubby. I like the availability of the mighty KURZ!!!! but the 9x18 seems to be still around unlike the 7.62x25 tokarev ammo that I cant find anymore for some weird reason...

growr · Nov 9, 2016

While OKFCO5's suggestion of an M&P Shield in 9mm is a great choice, I personally much prefer the 3913.....As I have mentioned several times here, the 3913 is still the KING of Concealed Carry!

Long Live the King!!!

Randy

PS.
I DO own a Bersa .380, a P64 and a CZ 82 in 9x18 Mak. but NOT an East German Makarov,

I still prefer the 3913 because it IS a 9x19mm, readily available everywhere, has more muscle, costs less and the 3913 is also and all steel gun with DA/SA....

alwslate · Nov 10, 2016

If you're comparing compact quality semi autos in the $400-425 real
world price range one model easily stands out as the best of the bunch.
Glock has hit another home run with their 9mm mod 43. For the money
nothing else on the market even comes close to the G43.

dandyrandy · Nov 10, 2016

growr said:
While OKFCO5's suggestion of an M&P Shield in 9mm is a great choice, I personally much prefer the 3913.....As I have mentioned several times here, the 3913 is still the KING of Concealed Carry!

Long Live the King!!!

Randy

PS.
I DO own a Bersa .380, a P64 and a CZ 82 in 9x18 Mak. but NOT an East German Makarov,

I still prefer the 3913 because it IS a 9x19mm, readily available everywhere, has more muscle, costs less and the 3913 is also and all steel gun with DA/SA....

Totally agree with you on that one though I dont have a 3913, which is a very good gun, I have the next best thing. A 6904 and I love that pistol! It is probably my favorite Smith and Wesson pistol. Its hard to beat that one but like I said I already have one. Ill probably get the commie trash.. but I dont have much experience in the 9x18 cartridge and I do have some 380 ammo already. From what the experts tell me there is no significant difference worth talking about in the comparison of the two cartridges. Some die hard mak fans say its the most amazing 9mm ever but I prefer the Fuhrer's Luger more yaaahhh! Nein nein nein nein!!!

CajunBass · Nov 10, 2016

I had a Bersa 22 a number of years ago. That was a shooting little trick. Seemed well made, and functioned perfectly as long as I was using CCI mini-mag ammo. It would jam once in a while on the Federal bulk pack type ammo I normally used.

Also had a Bulgarian Mak for a time. Ammo wasn't a problem. I just ordered 500 rounds at a time. I never tried anything but the steel cased com-bloc ammo though. Again, flawless operation, and as accurate as all get out. It did however have a really "snappy" recoil.

If I was planning to carry it, I wouldn't get either. I don't care for polymer guns myself, but I bought a Ruger LC9s a year or so ago, and my search for a carry gun is over.

If I just wanted one of your two to shoot, I'd probably get a Mak, just because they're different, and they have that aura of being a com-bloc gun. A Bersa is sort of mundane. Good, but mundane.

IF I wanted a .380, I'd look for a Beretta 84, or even better a Browning BDA. They're a little big for a 380, but man they are nice guns.

Maddog 521 · Nov 10, 2016

I would buy the Makarov without hesitation.

Arik · Nov 10, 2016

Really neither.

No amount of discounts will make me buy a Bursa.

Makarov is nice in the fact that it's reliable, proven and simple. However it's size and weight is a big negative for the caliber and size/weight....
26oz
1.16 wide
6.36 long
For that price (gun, mags, ammo) and size I'd buy something else

The ammo isn't hard to get but not available everywhere. Some good defense loads exist, such as Hornady and Buffalo Bore.

By the way, Ivan Danko carried a Desert Eagle

Sent from my XT1650 using Tapatalk

garyez · Nov 10, 2016

Depends on what you want from from the handgun. Bought a Bursa 380 because I wanted a small shooter with good sights and a nice trigger. Not interested in style points, making an investment or collecting. The value of the Bursa was compelling and reliability was decent. With shooting the priority, the availability and keeping a supply of 380 ammo was a factor in my decision.

My LGS let me rent a Bursa 380, G42, P238, and PK380 and shoot them side by side. Of course they tried to sell me the Sig, but I had a difficult time with the grip. Really shot well with the G42 but I already have enough Glocks. The Bursa was just too much of a value and shot it just as well as the others.

dandyrandy · Nov 10, 2016

Arik said:
Really neither.

No amount of discounts will make me buy a Bursa.

Makarov is nice in the fact that it's reliable, proven and simple. However it's size and weight is a big negative for the caliber and size/weight....
26oz
1.16 wide
6.36 long
For that price (gun, mags, ammo) and size I'd buy something else

The ammo isn't hard to get but not available everywhere. Some good defense loads exist, such as Hornady and Buffalo Bore.

By the way, Ivan Danko carried a Desert Eagle

Sent from my XT1650 using Tapatalk

Soviet Podbyrin 9.2 millimeter is worlds most powerful handgun comrade

New Bersa or Makarov???

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