Taurus PT738 or Bersa Thunder 380??

[FearNot]

I just absolutely cannot decide between these two firearms! when I'm looking a the Taurus I'm thinking , "Yes, that's the one." When I'm looking at the Bersa, "Yes, that's the one." Haven't fired either of them yet, so maybe that'll decide me. The ONLY thing at this time pushing me one way or the other is the Taurus warranty, so a pre-owned firearm could be a possibility. anyone own both? Thoughts?

[chicharrones]

I have a TCP and that Bersa chambered in .22LR. Size wise, I am a commited pocket gun carrying individual. If you are looking to carry one of them concealed, the TCP will be much more easily carried any day and in any clothing.

If home defense and more range shooting is the order of the day, I'd pick the Bersa .380.

[FearNot]

For HD I have a PT911, which I really like. The 380 would be for carry.

[brojohn]

I have both. Cost is about the same. Bersa has a warranty too.
The Bersa is a little bigger, but has an excellent trigger, a decocker safety, and is a reliable gun. I have had mine about 3 months and have about 400 rounds through it without issue.
The TCP is smaller. The warranty is not necessarily an asset. I've had mine nearly a year, and have sent it back 3 times. I have less than 100 rounds through it- I'm tired of fooling with it.

[jaxgunslinger]

If I were to go with something as big as the Bersa, I would go with the Kel-tec PF-9. Same basic size, more powerful ammo (9mm), and much cheaper to shoot. The TCP is a mouse gun, much better for CC, but has a smaller mag, less powerful cartridge and much more expensive to shoot. Other than them both being .380's, you're not really comparing apples to apples with these two guns.

[youngandfree]

If you like the metal frame Bersa and that size, check out the thunder 9 UC. But if you are committed to 380, it come down to how you want to carry it. I also have a tcp and Bersa 22. I also agree that the tcp is the ultimate conceal package. It shoots pretty well and has a great trigger for DAO. The Bersa is also a great shooter, but is a bigger if you want to pocket carry. If you carry a snubby in your pocket, then the Bersa isn't a problem. If you want more capacity, get the 15 round double stack Bersa. Definitely a tough choice between two great guns.

[washwren]

I own both and love them both. Both have been 100 % reliable. Hotter rounds that sting a bit in the TCP are comfortable in the Bersa (bigger and almost twice the weight). The Bersa is easily capable of CC, but I would bet my paycheck that if you had them side by side on your way out the door, you would grab the TCP 99% of the time. It's light, surprisingly accurate, has a great trigger, is comfortable to shoot with Critical Defense Ammo and easily fits in your pocket. The Bersa is not a pocket gun. The choice really comes down to how you really intend to use it... Can't go wrong with either one as a shooter.

[RevolverFan]

I personally would go with the Bersa as well if I had to choose between these two pistols. And yes, they have a great lifetime warranty as well. BTW, Jax is right as well -- you could go w/ a PF9 -- I have one and I love it! It does punch a little due to light weight, but it's not that bad, and it carries like a dream!

[mwj999]

I bought the Bersa because it's a blowback with a fixed barrel, rather than a locked breech auto. If you're forced to jam the barrel into an assailant's body, a locked breech auto will fail to fire, but a blowback should fire at least once. One could argue that a snubby revolver would make an even better choice for arm's length defense, and I also own one or two of those. I don't claim this as an original idea; I read about it in one of Massad Ayoob's articles somewhere.

BTW, no complaints about the Bersa. No malfunctions in 300 rounds of FMJ (Monarch and WWB) or in two magazines of Hornady ZombieMax. My sight picture with the Bersa is a bit funny: I have to cover the bull's eye with the white dot to get the elevation right, but maybe that's just me.

[ArmedCitizen]

Am I just lucky? I'm sitting at the 300-ish round mark on my TCP with only one failure, and that was my son and grip error. I see fail stories here on a semi-regular basis. Went to the range today and shot 50 rounds, not a single issue. I love my 738. I wish I could comment on the Bersa, but I have never shot one.