November 18, 2010
By Greg Rodriguez
The Thunder Ultra Compact is a traditional DA/SA design; the first shot is fired double-action, and subsequent shots are single-action.
By Greg Rodriguez
Bersa Thunder 9 Ultra Compact
Bersa's Thunder 9 Ultra Compact Pro has a name so long it barely fits on the compact pistol's slide. The Ultra Compact's alloy frame has an integral Picatinny-spec accessory rail. The grip houses the gun's 10-round magazine (which we tested; a 13-rounder is also available). Its frontstrap is grooved, and the backstrap is covered by wraparound, checkered plastic grip panels.
The Argentine import's slide houses a 3 1/2-inch barrel with polygonal rifling. The fixed rear sight has a bold white outline, and the front has a white dot insert. A loaded-chamber indicator is recessed into the top of the slide at the rear of the ejection port. A stout ejector is fitted into the right side of the slide just aft of the ejection port.
The Thunder Ultra Compact is a traditional DA/SA design; the first shot is fired double-action, and subsequent shots are single-action. The test gun's double-action pull is a hefty 12 pounds, one ounce, while the single-action pull is five pounds, 15 ounces.
The ambidextrous safety also acts as a decocker, and the slide release is ambidextrous as well. The magazine release is situated behind the trigger on the right side of the gun, but it is reversible for southpaw shooters. The takedown lever is above the trigger on the left side of the frame.
We all liked the Bersa's looks and features. The trigger reach is too long for me, and its grip is too fat for my hands, but the other guys said the grip and trigger felt great.Return to Bersa Thunder .380 ACP
