Bersa 380 cc jamming

[Gene Hackman]

I had this on the bersa forum but that place is a ghot town so maybe people here can help me. My bersa 380cc has less than 1k rounds through it. It is my second one. They replaced my first one because it was a jamming pos. However this one also jams. My new bersa is also jamming the same way. With both mags. I normally get through the first mag ok but then I cant get through another mag without at least one jam. The round goes nose up. It's hard to get a good grip on this little gun but I'm definitely not limp wristing. It seems to continuously happen on the fifth and last round in the magazine. I took pics of the jam. I can't find anything obviously wrong with it. This is a bummer. It does it with any ammo I try. I have the original mag and a mec gar mag with pinky extension. I don't doubt that it's something simple. I want to carry this gun so I would like to work it out. Perhaps it is caused by where the feed ramp on the frame meets the feed ramp of the barrel? Thanks in advance

http://i1370.photobucket.com/albums/ag273/Dano1987/DEE2E48A-CFB1-4E65-87F4-8CE7771F8E7C_zpsi3rto0bb.jpg (http://s1370.photobucket.com/user/Dano1987/media/DEE2E48A-CFB1-4E65-87F4-8CE7771F8E7C_zpsi3rto0bb.jpg.html)

http://i1370.photobucket.com/albums/ag273/Dano1987/D2AD2D94-6A26-4A62-BF5C-12E083A6A906_zpsm3xto06o.jpg (http://s1370.photobucket.com/user/Dano1987/media/D2AD2D94-6A26-4A62-BF5C-12E083A6A906_zpsm3xto06o.jpg.html)

http://i1370.photobucket.com/albums/ag273/Dano1987/4995D787-5D77-4EA7-8963-58BA98EE068B_zps6oky1mek.jpg (http://s1370.photobucket.com/user/Dano1987/media/4995D787-5D77-4EA7-8963-58BA98EE068B_zps6oky1mek.jpg.html)

http://i1370.photobucket.com/albums/ag273/Dano1987/70D90FA2-7F82-4FB3-BCB6-85A3C5F1DCDD_zps9vuemm9i.jpg (http://s1370.photobucket.com/user/Dano1987/media/70D90FA2-7F82-4FB3-BCB6-85A3C5F1DCDD_zps9vuemm9i.jpg.html)

[kenemoore]

My wife has one of those, she has never had any issues, it's on the large side for a .380 and the recoil is very manageable.
I would have someone else shoot it, and see if the problem follows the gun or stays home with the shooter.
I know you think you are not limp wresting, you might be. It would explain your issues.
I would also run it on the wet side for the first few hundred rounds.

[ripley16]

Bersa .380s are known to be ammo sensitive. Are these problems with one brand? Your feed ramp looks normal.

[ulflyer]

I can't tell from the pic, but is there a smooth transition where the ramp meets the lower
edge of the barrel? If not, that may be a spot where the bullet gets cocked upward.

As said above, have someone else shoot it also..............

[skiflydive]

If it's anything like the Bersa Thunder .22 the chamber rim is very sharp. You might try relieving that a little with a die maker file if it needs it. Not sure if the .380 has a recoil spring that is larger diameter on one end but you might measure them. The larger end is the barrel end.

[muggsy]

The first thing that I'd try is a new recoil spring. You might also bend the feed lips of the magazines in a little bit. A better plan might be to trade it in on a CT380 from Kahr. :)

[Ikeo74]

Looks like Bersa took some short cuts on "Quality" construction!

[Hawkeye911]

The above suggestions may very well solve your problem. If not, I thought of one other possibility.

Maybe the magazine springs are weak, and not getting the next round positioned in time to feed correctly. Seems more possible if your problem is often in the last round or two of a mag.

Perhaps a company like Wolf would have something that fits and is stiffer. Just a thought...

[berettabone]

Seems like every firearm you have is nothing but trouble.................................get a spear:o

[hardluk1]

We have 3 bersa in the family and they run great with any ammo brand tried . They have well over 1000 rounds thru each now with ZERO problems. Never use euro ammo brands but have tried 6 or 7 domestic labels in fmj and hp and may coated reloads and eats all like popcorn.
f
I'm with berettabone You seem to have issues with anything . If you have a friend that owns a 380 let him have your handgun and 20 bucks to replace any ammo they use and leave . Lets hear how it works for some one else .

[Gene Hackman]

I almost got through a whole box of pmc without failure not quite though. Winchester also does ok. And it seems to do very well with fiocchi hollow points. But dang I want it failure free. It's always that same jam nose up. And my other one did the same thing. So what gives. Shot my kahr and glock today no issues from either. My kahr dropped a mag while shooting but I think I hit the mag release button by mistake.

[hardluk1]

What gives ?? Maybe your the problem . How about you let season small gun shooter give it a try with there ammo of choice all own there own . Then and only then will YOU find out if its you or the firearm . I'm betting on the firearm being just fine !

[berettabone]

You could always trade it for a Highpoint. That slingshot idea is still on the table........................:o

[b4uqzme]

In your pictures, your gun looks pretty dirty...and your OP states that the gun usually shoots fine for the first mag or two. I'm just fishing for easy solutions but how about a real thorough, take the grips off, cleaning. And then maybe shoot it with some cleaner ammo. Other than that, my thoughts went to the magazine lips and springs too. I'm not familiar with the gun but what mechanism feeds the bullet in level? That's where I'd look.

Good luck.

[berettabone]

I had this on the bersa forum but that place is a ghot town so maybe people here can help me. My bersa 380cc has less than 1k rounds through it. It is my second one. They replaced my first one because it was a jamming pos. However this one also jams. My new bersa is also jamming the same way. With both mags. I normally get through the first mag ok but then I cant get through another mag without at least one jam. The round goes nose up. It's hard to get a good grip on this little gun but I'm definitely not limp wristing. It seems to continuously happen on the fifth and last round in the magazine. I took pics of the jam. I can't find anything obviously wrong with it. This is a bummer. It does it with any ammo I try. I have the original mag and a mec gar mag with pinky extension. I don't doubt that it's something simple. I want to carry this gun so I would like to work it out. Perhaps it is caused by where the feed ramp on the frame meets the feed ramp of the barrel? Thanks in advance

http://i1370.photobucket.com/albums/ag273/Dano1987/DEE2E48A-CFB1-4E65-87F4-8CE7771F8E7C_zpsi3rto0bb.jpg (http://s1370.photobucket.com/user/Dano1987/media/DEE2E48A-CFB1-4E65-87F4-8CE7771F8E7C_zpsi3rto0bb.jpg.html)

http://i1370.photobucket.com/albums/ag273/Dano1987/D2AD2D94-6A26-4A62-BF5C-12E083A6A906_zpsm3xto06o.jpg (http://s1370.photobucket.com/user/Dano1987/media/D2AD2D94-6A26-4A62-BF5C-12E083A6A906_zpsm3xto06o.jpg.html)

http://i1370.photobucket.com/albums/ag273/Dano1987/4995D787-5D77-4EA7-8963-58BA98EE068B_zps6oky1mek.jpg (http://s1370.photobucket.com/user/Dano1987/media/4995D787-5D77-4EA7-8963-58BA98EE068B_zps6oky1mek.jpg.html)

http://i1370.photobucket.com/albums/ag273/Dano1987/70D90FA2-7F82-4FB3-BCB6-85A3C5F1DCDD_zps9vuemm9i.jpg (http://s1370.photobucket.com/user/Dano1987/media/70D90FA2-7F82-4FB3-BCB6-85A3C5F1DCDD_zps9vuemm9i.jpg.html)

It does look dirty, and the barrel doesn't look too good..............looks like the top has a bit of damage, and the bottom is either dirty, or has a problem. No offense, but looking at this pic, the machining is just horrible.:(

[yqtszhj]

The above suggestions may very well solve your problem. If not, I thought of one other possibility.

Maybe the magazine springs are weak, and not getting the next round positioned in time to feed correctly. Seems more possible if your problem is often in the last round or two of a mag.

Perhaps a company like Wolf would have something that fits and is stiffer. Just a thought...

I was thinking mag springs too.

[ltxi]

Mags perhaps. Certainly needs a feed ramp, chamber, and barrel hood clean-up/polishing. Higher quality ammunition couldn't hurt, either.

[Gene Hackman]

It does look dirty, and the barrel doesn't look too good..............looks like the top has a bit of damage, and the bottom is either dirty, or has a problem. No offense, but looking at this pic, the machining is just horrible.:(
Are you talking about the slide ware on top of the barrel? I think that's normal. Where do you see bad machining? It gets very dirty from shooting It was clean here.

[berettabone]

I'm talking about the dent/gouge on the top edge of the barrel........................the bottom inside edge looks lousy also................................when I say that the machining is terrible, have you ever disassembled a quality firearm? Not a Bersa, or a Glock, but a quality firearm. If you have, then you will know what I'm talking about. Cheap guns are cheap for a reason. I'm not saying that there aren't some decent firearms out there, for less money..............................I'm saying, like everything else, you get what you pay for. Personally, I could never get past the weight, or the trigger, to even think about taking one apart:)

[jeepster09]

In another post you said your Sig jammed. Perhaps you need to look at your shooting style or grip? I have known a lot of people that have condemed gun only to be limp wristing when they shoot? A few years back I had a Para that I swore was bad only to find it was me!

[ltxi]

^ Good thought/point. I tend to not think about/consider that in connection with .22/.32/.380 issues.

[Philly3458]

Sell it and spend more on your CCW. How about a cm9, shield or a p238, glock 42, etc


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Gene Hackman]

In another post you said your Sig jammed. Perhaps you need to look at your shooting style or grip? I have known a lot of people that have condemed gun only to be limp wristing when they shoot? A few years back I had a Para that I swore was bad only to find it was me!
The sig was junk. It wouldn't even strip a round when you released the slide. I'm not some schmoe here.

[Gene Hackman]

Sell it and spend more on your CCW. How about a cm9, shield or a p238, glock 42, etc


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I don't like the shield, I swore I'd never buy another sig, I don't like the 42, but yes maybe a kahr 380. My current lineup, kahr ct9, glock 22, bersa thunder, sccy cpx2.

[hardluk1]

NO, no, no , you don't want then ether . You will have problems to you figure out what you are doing wrong first .

[Gene Hackman]

NO, no, no , you don't want then ether . You will have problems to you figure out what you are doing wrong first .

Are you being disrespectful?

[hardluk1]

No I mean what I wrote . Get someone with a better small handgun skill set to try your problem handguns . Not a range instructor but a guy that carrys small pistols and shoots a lot . Most RO don't . My first kahr came from a certified handgun instructor that could not fire a mag full with out a stove pipe was pp.o'd and asked if anyone wanted to buy a piece of poo . It has 1600rounds thru it with zero issues for me . My daughter no CC's it . We met a few more times again and he diid shoot his old kahr well and now owns another one as a carry handgun but many smaller pistols are not friendly to less experienced shooters or simple large handgun shooters. THis RO has several 100,000 rounds fired in matchs too . I have helped several people at a public range I got to work thru issues with newer small handguns . Sometimes it the shooter . sometimes the ammo. Only seen 1 bad handgun yet in 46 years of handguns shooting and it came back in under two weeks and has been fine for years now .

[Gene Hackman]

No I mean what I wrote . Get someone with a better small handgun skill set to try your problem handguns . Not a range instructor but a guy that carrys small pistols and shoots a lot . Most RO don't . My first kahr came from a certified handgun instructor that could not fire a mag full with out a stove pipe was pp.o'd and asked if anyone wanted to buy a piece of poo . It has 1600rounds thru it with zero issues for me . My daughter no CC's it . We met a few more times again and he diid shoot his old kahr well and now owns another one as a carry handgun but many smaller pistols are not friendly to less experienced shooters or simple large handgun shooters. THis RO has several 100,000 rounds fired in matchs too . I have helped several people at a public range I got to work thru issues with newer small handguns . Sometimes it the shooter . sometimes the ammo. Only seen 1 bad handgun yet in 46 years of handguns shooting and it came back in under two weeks and has been fine for years now .

This thing is junk. I fired it today then I noticed the safety lever had broken off. It broke right in half. I don't even use it so I don't know what happened.

[hardluk1]

Broke the safety ?? Or broke the decocker ?? Oh well , your a unlucky guy .

Go buy a 1911 and see how long it takes to have some kind of problem you got a write about !!

[berettabone]

I think I smell a bologna sandwich.....................................

[ripley16]

Broke the safety ?? Or broke the decocker ??

The lever on a BT is a safety/decocker. It does both, and they are a known weak spot in these pistols. I'm not sure why you've chosen to ridicule Gene Hackman, but you've taken the low road in this thread.

[hardluk1]

OK , Its a safety because it decocks the handgun. Sometimes people need some simple help to work thru issues with handguns they may not be the guns fault and that's where other small pistol shoots can help . Just a fresh set of eyes and fresh perspective many times can be all that's needed . First time I have heard of a weak spot with the decocker on these pistols even after looking .

[ripley16]

OK , Its a safety because it decocks the handgun.

It's a safety because it rotates a block between the hammer and firing pin and it's a decocker because it releases the hammer to fall into the block and returns the sear to double action.

Triggers and safety levers failures are discussed a lot in forums. Here's a few from one.
http://www.bersachat.com/forums/search.php?searchid=1757795

Perhaps I'm wrong and I apologize if so, but it seemed your comments, and others, went from genuine helpful suggestions to less than that. Many people own and like the Bersa thunder, but not everyone has had good fortune with them. My four Bersas have been less than reliable. I think they are not well made. I wish they were. A simple scan of the Bersa Forum shows a large percentage of posts concern problems, more than any forum on which I participate.

[hardluk1]

Even the manual talks about the decocker . But really I just don't care at this point . You can look for problems a with anything and find them on these forums . Many times there not real problems or owner caused problems. Over all the bersa 380's are simply not problem prone any more than his others one he has problems with are .

[Gene Hackman]

Seems like every firearm you have is nothing but trouble.................................get a spear:o

Yeah I've had some issues. Everything I have now though is great. oh except the bersa. it's a piece of sh*t. The safety lever broke off of it too. I didn't even use it. So They're sending me a new one. A different color of course because all they have are nickel plated ones.......great.

[Gene Hackman]

Well took it to the range today and had 2 other people fire it. Left handed, right handed, two handed, and they both had results identical to mine.

[ulflyer]

Gene, as someone previously pointed out, there seems to be a bit of space between the ramp and barrel. Do you have a dremel with a round felt tip polisher? If not find someone with one and with some jewelers rouge polish that ramp and the adjoining barrel as well as the inside top edge of the barrel. Do not use a file!

You mentioned WWB bullets; did they perform better or worse than other brands. What other brands have you used, and did any perform better/worse than WWB? How about HP bullets? Reason I ask, various brands and bullet weights have slightly different lenghts. Of the four brands I have on hand, WWB is the longest and Corbon HP the shortest. Only by a few fractions, but that can be problematic with some guns.

Recoil spring: someone mentioned replacing it. Good idea, as the original may have taken a set and not causing the slide to rebound with sufficient force to ram the bullet in. On the other hand, it may be too strong. Get a new spring. If that doesn't help, take the old one and clip off a fraction of one end of the spring and go from there.

Lube: keep the rails well lubed with a heavier lube rather than oil which doesn't stay in place long. If you have a grease gun, use a dab of that, very lightly. Also on the underside of the slide were that flat bar is.

I'd love to get my hands on your Bersa as I like trying to resolve problems such as yours. Good luck and let us know how it goes.

PS: Its been suggested that cheap guns are the reasons for problems. A buddy has two high dollar compacts, one a Kimber, the other a Sig, and both have issues. On the other hand, the cheapest gun on the market, the Hi-Point, is one of the most reliable.

[hardluk1]

Did any of the other shooters do there own cleaning and lubing and use there own ammo ? Or as you prepped it and your ammo .