As some of you know I've been using a Bersa Thunder .380 Duo-Tone handgun for my Every-Day CCW BEATER gun.

I have beat the ever-living SH!T out of this little handgun, and it only broke 5 parts (surprisingly).

I try to keep an "Ammo Diet" log on all of my firearms except my .22 LRs and my AR15 (consume WAY too much ammo to keep track).  I've kept a Diet log on my .380, and on my 12 Ga shotty though.

It seems my Bersa has made it through 4490 rounds thus far, and it's showing some signs that it won't be around much longer.  She will probably be at the bottom of Madison Lake within the next year or so...   I estimate she has about 3 months left before she's gone.

After about 1 year of hard abuse its firing pin retaining pin cracked, so I replaced it (within ~5 days) before it broke completely...  Then about 3 months later the safety switch (cast shit-metal) broke.  It was replaced in ~5 days.  Then about another 4 months later the safety switch broke again.  Once again, replaced in ~5 days.  Then about 5 months later the trigger spring broke, and was fixed in 2 weeks @ a certified "Bersa" gunsmith shop (Ahlman's in Southern MN).  Then later this past summer my safety broke AGAIN...  However, they didn't have the part in stock.  They said it'd ship in 2-3 weeks...  4 & a half weeks after I made the call, the parts (I ordered two; Just in case) finally arrived!

I paid $235.00 for this gun NIB.  Here is my ammo-diet log:

Bersa Thunder 380 ACP Duo-Tone Handgun Diet
 50 rds - Magtech FMJ (Relia-Note: Underpowered Loads, 2 FTF [96% reliable])
 20 rds - Federal Hydra-shok (100% Reliable, VERY accurate)
300 rds - Winchester FMJ White-Box (Relia-Note: Underpowered Loads, 16 FTF [94.6% reliable])
100 rds - Winchester "WinClean" FMJ (Relia-Note: Underpowered Loads, 3 FTF [97.0% reliable])
250 rds - Federal/American Eagle FMJ (100% Reliable, Acceptable accuracy, no jams)
100 rds - Remington FMJ (100% Reliable, seemingly low-powered, Poor accuracy, No jams)
 50 rds - 1980's Mfg Russian FMJ [gift from mcnielsen] (Underpowered Loads, 7 FTF [86% reliable])
250 rds - Winchester FMJ White-Box (Relia-Note: Underpowered Loads, 13 FTF [94.8% reliable])
100 rds - Winchester XST(?) Silver Hollow Point (100% Reliable, poor accuracy)
 50 rds - Federal/American Eagle FMJ (100% reliable, same as last use)
 20 rds - Cor-Bon Hollow Point (100% reliable, acceptable accuracy)
150 rds - Federal/American Eagle FMJ (100% reliable, typical of Federal Ammo)
150 rds - Federal/American Eagle FMJ (100% reliable)
100 rds - Federal/American Eagle FMJ
*** Started Reloading ***
 50 rds - Reload Tests ===> Chose 3.2 grains for practice (100% reliable)
300 rds - 95 grain FMJ [3.2 gr load] (100% reliable, poor accuracy)
*** Ballistics Testing Indicates Optimum Velocity/Ballistics @ 3.4 grains powder) ***
 50 rds - 95 grain FMJ [3.4 gr load] (100% reliable, great accuracy, no signs of case stress)
300 rds - 95 grain FMJ [3.4 gr load] (only have 300 rds of casings and 50 for testing)
300 rds - 95 grain FMJ [3.4 gr load]
300 rds - 95 grain FMJ [3.4 gr load]
300 rds - 95 grain FMJ [3.4 gr load]
300 rds - 95 grain FMJ [3.4 gr load]
300 rds - 95 grain FMJ [3.4 gr load]
300 rds - 95 grain FMJ [3.4 gr load]
300 rds - 95 grain FMJ [3.4 gr load]
-------------------------------------
4490 rds So Far.  Maybe can get another 500 to 1000 out of her before her "Death"...

After all of this ammo was put through it she started having a slight "click" at the very beginning of her double action trigger pull.  I thought it was just a spring or something a little out of place.  I opened her up for a closer inspection, removed the grips, and noticed a pin that holds the ejector and part of the sear in place is VERY slightly bending over time, and the aluminum alloy frame is also denting a little bit near where the pin secures.  That light "Click" at the beginning of the trigger pull is the sear binding on the frame a little bit before it fully moves on the trigger pull.

In theory I could have the frame tigged a little, redrilled, and put a new pin & ejector in there...  But why would spend about $120 fixing a gun that I only paid $235 for???

I absolutely LOOOOOOVE the .380 ACP caliber, but I'm getting sick of fixing this little budget gun.  It was reliable with ALL defensive ammunition or ammo that wasn't notoriously under-powered such as Winchester or foreign crap.  Federal would feed great all day long.  This was a very reliable handgun with the right ammo, and what's even better is that after a bit of practice it was VERY accurate due to its fixed barrel.

It'll be a shame to commit this gun to the depths of the lake, but I'm kind of against selling guns to people when I *KNOW* it will sometime fail them... Not good.  I'd rather just dump it in a lake to get rid of it...

 HEY, Maybe I should dump it into the lake & report it stolen!  (and collect insurance)  j/k!  Not funny.

So after 4490 rounds it has served me well, and will likely continue to serve me for a target practice gun (though I no longer trust my life to it) for about a couple more months.

So, does anybody know a place where I'll find a decent 1911A1 .45 ACP for around $400-$450???  That's all the $$ I have available at the moment.

I just replaced my alternator on my car, so finances are pretty tight at present.

Edited to add:

Would I buy another one of these?  If I needed a CCW gun in a pinch.  Definitely.  But I'd have to use it as just a gun to tide me over until I get a better gun.

Unfortunately in my price range, I might only be able to afford a Glock in .45 ACP...  

I'm going to go price some guns @ the Armored Fire sale, and I'm going to also see if I can make it to the gunshow to see Aaron/Dsspro's stuff this weekend.  Looks like I'm S.O.L. regarding money...

Start in the EE

Quoted: buy a SA XD.

I would, but they don't make it in .45 ACP...  Only .45 GAP.

I need something in .380 ACP or .45 ACP to make reloading effective for saving $$.

I guess .40 S&W would be worth reloading as well, but I don't much like tupperware style guns.  I'm a definite 1911 fan.

Get a MAKAROV!

Sorry Wintermute...  I no longer have the pistol in question.

I was going to Email you about getting it to you, but then when mentioning off-handedly to a friend/coworker of mine that I was going to pitch it into the lake he was insistant...  He's shot that gun before, and liked it a lot.  He couldn't believe I would have thrown it into the lake.  So he offered me $100 for the gun, holster, mags, mag carrier, etc...  I took it, and now my friend has a .380 ACP...  He wanted it for target practice and tinkering (like you wanted, Wintermute).  He just got the money to me that very moment, sorry.

So, do I need another handgun???  Not really...  

I likely won't make it to the gunshow tomorrow, but then I DID make it out to various gunshops in the metro area...

Dsspro is right.  If you haven't stopped by Armored Fire, you should SOON.  Their shelves are clearing fast!!!  Lots of good stuff for sale there for 10% to 50% off!  Guns are almost flying off the shelves at those prices...

I saw something I liked, and it puts the Springfield GI WWII 1911 to shame in comparison...  The price was also fantastic, and I couldn't pass it up...  Let's just say that this one has (like many of Dpmmn's toys) a cute pony on the side of it.    Just a hair over $400 out the door for a NICE used one with a crapload of nice features!