I owned a Bersa Thunder 380 Duo-Tone just like this for about 2 years...

I just looked up my "Ammo Diet" file (I keep an Ammo Diet record of how much of what type of ammo I've fired in my handguns...

Here is the Data from my .380 Bersa:

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 as of April 2004  added note:  I loaded and fired about another 2500 rounds the summer of '04 before selling mine in August.  This total isn't entirely accurate.

SO BASICALLY, if you're going to CARRY this firearm, I ***HIGHLY*** suggest the use of a COMP-TAC "Shirt Tucker" model Holster (www.comp-tac.com);  And accompany your new firearm with 2-spare mags, and LOAD THEM WITH FEDERAL HYDRASHOK AMMO!

The Bersa was designed to be a DEFENSIVE firearm on a budget!  As such it LIKES HOTTER LOADS.  In fact if you read the diet file it will actually not function properly on some 'lighter' loads like Winchester, Russian Ammo, and others that use less powder to save on manufacturing costs!  You likely WILL have reduced reliability if you use some of those ammo types.  As you can see, before I started reloading the only COMMERCIAL ammo I'd use was Federal American Eagle .380 as it was of a good cost, good power load (for practice ammo), and it was 100% reliable!  Remington FMJ 380 ammo worked nicely as well, was a bit under-powered, still functioned 100%, but had BAD ACCURACY (due to lower velocity, didn't stabilize well).

Here's my Verdict:
Reliability - With proper ammunition selection this CAN be a reliable firearm.
Accuracy - This pistol was DEFINITELY one of the most accurate handguns I've ever shot!  The fixed barrel makes it incredibly accurate!!!
Carry Trust - I *DID* carry mine since I got my permit to do so...  In fact I BOUGHT this pistol specifically due to its good reviews and I bought it FOR obtaining my CCW permit.  That said, I DO trust the gun, and have for some time.  There were a couple times at the range where it HAS let me down though.
Problems observed:
1.) Trigger return spring broken.  Took to Alhman's in South-Central MN (Certified Repair Shop), it was repaired free of charge under warranty.
2.) Pistol was dropped onto concrete, still functioned 100%, but the safety lever had broken off - Safety lever was made of CAST & machined steel, not forged & machined.  I bought 2 as they're easy to replace yourself. (trigger return springs are a PITA, and I don't recommend trying it yourself)
3.) Trigger Return spring broken (again).  Took to Alhman's (WARRANTY WAS NO LONGER GOOD), and they repaired it free of charge ANYWAY.  After repair & shot it a few more times, and sold it to a friend and bought a COLT 1911 .45 ACP instead.
4.) AFTER HAVING SOLD THE FIREARM, my friend reported to me that his failed to fire reliably, and so it was taken to Alhman's shop again.  The problem:  FIRING PIN was worn down and needed to be replaced.  It was REPLACED FREE OF CHARGE by Alhman's about 2 years AFTER warranty expired!

Basically the black finish on the slide had long-since worn off due to daily carry holster wear, the above mentioned parts had failed, and I was losing confidence in the firearm.  That's when I found a COLT 45 for a STEAL of a bargain!  I sold the 380 in no time for $100 (holster, 2 spare mags, & mag carrier included) to my friend.

The gun was a VERY accurate little gun, and head shots were EASY with that pistol.  My qualification shoot was with Sully @ DE Handgun 1, and it made a nice little 3.5" group at 25 yards with 1 flier that put it out to a 4.5" group.

Would I buy one again?  HELL YES.
Would I buy some spare parts for it?  Probably would buy a spare safety lever just incase.
Would I recommend them for CCW?  Yes, I would, but I'd note my past history of problems with them so they'd know what they might encounter.
Would the gun have still had the aforementioned problems if I hadn't abused the gun so badly?  I'd bet that it likely wouldn't have had many of the problems but I beat the crap out of that little gun.
Was it worth the $230 you paid?  Hell yes!  It was a LOT more bang for the buck than I thought I'd get?
If you were going to buy a .380 ACP gun, what would you buy?IN THIS ORDER, I'd buy:
1.) Sig 232.  Sweet little compact 380.  Pros: Reliable, Accurate, PHENOMINAL construction.  Cons: No Active Safety.
2.) CZ Model 83.  Sweet little compact 380.  Pros: Accurate, DoubleStack Mag, Can carry Cocked & Locked, FRAME mounted safety.  Cons: Said to be reliable, I haven't got enough use to be conclusive one way or the other, they're hard to find.
3.) Bersa Thunder 380.  For reasons stated above.

OTHER good suggestions for firearms in this price range are S&W, Taurus, or Ruger REVOLVERS in .38 SPL or 357 Mag.

Likewise with my Colt 45.  I haven't kept an Ammo diet file on that one either.  It's just too reliable.  It has only had ONE Failure to Feed, and that was because of a badly used & abused USGI magazine.  Not even WOLF ammo could get it to fail with COLT, Kimber, or NEW USGI magazines...

For a target shooting & fun plinking gun, I'm SURE the Bersa will likely serve you well.  In fact, even if you DID decide to use it defensively, I likely wouldn't have much of any reservations about it.  I firmly believe mine had so many problems because I'm notorious for beating the crap out of my guns.  (The finish on my Colt's slide doesn't think too favorably of me right now either...)

Gotta get back to work.

-inuhbad

Quoted: for $200 you can't beat it!  Nice find!!!

+1!!!  For $200  That's a GREAT price.  Mine was $235 (At Koscielski's) if I recall (and it was still a great price).