The Firing Line Forums

Go Back   The Firing Line Forums > Hogan's Alley > Handguns: The Semi-automatic Forum

Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
Old January 27, 2013, 08:16 PM   #1
Denise1040
Junior Member
 
Join Date: January 27, 2013
Posts: 6
Bersa thunder or Walther P22?

Hello,
I am new here. I have two questions. First, getting ready to buy my first semi-automatic pistol. Have a 38 revolver now. Trying to decide between a bersa thunder and a walther P22. Would appreciate imput on them both. And second, what about a crimson tracer?
Denise1040 is offline  
Old January 27, 2013, 08:21 PM   #2
9mm
Senior Member
 
Join Date: January 9, 2011
Location: Land of the Free
Posts: 2,834
I had a Walther P22, it was good. Bersa makes good guns from what I hear, magazines would be harder to find, never seen one in store. Walther is subbed by S&W I believe.

If I had to do it over again, I try the Bersa or Ruger Mark III, the Walther has very small grips for XS/S woman hands/childs, it fit me fine with my girly hands. If you have big hands this isn't the gun for you.

I don't like the safety on the Walther, you could still pull the trigger and the hammer slams on the backside w/safety cap out which stops it from striking firing pin.
9mm is offline  
Old January 27, 2013, 08:28 PM   #3
Brian48
Senior Member
 
Join Date: December 21, 2001
Location: Boston, People's Republic of MA
Posts: 1,615
I like my Walther P22. It's a fun little range gun, but if you're considering something in this class, I actually recommend the Ruger SR22 instead. I love this gun and think it's superior to the Walther.

Neither of course. would replace my Ruger MKIIs though. If you don't mind the larger size, any variant of the Ruger MKII/III series would be a great choice.
__________________
Proud to have served.
Brian48 is offline  
Old January 27, 2013, 10:21 PM   #4
Cheapshooter
Senior Member
 
Join Date: December 2, 2007
Location: Missouri
Posts: 8,306
+1 Brian48. I do enjoy my P22, and It has run trouble free with the right ammo, but I think the Ruger improvements on It make they SP22 a better gun.
__________________
Cheapshooter's rules of gun ownership #1: NEVER SELL OR TRADE ANYTHING!
Cheapshooter is offline  
Old January 27, 2013, 10:26 PM   #5
BGutzman
Senior Member
 
Join Date: December 4, 2009
Location: Frozen Tundra
Posts: 2,414
I don't own a Walther but I do own a Bersa Thunder, its a heck of a good gun. Well worth the price. I wouldn't sell mine. Id try to rent them both and see what you think... The Bersa is hard to beat!
__________________
Molon Labe
BGutzman is offline  
Old January 27, 2013, 11:55 PM   #6
bigghoss
Senior Member
 
Join Date: September 15, 2006
Location: Pueblo, Colorado
Posts: 2,664
I own a Bersa/Firestorm .22 and it's been 100% from the start. I've only ever heard good things about the walther. You can get replacement mag followers for the walther mags so they'll hold 12 or 13 rounds.
__________________
I don't collect guns, I accumulate them.
bigghoss is offline  
Old January 28, 2013, 10:11 AM   #7
L_Killkenny
Senior Member
 
Join Date: February 2, 2007
Location: Iowa
Posts: 2,676
Between the 2 the Bersa wins. Nothing personal against the P22 but they did have well documented problems with them. Are they fixed? I don't know but I do know there have been no such issues with the Bersa. Mine is 100% with MiniMags.

But I dearly wish the Ruger SR22 had been out when I bought my Bersa. Better gun from all reports, better sights and 2 mags.
L_Killkenny is offline  
Old January 28, 2013, 10:25 AM   #8
CajunBass
Senior Member
 
Join Date: May 6, 2005
Location: North Chesterfield, Virginia
Posts: 4,766
We got my wife a Bersa Firestorm 22. That little rascal ran like a watch as long as she used CCI mini mags, but I admit that it would choke from time to time with bulk pack ammo. I didn't think it was a problem since she used the CCI stuff for carry anyway (This is not about using a 22 for self-defense, so don't bother to lecture me.). That little Bersa was great. We found a couple of magazines at a gun show with no problem. They weren't cheap, but they weren't outrageous either.

She shot the snot out of that gun for years. She put thousands of rounds through it before she upgraded to a Glock 19 for carry. Still the Bersa went along on most range trips even then.

We looked at the Walther P22, but just didn't like it. It just seemed "cheap" to me.
__________________
For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
John 3:16 (NKJV)
CajunBass is offline  
Old January 28, 2013, 10:31 AM   #9
Fishbed77
Senior Member
 
Join Date: November 23, 2010
Posts: 4,862
Quote:
Walther is subbed by S&W I believe
The P22 is made by Umarex.

Walthers are currently imported by Smith & Wesson, but that is transitioning to Walther Arms, a new Walther subsidiary that has been set up in the US to import and market Walther-branded firearms.
Fishbed77 is offline  
Old January 28, 2013, 02:02 PM   #10
PSP
Senior Member
 
Join Date: June 2, 2006
Location: Bowling Green Virginia
Posts: 4,485
Of the two, neither are favorites, but the Bersa is, IMHO, a bit better for plinking than the Walther. The Walther was only so-so in accuracy and reliability and was a pain to dismantle. The Bersa is about the same in accuracy but is more reliable and much faster to takedown.

Bersa had a problem with barrels awhile back. AFAIK the problem is fixed.
PSP is offline  
Old January 28, 2013, 02:12 PM   #11
Bond007
Senior Member
 
Join Date: December 29, 2005
Location: San Francisco, Ca
Posts: 317
What are you planning to do with the pistol? If it is just range time, I would echo the calls to look at a Ruger MKIII. It is a far superior range pistol than either. (I dare say they set the standard for 22 range pistols.)

If you're planning on making it available for defensive work, of the two you listed, the Bersa would likely prove better. If that is the case, and you like the Walther P22, perhaps you should look at the Walther PK380.
Bond007 is offline  
Old January 29, 2013, 12:21 PM   #12
WIL TERRY
Senior Member
 
Join Date: July 6, 2000
Location: BLACK HILLS
Posts: 1,322
OF THE TWO, the pick of the litter hands down is the BERSA, PERIOD.
WIL TERRY is offline  
Old January 29, 2013, 02:33 PM   #13
certified106
Member
 
Join Date: January 26, 2013
Posts: 51
I would place my vote for the Bersa! We have one and absolutely love it!

Sent from my DROID X2 using Tapatalk 2
certified106 is offline  
Old January 29, 2013, 03:49 PM   #14
jib
Member
 
Join Date: May 31, 2012
Location: Seattle-ish
Posts: 59
Firestorm 22 = Bersa 22; same gun.

We have the FS22 and feed it Blazer (CCI) My family learned to shoot on that gun and it has nearly 3,000 rounds down the pipe. My wife and I go out and shoot regularly and the 22 comes with us most of the time.

I carried it for a while with Stingers loaded, but it's just been replace with a Bersa BP9cc. Bersa's may not be finished as well as the big boys, but they work well and they cost a lot less.
jib is offline  
Old January 29, 2013, 04:35 PM   #15
Comanche
Member
 
Join Date: October 25, 2012
Posts: 32
What I hate about my Bersa thunder .380 duo tone.

I love the little bugger but the only thing I really hate about it are the crappy, small three dot sights.....they are pretty much worthless in the evening and of course in the dark.

Does anyone make tritium night sights for these in .380 model?

A link would really help.

Would not be opposed to purchasing a new slide with them installed as anything is better than what I have now.

Any thoughts on the crimson trace laser?

I just don't like replacing batteries and would rather have the three dot tritium sights over a laser sight that may not be operational when you need it.

This is for my Bride so I need it to be there for her if she needs it.
Comanche is offline  
Old January 29, 2013, 04:47 PM   #16
Denise1040
Junior Member
 
Join Date: January 27, 2013
Posts: 6
Hello,
Ok I have made my decision with some help from you guys. I bought the bersa thunder today. I even got lucky and the mom and pop gun shop I got it at, had whatever kind of ammo you were looking for. Was able to get a couple boxes of CCI Mini Mags!!! Thanks guys. Will let you know when I try it out at the range. Hopefully this weekend.
Denise1040 is offline  
Old January 29, 2013, 05:17 PM   #17
Sparks1957
Senior Member
 
Join Date: September 4, 2011
Location: Vermont
Posts: 1,552
You're going to love it. Make sure you clean it thoroughly before you take it out, since Bersas tend to be dripping with preservative for their trip from Argentina.
Sparks1957 is offline  
Old January 30, 2013, 01:40 AM   #18
michael t
Senior Member
 
Join Date: May 17, 2004
Location: Out back Ky
Posts: 4,044
Bersa wins as for mags The importer Eagle Imports has them normally or
http://condorsflight.com has them
Condors has holsterd hats and all things Bersa. The 22 will work in a 380 Thunder holster and the thunder grips will fit it. Many members at Bersachat.com use for practice and carry the 380.
__________________
Certified Armed Infidel Colt Defender ,Colt Mustang ,Dan Wesson CBOB, PPK/S, American Classic 1911,Bersa Thunder 380
http://bersachat.comHome of Bersa
http://www.metroarms1911forum.com
michael t is offline  
Old January 30, 2013, 04:26 AM   #19
lechiffre
Senior Member
 
Join Date: February 3, 2008
Location: phoenix,az
Posts: 513
Quote:
OF THE TWO, the pick of the litter hands down is the BERSA, PERIOD.
I agree
__________________
if God hadn't meant us to shoot he wouldn't have given us trigger fingers

do the interns get glocks ?
lechiffre is offline  
Reply

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump


All times are GMT -5. The time now is 05:26 PM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.7
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
This site and contents, including all posts, Copyright © 1998-2021 S.W.A.T. Magazine
Copyright Complaints: Please direct DMCA Takedown Notices to the registered agent: thefiringline.com
Page generated in 0.06414 seconds with 9 queries