Bersa

Holster Selection: Things to Consider

During my 1,900 hours as a defensive shooting instructor one of the dominating questions I was asked was about holster selection. In my experience this is the hardest one to answer. I have good news and bad new for you: The perfect holster match for your body shape, selected firearm, carry position, and attire exists. It’s also likely to be the fourth or fifth holster you try.

Dara, Theis, Alien Gear, Clinger, Raw Dog Tactical, High Threat Concealment, 1791 Gun Leather, Coast, the guy down the street, and that latest-and-greatest brand they push at the local gun store. They all are the perfect match for someone, just maybe not you. What makes them either the prefect match or not depends on features, comfort threshold, carry position, cost, and mission of the day.

Personally I break one of the fundamental tactical rules and rotate between a few different holsters and handguns depending on my attire and tasks for the day. This is a tactical no-no because it means that my draw and pistol handling will vary from one combination to the next. Fortunately thousands of rounds and hundreds of hours of training along with weekly practice give me a false sense of confidence in my decision. Besides, if I wasn’t willing to try different combinations how would I know what worked best?

The video below has some knowledge nuggets that with any luck can help you find a favorite by your third or even second attempt instead of fourth or fortieth.

Now this guide is merely a guide and not a definitive end-all, be-all of holsters. The same considerations listed above have applied to me and so I can’t speak to holsters for every gun model, carry position, or clothing type. What I can say is that using my Bersa BP9CC in an Alien Gear holster with Ulti Clips I’ve been able to comfortably conceal at a trade show while wearing slacks and a tucked-in dress shirt. I love my Grand Power P11 and found it to fit nicely and ride very comfortably in an outside-the-waistband from 1791 Gun leather. My Walther PPS M2 rides very nicely in my No Print Wonder from Clinger Holsters. For the worst-case scenario my Walther P99AS is easily concealed in my SOG bag which also houses an Ally One from Angel Armor.

Yes, every one of those links takes you to more information about those options, so bookmark this page and use this as a guide and hopefully we’ll help you feel safer sooner than unguided exploration might have done. Let us know what you carry and in what in the comments below.

WATCH Holster Selection: Things to Consider

WATCH Holster Selection: Considerations for Concealed Carry

The video below has some knowledge nuggets that with any luck can help you find a favorite by your third or even second attempt instead of fourth or fortieth.

An Unexpected Concealed Carry Option: Bersa BP9CC

A 9mm handgun less than an inch wide with 8+1 capacity. This has become nearly the norm for those looking for an easily concealed handgun for carry in hot weather or when utmost discretion is required. It’s easy to think of the 2015 Glock 43, the S&W Shield after its initial recall 2013, but with a much quieter release in 2012 came the Bersa BP9CC. Offering often under-appreciated features such as a visible and tactile loaded chamber indicator and ambidextrous magazine release the BP9CC fills even large hands comfortably and yet maintains a very slim profile.

Much like the tango dance of Bersa’s native Argentina the BP9CC is a blend of both simple movements and advanced techniques that isn’t too intimidating for the beginner yet offers a lot for the more experienced. This handgun’s offerings nearly break down evenly:

For the Beginner	For the Connoisseur
Easy to handle slide serrations	Ambidextrous Magazine Release
Slim Profile and Loaded Chamber Indicator	Dual-Coil Flat-Coil Spring on a Steel Guide Rod
Tactile Memory Rest for Trigger Finger	Lengthy Feed Ramp
Key Lock renders the gun inoperable	Internals are Secured by a Steel Chassis

Combined it makes for a handgun offering advanced features usually only found in much more expensive models that welcome both the new shooter and can grow with the user’s skills through years of reliable operation and without leaving the owner wanting of aftermarket improvements. Perhaps part of why we don’t hear much about the Bersa BP9CC is that it hasn’t demanded the aftermarket attention that others in the single-stack 9mm lineup have. Once you have the handgun all you need is a holster.

Perhaps the most impressive feature of the handgun is the trigger. Initial pull is a bit long and squishy as is good for a defensive gun, and yet the reset is incredibly short and crisp permitting follow-up shots nearly instantaneously. Plenty of trigger time to know the first shot needs to be taken, and immediate follow-ups if another shot is needed.

All in all the Bersa BP9CC is an impressive blend of what both new shooters and experienced seek in a slim defensive handgun. See Erika and Graham give their impressions after shooting in the video below. Be sure to watch their reset shots at the end:

For more close-up footage see the unboxing video below:

Photo courtesy ofauthor and gunsholstersandgear.com

Honest Every Day Carry: Graham Baates

I work in an office environment and so try to keep things low-key. Fortunately I also work in the firearms industry so folks don’t freak out on the occasion that I walk down the hall with a carbine or two in hand. What you see here is my standard pocket load: Bersa BP9CC, phone, car keys, and knife.

The knife is a simple Kershaw I picked up online somewhere for $20-30. As a rule I won’t pay more than that for a knife as 99% of its use will be for opening boxes and other simple chores. A knife-fighter I am not. This one opens quickly with a flick, locks securely, and fits my hand. Tanto is the shape of choice for me as it provides two options for starting a cut.

On my hip (yes, that’s right, I still carry at the 4 o’clock). is the Bersa BP9CC. While it may not be the best carry gun (very light trigger), it does fit oh-so-comfortably on my hip in the Aliengear holster. After testing over 60 types of defensive ammo I’ve lately been carrying Oath Tango or GBW Legend Pro. Both performed well in my tests with this size of gun. The difference simply depends on the magazine I grab that day.

As a computer is part of any white-collar job these days I use a messenger-type bag by Vertx. I chose Vertx for two reasons: I love their stuff, and this one gives me room for some friends in case someone starts a party but wasn’t invited.

Hiding in a rear pocket is my trusty Walther P99AS. A great gun that was my daily carry until I had to start wearing grown-up clothes. This bag also permits for a sheet of level IIIA soft armor.

This may seem like a bit much, but I feel prepared good about it. Should any office meeting be of the hostile type I know I have armor and ammo.

Photo by author

Watch: Bersa TPR9C Alloy Framed Double Stack

Bersa is perhaps best-known for their Thunder 380 series. What hasn’t been so-well known in the US is their other offerings in 9mm, .40 S&W, and .45 ACP. The single-stack BP9CC is one of my personal carry guns, though the trigger is so superb I recommend it only for the well-trained. At SHOT show 2018 Bersa and Eagle Imports revealed their newest offerings in the double-stack field including the TPR9C.

What peaked my interest in the BP9C are the features packed into such a small handgun. Generally we have to sacrifice features to get a small package. That is not true with the BP9C. More capacity and controls than most other offerings, and the joy of a hammer-fired DA/SA trigger set the TRP9C apart. While ultra-light handguns have been en vogue, the Bersa has an alloy frame. As a frequent shooter I’m looking forward to that. Alloy frames are only a touch heavier to carry, yet tend to offer better balance in the hand and at the range. See the video below to get a better feel for the new gun.

This new pistol will of course be put through its paces on the range. We’ll test a variety of loads from 65gr up to 165gr for reliability and as always shoot a quick group with Nosler 115gr Match to see how it performs accuracy-wise.

Do you carry a double-stack? Let us know in the comments below how the TPR9C “stacks” up against your carry choice. Is 13+1 the Goldilocks size for those of us with larger hands?

For those wanting to know the gun by the numbers, the specs below were taken directly from the product page by Eagle Imports.

Caliber	9 MM
Action	DA/SA
Capacity	13+1, 10+1
Barrel Length	3.25″
Front Sight	Interchangeable Sig Sauer Type
Rear Sight	Interchangeable Sig Sauer Type
Finishes	Matte Black
Grips	Textured Black Polymer
Construction	Alloy Frame / Steel Slide
Safety	Integral Locking System, Manual, Firing Pin
Weight	23.0000
Length	6.5″
Height	4.75″
Width	1.45″

Bersa: Over One Million Strong

With over one million Bersa handguns sold in the United States we decided it was time to take a look at their classic, the Thunder 380. Bersa: Over One Million Strong.

Weighing-in at just 20oz and with styling similar to James Bond’s iconic Walther, it’s easy to see why the Thunder 380 is a popular carry model, but looks and weight alone don’t explain the success. For a handgun to survive the American concealed-carry market for any length of time it has to be reliable, practical, and simple. While some may call the alloy frame and Walther-esque styling dated, or complain that the gun doesn’t come ready for a reflex sight, Bersa has made a gun that works and works well, and as the saying goes, “if it ain’t broke don’t fix it”.

A fixed on the barrel on Bersa Thunder 380 ensures both accuracy and reliability.

A big part of the reliability and accuracy of the Thunder .380 comes from the fixed barrel design. Similar to workhorse Makarovs of Eastern Europe only the slide moves after firing. The micro-polished barrel is locked in place and remains in constant geometry with the magazine. If the first round fed the second will too because the path is exactly the same. The elimination of moving parts and locking surfaces also makes the slide easy to rack.

While certainly light weight, the alloy frame provides just a touch more weight than rival polymer .380 handguns and as a result provides a relative reduction in recoil. Brownings’ baby .45acp is remarkably pleasant to shoot. Adding further comfort is a stock shape and size that while perhaps ideal for small-handed shooters still provided enough real estate for my larger hands. Controls are also smartly placed within easy reach of hand sizes both large and small.

As you can see from the specs below, this isn’t one of those micro guns that leaves you wondering if it’s safe to shoot. The Thunder .380 is an actual handgun:

Caliber	.380 & .22 LR
Action	DA/SA
Capacity	7+1 or 8+1 (.380), 10+1 (.22)
Barrel Length	3.5″
Front Sight	Blade Integral with Slide
Rear Sight	Notched-Bar Dovetailed
Finishes	Duotone, Matte Black, Cerakote Nickel Satin Aluminum
Grips	Checkered Polymer
Construction	Alloy Frame / Steel Slide
Safety	Intergal Locking System, Manual, Firing Pin
Weight	20.00 oz. (.380), 18.90 oz. (.22)
Length	6.6″
Height	4.7″
Width	1.3″

A current market price of around $300 makes the gun as light on the wallet as it is in the hand. Those looking for style can choose from a myriad of color options. More than 23 models are currently listed on Bersa’s Eagle Imports website including models chambered in .22lr. If modern is your thing Crimson Trace makes a laser grip for the gun.

Despite spending most of our time with fancier and flashier guns, the Bersa Thunder .380 is an undeniable contender in the concealed-carry market and can also serve as a fun range gun to both teach and learn with. If you’re concerned about rumored failures, a lifetime warranty is provided to the original purchaser. The limit of the gun’s endurance has however been found. According to one article sometime around 50,000 rounds a spring may break. If you want to test that for yourself you’d better get started, and perhaps a good friend at an ammunition company.