Bursa Thunder 380 going to the shop- x2 update

Mark G26 · #1

xAfter 500+ rounds, using different ammo, the wife's gun continues to FTL 2 or 3 times per 100 rounds at random times. Usually the last one or two rounds.

Sending it to be (I hope ) fixed. My wife likes this little 380 but it has to be more reliable for personal protection. This seems to be a common problem with this gun from reading the Bursa forum.

Anyone send one off for warranty work with problems solved?

BTW over 1500 rounds through the Glock with zero failures

flb_78 · #2

Ive heard of problems with Bersas. If they can't fix it, you may wanna think about a Walther PPK.

seamusTX · #3

You can use FedEx or UPS, but they charge high rates ($50-ish). Having an FFL ship it can be cheaper.

- Jim

Mark G26 · #4

seamusTX wrote:You can use FedEx or UPS, but they charge high rates ($50-ish). Having an FFL ship it can be cheaper.

- Jim

Thanks!

AFJailor · #5

The sig P232 has been one of the most reliable guns I've fired, close to 1k rounds now with not even a hiccup. You may want to take it into consideration as well.

Trope · #6

I presume that FTL means it isn't loading the round or isn't going fully into battery. Sounds like a magazine spring or a dirty magazine to me.

Before hassling with service, I'd clean the inside of the magazine to make sure the follower is able to move ok, and also I'd make sure the magazine spring has plenty of tension, especially on the front side of the spring as it elongates when the magazine nears empty.

I had a Glock magazine that would not feed the last round in my G19, and I slightly tweaked (stretched) the spring and the problem went away. I also got some new magazines, which never had the problem.

I also had a Browning Buckmark magazine that was dirty from the manufacturer and the follower was binding. Rounds wouldn't even feed high enough to be picked up to be chambered. A good cleaning solved that problem. I still have to do that every few hundred rounds or so (per magazine).

Finally, I don't know if you've tried a different magazine, since these generally come with only one. Although they're pricey, a new magazine might be less than the shipping cost.

striker55 · #7

Gander Mtn is authorized to do repair work on your Bersa. You can take it there if you have one close by. I had some work done on mine, decocker would not work.

Dragonfighter · #8

I am not familiar with Bursa's but there was a time period I had a lot of friends coming to me with FTL problems on Brownings and the occasional H&K. The FTL probs would manifest after a few hundred rounds in most cases and rarely out of the box.

What I found in those cases was burs on the edge of the feed ramp or poorly finished troughs. A diamond rattail would take care of the ends of the feed ramp and a diamond imbibed rubber polishing point would take care of scoring left from the mfg. machining.

Check your brass, if there is a line down the side of the brass or denting around the chamfer, you may have a problem with the feed ramp. Look at the ramp through a loop and you will see if the machining marks have not been properly polished or if there is leading on the ramp.

Of course, all of this is not having the foggiest idea about the specifics of your problem.

Mark G26 · #9

Dragonfighter wrote:I am not familiar with Bursa's but there was a time period I had a lot of friends coming to me with FTL problems on Brownings and the occasional H&K. The FTL probs would manifest after a few hundred rounds in most cases and rarely out of the box.

What I found in those cases was burs on the edge of the feed ramp or poorly finished troughs. A diamond rattail would take care of the ends of the feed ramp and a diamond imbibed rubber polishing point would take care of scoring left from the mfg. machining.

Check your brass, if there is a line down the side of the brass or denting around the chamfer, you may have a problem with the feed ramp. Look at the ramp through a loop and you will see if the machining marks have not been properly polished or if there is leading on the ramp.

It is off to the shop $30.00 fedx insured. I think it is a feed ramp problem. Still curious if any one has sent a Bursa to get this FTL fixed and they actual fixed it and what they said was wrong. I will be sure to post waht they they me.

This problem started out of the box and still occured with a new factory magizine...

lrb111 · #10

Try Bersatalk forum. http://bersatalk.com/forums/default.aspx loads of info.

Mike1951 · #11

I was going to say that before you ship it, inquire whether Bersa will reimburse you for the shipping. Some manufacturers will.

$30 seems awfully cheap. Did you tell them it was a handgun? I would have expected $40-$50.

And you got it shipped on Saturday?

Fedex and UPS outlets like Kinko's and Office Depot are not allowed to accept firearms.

Just curious.

seamusTX · #12

Mike1951 wrote:Did you tell them it was a handgun?

You have the right to remain silent.

- Jim

Mike1951 · #13

This is true. It's only UPS and Fedex company policy to rip us off.

But if anything should happen to it in transit, I'm sure they would deny any claim.

seamusTX · #14

OK. I meant Mark G26 had the right not to answer the question asked in this forum.

Failing to follow FedEx and UPS rules is a federal offense. I don't make the rules. I don't like the rules. But I am not a federal judge, and never will be.

- Jim

Lumberjack98 · #15

Never had any problems with my Thunder 380. Hope they can get it fixed for you. It sounds like they take care of any problems, but it may be a little slow.