Is there a perfect concealed carry pistol? Probably not. I suppose the best we can hope for is to find one that works very well for our needs in a specific situation. Some guns work better with certain clothing styles than others, while some guns may be better tailored for the environment you expect to find yourself in. For example, a full size 1911 might be good under a winter jacket, but a Ruger LCP in a pocket might be the best you can manage in an office environment.
In recent years, the striker-fired, single-stack pistol has become a battleground for manufacturers trying to capture a larger piece of the concealed carry market. It seems every company is now making at least one model for this specific niche. I’ve had the opportunity to shoot many of them, and I am the proud owner of several. One of the pistols that is often overlooked, however, is the Bersa BP line of concealed carry pistols.
Bersa and Concealed Carry
I first discovered the line when the BP9CC was announced in the United States a few years back. The gun caught my attention as it was a big step away from the pistols I was used to seeing from the company.
Bersa is an Argentinian company, and to the American buyer, the company was possibly best known for its Thunder series of pistols. Those guns were, and still are, popular pistols that have achieved a good reputation for reliability at an affordable price.
However, the Thunder is a traditional hammer fired double-action/single-action pistol with a metal frame. While still an acceptable choice for self-defense, the Thunder might be a bit heavier than some would like. Also, the DA/SA trigger requires more training time to master than a consistent pull trigger with a double-action-only or striker-fired system would.
BP Series
The BP series of pistols are fundamentally different from the older Thunder pistols. To start with, the newer guns use polymer frames. Another major difference is one that I’ve already alluded to: this is a striker-fired gun. That means with each trigger press, the shooter has a consistent trigger pull. There is no long, heavy initial pull with very short follow ups. There are no decockers to worry about either.
The BP series offers guns in .380 ACP, 9mm and .40 S&W. Flush fitting magazines for the BP9CC (the 9mm pistol) hold 8 rounds. The .380 ACP models hold the same while the BP40 magazine holds 7 rounds.
Bersa offers the pistols with a variety of color and finish combinations. My BP9CC has a simple black frame and matte black finish on the metal. I have found that it has worn exceptionally well – even in the Florida heat and humidity. I’ve yet to have any tarnishing or corrosion turn up on the pistol. Versions with OD green frames and two tone slides are also available.
My Experiences
I’ve had the chance to evaluate the entire BP line, and ultimately purchased the BP9CC for my personal use. So, I have a good basis of experience to offer feedback on these guns.
I found the BP9CC to be pleasingly thin. I’ve handled some pistols that are simply too thin for the cartridge being fired. Guns like the Double Tap (.665” wide) are thinner, but they are also painful to shoot. If a gun is painful to shoot, you are not likely to do a lot of practice with it.
The BP9CC is roughly 0.94” wide through the grip. I found this to be a good fit for my hand. While it tends to be easier than a thicker pistol to conceal with an inside-the-waistband holster, it isn’t so thin as to be uncomfortable to shoot. Quite the opposite. I’ve found the BP9CC is one of the more comfortable compact pistols to shoot. My hand locks into it nicely and control is easy on this mildly recoiling pistol.
Speaking of recoil, I’ve shot all three calibers the BP guns are chambered for: .380 ACP, 9mm and .40 S&W. I found the 9mm and .380 ACP both have a similar amount of felt recoil and muzzle flip. These two cartridges are easy shooting out of this pistol.
The .40 S&W has noticeably more flip and impulse. Don’t get me wrong – it is still very controllable. However, you are paying for the larger caliber with more recoil. If you like the .40, this shouldn’t be a problem. If you are not invested in the .40 S&W, you might prefer the easier shooting 9mm gun.
The trigger pull on all of the pistols is good: light and crisp. Initially, I found pistols in all three calibers to be a bit gritty. After about 100 rounds, though, all of them smoothed out. Striker-fired triggers can be a tricky thing to describe accurately. For me, the BP pistol trigger is much more like a light switch than a standard double-action press. In other words, there isn’t a roll and break. Rather it is more of a take up of slack then a very short press to a click.
While the BP380CC and BP40CC were in my possession for just a few months, I bought the BP9CC. I’ve shot that gun a lot in the past few years and found a couple of things about it during some long term use.
First, the gun is a bit more picky than other pistols about being clean. When clean, the gun seems to be completely reliable. However, once I put about 500 rounds through it without cleaning, I start to hit a few malfunctions. Once I field strip and do a quick cleaning, the gun is good for another 500 rounds error-free. While I do not consider this ideal, it is something that I can work with.
Secondly, the trigger has gotten very light with lots of use. Believe it or not, the trigger pull is now sub-4 pounds. I do not consider this ideal for a self-defense gun, but it does make for a sweet shooting range pistol.
Bottom Line
What’s my final word on the Bersa BP series of pistols? I like them.
I think the guns feel great in the hand, and the size is a perfect balance between concealability and shootability. The guns I’ve tested have shot very well with good accuracy and reasonable reliability. The need for regular cleaning doesn’t impress when one compares the gun to others with mud test videos posted online. However, you should keep your guns clean – especially those you might need for self-defense.
If you need a compact pistol, and price is a consideration, the Bersa BP line is one to seriously consider. For me, I’m carrying other guns for self-defense. However, I would carry my BP9CC without reservation should I need to.