bersa .380 or 9mm, or a glock 19 9mm?

The Bersa is a bedside table pistol. Shoot a few rounds through it and put it away. It will not stand up to regular practice shooting, as the pistol is poorly made. Any pistol in .380 is something that you yank out of an ankle holster after the bad guy has knocked you down and taken your duty weapon during a struggle.

The Glock is a fine, accurate, and very reliable pistol. If you are a Swedish police officer, it will serve you well, as Europeans do not chamber a cartridge until absolutely necessary. If you are a New York police officer, wait for the stats on how many of them will accidentally shoot themselves with their own weapons (last year, over a hundred TRAINED police officers, nation wide, did that very thing with their Glocks, S&W Sigmas and M&P's). You want a pistol with an "Off-Switch" (as in...a safety), or at least, a pistol equipped with a decocker.

My personal choice is a quality M1911A1 clone, not only as one of the safest designs, but it is very flat, due to it's single stack magazine. Go with the full sized gun, because when stowed in an inside the waist band holster, the barrel length doesn't matter, and is just as concealable as a compact. Besides, with a .45, you probably won't need more than one or two shots to settle the argument. If ammunition cost is a factor, go with a 9MM Browning High Power or an FN. Both are excellent shootin' irons. The Springfield XDM is also an excellent pistol, but is a bit broad in width.

Hope this helps

The bersa seems to have inconsistent quality. It's Glock hands down for dependability, tough finish, longivity. 380 ammo seems hard to find and expensive lately. Just no contest here...you won't be sorry if you get a Glock 9mm. The full size 17 is really not that much harder to conceal. The mid size 19 a good compromise. The "baby" G26 is great. I carry it most of the time and occasionaly a G17 or G20. If you haven't shot Glocks you probably will need some instruction or do some research. They simply require a different shooting style...for some of us old guys anyway. I wouldn't carry the G26 if I didn't have complete confidence in it. I can shoot it nearly as well as the full size 17 but it will take some work. The mid size 19 is really the best of both worlds and has the rail for lights, etc which the 26 does not. IM or write me if you have any questions.

Bersa Thunder 380. Its the perfect gun for this situation. The size is right, the caliber is right, its easy to load and shoot, its accurate, and priced between $250 to 350 depending on which package you get. There is a 7, 8, and 15 round version. Any of the 3 would be good. The 229 is a fine gun, but will probably be too big for her. If she wants a smaller gun than the Bersa Thunder....then look at a Beretta Tomcat 32. Don't even consider any other pocket gun for a girl. They usually can not operate them. But a Tomcat was designed with a female in mind. My wife has carried one since '96. Edit: Gosh- I guess no one had the answer you were looking for? Everyone got a thumbs down. I have read over every answer, including mine. I have considered every choice offered here. I still stand on the Bersa Thunder 380 as best choice, and cost is about $275. If you want a better gun, then Beretta Cheetah will be the top of the line in this category. But, it will cost about $700 and it will be very hard for her to rack the slide. The Bersa will be easy to rack for a girl.

Coming from a Bersa Thunder .380 owner, get a 9mm. Not because I don't like the Bersa, but because .380 rounds are like diamonds in the rough these days. I've put a few thousand rounds through my Bersa (with only a couple of jams I might add) and now I save my rounds for a rainy day. 9mm rounds are plentiful and always will be.

Get a Ruger SR9, you won't be disappointed.

Either are great guns, although if price isnt an issue, i'd go with the glock. I carry a 26 frequently, and although Glock makes a thick gun, with a good holster like the Glaco Skyops it conceals very nicely. Check out the Ruger SR9c, its nice too.

Frankly, In many situatons i prefer to carry a single stack mag, they are thinner and more comfortable. I often carry a Sig p238 .380. If people tell you that .380 isnt powerful enough just smile and know that its horse sh!tt. The newer defensive .380 loads like hornady critical defense are plenty enough for self defense.

The Bersa will probably conceal a little easier but you will get a lot more shooting from the Glock.

I you plan to conceal, than I expect you want it for self defense. If that is true, the 9mm is a better choice of caliber.

I honestly believe the Glock Model 19 is a much better choice. No good reason to ever sell a G-19, either. It actually is a pistol that you can buy once and for life!

Besides, why screw around with often hard-to-find 380 Auto ammunition when you can go with more powerful and more plentiful 9mm ammo instead!

PS: Hey, Tahoe, have you been drinking? Who in their right mind would expect a 380 to perform with a 9mm? I've got both of them in the safe. The only time I take the 380 out is when I need something that's, 'deep concealment' for under a light suit jacket and almost exclusively at, 'touchy-feely' weddings and funerals where I do NOT want to offend anyone by suddenly being, 'made'.

The Army of Sweden and the New York Police Department both went with the Glock 19.

No brainer, the Glock 19.

G 19! Don't ever go smaller than a 9 mil in a self defense weapon.

Just my opinion.