Selected Handgun Detail

Manufacturer
	Bersa SA More Info

About the Gun

The Bersa Thunder 40 is a full-size alloy-frame DA/SA locked-breech pistol in .40 S&W. It uses an external hammer, a frame-mounted decock lever, polymer grips, and fixed sights. It has a double-stack high-capacity magazine design.

Production

Production ran from the early 2000s through the mid-2010s

Market value

MSRP at production was around $400–$500. Current used market value for examples in good to very good condition ranges $300–$400.

Cartridge Specifications
Cartridge:	.40 Smith & Wesson
Alias:	N/A
More Info

Analysis

The Thunder 40 is the .40 S&W full-size model in Bersa’s locked-breech Thunder series that followed the Model 90 and Thunder 9. It was designed around a double-stack magazine with a 13-round capacity. During the 1994–2004 U.S. magazine ban the full-size version was restricted from regular U.S. import, which led Bersa to introduce the shorter Ultra Compact / Mini Thunder 40 with a 10-round magazine for that market. After the ban ended, the full-size high-capacity Thunder 40 became available in the U.S. alongside the Ultra Compact. The three high-capacity variants differ mainly by finish (matte, duotone, nickel). Later Thunder 40 Pro and TPR models with rails and ambi controls superseded these earlier configurations. The full-size Thunder 40 is discontinued.