BERSA Thunder 9
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The Thunder 9 is a semi-automatic handgun designed to fire 9x19mm Parabellum ammunition, and is manufactured by the company BERSA based in Argentina. As one of the Thunder series, the Thunder 9 shares many similarities with other handguns in the same product line. It shares little in common, however, with the similarly named BERSA Thunder 380. While the small Thunder 380 is a direct blow-back pistol similar to the Walther PPK or the Russian Makarov PM, the Thunder 9 is a full size pistol and uses a modified locked breech Browning action to handle the greater pressure and power of the 9 mm Parabellum round. The Thunder 9 bears some resemblance to the Walther P-88 pistol, though control placement and function differ. This handgun is also sold under the name Firestorm or FS 9. Barrel length is 4.3 inches, the slide and barrel are made of high strength steel, the frame is made of alluminum resulting in a surprisingly light weight for its size. This handgun is available in a black matte finish, nickel finish and as well as a two-tone version (as the firestorm) with a stainless slide and satin black frame. The ergonomic grips are integrated into one polymer piece surrounding the butt of the frame ("wraparound" style). The gun can be fired in double-action for the first shot, single-action thereafter unless the shooter manually uncock the hammer, magazine is double stack, capacity is 17 + 1 rounds. The pistol features ambidextrous safety, a decocker activated by the safety lever, emphasized sights, combat trigger guard, an integrated accessory mounting groove in the frame, firing pin block (the pistol won't fire unless the trigger is squeezed all the way back protecting from accidental falling). The magazine release button can be reversed for left handed shooters and it has a "round in the chamber" indicator. It is one of the easiest, if not the easiest, handgun to field strip for cleaning. The Thunder 9 is the standard issue side firearm of the Argentinian Armed Forces, the Argentinian Federal Police and several other police forces. An identical version of this gun chambered for the more potent 40 S&W cartridge is called Thunder 40; because of the bigger round, the magazine capacity is reduced to 13 + 1 rounds.
[edit] Thunder Ultra Compact
A smaller version of this pistol is called Thunder Ultra Compact (former name was Mini Thunder) and it is avalilable in 9 mm Parabellum, 40 S&W and 45 ACP. Barrel length is reduced to 3.5 inches (3.6 for the 45 ACP caliber) and magazine capacity is 13 + 1 rounds for the 9 mm, 10 + 1 for the 40 S&W and 7 + 1 for the 45 ACP. The Thunder Ultra Compact features a security key to activate a security locking system located on the left side of the frame under the take down lever, in the locked position the hammer cannot be cocked, the trigger won't work in double action, the slide won't cycle and the gun cannot be disassembled. Each pistol has an individual key.
