For a long time, I have wanted a thin, single stack 9mm pistol with a grip larger than many of the sub-compact pistols that are on the market.  I wanted a gun with a grip long enough that my whole hand – pinky included – will fit on it, yet something that is thinner than the double stack pistols that are available.

If Glock made a single-stack model 19, I think that would be just about perfect.  But they don’t, so like Diogenes seeking an honest man, I have continued my largely fruitless search.

Last year, however, I had a chance to see and hold the BP9CC pistol from Bersa.  As soon as I held the gun, I knew I liked it.  After talking with the Bersa rep, I had one delivered for testing.

General BP9CC Information

The BP9CC is a polymer-framed 9mm pistol that is striker-fired.  It uses a single stack magazine and is less than an inch wide (0.94”).  Magazine capacity is eight rounds, so with one in the chamber, an armed citizen has nine rounds on tap before a reload is in order.

The grip is long enough that my entire hand fits onto the frame of the gun, and even though the pistol is thin, the grip still manages to fill my hand nicely.  My wife, a long time Glock fan, immediately fell in love with the feel of the Bersa, saying that no other gun felt as “right” as the BP9CC did.

Weight of the pistol is a very reasonable 21.5 ounces unloaded.  This is light enough to be carried comfortably, but not so light as to make the recoil feel harsh.

The sights are a three-dot set up, but with the front white dot being much larger in diameter than the two rear sights.  In theory, this should help the eye focus on the front sight.

The trigger is double-action-only (DAO), and has a light feel to it.  It does not have the same crisp break found on a Glock, but it does have a distinctive break and reset.

Range Time

A concealed carry gun is all about performance.  If it won’t deliver accurate shots in a reliable manner, I am not interested in it.  I was pleased with the gun’s initial performance and even more so with a follow up trip to the range.

During my initial range time, I put more than 400 rounds through the BP9CC.  About half of that was inexpensive Winchester and Remington 115 gr FMJ ammo.  The balance of the rounds were expensive defensive quality handgun ammunition of varying weights including standard, +P and +P+ loads.

I found that all of the ammunition was relatively easy to shoot, with only a couple of +P loadings being noticeably harsher than the others.  All of the loads were very accurate at 7 to 15 yards.

I experienced only two problems with the pistol not functioning correctly.  Both times a hollow point nose-dived on the feed ramp after 300 rounds of firing.  By this time, there was significant build up of gunk on the feed ramp, and I suspected that the trash on the ramp might be contributing to the feeding problem.  After the two problems, I did not suffer any additional problems during the next 100+ rounds of shooting.

My wife went with me to the range to shoot the Bersa about a week later.  I had cleaned the pistol in the interim.  She put another 200+ rounds through the gun, and I did nearly the same.  We experienced no malfunctions on this trip.

The sights were very easy to use.  As a rule, I generally don’t like three-dot sights.  However, with a front dot being significantly larger than the rear dots, I found that my eye naturally focused on the front sight and aiming was quick and sure.

Final Thoughts

I’ve never owned a Bersa before.  Its not that I didn’t like the company, but I just never found any of their guns that interested me.  However, the BP9CC is a different story.  I like the look of this pistol and love the way it feels in the hand.

The thin nature of this single-stack pistol makes it a great gun for concealed carry, and with the grip size, I can reliably deliver accurate, rapid fire shots that are much harder to accomplish with a micro-sized pistol.

I’d like to say that this is a new concealed carry gun for me, but that would not be true.  My wife liked it so much that she claimed it as her own.  For me, well, I am stuck with ordering a second Bersa.  At an MSRP of $429, I can definitely afford my own.