Is there any MIM in the BERSA Thunder 380?
MIM stands for Metal Injection Moulding, which involves filling a precise mould with metal powder that’s been combined with a polymer binder, so that the mold can be removed and reused, before the bonded metal object is heated until the polymer burns off and the metal grains fuse. It is much faster and cheaper than milling from forged bar or plate, and cheaper than investment casting, but if insufficient heat and time are provided, the grains will not fuse properly, and the piece can be vulnerable to fracture. That out of the way, yes, it appears that a number of parts in the BERSA Thunder 380 are made via MIM. The trigger, slide-catch lever, and manual safety lever in particular, based on the surface texture. Almost all of these parts are rather robustly-sized for durability and strength, and there have been no reports of these parts failing. The manual safety lever however, is the exception: the lever arm itself is quite slender, and abuse (particularly improper disassembly) can lead
