It depends on which FireStorm you're considering. FireStorm is a company name, but they do not build the guns. Their SA, 1911 style guns were made by Llama until Llama went out of business last year. There are still Llama/Firestorm guns in the pipeline. Their reliability is the same as you'd expect from a Llama of the same type. Llama built guns were dropped by the importer (Eagle Imports) and the FireStorm line after Llama closed it's doors.
I own one FireStorm, a FireStorm/Llama full size .45, 1911 model. I've experienced no functional problems in the past 2 years or so that I've owned it. However, while it LOOKS like a government model 1911, MOST parts are not interchangable with a Milspec 1911 .45, so aside from some springs, sights, most aftermarket magazines and a few other internal/external parts, you'll have to use Llama made or aftermarket parts made for a Llama/FireStorm 1911 as replacements.
The FireStorm DA autos are all built by Bersa in Argentina. Aside from minor cosmetic differences, like a slightly different triggerguard, they are exactly the same gun as it's Bersa counterpart. As has already been posted, most people consider the T-380 one of the best 380's on the market, regardless of price. The larger Bersa guns (aside from the Thunder 9) are fairly new, having been introduced in '02-'03. They haven't had the history or availability of the 380, so they aren't as well known, but almost anybody that owns one will swear by it.
I have 5 Bersa's... that should tell you something about my regard for them. I own a full size Thunder 9, the Ultra Compact 9 & 45, a Thunder 380 and the new 380 Concealed Carry (CC). They are all reliable, accurate, well made and reasonably priced. The larger caliber guns - 9mm, 40 S&W and .45 ACP - are completely ambidextrous, a good point for lefties, and Bersa is expected to make some updates/improvements to them in the next year or so, though there have been few complaints from Bersa owners about their design or function. There were some issues with the .45 concerning weak recoil springs and extractors with earlier models (pre-'04), but that no longer seems to be an issue.
If you want to know more from the people who own them, check out the two main Bersa forums, Bersa Talk (
http://bersatalk.com/) & the Bersa Thunder Chapterhouse (
http://p081.ezboard.com/bbersathunderchapterhouse). Most people who own a Bersa will tell you they've been one of the best kept "secrets" in the concealed carry market for more than 30 years.
