[doc540]

to the current lineup of compact .380's and mini-9mm's?

If and when I find a "deal" on one, should I snag it or buy a more "current" compact .380?

I guess I'm asking if they are, indeed, the "holy grail" of "pocket" .380's?

what'chu say?

[MICHAEL T]

Their getting way to high in price . I ve had one for several years but I find my Kel Tec works just as well For a lot less money . Some parts are getting a little hard to find also. If you can get a clean one for 350 or less fine But this 600 + Iam seeing is way to much. I belive.

[Cowboy2]

I'd have a hard time paying the $5-650 I keep seeing them for, considering that a pm9 is about the same size and maybe a little lighter. I have a stainless mustang, and its a great gun, but I bought it before thier prices skyrocketed.

[JasperST5]

I had a KelTec 9mm but traded in in for a Mustang Pocketlite maybe 8 years ago so the price was around $350. The KelTec was much more firepower but I hated shooting it. The other big difference is size, the Colt is much smaller and lighter, a true pocket gun. I doubt I would pay current prices for one though, the price is up there because they aren't made anymore and there's a lot of Colt fans out there.

[Ala Dan]

another + for KEL-TEC'S P3AT .380~! :D

As the Colt Mustang's price keeps on soaring~! :eek:

[Starter52]

The Mustang is a truly remarkable pistol. A bargain-priced one would qualify as a "holy grail".

If you can find a Mustang at a reasonable price, buy it.

[Coltdriver]

The nice thing about the Mustang is that it has a locked breech so recoil is very well managed.

The downside is they weigh too much and there is no double action trigger.

A better pocket Colt is the Pocketlite Pony. DAO, very light and also locked breech. But they are even more costly.

So the Ruger LCP looks better every day.

[alsaqr]

I love my Colt Mk IV Series 80 in .380. This is the gun that I carry most of the time.

[Texastbird]

Gee, Coltdriver, I love my Mustang because of the single action trigger! It's funny that these didn't just exactly fly out of the stores when they were making them. Now, everyone wishes they had one. I wish I had another, lol.

[HisSoldier]

Though it's steel I dislike my Mustang for the same reason I dislike the Kel-Tec, it is unreliable. Since it's made of steel it's still a valuable gun but I favor the Government .380 over it as the longer slide makes reliability better. My Mustang kept losing recoil spring tension.

[Onmilo]

The Mustang and Governments had a lot of little issues that Colt never resolved.
I, for one, feel they discontinued the line not because of lack of sales but because they couldn't get the pistols to work right without investing more in the guns than they were willing to do for the profit margins involved.

The Kel-Tec and Ruger LCP are also locked breech designs.

[ShortRound45]

Had one in SS. Not 100% SS though...IIRC the thumb safety rusted internally. I wondered if it was some sort galvanic reaction as I was meticulous about cleaning it.

Worth $450-500 today? Hmmm...to me, no. It today's world I'd look at (and am) a Ruger LCP or simlar and pocket the $200 difference (along with the gun).

Mine was a bit heavy (all steel) for slipping in a pocket...but I really liked the gun. It went in on a trade for a P220. Would like to have it back.

:-P

Lesson learned. never trade in guns. Just buy more guns.

[searcher451]

Keep your eye peeled for a German-made Walther PPK, if you want a reliable gun in .380 caliber. The prices are often nutty on the gun boards and auction houses, but you can still find deals from time to time. I just picked one up for $400 shipped in 95%+ condition, and it's all that and more. The German-made Walthers are the real deal; they go bang every time.

[Rexster]

I have a 100% reliable Mustang, though presently I don't carry it. There are no new spare parts being made for these little weapons, other than springs and perhaps ejector rods, so I managed to acquire some used spares a while back on evilbay, including a complete upper unit. The finish on mine was pretty bad, and I bought it before they became desireable collectibles, so I have little money in it. Then, my wife somehow managed to get bleach-based household cleaner on it, so it is REALLY ugly. :eek: Someday, as my hand, wrist, and arm injuries get worse, I may go back to using the Mustang, as it is very gentle to shoot. I have even used it to teach small-handed beginners, as the first step up from .22 LR.

[HisSoldier]

Rexster said; "There are no new spare parts being made for these little weapons, other than springs and perhaps ejector rods,"

Actually I just finished a run of stainless triggers, they are so much nicer than the plasticrud ones that came with the guns. These are 416 stainless and require a bit of fitting.The original frame is investment cast, and there is a lot of variationhttp://i214.photobucket.com/albums/cc225/partsproduction/trigger1.jpg

[camper]

I have two Mustangs, the SS Pocketlite and the Series 80, both are great. but other than range time, I prefer the Guardian 380 as I never really felt comfortable pocket carrying the Mustang cocked and locked so I carried with hammer down and safety on. With the Guardian and/or a P3AT/LCP or PPK there are less operations to accomplish in an emergency defensive situation.

[bannockburn]

doc540

While I wouldn't pay the prices for one that they're going for nowadays, I wouldn't consider ever selling the one I bought when they first came out. Extremely concealable, accurate for the task at hand, totally reliable, great single action trigger, and felt recoil like a .22. I've tried a lot of other .380s, and this one's a keeper.
http://i218.photobucket.com/albums/cc231/buckeroobanzai/DSC02409.jpgvvvv[/IMG]

[GrandmasterB]

The Mustang Pocketlite is one of the finest pocket guns ever in my humble opinion. I agree the prices are soaring, but my gun has always been 100% reliable and I carry it often.

The factory sights are puny, but that can be rectified by a trip to Cylinder & Slide to fit Novaks.

http://www.drivehq.com/file/df.aspx/publish/bungib/PublicFolder/Guns/mustang_grips.jpg

I really like the single action trigger, very crisp and light. And I like the cocked & locked carry mode -- just like my 1911s. :D

[carguy]

Boy do I wish I just pissed my wife off way back when and bought one new when I had the chance!!! Looking at the prices today...I don't think she'd still be mad at me...:cool:

[Bob79]

I read that Colt had to stop production of the Colt Mustang due to some copy right issues. Something about some designs were the same as Justin Moon had with his Kahr handguns. I believe it was how the feed ramp is off-set like on the Kahrs, and a few other things. I read this in a few different places, and it sounded legit. I'm not trying to start a rumor mill, but I bet there are some other people who will be able to comment more than I can.

All in all, I think it was a good little pistol. With the popularity of small concealable guns now, you'd think Colt would reintroduce the Mustang line.

[bannockburn]

Bob79

I think you might be thinking of the Colt Pocket Nine. I don't believe Kahrs were even around when the Government .380 and Mustang were built.

[Car Knocker]

As I recall, the Mustang was introduced in the early 80's and Kahr didn't make an appearance until the early 90's.

[jocko]

It is a quality handgun, not cheap but quality is never cheap. I think when it was first introduced, it was ahead of its time. Pocket guns were not the IN THING then and it was pricey then, and it still is. I don't own one but it is not because of the price either. When I come across one that is exactly the condtion that I am looking for, I will buy it. It won't be my pocket gun, but the new Kahr P380 certainly will be, and it isn't going to be cheap in price either, but I want some quality in my pocket to. Also have two Ruger lcp'son order to. Like it alot..

[bluemalibu]

If you invest the time and money that one does in a race gun, then Colt's Mustang could be a sweetheart. But it was it's notorious FTF trait that was the reason that it wasn't a hit when introduced.

I don't remember a single one of the guns purchased new in our shop in the 80's that didn't get traded back in or sent back to the factory. We had so many disgruntled customers that we refused to sell the guns after a couple of months of it's release.

[krs]

I don't know about Mustangs but I do like my .380 Government model a bunch. I don't carry it but it is reliable enough for carry gun duty and is nice to shoot. I bought it for $200. a few years ago and wouldn't pay the going rate for one. IMO, a Sig 232 is a much better pistol, and these small colts derive their value from collectibility demand rather than from any inherent quality. They are NOT what I'd call quality firearms...http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p263/twagger/guns/380Govtjpg-1.jpg

[Girodin]

The mustang pocketlite is a very fine pocket pistol. If you find one at a good price snag it. I've seen them sell for as much as $800. As much as I like the Mustang I wouldn't pay $800 for it.

[IMTHDUKE]

Only thing I could wish for on the mini-1911 would be a grip safety like it's big brother's.
http://photos.gafana.com/photos/1356252870996516166247.share.jpg

Someone mentioned a German made PPK....I will confirm their reliability. They are DA/SA and also have a manual safety if you choose to use it.
http://photos.gafana.com/photos/0736252690996507318804.share.jpg

[collector14]

There's a lot of reasons that the value of these little guns keeps climbing.

http://www.guncollectorsclub.com/images/guns/colt_mustang_200x150.jpg

I paid a lot for mine a long time ago, but I've never, ever regretted it. I personally like the fact that Colt didn't install the grip safety on these, because I've had experience with the old Colt Vest Pocket models.

Yes, the Mustang is heavier than many .380's, but I like that too.

[Fun Gun]

3 Mustangs in our group, all reliable and fun. All Pocketlites, 2 blue, 1 SS. The gals love 'em! More punch than a .22, fits their hands, shoots easy.
Minor modification was required on mine to the slide stop to keep it from occasionally sliding out. I like the bi-tone look and lucked out to find a complete blued top end assembly at a gun show cheap. 6 round, 7 round with extension and 7 round Gov't 380 mags shown:
http://i306.photobucket.com/albums/nn249/ojisan420/P8020101-1-1.jpg

[hemiram]

A friend of mine had a matched pair back about 30 years ago. Some guy needed money at work, and sold them to him for a cheap price. Sadly, he got stupid, and handed his wife one of them, and started playing around. In front of his brother and his wife, he got shot in the head and died. The police were all set to arrest his wife for murder, until the brother told them that he had just handed her the gun, telling her "It's not loaded!". It was one of the last things he ever said.

I would pick any number of .380's over a Mustang.

[IMTHDUKE]

Clearly a combination of stupidity, ignorance, and other operator errors....nothing to do with the gun malfunction as stated.

[Girodin]

Are you seriously sugggesting that the mustang is not a good pistol because of a neglegent discharge that occured as a result of unsafe gun handling and sadly resulted in a tragedy? How many of the 4 rules had to be broken for that tragedy to occur? What did it have to do with the particular gun involved?

Further, said incedent didn't involve a mustang bcause they were not manufactured 30 years ago. They were made form 1989-1997. I'm not great at math but that means the any matched pair of pistols thirty years ago was not a pair of mustangs. Thus, even if that tragedy wouold have a bearing on whether the firearm involved was good not, it wouldn't be relevant to a discussion of the mustang.