colt goverment MK IV 380

[Graymutt]

Hey I need some help, I am trying to help a friend of mine get a reliable gun for her to have. First Money is a issue for her so getting another gun is not a option the gun was given to her by her father. The gun was jamming and having a big issue with doing anything. After some basic cleaning, the gun is shooting when you pull the trigger. Here is the issue the gun locks to the rear ever sencond or third shot. I did a basic tear down, just a field strip (I know little about this gun) I beleive that the gun is missing a slide stop spring, the slide stop just bounces up and down like it is to loose. At first I thought the slide stop was just worn out but after looking at some stuff on the internet this is the best idea I can come up with. Any suggestions or ideas would be appreciated.

here is a break down what I think is missing is number 34 on the diagram but I have very little to go on. http://www.coltparts.com/pt_380semiauto.html

 

[Tomcat47]

I would replace that part number 34...give it a good check and if you still have trouble try some different ammo, those Mustangs were great little guns but some were ammo finicky!

If you still have issues I would most likely take it to a gunsmith!

Given her money situation.. she could possibly trade it for a new Bersa .380 or even better! That little guy will have some value! (provided there is no sentimental value, but I assume there is!)

That is a good gun! You should be able to iron out the problems, and I would lay $$$ that you have found the problem already!

I presume when it locks to the rear it is the slide lock that is catching it on recoil???....and when you release it...it will go a few more rounds and repeat.

Once you get the spring replaced try running about 100 or so rounds of differ types of ammo through it to find a dependable choice.

PS... POST A PICTURE of it...we all like to look at a Mustang .380...or I do anyway.

 

[Graymutt]

Thanks, yes the slide catch is what is holding the slide back. the ammo doesnt seem to be the issue. I ran four different types through it on sunday morning. I dont think it has a spring installed at all I can't find it. I have been scouring the net looking for a pic that would show more information. the only reason that i know about the spring is that I did a lot of reading, and what I do know about guns tells me that something should be there.

The first cleaning that I did on it did wonders. It went from feeling wrong, to feeling like a great little gun. To be honest if she would sell it, I would buy it from her for a bursa and a some cash. I shot it a pretty good bit on sunday, and even with the issues, I was nailing the target at 10, and 20 yard roughly. A friend of mind just bought a wather 380, I was easily shooting as well as if not better than him.

I will post some pics, as soon as I figure out how to do it, I still havent found out how to that yet.

 

[HisSoldier]

Yeah, that little spring doesn't have much holding it in and many people have found their Colt .380 don't work right after losing it. I had one flip out when I took one of mine apart and was breathing very hard with anxiety before I found it.
A machinist tracks a lot of stuff into the house on his shoes that look like gun parts until you look hard at them!

The same spring on a PPK is similar, not much securing them.