Colt Govt. 380 parts, or substitute gun for my wife?

[Ergosphere]

Hi everyone,

I have a dilemma. My wife recently got a good deal on a Colt Government Pocketlite .380... a very nice, compact gun. (She loves it.) We tried it at the range yesterday, 50 rounds of WWB and it ran pretty well.

Now comes the difficulty... these guns are out of production, and parts are no longer available. In particular, the funky extractor appears vulnerable to breakage. I called a guy at a gunsmith/parts shop that appeared to have some parts in stock, and he said (1) all their parts had been sold, and (2) these guns are subject to numerous failures and breakage. :banghead: A quick internet search mostly turns up people who are happy with these guns, though I saw one picture of peened barrel lugs.

I suggested that maybe this should be a "safe queen" since if anything goes wrong with it, we probably can't get it fixed.

So... I guess I have two questions. First, does anyone know where I might find some parts for this gun?

Second, in lieu of that, what might I get her to use at the range instead? Preferably something of good quality (all-metal preferred), durable, reliable, and of a similar size. I'm looking at CZ-83, PA-63, or maybe a PPK. These are all blowback designs, locked-breech would be preferred... any suggestions?

Thanks...

 

[green country shooter]

"substitute gun for my wife"

As much as I love my guns, they cannot substitute for my wife.

 

[ants]

I've never had to send my Pocketlite for service, but I read posts on various Colt forums that owners send theirs direct to Colt for service. Apparently the manufacturer still repairs that model. Which means they have their own in-house parts stock, even though they don't distribute them. Like you, I've tried Numrich and all the usual Colt sources. I generally find little or nothing commercially available except springs and magazines.

It would be shameful to keep it as a safe queen. Call Colt and ask for Customer Service. Get it straight from them, one way or the other.

 

[usp9]

Have you tried Colt directly for parts?
This site has some.
http://www.e-gunparts.com/productschem.asp?chrMasterModel=0660zGOVERNMENT 380

Maybe the new Kahr .380 will what your wife is looking for...when it finally arrives.
http://www.kahr.com/PA-1_380_p.html

 

[Marlin 45 carbine]

you won't go wrong w/CZ-83. or Makarov for little more 'whack'. a shooting buddy has a Mustang .380 for years, never a problem at all with it. but he doesn't shoot it much, couple-3 mags a year. actually it's his wife's handgun.

 

[Ergosphere]

Thanks... I will contact Colt tomorrow and see what they say.

 

[Texastbird]

MY wife and I have shot hundreds of rounds through her Mustang with no problems at all. I doubt your wife could ever shoot out her Pocket Lite unless she was very determined. Otherwise, find a cheap CZ82 to practice with. Its a little bigger and easier to shoot. Makes a good purse gun too. It is a little scary about parts down the road for the Colt, though.

 

[MICHAEL T]

Keep it use it carry it. They are great pistols. I have a blue Mustang and looking at a nickle