Colt Gov't model 380 values..

[CNobbe]

Hey gang, stopped by a gun shop near the mall while the wife was shopping and someone had traded in 4 Colt Gov't model Series 70 380 pistols..

2 standard blued Gov't 380s, one Pocketlite, and one nickel finished gov. model with correct rubber grips. All have boxes and papers, all are near mint, and I honestly have no idea what a fair price is on one.

I really liked the standard gov't 380, the pocketlite was a tad too light...lol

They're asking $999 for each of them, I seem to recall seeing a few new Mustangs in the upper $600 price, but actually finding one..

Neat gun, I now see where my P238's design came from. Love them both!

 

[bannockburn]

Those prices are pretty much the upper end for Colt Government .380's. Granted they are LNIB but for that kind of money it makes them more of a collectors piece rather than something I would want to use for concealed carry on a regular basis.

That's kind of why I put my Colt Mustang away and bought a SIG P-238.

 

[CNobbe]

Thats kind of what I figured.. I have a P238 Extreme at the moment, and a 238 "Pearl" on the way. If I ever do see a Colt Mustang (new) I'd probably jump on it as well. These looked like collector grade guns vs shooter grade, but thought I'd ask as I don't want to miss the bargain of the century when it becomes available.

 

[barneyrw]

Beware of the blued ones, I don't remember exactly what part it is, but I remember reading they have a part that is too soft and it wears out quickly, and Colt had no repair for it. I had one of the govt. model .380's in blue that I bought used but it looked like new. It machine gunned when I shot it. I bought a new hammer and sear and that solved the problem, but I don't know for how long, as I sold it shortly there after. But I think that was a different problem than the soft part. The stainless steel and lite versions are fine and don't have any inherent problems.

 

[bannockburn]

barneyrw

I never heard anything about a part being too soft but there was a problem years ago where the sear spring could come loose and possibly cause an AD. Colt's fix was to send out a sear spring clip which kept the spring in place. It was an easy to install fix that you could do it yourself.

There were also reports of some slides starting to peen where the slide stop engaged the slot but I don't remember seeing any recall by Colt on that problem.

 

[Peter M. Eick]

Its the slide and barrel that were soft.




There are no parts to fix this. If your parts are soft you will just beat them up and you are done. Colt has no spares and will not fix this (last time I asked about it).

I solved my problem by buying a complete top end off another user. I am now slowly beating my gun to just and will just scrap the top end when it won't work anymore.

Good luck.

 

[smkummer]

Colts retail is $599 on the new Mustang

I would wait in line to buy the new improved .380 at retail before I took my chances with the original gun. Colt used to make a big deal in its catalogs about forged frames over others investment cast. The original Govt. 380 (all were series 80) were never cataloged as a forged frame.

 

[Peter M. Eick]

Notice that my frame is fine. It is not the problem.

It is the Cast slide and Soft barrel that are the problem.

I am not sure how a new forged frame is going to help me much when that is not the issue?

 

[smkummer]

Colt currently advertizes an improved Mustang and one hopes the issues such as what you have noted have been addressed.

 

[Peter M. Eick]

Only time will tell.