Colt Mustang Pocketlite?

Armored farmer

Armored farmer

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South Eastern Illinois
Sometimes you just want a pocket gun.
Im ready to upgrade from my LCP.
I almost bought a Mustang on Gunbroker, but it was expensive and I have never handled one much less fired one.
The size is right. The 1911 style platform is right....
Which micro 1911 .380 do you choose?
Colt
Sig
Kimber
?
 
Colt would be my choice— if you can find one.
The RIA Baby Rock in .380 is a very cost effective version, but I’ve never even held one.
 
I have a standard Colt Government .380, which the Mustang is based on. A few things...

The SIG (I'm assuming you are talking the SIG P238...) is an improvement on the Colt... I don't know what the finer points are, but I think SIG addressed some of the weaknesses of the Colt pistol.

The Colt is a bit of a rarity, so you will pay for that prancing pony. One of the reasons I quit carrying my Colt .380 was potential loss of, what was then, a nearly irreplaceable pistol. For reasons I won't mention, I made a good choice.

In my mind, the Colt has some issues. The very weak thumb safety detent, for one. Carrying it cocked-and-locked, I would find the safety knocked off once in a while when I got home at the end of the day. Not cool. My Colt is a typical 1980's era Colt, which means it's assembly was very sloppy, even the address rollmark is crooked. I would certainly want to handle and examine the one I would buy before I plunked down me money.
 
I owned the original 1990s Colt Pony Pocket Lite in 380. Strong recoil, slide bite. Not very accurate. Soft matte aluminum frame that scratched easily.

Buy the Springfield 911 in .380. Night sights, ambi safeties, little recoil, better trigger than the Colt. More purchase on the grip than the Colt. Fully polished stainless slide. You will not regret buying the Springfield, my favorite carry pistol.
 
SterlingBullet said:
I owned the original 1990s Colt Pony Pocket Lite in 380. Strong recoil, slide bite. Not very accurate. Soft matte aluminum frame that scratched easily.

Buy the Springfield 911 in .380. Night sights, ambi safeties, little recoil, better trigger than the Colt. More purchase on the grip than the Colt. Fully polished stainless slide. You will not regret buying the Springfield, my favorite carry pistol.
Click to expand...
I am quickly becoming a Springfield fan.
 
I would look at the more modern versions such as the Sig P238, Springfield 911, etc. I have shot the P238 and never had any issues with them. I currently have the 9mm P938 and again it has been reliable.

I have not seen the RIA Baby Rock in person. From what I could find online is that the Baby Rock is basically an updated Llama IIIA and will be smaller than the Browning 1911-380.

The Colt 380's along with the Kimber, Sig, and Springfield micro 380's are all based on the old Star Model D 380 pistols.
 
I own the Kimber Micro and the Sig P238. The six round mags are interchangeable; the 7rd mags are interchangeable with slight modification to the polymer base. The Sig accepts Kimber and Colt Mustang 6 & 7 rd mags without any minor adjusts the 7rd pinky grip.

Both shot like about any 380 firearm in a short barrel. I prefer the Sig as the particular model (Spartan), is steel framed and has a tad less felt recoil. Both are fine firearms. I ccw the Sig Spartan frequently. Note that the various sub models vary in features eg, the grips, sights, weights, etc.
 
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The SIG P-238 would be my choice (it's actually the wife's pistol, but it's probably the best .380 I've ever used).

I have previously owned two Colt Mustangs. The sights are pretty pitiful and the triggers not that great. While our P-238 comes with nice factory night sights, high enough to be just right, and the trigger is actually very good.

No experience with the Kimber micro-pistols, but they look nice....
 
Had a Government Model .380, and really liked it. Suspect a previous owner tried to compensate for a flinch, by shortening the front sight.
Does memory serve that Colt jobbed those out to someone else?
Really hate to carry a nice, older gun. Thinking that way, the SIG or Springer makes sense.
Just not a fan of pocket cocked and locked.
Moon
 
Have you checked out the LCP max? They are still $220 at grabagun for the stainless model. They are a nice upgrade in the grip and sights from the original. I picked one up two weeks ago and really enjoy it.
 
SterlingBullet said:
I owned the original 1990s Colt Pony Pocket Lite in 380. Strong recoil, slide bite. Not very accurate. Soft matte aluminum frame that scratched easily.

Buy the Springfield 911 in .380. Night sights, ambi safeties, little recoil, better trigger than the Colt. More purchase on the grip than the Colt. Fully polished stainless slide. You will not regret buying the Springfield, my favorite carry pistol.
Click to expand...
Wow I feel old. I remember when the Pony came out to replace the Mustangs and it was not a great gun. I had several of the original Mustangs and they were fantastic. I’ve never handled the more recent versions.
 
halfmoonclip said:
Had a Government Model .380, and really liked it. Suspect a previous owner tried to compensate for a flinch, by shortening the front sight.
Click to expand...

Uhhh... there's not that much front sight to shorten... like, a nub.

My .380 Gov't with it's replacement... a Kahr CW9...

BgxAdTYl.jpg
 
Charlie98 said:
Uhhh... there's not that much front sight to shorten... like, a nub.

My .380 Gov't with it's replacement... a Kahr CW9...

BgxAdTYl.jpg
Click to expand...
Charlie, that is about what mine looked like; maybe I'm making a false accusation. I was disappointed with it; it was a handsome little gun.
Moon
 
I’ve been carrying a Colt Mustang on and off since 1985 or so. I still have it but it has been given a much desired retirement.

I have a recent production Mustang as well as a Kimber Micro. The Micro gets most of my service today.

I like shooting the Mustang or Micro versus a 380 ACP Walther PPK. The difference between a lock breech action versus a blow back action.

I have a very early production model of the Sig P238. Sig went through some teething problems with the gun which has been pretty much resolved. It was an experience that soured me on Sig guns.
 
halfmoonclip said:
Charlie, that is about what mine looked like; maybe I'm making a false accusation.
Click to expand...

No, I don't think so... but you would think they would put a little more front sight on there. I actually debated sending mine to Cylinder and Slide to have the sights gussied up, and a general workover, but the cost... and the time delay... nixed that idea. It's a great pistol... but it's not that great.
 
Charlie98 said:
No, I don't think so... but you would think they would put a little more front sight on there. I actually debated sending mine to Cylinder and Slide to have the sights gussied up, and a general workover, but the cost... and the time delay... nixed that idea. It's a great pistol... but it's not that great.
Click to expand...
The darn thing actually grouped pretty well, but the sights were darn near GI size, and it is a compact gun.
I've kept an eye open for a stainless Mustang, but haven't seen any lately.
Are they still in Colt's lineup, and does (did) Colt actually make them?
Moon
 
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