SHOT Day 3 - Colt

[TexasRifleman]

Lots to see at the Colt and Colt Defense booth, but not a lot new.

This rifle did catch my eye, at the Colt Defense booth. The rep was demoing it for me and asked if I wanted to take a photo. I politely declined saying I didn't bother with things that wouldn't be sold to us "normal" people, but he assures me this one will be.

Right now the LE901 is sold in 7.62x51 and 5.56 but I was told they have plans for .243 and 6.8 modules as well. I guess we will see.

Interesting concept.

 

[TexasRifleman]

Initial set of modules. Also in black. No real pricing or availability info yet.

 

[TexasRifleman]

Look what I found at the Colt Defense booth

 

[FIVETWOSEVEN]

What about their handguns?

 

[LCPor9mm]

Mustang

So is that a "new" Mustang or an old one?

 

[Mcoupe]

New. They will make new ones! Yay!

 

[george30]

They're a little late in finding their way back to the 380 party. I think the trend is moving towards small 9mm. Especially with the new LC9.

 

[Bubba613]

There was a reason they stopped making the gun to begin with.

 

[rambler]

what was the reason they stopped making this gun?

i saw a used one recently at local gunshow and i was very interested in it - but $880 used was a little rich for me.

why did they stop making it?

 

[Girodin]

why did they stop making it?

I can't say exactly but I think it was a gun before its time. The shall issue revolution had not taken place and there was not the same market for small .380s back then.

I wish they could bring back the pocket nine.

There is still a huge difference in size between the LC9 and the mustang and other 380s. Whats of MUCH more interest to me than the LC9 is the CM9 from kahr.

 

[rambler]

so it wasn't a quality issue?

thanks, i was hoping it wasn't an issue of quality...

i'd really like to own one of these if price would come down.

 

[bpl]

Is the LE901 in 308 a proprietary system or is it compatible with other 308 AR pattern rifles on the market with regard to switching upper, mags and parts?

 

[Bubba613]

why did they stop making it?

In addition to the fact that not many people had carry permits, the guns were heavy and expensive and didn't always work terribly well.
I never saw the appeal of them. Take the pony off the side, make it in Turkey or Croatia, and I think most people would be turning their noses up at it.

 

[Shear_stress]

In addition to the fact that not many people had carry permits, the guns were heavy and expensive and didn't always work terribly well.
I never saw the appeal of them. Take the pony off the side, make it in Turkey or Croatia, and I think most people would be turning their noses up at it.

You are right that there were some problems with the Mustangs, as there have been for the Sig P238 copy. The original Mustang was a fairly cheaply made gun, but it was a terrific idea at the wrong time.

As for demand for similiar, but not "brand-name", guns, see how much the Spanish-designed, U.S.-made FI Model Ds are going for. Lots of folks want a 1911-style .380 for concealed carry.

 

[barnett]

I've had my Mustang pocketlite since 1990...100% reliable and accurate to boot, when you get used to the trigger.

 

[Slamfire]

I remember the first and last time Colt brought a display to Camp Perry. Nice long display of AR's.

All with 1:9 twist barrels. If you don't know, 1:9 shoots 69 grain bullets well, but at 600 yards, 69 grains float in the wind. At that time you needed 1:8 to shoot the 80's at 600 yards to be competitive.

So I asked the Executive behind the table why they did not offer 1:8 twist barrels.

Executive proceeded to tell me that they were selling a quarter million AR's a year, that was good enough for them, and made every effort in gesture/expression/tone to make me feel stupid for asking such a question.

Bugger was an arrogant git.

He was also stupider than a hammer to bring a bunch of rifles 500 miles to an event that with one of his rifles, no shooter could have an expectation of shooting a good score.

So, now all Colt has to offer are variants of the AR15 with spray paint. No revolvers, and a 380 auto.

So who are they going to sue to profitability now?

 

[Bubba613]

So who are they going to sue to profitability now?

Bingo. Years of living of gov't largesse have largely ruined that company, which is a parody of its former self. I don't think there's a single product they make that isn't better made by someone else.

 

[cwl1862]

Colt should have brought back the Colt Pony. Now thats one I'd buy! Just not comfortable with a single action pistol in my pocket....

 

[TechBrute]

Is the LE901 in 308 a proprietary system or is it compatible with other 308 AR pattern rifles on the market with regard to switching upper, mags and parts?

The Colt rep said that the uppers were standard spec, not proprietary.

 

[bpl]

The Colt rep said that the uppers were standard spec, not proprietary.

Yeh, but unlike AR-15's there isn't a standard spec for "AR-10 type" 308 AR's. Whose pattern are they compatible with? Armalite, Rock River, DPMS? They are all different.

 

[Trad Archer]

I wish they would come out with another blackpowder line. How about the new frontier and/or peacemaker 22? Why they don't make those anymore, I don't understand.