Your Advice on Mustang & Government Colts

[Dr.Who]

Just wanted to get your thoughts on the .380 Colt Mustang and Government models. Ran across some today, got a chance to hold them, but as yet, have not fired one. Few questions concerning the guns. I looked at the following Blued models:

Mustang series 80 blued .380 all steel

Mustang series 80 blued .380 pocketlite

Government series 80 blued .380 all steel

Government series 80 blued .380 pocketlite

First I have big hands so the government feels the best, however the mustang is better to conceal. Those of you that have them tell me about your experiances.

How is the durability of the Pocketlite over the all steel model? I do plan to shoot it in back-up gun events. Peculiar wear issues? It is amazing the weight differences.

How is the recoil of the pocketlite over the all steel?

What does the pocketlite recoil compare to? G17? 1911 9mm? 38 revolver?

Which ones are more desirable than the others?

What is a good price for a NIB one(s), in stock since 1994? $420-$450 Good?

Thanks for your input...

 

[Ala Dan]

Hello-

We have a Colt Government .380 ACP (all steel series 80)
in the showcase in about 90% condition for $319.88. So,
one NIB for close to $420 wouldn't be a bad price at all.

Best Wishes,
Ala Dan, N.R.A. Life Member

 

[Dr.Who]

Thanks Ala Dan,

Do those all steel models hang around longer than the pocketlites or the other way around? or don't you see any used pocketlites?

 

[MICHAEL T]

I have a all steel Mustang and it carries fine in pocket or IWB. In fact I've been carrying my Mustang last couple days, instead of my PPK/s. Don't worry about recoil, They are not a blowback and are very soft on recoil. Only thing I changed on mine was the Mag spring and went to a single recoil spring Wollf has complete spring packages.

 

[carebear]

As was said, recoil is surprisingly gentle.

I carry my Mustang pocketlite a lot, it disappears in a pocket weight and size wise.

Mine's reliable but i can't attest to high round count durability.

 

[Dr.Who]

Thanks for those that responded... Any others?

 

[Ala Dan]

Greeting's Dr. Who

Since I have been associated with my favorite gunshop, I have
not seen any of the Colt Pocketlite's coming in on trade? I
guess their owners are keeping them as heirloom's; hoping
for a major jump in their investment.

Best Wishes,
Ala Dan, N.R.A. Life Member

 

[Peter M. Eick]

My gov 380 has been very nice. Recoil is extremely mild, and easy to teach how to shoot. I have shot mine a fair amount, maybe 3000 rnds or so.

Problems I have heard/seen/experienced:
1) sometimes the slide stop falls out when racking the gun if you cant it the wrong way. Never happened to me, but have seen it happen to others.
2) Slide stop breaks. Never seen it, but heard of it.
3) Slide peens up where the slide stop mates to the slide after use due to soft slides. Seen it, but not on mine.
4) Lugs of the barrel peen up and eventually jam the gun completely. Happened to a mod over on the firing line forum. Use the search function and you can find some long posts on the problem and how they had to beat apart the gun to get it open. The same problem is happening to mine right now. I expect that eventually I will have to scrap the gun because of this problem. The barrel to slide fit is very thin and the steel is to soft on the barrel. Over time the lugs have peened up. The lip is not causing much of a problem right now, but eventually it will jam the gun up.

Oh well, I hope Colt starts making them again. Right now I am slowly fishing for another gov 380 to replace mine when it "dies".

By the way, I took it to a smith, he looked at it and said the slide stop hole was to low in the frame. He also said if I could get an oversized barrel made, it could be fit and the problem would go away since my slide is not soft and the peening is on the barrel only. The problem is that the custom barrel is nearly the costs of a used Gov 380. So, I am going just to buy another and save this one for parts.


I bet that is probably more information on problems then you care to know right now.

 

[Dr.Who]

Peter,

Thanks for the reply. Is yours a Pocketlite or all steel model?

 

[Peter M. Eick]

All steel. Very nicely made to.

Colt made a few basic mistakes on the gov 380 in my opinion, but I sure wish they made them again.

First they did not make enough to get into the accessory market. Oversized parts to fit it up nice and tight for accuracy would have been a blast.

Second, they made the trigger different then the 1911 and used plastic. Bad mistake in my opinion.

Third, they did not make them tight enough. They could have been very accurate if they were a bit better.

Fourth, they did not make them right so you have guns like mine that the barrel is to low for the slide.

What I like about them is this:

First Locked breach. This nocks the recoil down to 22lr levels in my opinion. Great for a 380auto.

Second, perfect size for the round! Enough said.

Third, good finish, polish, blueing, and operation. If only my H&K had blueing this good!

Fourth, the breakdown and operation is just like a 1911!


What Colt had was nearly a perfect match for the US market. It was a 1911 that was really easily concealable by normal folks. We all like 1911's, but there are times that even an officers model is just to dang big. I admit the 380 is not my first choice, but "have gun" I subscribe to.


How should Colt (or someone else) proceed? Make a scaled down to 9mm/380 auto sized locked breach 1911 duplicate. Everything just like the full size. Make an aftermarket upgrade part set just like the 1911. Get some grip makers and sight makers to offer different sights etc. Think about it, you are carving out your own unique niche to market guns, Pocketable 1911's.



Oh well, enough of the wishing.....

 

[Dr.Who]

Peter, Thanks Again...