Need help on Colt .380

[xxxx]

[Mac Attack]

I have owned a herd of mustangs over the years and will try to answer your question, if someone with more knowledge has more info please chim in.

Colt Gov. In .380 is basically a full sized gun that shoots .380, but more compact. It is smaller than a commander but bigger than a mustang. It has the same controls as a standard 1911 I.e. grip safety, thumb safety that locks the slide, barrel link...

All mustangs offer similar controls to a 1911 but do not have a grip safety and the thumb safety does not lock the slide. Also, stangs do not have barrel links like the 1911.

Standard stang is the Colt Mustang. It holds 6 rounds is all steel and is a joy to shoot and carry.

Colt stang plus II uses the same slide as a standard stang but has the frame of a governent .380. It. allow for an additional 2 rounds for a total capacirty of 8 rounds hence the "plus II" designation. If memory serves me correctly, my plus 2 also was marked "Mark IV". I'll have to look at pictures. Also, this is not a pocket carry sized gun due to the frame.

Basically anything marked "pocketlite" means it is made of lighter material I.e. aluminum. That's all the pocketlite name means.

Mustangs are nice shooting handguns that are easy to carry and conceal. For me, I don't like anything over the weight of a keltec p32 in my pocket so I didn't carry my stangs much. I figured if I had to strap on a holster to carry one I might as well carry something with more umph to it which to me was a full sized 1911.

Hope this helps.

[redcliff]

Not quite right but close
The Government .380's do not have a grip safety. They have a barrel bushing and normal recoil spring set-up.

The Mustang is half an inch shorter on the slide than a Government, 2.75" barrel vs 3.25" on Gov, uses no barrel bushing, has a full length guide rod and dual recoil springs. It also has a shorter grip, holding one less round than a Gov.

The Mustang II is a Mustang slide on a Gov frame.

[Quiet]

I use to own a Colt Mustang, even with it's faults (got it NIB, fired 4 rounds and then it broke, sent it back to Colt, worked flawlessly after that), it was the best .380ACP handgun I ever owned.
Ended up selling it to help pay the bills while in college.

[Brooke]

Good choice. I have the Mk IV and recommend it highly. I like my mini 9 (Para Carry 9), but despite similar specs the Colt is definitely smaller in the hand. Love the 1911 style. :-)

From my *small* experience, I think the versions are the Government Mk IV (goes under either, or both, names), Plus II and Pocket Lite versions of each. Don't know how light the Pocket Lites are, but my SS Mk IV isn't heavy ...

[xxxx]

So the Mustang/Mustang Pocketlite is the smallest .380 Colt? What would be preferable - the normal one or the Pocketlite version, the only difference is the metal it is made out of?

[ojisan]

Pocketlite has an aluminum frame, is much lighter (14oz IIRC) and much preferred for carry in a...pocket!

[xxxx]

Pocketlite has an aluminum frame, is much lighter (14oz IIRC) and much preferred for carry in a...pocket!

I read they had plastic parts in them, is this true?

[ojisan]

I read they had plastic parts in them, is this true?

True, the Recoil spring guide and trigger are plastic. All other parts (except the grips) are metal.
Cylinder and Slide has metal replacement ones IIRC.
I was going to change these to the C&S metal parts but mine works fine as is so I will get to it someday.

Fear not, lots of pistol parts are made of plastic, including almost the whole gun (Glock, etc).

[saki302]

Sad to say, but the plastic parts will probably outlast the metal ones- I have a pocketlite in .380 and it shoots great- I was going to swap out the parts, but decided not to after it worked well for so long.

It's one of the lightest kicking pocket guns in .380 you can buy- and small, light, manual safety and good trigger- what more can you ask?

-Dave

[xxxx]

Sad to say, but the plastic parts will probably outlast the metal ones- I have a pocketlite in .380 and it shoots great- I was going to swap out the parts, but decided not to after it worked well for so long.

It's one of the lightest kicking pocket guns in .380 you can buy- and small, light, manual safety and good trigger- what more can you ask?

-Dave

Yeah - I shot one before, great gun - I have my eye on one I am going to look at it today for $450, Mustang - I don't know if it is a Pocketliht or not. I always prefer the feel of metal over plastic on a 1911 style weapon. I even considered putting the metal trigger on my Glock.