Colt Mustang

[ojisan]

No offense taken! : ) I take all my guns all the way apart and actually put them back together, too! PPK is a nice pistol indeed. But the German designs in particular are chock full of numerous levers, springs and pins so a PPK is perhaps not the best example of a simple gun inside! Yes there were metal upgrade parts available for the Colt 380s, triggers being one.
Colt stopped sales on this and many other rmodels when they stopped all civilian sales back when the big gun manufacturer lawsuits were going on.

[Waingro]

Well I really don't have a chance to shoot one before I buy it - but I found one in great condition - is there somewhere I can look up the serial number?

I assume this is a very reliable gun that is very well made.

[Mac Attack]

I had three Mustangs at one time - Mustang, Mustang Pocketlite and Mustang Plus II. All were 100% reliable, easy to shoot even with hot .380 rounds, fairly accurate for their size and easy to conceal. Although they were marketed as pocket pistols, I think in today's world they are too heavy for comfortable pocket carry. I did on occasion drop my 'Stang and Pocketlite into my pocket but I felt like I was carrying a pocketful of change.
When I carried my 'Stangs I used a OWB holster. I came to a personal decision that if I was going to bother putting on a belt holster I might as well carry something with a lot more umph over a .380. I ended up selling them all to fund another project. Here is the only picture I have of any of my Mustang herd - it's a Colt Mustang Plus II which I sold for $550.

[tonelar]

Colt 380s can rack slide w/ safety on a nice upgrade to the basic 1911 design.

Actually, with the hammer up, the safety locks the slide, via the hammer.

Now I just heard there are two versions Colt Mustang Plus II and Colt Mustang Pocketlite -

There were originally two sizes Govt and Mustang. Mustang Plus 2 came out using the Mustang length Slide Assy with the Govt sized frame.

All three incarnations of the 380 Colt were available in steel framed or alloy framed "Pocketlite" versions. Including Stainless versions, you're talking about twelve different models.

Then Colt came out with a DA model and I lost all interest.

MacAttack, was your plus 2 a Pocketlite? You know, I can't remember if mine said Plus II on the right hand part of it's slide... I always thought it had the number 2, as opposed ot the Roman numerals... but my memory isn't so hot and i was the first to be traded off. I got a .380 HK4 for it with a 22LR barrel and mag thrown into sweeten the deal.

[tonelar]

The last of my .380 Colt collection (and my fave).

I remember owning a full size in steel and a Plus 2 stainless Pocketlite... damn me for my gun trading ways.

[Moonclip]

I have a LLAMA(haha) or two built on these lines. My modern Llama micromax .380acp has been great. I may put some leather for the Colt like this on the trader as well as Pachmayr grips for the Gov't .380 and a factory hard case .

[JTROKS]

Tonelar,
How can you trade a Stang? Blasphemy! With the little pocket gun costing almost the price of a full size Colt it's not easy to sway offers. I took this picture of the Colt family that lives in the safe to remind me not to break them apart.


The only thing I hate about the Colt Mustang are the plastic parts. There is someone selling steel or aluminum replacement parts. When I bought mine there was also a Gov't size one and at that time was an avid IPSC shooter. The thought of installing a comp, bells and whistles, plus checkering ran across my mind.

[Mac Attack]

MacAttack, was your plus 2 a Pocketlite? You know, I can't remember if mine said Plus II on the right hand part of it's slide... I always thought it had the number 2, as opposed ot the Roman numerals... but my memory isn't so hot and i was the first to be traded off.

The Mustang Plus II in my picture was a steel frame and not a pocketlite. AFAIK the Plus II did not come in a Pocketlite version.

I also forgot that I used to own a Government .380 which was a fine handgun and was easier to shoot than all of the other Mustangs. However, like the Plus II it was larger than it's brothers. The Plus II basically used the government frame matched to a standard Mustang slide. It was too large for pocket carry.

Another member mentioned something about taking apart a Stang. Do not strip it down more than a standard field strip - frame, slide and barrel. I was bored one time and decided to take one of my Stangs completely apart. BOY WHAT A MESS I MADE! It took me an hour or more to get the darn thing back together. I was sweating bullets and actually nearly resolved myself to take it to a gunsmith for them to put all the parts back together. Honestly, I do not see the need to take it beyond a standard field strip.

[Waingro]

How can you tell if it is stainless, aluminum, or just plain old steel (or what every alloy they use)?

The one I am looking at is black.

[U2BassAce]

BTW good luck at $600. More like $900 if you can find one.

[IGOTDIRT4U]

Tonelar,
How can you trade a Stang? Blasphemy! With the little pocket gun costing almost the price of a full size Colt it's not easy to sway offers. I took this picture of the Colt family that lives in the safe to remind me not to break them apart.


The only thing I hate about the Colt Mustang are the plastic parts. There is someone selling steel or aluminum replacement parts. When I bought mine there was also a Gov't size one and at that time was an avid IPSC shooter. The thought of installing a comp, bells and whistles, plus checkering ran across my mind.

I'll try to find a pic of mine, but I had mine customized significantly. I had a 19 deg crown put on the barrel, steel guide rod, steel trigger, new grips, new finish, beveled mag well, new mag ends, ambi safety, cut down for less "snag" and carry melt treatment. It now matches my Kimber Ultra CDP II.

Edit: Found my pic. Kimber on left, Colt on right. Sorry for the quality, took it with cell cam when I picked it up from the "shop". Also, I forgot, I had Novak sites put on it. THAT was a bit tricky, according to the "shop".

[SVRider]

Colt also made a "Pony" standard and pocketlite. These are a DAO version...Haven't shot it in years. Maybe I should take it out to play next time....

[Moonclip]

BTW good luck at $600. More like $900 if you can find one.

I saw one of these Colts in Gunslingers in Glendora today around $625.

[Riodog]

A few Colts-> the bottom is my Mustang Combat. Sights were installed and an action job as the trigger was not good. I shoot hot 380 handloads. It was a must to replace the recoil guide rod with a steel one as the plastic one got 'eaten-up' quickly. Standard magazine fits flush but the higher cap's hang out the butt.
Rio

[tonelar]

I saw some on Gunsamerica ranging from low 700-over 1K. Even spotted pocketlite versions of the Plus 2 in SS as well as a pocketlite Govt.