My Latest Acquisition--Colt Government 380 Series 80

[CapnMac]

Could not be happier with this one.
Also, proof positive that the THR Trading Post has some outstanding folk

Very sweet deal, too

Magazines

Pairs well with my Series 70

 

[Mark_Mark]

How are these different from the Mustang?

 

[Jeff olson]

7 rds vs 5

 

[Snowdog]

The Mustang has long been on my bucket list but I stumbled upon the Gov't model first. The only real difference between a Mustang and Gov't model is a half-inch barrel (2.75" Mustang vs 3.25" for the Government) and an extra round (6+1 for the Mustang and 7+1 for the Gov't). It was on the bucket list along with either a S&W M36 or M60 and a Colt 1903... fortunately I managed to find them all.

I may purchase a Mustang if I come across one for a good price, but this little .380acp has quenched my thirst for the model for the time. Now I need to pick up additional mags for it.

 

[Jeff olson]

All mustangs held 5 rds. You want 7 you got a mustang plus.

 

[Mark_Mark]

All mustangs held 5 rds. You want 7 you got a mustang plus.

they got one at my local honey hole for $550, 3mags, mag holder, & holster. will take photos Tuesday or so

Plus II model

 

[NIGHTLORD40K]

How are these different from the Mustang?

In addition to the shorter grip and barrel, the Mustang uses a full-length guide rod (usually plastic) and no barrel bushing. The Govt .380 has a plunger and bushing just like a full-size 1911.

 

[Snowdog]

All mustangs held 5 rds. You want 7 you got a mustang plus.

Some of the very first Mustang magazines held 5 rounds, however, the follower was redesigned early on, increasing the capacity to the 6 rounds it is today (which is why all Mustang mags sold now are of the 6-round variety).
I have seen many Mustangs with 6-round magazines whereas I haven't seen one sporting a 5-round mag, though I know they're out there (just far less common). Still on my bucket list.

 

[Old Dog]

Sweet pistols. Still kicking myself for selling my Gov't off back in the late '90s. What was I thinking? @Snowdog, that's all you need. My favorite SA .380 besides the SIG P-238.

 

[Tallball]

Great pick up! I like mine a LOT. The recoil is nothing and it's really fun to shoot. My daughter "graduated" to the Government Model when she was nine or something and the 1903 and 32 revolvers were getting too tame for her.

(Yeah, I have a Model 36 also; great minds think alike?)

Colt Government 380

• Tallball
• Jan 23, 2018

 

[12Bravo20]

I like the Colt Mustang and Government models. But then again I also like the Star Model D that these are based off of. The Mustang is closer to the original Star Model D then the Government Model is.

 

[Armybrat]

Mine is a keeper - bought it new in 1987.

 

[Jeff olson]

This is a 5 rd Mustang. The 356th one made. Pre series 80.

 

[CapnMac]

How are these different from the Mustang?

See above. Basically the grip is 3/4 of a finger longer, as is the slide.

Very sweet triggers on these as a general rule. I need to get my pull gauge out to see if there's any difference between this new one and my old one.
The Series 70 is what I used to pass the TX CHL Instructor's course, back in the day (about the easiest 96 I ever shot, too).

While I don't generally "duplicate" as a rule, this was too good a deal, and extra mags were a bonus--even though I have plenty of suitable mags. And a nice prepurchased group of gunleather

 

[NIGHTLORD40K]

This is a 5 rd Mustang. The 356th one made. Pre series 80.View attachment 1166726

 

[Charlie98]

Just FYI, someone was offering a SS trigger replacement kit... to get rid of the plastic trigger. I have one, I just haven't installed it, yet.

I have the same basic pistol... unfortunately, mine is a typical late '80's, early '90's Colt example... meaning the SN is rolled crooked, and the slide fairly rattles on the frame... but it's a good shooter, and fun to shoot. I carried it for some years, until I replaced it with a Kahr.

Dwarfed by the Kimber... but holds it's head high nonetheless!

...and the Colt meeting it's replacement. For the same basic size and weight, I get 9mm power vs .380 power. The Colt still serves, however, as my brother's carry piece on the boat.

 

[MutinousDoug]

All mustangs held 5 rds. You want 7 you got a mustang plus.

The two magazines that came with the Mustang Pocketlite I've owned since 1992 carry 6 rounds each.

 

[Jeff olson]

The two magazines that came with the Mustang Pocketlite I've owned since 1992 carry 6 rounds each.

Correct. But I'm not talking about the pocket lite or the plus or the series 80. All mustangs, of which there were 1000 produced, have 5 rd magazines.

 

[Armybrat]

Just FYI, someone was offering a SS trigger replacement kit... to get rid of the plastic trigger. I have one, I just haven't installed it, yet.

I have the same basic pistol... unfortunately, mine is a typical late '80's, early '90's Colt example... meaning the SN is rolled crooked, and the slide fairly rattles on the frame... but it's a good shooter, and fun to shoot. I carried it for some years, until I replaced it with a Kahr.

Dwarfed by the Kimber... but holds it's head high nonetheless!

...and the Colt meeting it's replacement. For the same basic size and weight, I get 9mm power vs .380 power. The Colt still serves, however, as my brother's carry piece on the boat.

Coincidentally, I just bought this new S9 Kahr a couple of months ago.
Nice quality single stack….

 

[CapnMac]

meaning the SN is rolled crooked, and the slide fairly rattles on the frame.

The Series 80 is deeper at one end than the other, but reasonably even to the frame. Slide fit is good on both of mine. Lack of rattles and butter-soft trigger were why the Series 70 was an EDC until I got the SIG 365X (which are nearly the same size, one to the other.:

 

[Charlie98]

The one thing that really bothered me about the .380 Gov't... was the thumb safety. Carrying it cocked and locked, I would get home some days and find the thumb safety knocked off... because the detent was so weak. With no grip safety... there was nothing else stopping the trigger... That was one of the reasons I decided to change carry pistols, and retire the Colt.

 

[Armybrat]

That’s why I never carried my little Colt.
But have no problems carrying my Kahr 9mm (this is my 3rd one) with a Remora holster in my jacket pocket. That long DA trigger pull isn’t going off covered in one of those. Same for the Ruger LCP & LCP Max.
Incidentally, I replaced the bulky plastic base plate on one of the Kahr 9mm mags with the available 2 piece metal one, just to make it a bit more compact.

 

[12Bravo20]

The one thing that really bothered me about the .380 Gov't... was the thumb safety. Carrying it cocked and locked, I would get home some days and find the thumb safety knocked off... because the detent was so weak. With no grip safety... there was nothing else stopping the trigger... That was one of the reasons I decided to change carry pistols, and retire the Colt.

I have had the same thing occasionally happen with my Sig P938 too. But as long as the pistol is in good working condition and you are using a good holster, then there shouldn't be any problems with an accidental discharge.

In the end, go with what you are comfortable with carrying.

 

[Charlie98]

In the end, go with what you are comfortable with carrying.

I started carrying it hammer down on a loaded chamber... (Series 80 lockwork, so it's OK.) Doing draw and shoot drills, I realized that was not a good solution for The Moment of Truth... and set about finding a replacement. As you say... I was not comfortable carrying it with the weak safety. It's likely I could have done something with it... made the detent cavity larger on the safety for a more positive lock, or a new/stronger spring for the detent ball... but at the end of the day, 9mm beats the .380 in blind taste tests, so I went that direction.

 

[12Bravo20]

@Charlie98 I don't blame you for your choice. The safety moving is such a rare occurrence with my 9mm Sig 938 that I don't worry much about it. I haven't handled a Star Model D or Colt copy in so long that I don't remember how the safeties are on those. The safety on my Sig 938 is not as stiff as the safeties on my Star Firestar M40 or M43.