Review New (2013) Colt Mustang Pocketlite .380

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Review New (2013) Colt Mustang Pocketlite .380

Post by boscoe » January 26th 2013, 5:08pm

Okay, for the rest of the gun nuts here.
Took the tiny Colt .380 Mustang Pocketlite to the range today for the first time and was delighted with the results. About 2-2.5 inch groupings @ 5 yards (easy) and a bit less tight at 15 yards - due to my shitty aim, not the pistol. I had no trouble hitting the target even 20 yards out - but I wasn't close to dead center (LOL). So, for me, it's accurate enough.
Wonderful, repeat, wonderful, trigger pull. Smooth, short and (as gun mavens say) crisp single action. Much, much, much better than the hated Ruger LC or LCP - whatever the hell it was - dual action .380 that should be melted and yanked off the market.
Fired 200 rounds with only one problem - the first bullet had to be hand ejected after a failure to fire. Both the range guru and I figure it was a "new gun" oil issue. It performed flawlyless with little recoil.
I carried it the rest of the day in my left front jeans pocket very comfortably (broken finger on right hand - don't ask). No digs, bumps etc. So light (less than an Invicta SubAquaNoma III - and I am NOT kidding) you almost don't know it's there.
So I'm very satisfied. It compared well in smoothness and accuracy (with me on the trigger) to Mrs. B's new .45 Kimber at short range.
I paid $700 for this (full sticker) at Gander Mountain, less trade on the hated Ruger. I think it was money well spent.
Here is a photo with the Colt and my Citizen titanium and a size comparison to Mrs. B's 9 mm Taurus, which she also took to the range today and shot. I did not fire the Taurus.

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Re: Review New (2013) Colt Mustang Pocketlite .380

Post by Hawk » January 27th 2013, 9:39am

fatman wrote:A old guy I used to know always told me....if you can afford it BUY A COLT! They always hold there value and are excellent weapons. Looks like you found a keeper Boscoe. And for 7 bills not bad for a Colt. Congrats.

By all accounts the Mustang reissue is everything it should be plus a little.

But Colt's civilian division went through some bad times with the nadir probably being the 3rd generation SAA. Sold with caveats against such ill-advised actions as, say, cocking the thing they managed to compromise 150 years of good will. It was the Colt equivalent of the AMF era Harley - made, poorly, from bowling ball parts. But, as Nightcourt Harry's dad was wont to say: "things are much better now".

...now, if they could just get past licensing the name to Umarex for the pot-metal AR-15 .22RF the ghosts could be laid to rest. We've already forgotten the Colt's Cowboy and the UbertiColt Walker. Only USFA heathens, STI infidels and Turnbull heretics will wave the "cowboy" around like a fetish.
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Re: Review New (2013) Colt Mustang Pocketlite .380

Post by eddiea » January 28th 2013, 5:58am

boscoe wrote:
So I'm very satisfied. It compared well in smoothness and accuracy (with me on the trigger) to Mrs. B's new .45 Kimber at short range.

Excellent review , Mrs B have a new .45 Kimber? a 1911 Warrior or Desert Warrior? that a serious piece...recomended is the Kimber's optional Rimfire Target Conversion kit, cool stuff!!
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Re: Review New (2013) Colt Mustang Pocketlite .380

Post by Hawk » January 28th 2013, 6:51am

codguy wrote:Well said Hawk.
Another miserable Colt 1911 mod (imo) is the series 80 fire pin block garbage.
Sole reason I disembarked the Colt train for those that kept the series 70 set-up.

I discovered that an excellent way of starting a tut-tut storm on a firearms forum is to report exactly how one removed the Kimber type II parts - something that I found necessary to get an Ultra CDP to run right due to a rough-as-a-cob Swartz plunger that would hang the slide up about 1/8" from battery. The Eclipse II was not so afflicted but Kimber's attitude on the CDP left a taste in my mouth.

Kind of an STI sort of guy now but I understand that prohibits my migrating to California.

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Re: Review New (2013) Colt Mustang Pocketlite .380

Post by 3Flushes » January 28th 2013, 12:34pm

boscoe wrote: I carried it the rest of the day in my left front jeans pocket very comfortably
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Nice! Would definitely be my choice for IWB if I didn't live in CA where you still have to be blowing a County Sheriff to get a permit.
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Re: Review New (2013) Colt Mustang Pocketlite .380

Post by boscoe » January 28th 2013, 1:50pm

3Flushes wrote:
boscoe wrote: I carried it the rest of the day in my left front jeans pocket very comfortably
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Nice! Would definitely be my choice for IWB if I didn't live in CA where you still have to be blowing a County Sheriff to get a permit.


So this means Turd head can carry, but you can't!!!!
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Re: Review New (2013) Colt Mustang Pocketlite .380

Post by boscoe » March 12th 2017, 12:56am

Just discovered this post and thought I'd update.

Have gone through many pistols since this review and many phases HKs (triggers baffling), Colts, Springfields, Kimbers - can't even remember them all. But I still have this little gem, though I don't carry it. It now resides in my car.

As some one mentioned, I don't like the 1911-style locked and loaded - hammer resting on a loaded round - or hammer cocked with safety in my pocket or next to my chest.

My CCW is now a 9 mm Glock (the smallest/can't remember designation), which I also have in a .45 Trouble is these guys are really too big carry (except for inside one of those special shirts) because they print. Would like a 9 mm the since of my little Colt with the Glock trigger and guts. That would be perfect.
For me, Glock has perfect trigger.
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Re: Review New (2013) Colt Mustang Pocketlite .380

Post by biglove » April 5th 2017, 6:34pm

Two triggers I love, Glock and FN. own both.

Love the N82 IWB holsters, too, and own several.
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Re: Review New (2013) Colt Mustang Pocketlite .380

Post by eddiea » April 5th 2017, 6:45pm

boscoe wrote:Just discovered this post and thought I'd update.
Have gone through many pistols since this review and many phases HKs (triggers baffling), Colts, Springfields, Kimbers - can't even remember them all. But I still have this little gem, though I don't carry it. It now resides in my car.


Still after all these years, have my two favs, my .25 ACP Beretta and my Rossi 357 Magnum short barrel , love them both ...somehow, I don't have the need to change
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Re: Review New (2013) Colt Mustang Pocketlite .380

Post by boscoe » July 8th 2021, 7:47am

Another update:
Still have this handy Colt in my car, but worry about the relative lack of stopping power of the .380 - and still searching for the perfect Every Day Carry.
Recently bought the Daniel Defense DDM4 300 Blackout pistol - but that's not a concealed weapon unless you're a Terminator or live in Alaska where long coats are an daily wear. Haven't shot the thing yet - the ammo is scarce - mostly bought it out of fear tiny AR pistols would be banned by the government.
Fan of Daniel Defense stuff.
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Re: Review New (2013) Colt Mustang Pocketlite .380

Post by codguy » July 8th 2021, 9:32am

Welp, I'm a solid .45acp guy........ my favorites & all in 1911 trim.

That said, I had (before that boating incident) sum 9×19mm Parabellum pistolas in the flavor of Česká zbrojovka a.s. Uherský Brod, CZ-75s to be exact.

I found that 9mm to be the minimum power wise for me and why I am fond of the .45acp which simply produces a larger hole.




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Re: Review New (2013) Colt Mustang Pocketlite .380

Post by DoctorIvey » July 8th 2021, 10:53am

The best thing about this weapon is that it has the same manual of arms as a 1911 pistol. So if your muscle memory defaults to that, this makes perfect sense. As a backup.
Of course, that requires that you carry it locked and loaded.
Personally, I favor something entirely different. After 35 years I think I’m finally used to it, but I still fear that in an emergency my thumb will subconsciously try to flick off the (non existent) safety.
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Re: Review New (2013) Colt Mustang Pocketlite .380

Post by Mark1 » July 9th 2021, 10:35am

I've got a Colt Government Model 380 auto. Had it for many years, the serial number search shows it was made in 1986. It's a good little shooter, I bought it because it has decent power for it's size. Don't really conceal carry much but if I am on the road or in the woods I am armed. When hiking, I carry my hammerless Ruger .357. Not the lightest carry but it packs a punch and there are no feed issue worries. IWB's .380 looks even more compact.
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Re: Review New (2013) Colt Mustang Pocketlite .380

Post by tomsimac » July 26th 2023, 11:08am

I just bought a Smith & Wesson hammerless .38 revolver in SS +P
Ran through all the uTube videos and magazines, and spent a lot of time researching. Finally found a gun dealer in Missouri who made me realize this was the one I needed.
I own a Berreta mm Parabellum and a GP100 357. But I wanted a backup, small enough to be comfortable, a DeSantis pocket holster and love it. Now, being 78, blind in the dominant eye
this becomes a close encounter weapon which a slide 911 may not work.
Many are not aware of this. something to think about. And memory-wise no safety to worry about. Yes it is crazy, but when old folks need a gun, double-action revolvers may be the only solution
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Re: Review New (2013) Colt Mustang Pocketlite .380

Post by MAX » July 27th 2023, 9:04am

I agree about double action revolvers and aging. Always did prefer revolvers though.

Ive carried my .38 cal S&W Chief Special (my favorite) for many years but now getting older (81) I have also gotten into .22 rimfires for their ease of carry, light recoil and high capacity mags. Have a Walther P22Q and KelTec P17. Better than a big gun I would rather have but cant handle or rack well anymore.

I worry about home break ins so I keep all guns locked up off site except the one or two I am carrying. A bit inconvenient but worth the piece of mind after I lost a few.
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Re: Review New (2013) Colt Mustang Pocketlite .380

Post by tomsimac » September 15th 2023, 11:32am

oo094$
boscoe wrote: ↑
July 8th 2021, 7:47am
 Another update:
Still have this handy Colt in my car, but worry about the relative lack of stopping power of the .380 - and still searching for the perfect Every Day Carry.
Recently bought the Daniel Defense DDM4 300 Blackout pistol - but that's not a concealed weapon unless you're a Terminator or live in Alaska where long coats are an daily wear. Haven't shot the thing yet - the ammo is scarce - mostly bought it out of fear tiny AR pistols would be banned by the government.
Fan of Daniel Defense stuff.
I just bought a SW 38 plus+. The ammo you get today is nearer the 9mm in penetration and since I don’t want to leave any shells, a revolver works. It has the hidden hammer, and the pocket holster gives me a non print
Exposure. When I need it, my Berreta Parabellum or GP 100 suffice. Here I can carry concealed or open with no license. I also don’t shoot for center mass but prefer headshots. Too many wear armor now.
I don’t want to get a multi state carry either as the info is tied to your license plates….. the cops here lie about that so be forewarned
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