Colt Government Model .380

29717 Views 31 Replies 27 Participants Last post by Viperfoxbat, Dec 25, 2017

tkturn

Discussion Starter · Dec 24, 2005

Just acquired a like new Colt Government Model .380. Just wandering if anyone has any history with one - good or bad?

1 - 20 of 32 Posts

silent one

· #2 · Dec 24, 2005

tkturn,

I have a Gov model, as well as the Mustang. Both are excellent, and very accurate. They are one of the finest small .380 cal weapons ever made, IMHO. I wish Colt would make them again. Good luck with yours. I'm sure you will enjoy it.

"Semper Fi"

SILENT ONE

Loco38SUP

· #3 · Dec 24, 2005

tkturn said:
Just acquired a like new Colt Government Model .380. Just wandering if anyone has any history with one - good or bad?

I also own one and they are nice little shooters. The Colt Government .380 is fairly accurate considering it has such a short barrel. The only thing missing on mine are some checkered walnut grip panels to match my 1911. I've yet to find a set.

RJM

col132

· #4 · Dec 24, 2005

I've owned several over the years, and my dealer just recently took one in that looks pretty darned good. I've had nothing but good luck with these guns over the years. One of the best feeling grips bar none.

Peter M. Eick

· #5 · Dec 26, 2005

They are good guns but I have to offer one known issue to watch for.

If you happen to get a soft barrel or poor lockup like mine then you will start peening the lugs and buggering the slide. I am still working on mine to try and fix the problem. I got a slug of solutions and comments and I am still wading through them all between business trips.

Mine is the 3rd like this that I have run across in the forums. Watch for it happening on yours. If it gets to bad then the barrel will not unlink from the slide and you have a nasty jam that requires a hammer to fix.

Still love mine and would gladly buy another if I saw a good one. I have like 8 mags for it, so I am pretty commited.

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22-rimfire

· #6 · Dec 26, 2005

I had one that jammed a lot with factory ammo. I just got rid of it. Not my cup of tea.

45s&Shelbys

· #7 · Mar 8, 2011

Peter M. Eick said:
They are good guns but I have to offer one known issue to watch for.

If you happen to get a soft barrel or poor lockup like mine then you will start peening the lugs and buggering the slide. I am still working on mine to try and fix the problem. I got a slug of solutions and comments and I am still wading through them all between business trips.

Mine is the 3rd like this that I have run across in the forums. Watch for it happening on yours. If it gets to bad then the barrel will not unlink from the slide and you have a nasty jam that requires a hammer to fix.

Still love mine and would gladly buy another if I saw a good one. I have like 8 mags for it, so I am pretty commited.

Hello,

Did you ever find a "fix" for this problem? Do you know if cryo treatment of the barrel and slide would correct this peening issue?

Anyone else want to chime in on this?

Thanks,
Eric

skimbell

· #8 · Mar 8, 2011

Loco38SUP said:
I also own one and they are nice little shooters. The Colt Government .380 is fairly accurate considering it has such a short barrel. The only thing missing on mine are some checkered walnut grip panels to match my 1911. I've yet to find a set.

RJM

Here you go! I've been looking for a set for awhile too. Found these, but I really don't want them that bad

.

They were listed at GB. I'll include the link. The auction was closed, reopened now. No bids at the price he's asking.

http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=212258867

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dsk

· #9 · Mar 9, 2011

Peter M. Eick said:
They are good guns but I have to offer one known issue to watch for.

For time during the early 90's Colt was shipping some guns with improperly heat treated parts. I had a blued pre-Enhanced Series 80 Commander with a soft slide that got all buggered up underneath where the hammer rebounded during recoil. I also had a Mustang Pocketlite made from around the same time period that had a soft hammer and/or sear. The trigger pull turned into nearly ten pounds, and my gunsmith did a trigger job on it. He mentioned the parts appeared soft, and sure enough months later the trigger pull was crappy again.

Calibre 45

· #10 · Mar 9, 2011

silent one said:
tkturn,

...... I wish Colt would make them again. Good luck with yours......

"Semper Fi"

SILENT ONE

They reintroduced the Colt Mustang at the Shot Show and said it should have the MSRP of about $600.

mickeyd

· #11 · Mar 9, 2011

Gotta love the Colt .380s.

Here's my Gov't .380 Pocketlite. Reliable with all ammo. Carried this little booger for over 10 years in a Safariland thumb break pancake.

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crockett007

· #12 · Mar 10, 2011

Here's my stainless Govt 380.....Love it

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Irishlad

· #13 · Mar 10, 2011

That's the gun Colt should have re-introduced..IMO.
They "feel" like a real gun.

T.MAY

· #14 · Mar 11, 2011

Anyone else notice this thread was resurrected from 2005....I'll bet that guy found those checkered walnut grips a long time ago.:biglaugh:

They still are great little guns though..

ghitch75

· #15 · Mar 12, 2011

not government......i sure like i'm....

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Peter M. Eick

· #16 · Mar 21, 2011

No I never did fix the problem.

I bought another slide, barrel and whole top end and I will just shoot mine up till it jams and then put on the next top end.

45s&Shelbys

· #17 · Mar 22, 2011

Thanks

Peter M. Eick said:
No I never did fix the problem.

I bought another slide, barrel and whole top end and I will just shoot mine up till it jams and then put on the next top end.

Hello Peter,

Thanks for letting me know. What you did sounds like the only way to go.

Eric

gatortrades

· #18 · Apr 20, 2011

Would like to resurrect for a question.

I have a Colt Government Pocketlite my dad just gave me. He bought it new in the early 90s, and it has not been fired too much. Maybe 500 rounds since I was little.

I was reading about carrying it "cocked and locked" and have a question regarding my pistol. When the gun is cocked, and the hammer is back, I can't engage the safety. It just won't move up into place. When the hammer is down, the safety can engage normally.

I have read several people saying they carry it cocked and locked, but I just want to know if I need to take a trip to the gunsmith. Thanks.

Johnny handgun

· #19 · Apr 21, 2011

Yes it definitely needs to be fixed before you carry it regardless of how you choose to carry it.

crashoverrideplik

· #20 · Apr 21, 2011 (Edited)

Great.... another damn gun I need to buy!! LOL. I had no idea there was a Government .380. Searching gunbroker for one

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