Colt 380 Question

R

RH Factor

New member
As some know, I just got a Colt Government 380. It didn't have a manual (like to have one if someone wants to make me a copy) and I'm not sure about something. If I pull the hammer back just slightly, it clicks as if it was going into a safety mode. However, I can pull the trigger whether I have the safety on or not and it will drop the hammer the rest of the way. What's this first little setting for? Also, can I carry this gun with a round in the chamber and NOT cocked and not worry about an AD if the hammer gets hit (i.e. the gun were to be dropped?)
Thanks for the help!
RH Factor
 
That is the safety ledge. It replaces the traditional half-cock notch in Colts with Series 80 firing pin blocks for some reason. Its sole purpose is to catch the hammer if it gets knocked off the full cock position somehow. It is not a safe position for carry. It is supposed to be low enough that dropping the hammer from the safety ledge will not fire a round. But who knows how sensitive every primer is?

If you carried the gun with a round in the chamber and the hammer down (all the way down, not on the ledge) - Cooper's condition 2 - the inertia firing pin and the firing pin block would protect it against discharge if dropped or knocked. But you have to get the hammer down. And the only way to do that is to pull the trigger and ease the hammer down. I have done it a good deal to get to a double action start on my CZ 75 but see no reason to take the risk on a single action gun like the GM. The .380 GM safety is more like a Star than a .45 Colt and is probably more secure than the big gun's. Carry it cocked and locked - Condition 1 - or trade it for a PPK. Carry it in a holster, even a pocket holster so the safety won't get rubbed off and you will be fine. There is more risk of you fumbling the hammer trying to cock a condition 2 gun than there is of the safety quitting.
 
There is nothing wrong with your pistol. I have two series-80 Mustangs (I believe all were series-80), and they both do that. If you looked at the internal parts, it appears there's nothing to stop it from happening. As mentioned, the safety notch isn't for leaving it on half-cock, so this is a non-issue.
 
I just got out my gov 380. Your description fits mine to a "T". I do not think you have a problem, it is just the way it is made.

They are sure fun to shoot though.
 
I've gone to "cocked and locked"...found a leather belt holster on clearence from Desantis...retention strap and screw..with three slots for position..$23...works good! Also switched out the plastic guide rod out with a full length one with a 12lb wolff spring.

Next....new sights...any suggestions???????

Thanks
RH Factor
 
Do you think the safety won't work because the gun is small?:rolleyes:

Unless the safety has been modified, it will do just fine.
 
DO NOT pull the hammer back or rack the slide (unless the hammer is already pulled back) with the safety on.
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True, however, one nice thing about the Mustang is that you can cock it and put the safety on, THEN load it and make it ready for carry. You have yet another barrier to an unintended hole in something when you're loading the gun. Same applies to unloading it, you can drop the mag, cycle the slide to unload the chambered round, and THEN remove the safety. Probably just an accident, but it's nice to have that little bit of extra security against an oops when you're head is someplace else. :)
 
you can drop the mag, cycle the slide to unload the chambered round, and THEN remove the safety. Probably just an accident,
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It's not an accident, it's because the safety doesn't engage the slide like the 1911 does. If you were to modify a 1911 thumb safety so that it didn't engage the notch in the slide you could do the same thing with a 1911. In both guns the safety blocks the sear, but in the case of the 1911 it appears to block the trigger until you understand the lockwork.
 
johnwill and I agree

It is very safe compared to most guns if you follow that procedure, which is what I do too.

Cock hammer, engage safety, insert mag and rack slide. Gun is ready to holster.

Regards.
 
It's not an accident, it's because the safety doesn't engage the slide like the 1911 does. If you were to modify a 1911 thumb safety so that it didn't engage the notch in the slide you could do the same thing with a 1911. In both guns the safety blocks the sear, but in the case of the 1911 it appears to block the trigger until you understand the lockwork.
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So true. While everybody's busy "improving" the 1911 design, why doesn't someone offer a slide without the stupid slide lock notch and redesign the safety lever to allow actuating the slide with the safety on? The idea behind locking the slide is terribly outdated.
 
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