Colt's Mustang Pocketlite Part 1

Colt entered the 380 Auto compact pistol market in 1984 with its MK IV Series 80 Government Model 380 Auto. At 6.1″ long, the MK IV 380 was smaller than even the 6.75″ long Colt MK IV ’90 45 Auto, but longer than the current 5.50″ long Mustang 380 Autos. A Mustang MK IV Series 80 Plus II was produced between 1988 and 1996 with a longer grip with 7+1 capacity. All noted are single action.

Models were made in alloy steel, stainless steel and with a steel slide and aluminum frame, the latter carrying the “Pocketlite” designation. By 1997, all of these earlier Mustangs were out of production. Between the years 1996 and 2000, a double action version of the small 380 Auto Colt was produced as the Colt Pony.

In May of 2011, Colt reintroduced the Mustang Pocketlite which is essentially the subject pistol. In 2013, the Colt Mustang XSP was introduced; poly frame, ambi safety, stippled front and backstrap, relieved frame around the magazine release, dovetail mounted and white dot front sight, and undercut trigger guard. The current poly frame model is the Mustang Lite which has a bare stainless slide over a poly frame. The Lite has the same features as the XSP, however, the slide lost the dovetail mounted front sight, now sharing a configuration with the Pocketlite.

No Colt chambered for the 380 Auto is a 1911 design as much as a 1911 derivative. The barrel tilting mechanism is a linkless system with barrel movement controlled by an internal cam located in the barrel lug riding the slide stop pin. There are two radial interlocking lugs in the slide and barrel, there is no grip safety, there is no removable mainspring housing, there is no ’80 series type firing pin safety. The trigger pivots rather than floats as it would on a 1911 with a frame riding trigger bow. With the 1986 introduction of the Mustang, the barrel went bushingless.

The Colt Mustang Pocketlite is different than most 380 autoloaders on the market. It is single action rather than a striker disguised to look like a 1911 or a double action fixed barrel pistol. It is also metal, steel slide riding on an aluminum frame. no poly.

My impression of the Mustang was formed in the mid 90s when I had the opportunity to shoot on at the Los Altos Range in California. I had no interest in a 380 Auto at the time, but the gun’s owner persisted in asking if I would shoot his Colt Mustang. The gun has been worked over by a local smith and the owner was having a difficult time getting the little gun to group at seven yards.

The Mustang had nearly the cleanest breaking trigger I’ve ever felt, making it easy to put five shots in a quarter size hole. It was a blued steel gun, the slide fit was tight, but smooth and the sights were just about right for the pistols intended application. I thought one day I would buy one.

The pistol at hand…

The Mustang is a good size, good feel and generally well made subcompact autoloader, but without the name Colt emblazoned on the pistol, I’d guess most would consider it to be over priced, particularly in a market flooded with good shooting firearms $100 to $200 less. Capacity is 6+1 compared to most competitors’ products with greater capacity and to get to 7 round, the pistol must be carried cocked and locked.

The rear dovetail mount sight stands straight up like a 1911 Government sight and it not exactly snag resistant. The front sight is cast integral to the slide and of the same finish. No glare killing serrations, no contrasting color, no dot, it is hard to pick up against a light backdrop. In fact, of all the 380 Auto Colts, only the XSP had a dovetail mounted and somewhat discernible front sight.

While the trigger looks like a 1911 long trigger, that’s where the similarity ends; a lot of take up, a lot of creep, uneven resistance, and very heavy release. Does it matter for a 7 yard point and shoot? Probably not. Does it matter if the point and shoot set you back $600? You bet. Can the trigger be cleaned up and lightened a bit. Sure. On the plus side, the Mustang Pocketlite controls are positive in actuation. Disassembly for cleaning and maintenance is fast and easy.

Size wise…

In size context, the Colt Mustang is much more compact than the BERSA Thunder 380 Concealed Carry, right, and even a bit smaller than the diminutive Remington Rm380, Left. We’ll take a break here and come back when live fire is completed for Part 2.

Colt’s Mustang Pocketlite Part 1
Colt’s Mustang Pocketlite Part 2