Question about Colt Gov't 380

Cowdogpete · September 19, 2002, 11:06 AM

I just got a Colt Government Model .380 in nickel.

My question is: Do all of these guns have huge amounts of slack in the frame to slide fit or did I waste my money on a wore out gun?

IS there a fix?

....my first .380, think I'll use it for a paper weight and keep carrying my .45.

Thanks

Ledbetter · September 19, 2002, 01:15 PM

I have one in stainless and one in nickel. The one in nickel is looser, but shoots just fine. How does yours shoot? (Benchrest testing is best.)

Regards.

Jim Watson · September 19, 2002, 04:07 PM

My blue .380 G.M. is looser than my .45s, but functions reliably and shoots accurately enough to win me second place in a four-month aggregate BUG tournament at IDPA. The guy who won usually beats me with a full-size gun, too. I have never felt the need to shoot it off a rest.

So go shooting, Cowdogpete.

mcrog · September 21, 2002, 08:48 PM

cowdogpete;

The slop in the slide to frame can be disturbing but does'nt make for an inaccurate gun. If you can't live with this there is a company that will tighten up the slide on 1911 type guns and I bet they can help the .380 too." Accurails" I beleve is the name of the company. If you cant find it go to the USPSA web sight and scrole down to vendors and find the web sight. The 1911s that I have seen are impressive. Nice and tight!
I got a Gov. .380 comming to my safe this week too! I hope its tight too.

Regards Mc

slickpuppy · September 23, 2002, 06:54 PM

I wouldn't worry too much about the looseness in your .380 GM. It wasn't designed for target grade accuracy...it was made for carry/backup. As long as it puts a hole in the general area you aim at it is doing its job.

Cowdogpete · September 24, 2002, 09:33 AM

I appreciate all the input; but this sucker is LOOSE. The gun does shoot accurately if you take the time to get a good sight picture before each pull of the trigger. If you shoot somewhat instinctively like I do it will spray shots all over the place. It seems it doesn't slam home to the same position each time.

Plus it rattles, thats whats really driving me nuts.

Thanks all.

Ledbetter · September 24, 2002, 02:24 PM

You might want to consider replacing the recoil spring. Mine rattles without the spring in. The first thing I did when I bought it was replace the recoil spring.

I usually do this with every used gun I buy as I have noticed that a lot of people don't think of the recoil spring as a part that requires replacement as routine maintenance.

Regards

September 19, 2002, 11:06 AM	#1
Cowdogpete Senior Member Join Date: September 7, 2002 Location: Bosque County, TX Posts: 265	Question about Colt Gov't 380 I just got a Colt Government Model .380 in nickel. My question is: Do all of these guns have huge amounts of slack in the frame to slide fit or did I waste my money on a wore out gun? IS there a fix? ....my first .380, think I'll use it for a paper weight and keep carrying my .45. Thanks

September 21, 2002, 08:48 PM	#4
mcrog Member Join Date: August 9, 2002 Location: Iowa Posts: 45	Lose slide... cowdogpete; The slop in the slide to frame can be disturbing but does'nt make for an inaccurate gun. If you can't live with this there is a company that will tighten up the slide on 1911 type guns and I bet they can help the .380 too." Accurails" I beleve is the name of the company. If you cant find it go to the USPSA web sight and scrole down to vendors and find the web sight. The 1911s that I have seen are impressive. Nice and tight! I got a Gov. .380 comming to my safe this week too! I hope its tight too. Regards Mc

September 19, 2002, 01:15 PM	#2
Ledbetter Senior Member Join Date: February 23, 2000 Location: California USA Posts: 4,533	I have one in stainless and one in nickel. The one in nickel is looser, but shoots just fine. How does yours shoot? (Benchrest testing is best.) Regards.

September 19, 2002, 04:07 PM	#3
Jim Watson Senior Member Join Date: October 25, 2001 Location: Alabama Posts: 19,178	My blue .380 G.M. is looser than my .45s, but functions reliably and shoots accurately enough to win me second place in a four-month aggregate BUG tournament at IDPA. The guy who won usually beats me with a full-size gun, too. I have never felt the need to shoot it off a rest. So go shooting, Cowdogpete.

September 23, 2002, 06:54 PM	#5
slickpuppy Senior Member Join Date: August 30, 1999 Posts: 928	I wouldn't worry too much about the looseness in your .380 GM. It wasn't designed for target grade accuracy...it was made for carry/backup. As long as it puts a hole in the general area you aim at it is doing its job.

September 24, 2002, 09:33 AM	#6
Cowdogpete Senior Member Join Date: September 7, 2002 Location: Bosque County, TX Posts: 265	I appreciate all the input; but this sucker is LOOSE. The gun does shoot accurately if you take the time to get a good sight picture before each pull of the trigger. If you shoot somewhat instinctively like I do it will spray shots all over the place. It seems it doesn't slam home to the same position each time. Plus it rattles, thats whats really driving me nuts. Thanks all.

September 24, 2002, 02:24 PM	#7
Ledbetter Senior Member Join Date: February 23, 2000 Location: California USA Posts: 4,533	You might want to consider replacing the recoil spring. Mine rattles without the spring in. The first thing I did when I bought it was replace the recoil spring. I usually do this with every used gun I buy as I have noticed that a lot of people don't think of the recoil spring as a part that requires replacement as routine maintenance. Regards