Shootability of the Colt 1908 Hammerless in .380?

[Casimer]

I've got the itch to pick up either a Colt 1903 Hammerless in .32 ACP or a 1908 varient in .380 ACP. But I've never shot a 1908 and so I'm wondering how they handle, and whether it's advisable to shoot these w/ modern ammo - and if so, what pressure range is appropriate.

This would be a shooter in decent condition, not a collector's piece.

Also any tips on a fair prices will be appreciated.

[Baylorattorney]

Mine does fine, I like my .32 better. They both prefer European loads like fiochi. Hard nosed bullets. Selliers and Beloit ammo

[TheNocturnus]

My LGS has one of those for sale. I forget how much they were asking. Next time I go, i'll look for you.

[Slopemeno]

Many of the .32's seem to have dark bores, since corrosive ammo was common. Finding spare mags in .32 is harder as well.

My .32 has very little recoil. My .380 is a bit sharper. Reliability isn't 100%, and from what I can see, hotter ammo would probably help- I'll try the Fiochi/S&B.

[Rugerismisticness]

I really wish someone would throw them back into production. It's hard to find a gun that looks great, shoots great, and conceals well.

[BlueTrain]

I think those models have a lot going for them. The design is smooth, it has a decent barrel length which means it points well. I've had two different ones, both .380s. But there are drawbacks. Although I've never heard of them being particularly prone to breakage or of wear causing problems, they've been out of production since before I was born. The .380 model does have a surprising kick, too, even though by today's standards, it's relatively heavy.

A later day Colt, the .380 Government Model, was just about perfect and had virtually no kick when you shot it. But it went through a shrinking process and apparently the smaller versions were more popular.

One of those old guns with a poor finish will probably work just as well as one that's new in the box, too.

[RKG]

I happen to think that the 1903 Model M is one of the finest pistols Colt every produced. If you stumble across one, pick it up.

However, here is one thing you should be aware of:

The "hammerless" Model M actually has a hammer, but it is entirely internal. In front of the hammer is a firing pin tunnel milled into the slide. Because the distance between the rear of this tunnel and the back of the slide is too small to allow insertion of a one-piece firing pin of the required length, the firing pin is in two pieces. There is a spring in front of the forward firing pin that tends to retract the pin when then hammer is cocked.

Colt Model M forward firing pin springs have been known to lose their springiness. If this happens, and if you then dry fire the pistol (for instance, so as to store it with the main spring unloaded), the forward firing pin can become lodged in the firing pin hole in the breech face. If this happens and you're not aware of it, and if you then insert a charged magazine and drop the slide, you'll have a pistol that fires from an open bolt position with some surprising results.

So after you acquire your Model M, clean it, and reassemble it, do the following. Be sure the pistol is unloaded. Allow the slide to close on an empty chamber and then pull the trigger. Now open the slide far enough to inspect the firing pin hole. If you find the forward firing pin lodged in the hole, you'll have to disassemble the slide and replace that spring.

For what it might be worth, I shoot my 1903 (.32 ACP) with handloads consisting of a 71-grain Remington RN FMJ, 2.9 grains of Unique, CCI SP primer, and mixed brass.

[OldShooter]

The Colt 1903 is the smoothest shooting .32 I own. I would love to get my hands on a 1908 in .380 but have not run across one.

[RickB]

I'd owned both .32 and .380 examples for over twenty years, but had never fired either of them. I subsequently used both in short, Back-Up Gun stages at IDPA matches. They both shot very well, though the .32 was keyholing. The sights are very small, though the gun does point well with familiarity. I don't have even fifty rounds through either of them, but both have run perfectly.
Field-stripping is pretty easy, but complete disassembly and reassembly requires some real bravery. I'd recommend against it, unless the gun has a broken part that needs replacing.

[mes228]

I recently purchased a 1903 Colt in .32 caliber. It's the cleanest, all original one I've seen. No pitting and blue is not bad either. Runs like a sewing machine and has yet to malfunction. Very accurate even with the small sights. At 8 yards the Fiochhi 71 (I think it's that weight??) grain Hollow point it is not hard to keep 1" groups. No recoil to speak of. I have always liked them and may have Colt re-blue it as the older I get, the more I appreciate "pretty" (in both guns and women (grin). I too would love to see Colt re-introduce the pistol.

[PetahW]

The Colts are okay, but I still prefer the .32/7.65 Walther PP



.

[Casimer]

Thanks for all the feedback.

I know that there are several types/series of 1903, though I'm not as familiar w/ the 1908.

Are the later ones generally better for practical purposes, beyond the likelihood that they're in better condition?

[BlueTrain]

The two models are essentially the same, differing in caliber. But things like magazines do not interchange. Both calibers were offered for sale up until production ceased. So it isn't likely the 1908 model will necessarily be in better condition. It is interesting that these little pistols still have such a following, which says a lot for the design.

These pistols were still on issue in the army as general officer's sidearms when I was in the army. Our arms room had two but I don't know what caliber they were.

[TheNocturnus]

I went today and looked. They were asking $500 for it.