The Colt Mustang is a line of two lightweight, single-action pocket
pistol
A pistol is a handgun, more specifically one with the chamber integral to its gun barrel, though in common usage the two terms are often used interchangeably. The English word was introduced in , when early handguns were produced in Europe, an ...
s chambered for the
.380 ACP
The .380 ACP (9×17mm) ( Automatic Colt Pistol) is a rimless, straight-walled pistol cartridge developed by firearms designer John Moses Browning. The cartridge headspaces on the mouth of the case.Wilson, R. K. ''Textbook of Automatic Pisto ...
cartridge, produced by
Colt's Manufacturing Company
Colt's Manufacturing Company, LLC (CMC, formerly Colt's Patent Firearms Manufacturing Company) is an American firearms manufacturer, founded in 1855 by Samuel Colt and is now a subsidiary of Czech holding company Colt CZ Group. It is the succ ...
. The firearm line was produced from 1983 to 1996 as the Colt Mustang and from 2011 to present the Mustang was reintroduced along with an alloy frame model and an updated polymer frame version, the
Colt Mustang XSP
The Colt Mustang XSP is a lightweight, single-action pocket pistol chambered for the .380 ACP cartridge, produced by Colt's Manufacturing Company. This firearm model was introduced in 2013 with an updated polymer frame version, of the Mustang Pocke ...
.
Brief history
In 1983, Colt introduced the Colt Mark IV/ Series 80 Government Model -.380 Auto. This pocket pistol was similar in appearance, but not design, to the
Colt M1911
The M1911 (Colt 1911 or Colt Government) is a single-action, recoil-operated, semi-automatic pistol chambered for the .45 ACP cartridge (firearms), cartridge. The pistol's formal U.S. military designation as of 1940 was ''Automatic Pistol, Calibe ...
. The Government Model .380's obvious aesthetic difference being that it is scaled down to roughly 78 percent to that of a full-sized M1911 Government Model. From the factory the .380 Government Model came with a capacity of 7+1.
In 1986, Colt introduced a simplified version of their .380 with a shortened barrel, slide, and gripframe, holding two fewer rounds and sold it as the Mustang.
In 1987, the Pocket Light version was introduced boosting the popularity because of the reduced weight of the weapon.
In 1988, the Mustang Plus II was introduced and it had the longer gripframe of the original Government Model. The Mustang Plus II derived its name from holding 2 more rounds in its magazine than the original Mustang.
In a number of years, Colt changed their spring and follower in the Mustang magazine, increasing its capacity to 6.
In 1993, the Night Light .380 was introduced with Bar Dot Tritium night sights.
In 1996, Colt added a blued steel frame or stainless version.
[http://www.coltsmfg.com/Catalog/ColtPistols/Colt380Mustang%C2%AEPocketlite.aspx]
archived version
In 2011, Colt reintroduced the previously discontinued Mustang Pocketlite, along with the
Colt Mustang XSP
The Colt Mustang XSP is a lightweight, single-action pocket pistol chambered for the .380 ACP cartridge, produced by Colt's Manufacturing Company. This firearm model was introduced in 2013 with an updated polymer frame version, of the Mustang Pocke ...
in 2013, a polymer frame version with updated design.
See also
References
External links
*http://www.colt.com/Catalog/Pistols/380Mustang%C2%AE.aspx
*https://web.archive.org/web/20140430083428/http://www.gunsandammo.com/reviews/colt-mustang-xsp-review/
Colt pistol model Mustang (infographic drawing)
{{Colt's Manufacturing Company
Colt semi-automatic pistols
.380 ACP semi-automatic pistols
Weapons and ammunition introduced in 1983