New here so hello everyone. I am having an issue with a Government Model .380 Pocket Lite I recently acquired. When firing, the gun fires and cycles, but the hammer returns to un-cocked(up) position. But if I cycle the slide manually with a magazine, loaded with or without a round, it will remain in the cocked(down) position. So only when the trigger is pulled and a round fires, the hammer will not return to the "ready to fire" down position. Anyone run into this issue before and have any solutions/fix to this issue? I really appreciate any and all help in advance. Again I'm new here and hope I have posted this correctly if not any feed back would be appreciated as well thanks.
GOVERNMENT MODEL .380 POCKET LITE
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Thank you much appreciated!Welcome to the COLT Forum from the Cradle Of Liberty...Pennsylvania !!
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Enjoy Our Community Sir...
....As far as your questions, I must defer to the experts here with the solutions.
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If I understand your post correctly, the hammer is following the slide after firing and chambering a fresh round. I'm not very familiar with the GM 380 but it sounds like a weak sear spring or more likely a worn or over-filed sear and hammer.
The spring should be an easy fix if you're comfortable disassembling the gun. A new sear and hammer is a little more complicated to get to function safely and correctly.
The spring should be an easy fix if you're comfortable disassembling the gun. A new sear and hammer is a little more complicated to get to function safely and correctly.
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Here's some basics on "Hammer follows slide" problems........
First, give the gun a thorough cleaning and fresh lubricant. Often used guns are full of fouling and dried lube and that causes all sorts of problems.
Most everything else is going to require disassembly of the frame, and unless you feel competent to get it apart AND back together properly and without damaging anything I'd take it to a good gunsmith or check to see if Colt will service it.
Possible causes of this could be a sear spring that's lost tension or has been altered by a previous owner trying to improve the trigger. This may need only re-tensioning the spring, or replacing it.
The hammer and/or sear may be worn or, much more likely they've been altered by a previous owner "improving" the trigger pull and ruining it.
Again, about all that can be done in this case is replacement of the parts. It's sometimes possible the sear can be repaired but usually it's ruined.
Here's a schematic of the .380 Government Model and some parts availability..........
www.gunpartscorp.com
First, give the gun a thorough cleaning and fresh lubricant. Often used guns are full of fouling and dried lube and that causes all sorts of problems.
Most everything else is going to require disassembly of the frame, and unless you feel competent to get it apart AND back together properly and without damaging anything I'd take it to a good gunsmith or check to see if Colt will service it.
Possible causes of this could be a sear spring that's lost tension or has been altered by a previous owner trying to improve the trigger. This may need only re-tensioning the spring, or replacing it.
The hammer and/or sear may be worn or, much more likely they've been altered by a previous owner "improving" the trigger pull and ruining it.
Again, about all that can be done in this case is replacement of the parts. It's sometimes possible the sear can be repaired but usually it's ruined.
Here's a schematic of the .380 Government Model and some parts availability..........
Colt Government 380 Parts | Colt 380 Parts
Get the Colt 380 parts that you need to complete your project from Numrich Gun Parts. Order today!
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As noted above possible causes; dirty, weak, broken, or worn Sear Spring. A worn Sear or worn Hammer (Sear notch). But there is one other thing to check. The Sear Spring Clip; part of part number 31. Open the link dfariswheel provided on the schematic above of the Colt .380 and you'll see it as # 31 with an arrow pointing to it and the Sear Spring. The reason it doesn't have a separate part number is that it was an engineering afterthought to prevent the Sear from slipping causing the Hammer to fall forward unintentionally. Over the years I've seen a number of used Colt Mustangs and Government .380 models that don't have this Sear Spring Clip. It's an easy check and fix if needed. First, see if it has one. Secondly, if it does have one check it for wear or being too loose. It should be properly holding the Sear Spring in place tight. To remove it gently pry one side of the Clip up and off one edge of the Sear Spring using a small screwdrver. To re-install make sure the Sear Spring is pushed up and properly positioned in the grip frame. Using your finger press the Sear Spring into position over the Sear Spring. You should feel and hear a distinctive click as the clip seats over the Sear Spring and the Sear Spring should not be able to have any downward movement. Here's are pics of a leaflet that came with part of the paperwork that Colt placed in the boxes for a period of time. If you need one check Brownells since they have them in stock from time to time. Colt is no longer offering the clips or installation. Just thought you might want to check this first before looking at any other part replacements. Good luck
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I checked and it does have the yellow clip and it is firmly in place no slop whatsoever. Just wanted to say thanks again.
UPDATE:
I followed everyone's suggestions and instructions and first of all found that my model did in fact have the sear spring clip installed, second disassembled the gun and found the sear spring was bent out of shape a bit somehow. Not sure if it was from use or from improper installation from previous owner, but I reshaped the spring with some flat bill pliers to what I felt it should look like, reassembled and it seams to be working just fine now with manually sliding but have yet to get it to the range and see if it holds up will keep you all posted but for now thank you all so much really appreciate the info and words of wisdom.
I followed everyone's suggestions and instructions and first of all found that my model did in fact have the sear spring clip installed, second disassembled the gun and found the sear spring was bent out of shape a bit somehow. Not sure if it was from use or from improper installation from previous owner, but I reshaped the spring with some flat bill pliers to what I felt it should look like, reassembled and it seams to be working just fine now with manually sliding but have yet to get it to the range and see if it holds up will keep you all posted but for now thank you all so much really appreciate the info and words of wisdom.
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