I have a 380 with the alloy frame. Kick is not that bad, my youngest son has been shooting it for the past 5 yrs. Hes 10 now, hope this helps.
To be clear , its a Gov 380 with the alloy frame.
To be clear , its a Gov 380 with the alloy frame.
Kick on a Government 380 vs Govt Pocketlite 380 (nonMustang)
I have a Colt Government 380 in stainless steel and love how little it kicks. Does anyone know if the Pocketlite 380 (alloy frame) kicks noticeably harder because it weighs less? NOTE - I am not talking about the Mustang and am not asking about the Mustang. I'm talking about the Govt 380 models made in the 90s (yes, I know there was a Mustang model back then too, but I'm not talking about that model). Thanks in advance.
1 - 12 of 12 Posts
It's my wife's favorite pistol to shoot.
The worst felt recoil I have experienced from a .380 ACP is from the Walther PPK. I believe it has to do with the shape of the grip and the way it pounds the thumb joint. The KelTec which weights hardly anything doesn't have near the felt recoil of the PPK for me.
I'm with JohnnyP. My Dad has carried a PPK/S for years, I never did get use to it. The thing kicked like a possessed Mule.
I carried a Walther ppk/s or ppk for years. The Walther weighs between 21-23 ounces ,is a blowback action and recoils harder than my new Mustang Pocketlite with its' locked breech action. Colt has areal winner here ,and since they are not getting back inti the 2 inch revolver CCW market ,they would do well to expand the 380 lineup. Walther could have been a real contender today of they went to an alloy frame. I find the PPk heavy for pocket carry, the Colt on the other hand is a pleasure . If Colt were real smart , they would offer a 22 conversion unit and a complete 22 pistol.
I do appreciate everyone's thoughts, but what I'm looking for is someone with experience with both the Govt 380 (ss or blued) vs the Govt Pocketlite 380 (alloy frame) in terms of whether there's a noticeable difference in kick. I'm looking to set up my mother and my wife with a cc gun. I have a ss govt 380 for my wife and would like the other one to be a little bit lighter if possbile but not if it will be harder to hold on to (for a 73 year old woman). Thanks again. And no, not interested in Walthers, Sigs, or even a Mustang that will only fit two fingers around the grip.
Wasn't trying to sell you on a Walther, but felt recoil is different for different people, and in a real emergency recoil will be the last concern.
The more complicated a CC gun is, the less likely it is to be of any benefit in an emergency. My wife has a revolver and an auto, and both are DA only. All she has to remember to do is pull the trigger.
The more complicated a CC gun is, the less likely it is to be of any benefit in an emergency. My wife has a revolver and an auto, and both are DA only. All she has to remember to do is pull the trigger.
I can appreciate simplicity, but I'm a fan of the thought that the more you practice with it, the better you'll be with it. That said, my mom is too weak to pull back a hammer either with her thumb or by use of a trigger. And my wife doesn't want a revolver unless it has a safety (gee, Hon, can't seem to find one of them). After trying many different models & calibers, we've settled on the 380 auto for them. The little mouse guns are so squirrely with only two fingers around the grip, they try to jump right out of your hand. Found the Govt 380. Shoots straight and sweet. Sights suck and safety is too small (for my wife's taste). Just had a gunsmith install some Novak sights and an extended thumb safety. That was on the stainless Govt 380. Now it's functional for cc purposes and will go to my wife. I'm going to get another Govt 380 for my mom (and dad) and am considering the Pocketlite as it should be lighter, but don't want a harder recoil. I just can't find anyone around here (Seattle area) with one that I can try to compare. Whether we end up getting the Govt Pocketlite 380 or just another Govt 380 in ss or blued, I'm going to get the Lasermax laser for it (the one that comes on the new Mustang). My dad will also use it. He's got a hand tremor and we found that if he holds the pistol against his mid section and fires from there, he's stable. Of course, sights won't help with that, but he can see a red dot.Wasn't trying to sell you on a Walther, but felt recoil is different for different people, and in a real emergency recoil will be the last concern.
The more complicated a CC gun is, the less likely it is to be of any benefit in an emergency. My wife has a revolver and an auto, and both are DA only. All she has to remember to do is pull the trigger.
I agree that the more you shoot a pistol the more proficient you should become with it, but shooting at the range and shooting in a life and death situation are 2 completely different things. You are not going to take a target stance if your life depends on being the first to shoot, and all the sights, extended safeties, and beveled mag wells won't help. It is all about instinctive shooting when you are in a situation that requires a gun.
The DA only on a revolver is the safety. The only way it will fire is to pull the trigger, and you don't put your finger on the trigger until you are ready to fire.
The DA only on a revolver is the safety. The only way it will fire is to pull the trigger, and you don't put your finger on the trigger until you are ready to fire.
I agree that the Walther PPK kicks extremely hard for the power of the cartridge. I find it unpleasant to shoot, and too heavy and too large for the power factor and limited magazine capacity. (A Kel-Tec P11 is about the same size, is much lighter and holds 10+1 of 9x19 power. No contest. And it costs much less!) I attribute most of the felt recoil of the Walther to the blow-back design. The Kel-Tec has a locked breech, as do the Colt exposed-hammer .380ACP pistols, all soft-recoiling compared to the Walther design.
(Apologies to anyone offended by my "delivery.")
(Apologies to anyone offended by my "delivery.")
Ever since the second gun was built recoil has been compared, and that was the point of the thread. A very easy comparison is made when the guns are chambered for the same cartridge. A friend has a .454 Casull, and with the rubber grips recoil is absolutely painful. Change the grips to smooth wood and the felt recoil is quite a bit less though still not fun in my book. Same gun, same cartridge, different grips.
The PPK .380 is not in the same league, but felt recoil is more than the KelTec .380. Just a comparison.
The PPK .380 is not in the same league, but felt recoil is more than the KelTec .380. Just a comparison.
1 - 12 of 12 Posts
- This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.
Colt Forum
A forum community dedicated to Colt firearm owners and enthusiasts. Come join the discussion about performance, gunsmithing, troubleshooting, reviews, accessories, classifieds, and more!
Full Forum Listing
Explore Our Forums
Recommended Communities
