Guns Galore
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I walked into a gun shop the other day, you know, just to look around, and I spied a Winchester 1897 pump sitting in the used rack. While it had very little original blueing, it was not pitted all to hell and functioned fine. Price? 350 bucks. Most of these gems have been snapped up by the cowboy action shooters so this one was a surprise. I mosey down the line a few steps and lo and behold what do I see? A genuine Colt Mustang! Good condition with a couple of scratches on the front strap but no other damage. The slide pulled back slick and smooth. Price for this beauty? 600 dollars. I thought long and hard about this one. Long and hard. Let's see the Caddi needs work, the truck needs work, the Harley is sitting in pieces, we are still pouring dollars into the new property, my unemployment is coming to an end, I don't have any guns I want to sell or trade so, no little shooter for me. On with the tour, down in the black rifle territory, I found a way cool Ruger SR-22 and next to it, a Smith and Wesson M&P 22. At this time I think rimfire tacticool rifles are da bomb as centerfire ammo is so darned expensive. I spent an hour and a half lookin' and talkin' guns so all in all it was a really good morning.

Colt Mustang -vs- SIG P238

For years I have wanted a Colt Mustang but have never been able to justify the cost for these attractive tiny 1911 pattern 380 pistols. Then SIG announced they were introducing the P238. Oh joy! A new version of the Mustang made by those precision fabricators from Switzerland. Advertised pre-production prices were in the 4-500 dollar range. Great! a couple hundred dollars cheaper than a used Colt. I guess the intro of the new copy has driven the cost of the originals down a bit. While perusing Gunbroker, I found that the two guns are now in the same price range. Oh, there a few examples of the Colt in the 900-1000 dollar range but by and large the costs for both subjects is in the 500-600 dollar range with the Colts edging to the lower price. While the SIG has a certain something about it, I think with the prices comparable I would opt for an original Mustang.
Both pistols are chambered for the .380 cartridge and both are pattered after the 1911 Colt. Both have the identical reduced dimensions and both are dependable, quality firearms. With the advent of high performance 380 ammo from today's cartridge manufacturers, the 380 is a viable pocket size carry gun. Here's a detraction to both pistols...they both need a "melt job" to really blend into a pocket. Other than that they are both beautiful examples of pocket size handguns.