Colt 1903 Hammerless

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  • 12many

    Sharpshooter
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    53   0   0
    Jan 29, 2011
    717
    43
    over there
    I've had a few opportunities to purchase one of my favorite Semi-auto pistols of all time, but always seemed to be a day late and dollar short. A friend called me and said he had received this in a trade and new I was wanting one so I bought it.

    It is the .380 model that they call the 1908, it is good and tight and a thorough inspection shows no areas that might be questioable.

    I want to shoot it but it was made in 1928 and want to be careful. I have 95gr FMJ Remington, Perfecta and WWB. Would like to see INGO opinions on if it would be safe to put a few of those rounds thru the gun.

    Thanks

    IMG_0495.jpg IMG_0494.jpg
     

    Old Bear

    Greyman Apprentice
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    16   0   0
    Aug 19, 2016
    2,125
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    Newton County
    I love vintage Colts:drool:

    I think I read somewhere that newer .380ACP is hotter than it was in the 1920's....of course if it's on the internet, it must be true.

    Ideally, if you reload, you could work up some mild target loads for it. Short of that, maybe see if you can find .380 load specifications from that era and compare to some of todays loads.
     

    Expat

    Pdub
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    23   0   0
    Feb 27, 2010
    108,736
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    Michiana
    Congrats, looks like a good one.
    Not sure on the ammo. I think Leadeye has a couple of those but I don't know if he shoots any factory ammo in them.
     

    Leadeye

    Grandmaster
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    Jan 19, 2009
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    Shoot anything factory you want in those Colts, for the size of the cartridges they are pretty tough. During WW2 the OSS loaded the 32ACP versions with 100-110 grain bullets and hard powder charges.
     

    red_zr24x4

    UA#190
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    4   0   0
    Mar 14, 2009
    28,794
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    Walkerton
    I have a 1908 made by Huskvarna during WWII. Mine is in .380, I've shot a couple of mags of factory ammo and a few of reloads without issue
     

    INGarand

    Plinker
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    0   0   0
    Jul 1, 2014
    52
    8
    Buffaloville
    Nice pistols, factory ammo will be fine to shoot in it. I have one in 32 ACP but don't shoot it often due to the cost of ammo. They are now making a new introduction of them.
     

    12many

    Sharpshooter
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    53   0   0
    Jan 29, 2011
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    over there
    Shoot anything factory you want in those Colts, for the size of the cartridges they are pretty tough. During WW2 the OSS loaded the 32ACP versions with 100-110 grain bullets and hard powder charges.


    Thanks Leadeye! sounds like you might know a thing or two about the 1903's. You have an awesome collection there. I won't be shooting it a lot so it sounds like I should be good to go, and thanks to all the input from INGO.
     

    walt o

    Expert
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    5   0   0
    Feb 10, 2008
    1,097
    63
    Hammond
    They just run like the energizer bunny, I like to shoot all of mine.32s &.380
    e0h1WxG.jpg
     

    Gunsmiff12B

    Marksman
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    8   0   0
    Sep 13, 2016
    232
    28
    South bend
    I have one in 32 made in 1913, and a 1908 chambered in 25, made in 1909, I still shoot them with modern ammo on occasion and have not had a problem whatsoever
     
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