Colt 1908 magazine problems

Grayfox

Grayfox

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yeah, its the S&W forum, but we got a lot of Colt lovers here too.

I recently purchased a Colt Model 1908 Pocket Hammerless 380acp pistol. Its refinished, but a great shooter and the price was right. The problem is that it came with an aftermarket magazine that was pure junk. I searched the web and all I could find were some Triple K mags. I bought a couple but they don't work either. I cleaned, deburred and put in Wolff springs. Still no go. The problem is that the rounds are hanging up about midway in the mag body. The third to fifth round wedges inside the body and freezes the spring. This happens with both factory ammo and my reloads. Same ammo works perfectly in my Mustang.
I've checked the auction sites and original factory mags look completely worn out and they ask $75-100 for them.
Does anybody know of a source for reliable magazines?
 
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I have a Pocket Hammerless in .380 as well as one in .32. Both were purchased with original mags (one each) that work perfectly. I've purchesed two .32 mags from Numrich Arms and both work great with hardball/jacketed only. .380 mags from the same source had been out of stock til a couple of months ago. I ordered one when they became available but they sent the wrong item. Finally got a refund; they ignored my request that they send the correct item. I haven't checked their site recently, don't know what's available and haven't re-ordered yet. I probably will give them another shot.

I don't know who makes the mags sold by Numrich. The packaging gave no clue. I have heard Triple-K's are pretty poor but that opinion is second-hand. But the .32 mags I got from Numrich work great in my Pocket Hammerless. They're great pistols.
 
I am down to 2. A .380 nickel and .32 blue with colt mags for each. Original 2 tone mags are tough to find and are in the $80-120 range. Triple-Ks are junk. Do a google search for old colt parts and you might get lucky. I found 2 new barrels still wrapped in oil paper that way. Guy was an old colt gunsmith. People squirrel away things and forget about them. Don't know if these guys would have any leads but Sam Lisker at coltautos.com has some good looking stuff.
 
I'd wonder if most after market mags for the 380caliber Colt Pocket weren't just marked as such. But in reality, just the same mag as their 32acp magazine.
With the 32 being the better seller,more in demand magazine of the two, they just stamp some 'cal 380' and be done with it.
Expensive to tool up for a little called for product,,even in China.
Maybe they don't even know the difference.

Anyway,,I might have an original .380cal Pocket Hammerless magazine in the box-0-mags.
IIRC,it's no beauty contest winner, but it's an original and it doesn't have any dents in it.

I'll check and see what I can find.
 
2152hq said:
Anyway,,I might have an original .380cal Pocket Hammerless magazine in the box-0-mags.
IIRC,it's no beauty contest winner, but it's an original and it doesn't have any dents in it.

I'll check and see what I can find.
Click to expand...


Still need a Colt 1908 .380 magazine??

This is the one I refered to above:
380m1.JPG

380m2.JPG

380m3.JPG


Told 'ya it wasn't 'minty'!
But it's solid, no dents, strong spring and the follower slides smoothly.
PM me if you're interested.
 
I am in the market for 3x .380 and 2x .32 (1903-1908) magazines.
I will check the sites mentioned above.
 
The outfit that is making the new Colt .32 automatics sells magazines. I bought a half-dozen for my modest stable and they work BEAUTIFULLY and sell for about the same price as the Triple-K junk. I recommend them highly. Unfortunately the guns are about $1200 and I can't get one in California anyway.
 
robertrwalsh said:
The outfit that is making the new Colt .32 automatics sells magazines. I bought a half-dozen for my modest stable and they work BEAUTIFULLY and sell for about the same price as the Triple-K junk. I recommend them highly. Unfortunately the guns are about $1200 and I can't get one in California anyway.
Click to expand...

Thank you for posting this! 36 bucks for a functional 1903 mag is a steal - I went to a gun show a couple of weeks ago and a guy had a table of only magazines. I asked about a 1903 mag and he said, yeah but they are pricey. He handed me 3 rubber banded together with a post-it that said $179. I sighed and reached for my wallet and he said - thats each. I just said thanks and handed them back.

Google up "U. S. Armament" then search 1903 .32 on the site and they come up.
 
Last edited:
My 1908 .380 came with two no-name aftermarkets that actually function flawlessly, knock on wood. I ended up with a Triple K almost by accident and after a lot of frustration finally realized the spring had been put in upside down. Flipped it, now it runs as long as the ammo is FMJ. It's the backup to the backup anyway.

I'm hoping U.S. Armament debuts the rumored .380 version sooner rather than later, and not just for magazines! :)
 
I own several Colt 1903 and 1908 Pocket models and was actually lucky enough to receive two-tone original Mag's with all of them. I did purchase several after market magazines when I purchased the guns (I do shoot them often) and found that the Triple K Mag's are catch as catch can. Sometimes they work and sometimes they are junk - depends on the run.

In general you are better off finding a few genuine Colts, cringe and just write the check! The Colt's will always work perfectly (assuming they have not been damaged of course). Yes you will pay dearly for them, but that is really the best solution - unless of course you do not mind relentlessly trying after-market Mag's until you find one that actually works. Even if you are successful at doing that, they are never the same quality as the originals.
 
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