Home » Blogs » New from Colt: Mustang XSP

New from Colt: Mustang XSP

Robert Farago - comments No comments

 Colt Mustang XSP (courtesy guns.com)

Colt introduced the now-iconic Mustang pocket pistol in 1983. Three years later the Connecticut-based manufacturer introduced a PocketLite version. The small semi was beloved by owners but a damp squib commercially. Colt revived the PocketLite in 2011— just in time to miss the .380 craze. And now that Ruger’s sold twenty trillion LCPs (and LC9s) Colt’s rolling out their polymer Mustang XSP. “The new XSP takes the best of its predecessor models and adds features that will make it appealing to an even wider customer base,” Colt Marketing Veep Joyce Rubino proclaims in her presser. Specifically, Colt reckons the XSP (also the IATA code for Seletar Airport) has ergonomic advantages over its Ruger and SIG SAUER competition . . .

Taking advantage of the polymer grip frame, the most noticeable features of the XSP model revolve around optimizing grip comfort and utility. A molded thumb perch under the safeties lets the gun sit easily and comfortably in hands of all sizes. A special enhanced cut behind the trigger guard also helps the gun sit lower in the user’s hand. Blended safety and sidestop profiles, as well as enhanced texturing on the front and back strap, provide increased comfort and create a snag-free profile.

While some basic features of the Mustang Pocketlite, such as size, magazine and slide, continue in the Mustang XSP, numerous changes to the new model reflect customer sentiment. This includes upgrading the front sight on the XSP to a dovetailed design that is more visible to the user. The slide serrations on the XSP have been enhanced to offer an improved grip when working the slide. The XSP also features ambidextrous safeties, rather than the typical single sided safety. Two additional changes are an integral 3/8” accessory rail below the dust cover, and a squared off trigger guard that will allow for easy mounting of lasers and lights to enhance personal protection capabilities.

The Mustang XSP is constructed of an ultra-durable engineered polymer, making it the lightest-weight of all the Mustang models at less than 12 ounces.  The slide and barrel are machined from stainless steel bar stock, and the slide has a blackened finish. The XSP has a 6-round magazine capacity, is chambered in .380 Auto and has a recommended retail of $649.

Whoa. Six-and-a-half bills? You can get a slim and trim 9.4 ounce Ruger LCP for $379. Not the same, obviously. But it fires the same cartridge and does so reliably. You pays your money . . .

Tags Handguns
Photo of author

Robert Farago

Robert Farago is the former publisher of The Truth About Guns (TTAG). He started the site to explore the ethics, morality, business, politics, culture, technology, practice, strategy, dangers and fun of guns.

0 thoughts on “New from Colt: Mustang XSP”

  1. Thank you SFC Danny Ferguson, and his parents, for I know somehow you will see him again, and this message will reach him and his brothers and sisters in arms.

    I will not forget your name, and once again,
    I will remind my son and daughter there are men such as you serving our country, and protecting our family, and our freedoms. You are our hero.

    Prayers for your family, and your fiancee.

    Reply
  2. See, that’s why you buy Russian guns. They designed to run perfectly on crappy, low-quality ammo and when you feed them something nice they just smile and say “Thanks!”.

    Reply
  3. Never fired the LCP, but the LC9 is a snappy little beast. I can see the advantage of a slightly heavier .380, the few ounces of difference between my Ruger .357 and my FIL’s Ruger .357 makes a world of difference in fatigue and follow up shots.

    But not for almost twice the price.

    Reply
  4. I own a Glock 17 (smooth grips) from about 1990 that STILL works just fine. Couldn’t even guess how many rounds through it. This kinda stuff happens all the time, you just dont hear about it. Department I used to work for: SigPro’s that jammed constantly, SW99’s that the rear sight popped off constantly, current issue M&P’s that won’t feed copper wash vs. copper jacket bullets. It happens, you fix it and move on…

    Reply
  5. A lot of credit unions offer the same types of swiper services, with similar prices, and lots less judgement.
    I appreciate their making these kinds of decisions easily. I wish all businesses wore their “I wanna crawl up Bloomberg’s ass!” buttons so openly, it would make not giving them money much more expedient.

    Reply
  6. “Yup, Dorsey’s a big fan of hi-tech eavesdropper, civilian disarmament proponent and all around fascist bastard, Michael Bloomberg.”

    Nice, but you forgot Stop-and-Frisker, billionaire out-of-state political donor, social elitist, etc.

    I find it amusing that “elite” NYers from the city are all sharing web petitions against racial profiling on the southern border but love the guy doing it in their own town.

    Reply
  7. It’s about POWER. That’s all it has ever been about. Three words on a bumper sticker say it all: “You’ll Take Orders”.

    Reply
  8. I’ve had a 91/30 since pretty much forever. Paid $55 for it. (I still have the reciept from Jim’s Gun and Pawn in Fayetteville NC back in 1989. I also got a Chineese SKS for free from Jim’s when I bought a case of surplus 7.62×39 for about a hundred bucks.) It wasn’t the best bolt action military rifle of it’s day…not even close…but like everything else the Russians did it was peasant proof.

    Reply
  9. I’m sure gay rights persecution is next, no?….. Probably not, otherwise that necktie would have to go. Hopefully one day our rights will have some real teeth, Randy

    Reply
  10. I don’t get it. Square can prevent sales to law-abiding citizens for personal and political reasons, yet Chik-Fil-A must allow abortion-friendly insurance for its employees despite the owner’s personal reasons. Sounds like a huge double-standard to me.

    Reply
  11. The IRS Scandal is going to kick out Obama’s legs from under him.

    Among the many reasons that Nixon was going to be Impeached… using the IRS to target his political enemies was one of them. There is precedence to Impeach Obama over this.

    Reply
    • He didn’t actually use the IRS against anyone. He only said he wanted to and then he ended up getting audited himself.

      Reply
  12. On the federal level: Yes. IRS and Benghazi gives the weaker R senators (Hello Senator Ayotte!) an out till 2017 “I would vote for gun control checks, but we can’t trust this Admin to do the right thing…”

    On the state level: It’ll never be dead.

    Reply
  13. the government doesn’t grant me the right to carry a gun, and neither does the Constitution. it merely protects a right granted to me by my creator, so why would i request permission from the government to carry one, open or concealed, especially seeing that same government has proven time and again that it wants to see me completely disarmed?

    Reply
  14. Many here seem to mix up NYC with NYS , 2 different planets really . Where I live carry permits are easy to get, good for life,no classes to take. My neighbors,friends, co workers all carry and own all kinds of long guns,we grew up hunting,fishing,trapping .

    Sad part is NYC has the population so,we get who they elect.

    Reply
  15. This will radically change warfare, I believe. Not only will boars have nowhere to run, but neither will soldiers. This will bring in the latest wave of emphasis on a defensive style of warfare. Maginot, here we come.

    Reply
  16. I got my new Sig P238 with Sig Night Sights and a Truglo front sight for $500 out the door with a box of ammo in 2012. I absolutely love it and as far as looks go it’s a 10 compared to this Colt.

    Reply
  17. This would be a great time for a private investor or 2 to take these manufacturers out of public holding and bring back quality products instead of feeding a bunch of stockholders.

    Reply
  18. Just bought my second colt mustang XSP. Fired 50 rounds out of box no problems. My first was a mustang plus two for 350 bucks in 1984 it’s worth around 1000 bucks today if you can find one. No jams ever from the plus two. I love me some colt pistols.

    Reply
  19. I own the all-metal Pocketlite version. It has been as flawless as a pocket pistol can be. Yesterday while my wife and a friends wife were shooting some small guns lookng for CC choices, i got the chance to handle the polymer version.

    The polymer version is only 1 oz lighter than the aluminum alloy version, and feels so much crappier. the controls are cheap feeling, although the ambi-safety is an advantage over the Pocketlite’s right-handed safety. the grip is ever-so-slightly thinner but not as grabable. It’s cheaper than the all-metal version, but it doesn’t feel as good in the hand.

    The two ladies liked shooting the all-metal Pocketlite, and commented on how easy it is to shoot for such a small gun. I might get one for my wife.

    IMO, the Pocketlite feels better in the hand than the Sig P238, too.

    Bottom line: if a “tiny 1911” appeals to you, my recommendation is to save up a little more get the metal version Colt Mustang Pocketlite. Hey, it’s cheaper than a Kimber micro!

    Reply

Leave a Comment