I have, as my carry gun, a nice Colt Government 380. I like it a great deal, it fits my hands perfectly and the caliber is light and has little recoil.

I want to shoot plate matches with it, and that sort of thing, but I won’t do it unless I can find a spare (2=1, 1=0). Unfortunately spares are scarce as hens teeth.

I can also barely shoot the damned thing. I mean, I do ok in twenty feet, but over thirty I can’t hit a barn from the inside.

So since I won’t easily be able to find a spare gun, I’m looking for something that’s small, preferably steel and not aluminum or plastic, single stack, no bigger than 9mm, that’s common enough that I can easily find two. A bit longer barrel would be OK. I’ve looked at the newer stuff and have seen nothing that seems to have the soul of the Colt. Some of the older stuff is ok but I don’t want to run into the same issues. And it has to be something I can carry year round. I’m open to all suggestions.