44 auto mag makes a return

[Archibald Stanton]

I don’t believe it…… unless it was in the script and then left on the editing room floor. Here’s why:

Clint is known in Hollywood as “one take Clint”. He is famous for coming in under budget for his films. He would not waste that kind of time and money. And he did direct Sudden Impact.

And the comment is wrong about that AutoMag being built by a retired gun designer, unless she is referring to the gun being Manufactured by Harry Sanford, of Automag.

I know the guy that set that Automag up for Clint. He wasn’t retired, and not a gun designer. He is/was a master weapon smith.

Most likely she was confused since Clint threw his badge into the pond of one of the movies at the end. The problem was that he was not planning to do it so they didn't order enough badges and if they had to do multiple takes, they would not have another badge if they lost it in the water. Clint practiced by throwing rocks in the water and they put a blanket underwater where he threw it so that they could find it easily if they had to do it over again. It's way too similar to what she is claiming happened with the gun.

 

[Japle]

Still crazy numbers. I could see it with the super Blackhawk. Closest I have is the super redhawk but it’s the Alaskan so 2” barrel. It can take anything made for any .44 but is still limited in velocity. It’s my favorite .44 that’s not a rifle and a lot of stuff I have put in there, I would not dare to put in my other .44 mag revolvers

They seem crazy, because you don't have any experience with the caliber and haven't bothered to do any research.

 

[Archibald Stanton]

not really worth responding to that more than I already have but thanks

 

[redcon1]

I don’t believe it…… Here’s why:

I don't know if it's true. I first heard of it while watching the Demolition Ranch video on the automag and I don't know where he got his information. I have always wanted one but have heard that they weren't terribly reliable and so, I was hesitant to shell out the thousands that people were asking for them no matter how cool they look. The gun seemed to be a jamomatic in the demolition ranch video too which confirmed my bias I suppose. I agree it's hard to envision Clint throwing a gun in the ocean but the story is so bizarre (a scuba diver?), you have to wonder.

ETA: I guess it was just individuals commenting in the comment section about this story, not the dude in the video himself.

 

[Patocazador]

The .44 Automag uses cut-down and reamed .308 rifle cases. It is a real PIA to ream these things so I make sure I never lose one when shooting. CDM (Mexican) made ammo for it but the bullets don't really expand like real HP bullets. Norma and Jurras (Super Vel) also made ammo and cases and they are like gold.

BTW, the cases have less capacity than .44 Mag so the pressure is higher.

I hunted with it several times but only killed a boar hog with it. The guy with me shinnied up a sapling when the boar came our way. One shot dropped it in its tracks.

 

[Japle]

I did a lot of work on AutoMags in the late '70s and early '80s. They often left the factory (one of the factories; the company changed hands several times) with massive burrs and other issues showing poor quality control and causing jams.
Owners frequently loaded their ammo to insane pressures, but it was tough to break an AutoMag. The bolt rotation pins would break, but they cost under $10, so it wasn't a big deal. Those pins cost $75 now!
Loading to pressures that flattened, cratered and sometimes pierced CCI350 primers was common.
My first .44 AutoMag cost me $315. I bought an 8 1/2" .44 barrel and had it Magnaported, then picked up an 8 1/2" .357AMP barrel. I stupidly sole the whole collection 40 years ago, but now I have a 6 /12" .44 and a 10 1/2" .357 barrel. I shot the .357 this morning. My 150 grain load was grouping under 2" at 50 yds, which is pretty good for my 76-year-old eyes.

 

[Reinz]

I don't know if it's true. I first heard of it while watching the Demolition Ranch video on the automag and I don't know where he got his information. I have always wanted one but have heard that they weren't terribly reliable and so, I was hesitant to shell out the thousands that people were asking for them no matter how cool they look. The gun seemed to be a jamomatic in the demolition ranch video too which confirmed my bias I suppose. I agree it's hard to envision Clint throwing a gun in the ocean but the story is so bizarre (a scuba diver?), you have to wonder.

ETA: I guess it was just individuals commenting in the comment section about this story, not the dude in the video himself.

I saw that Demo Ranch video. If you noticed at the end, Matt gave the Whole Package back to the gun shop which included ammo. I bet a dollar to the donut that Matt did not load that ammo. Who knows what kind of reloads the previous owner included?

Maybe I’m lucky, I’ve owned 4 Automags, sold two to my brother. We didn’t have issues with our loads. As Japle said, with so many different companies producing them there are bound to be lemons.

A totally different AM that my brother bought sheared off the bolt lugs.

 

[Archibald Stanton]

I saw that Demo Ranch video. If you noticed at the end, Matt gave the Whole Package back to the gun shop which included ammo. I bet a dollar to the donut that Matt dis not load that ammo. Who knows what kind of reloads the previous owner included?

Maybe I’m lucky, I’ve owned 4 Automags, sold two to my brother. We didn’t have issues with our loads. As Japle said, with so many different companies producing them there are bound to be lemons.

A totally different AM that my brother bought sheared of the bolt lugs.

I wonder how the new ones will compare. I’m assuming they purchased the original dies

 

[Mark_Mark]

PSA , FYI, AKA

it’s $4,000!

 

[Reinz]

PSA , FYI, AKA

it’s $4,000!

Supposedly Harry lost at lest $500 on every AM he sold when they were in the $300 range. I’ve heard numbers higher, but none lower.

Let’s just say the 1973 ones should have sold for $800. In today’s dollars that’s $4900.

Maybe 4 k for a 2021-22 model is not such a bad deal.

 

[Mark_Mark]

Supposedly Harry lost at lest $500 on every AM he sold when they were in the $300 range. I’ve heard numbers higher, but none lower.

Let’s just say the 1973 ones should have sold for $800. In today’s dollars that’s $4900.

Maybe 4 k for a 2021-22 model is not such a bad deal.

if all guns cost what they did back then plus inflation, average guy would probably 2-3 guns.

 

[Archibald Stanton]

if all guns cost what they did back then plus inflation, average guy would probably 2-3 guns.

Don’t let Uncle Joe know

 

[Japle]

My AutoMag pair.

 

[Seedy Character]

My AutoMag pair.
View attachment 1054852

Is that bottom one, a ghost gun?

A new, Ruger SuperBlackhawk was $199. That would make them over $1200. Not that far off.

 

[Japle]

Is that bottom one, a ghost gun?

The bottom one is a .44AMP barrel. It can be swapped for the .357AMP barrel shown on the frame in about 10 seconds.
Just lock the bolt back, flip the barrel lock lever (above the trigger guard) down, pull the barrel extension off and slide the other one on. Flip the lever up and that's it.
Both calibers use the same frame and magazine.

 

[Pelo801]

Way more interesting than another optics ready high capacity 9mm polystriker or Barbied-up AR platform.

Thats right

 

[stanley_white]

Don’t forget Burt Reynolds in “Malone.”

-Stan

 

[Archibald Stanton]

Is that bottom one, a ghost gun?

A new, Ruger SuperBlackhawk was $199. That would make them over $1200. Not that far off.

That is close to what I paid for my super redhawk

 

[Jim Watson]

I did a lot of work on AutoMags in the late '70s and early '80s. They often left the factory (one of the factories; the company changed hands several times) with massive burrs and other issues showing poor quality control and causing jams.
Owners frequently loaded their ammo to insane pressures, but it was tough to break an AutoMag. The bolt rotation pins would break, but they cost under $10, so it wasn't a big deal. Those pins cost $75 now!
Loading to pressures that flattened, cratered and sometimes pierced CCI350 primers was common.

Kent Lomont did several articles in Gun Digest and Handloader's Digest about the care and feeding of the Automag.
Gun refining, magazine selection, lubrication, and ammo were all there. He scoped some of his and said that .44 would kick a Leupold pistol scope loose in pretty short order, but that, like those rotating pins, it was not a serious problem because Leupold would overhaul them for low cost.

M. Ayoob took a .44 revolver to Africa, he had it cut for .44 Automag in clips.

 

[Mark_Mark]

fYI boys… it’s $4,000! you can New York Carry 4 model 29’s for that price

 

[DM~]

fYI boys… it’s $4,000! you can New York Carry 4 model 29’s for that price

And every one of them would be 4 times better. lol

DM

 

[Japle]

Kent Lomont did several articles in Gun Digest and Handloader's Digest about the care and feeding of the Automag.
Gun refining, magazine selection, lubrication, and ammo were all there. He scoped some of his and said that .44 would kick a Leupold pistol scope loose in pretty short order, but that, like those rotating pins, it was not a serious problem because Leupold would overhaul them for low cost.

M. Ayoob took a .44 revolver to Africa, he had it cut for .44 Automag in clips.

Kent and I corresponded a lot in those days. I still have the letters he typed in my AutoMag files along with his notes on care and feeding. No question he fired more rounds through AutoMags than anyone by a large factor.
I just made a deal for a MagnaPorted 10 1/2" .44AMP barrel. Hope to have it in a week or so.
I tried mounting a tiny 1.7X "Hudson Handgunner" scope on my .357AMP barrel. Every time I fired a shot, the scope would rotate 10-15 degrees in the mount - right up until the mount broke loose and the scope and mount bounced off my skull and sailed into a trash can at the range. I had a machinist buddy make a mount that replaced the left grip and held the scope centered over the barrel. That was a winner and I used the gun for hunting for a couple of years.
Sorry about the crappy photo.

 

[Mark_Mark]

OK here the thang, Desert Eagle already makes a .44 with rotating bolt and cool 1999style, why not go that route for 1/3 the price

 

[Nuclear]

Well, the DE is very ammo sensitive, will only function with full power 44 mag loads, you can’t touch the magazines when shooting it, even with your pinky, or it will jam. It is stupidly heavy. And it recoils more than a 44 mag revolver. And the DE is not as cool looking.

 

[dh1633pm]

Seems inexpensive enough.