AMT backup .380

[.45FMJoe]

Today I took a customer of mine to the range to let him shoot a few different guns to see what kind he likes because he wants to buy another gun. He brought his SIG P226 and his AMT Backup .380!!! I almost died laughing when he pulled the AMT out as I know of their stellar reputation. He tells me he has had the gun for 8 years and has never fired it, someone gave it to him. I told him good luck, I'll bet you $20 you don't get through a full magazine before something screws up. He loads the gun, aims, pulls the trigger....nothing. I laughed, took the gun, verified it was loaded and tried to fire it. *click* Hmm, maybe a hard primer, cycle the slide...aim, *click*. Piece of s#$%, cycle slide, aim, *click*. I proceed to pull the trigger about 10 times just for fun. I cleared the gun, took it out to the store area of the range to get a punch to break the gun apart and found out what the problem was. The firing pin was broken and half of it was missing! The firing pin!!!! So, the guy I was with gave me the gun and told me to have fun with it. Since AMT is out of business, I'm gonna have Bob Cogan at Accurate Plating and Weaponry make me a firing pin. For now, I'm breaking out the dremel to work on the 500 pound trigger pull. If I can get the trigger pull to something decent, I'll prolly keep this thing around as a toy.

Also, I do have a question...how do I get that pin out of the slide to break it down? Am I supposed to pull the slide back any? Or do you just whack it out with a punch while the gun is sitting on a table?

Thanks.

 

[fastbolt]

Well, I can say that I actually saw an AMT .380 functioning normally one day at the range ... until the firing pin broke.

I wasn't involved in repairing it, and don't know if it ever was repaired.

 

[PCRCCW]

I actually depends on which one the little SA version or the DAO version. Ive shot a little DAO version that was a sweety of a CCW gun. Id put it in my pocket anytime. But the stories still ring true..they are either good guns or NOT! Very little inbetween.

Shoot well.

 

[wardog]

I had one of the early SA guns about 15 years ago. It worked great. The only problem was that with a two hand hold it would eject brass directly into my forehead. It seemed to be very good in the fit and finish department. Can't remember how to take it apart, but do remember that it was a pain in the a$$. I think you do have to pull the slide back a little while trying to punch out a pin.

I'd still have it if it hadn't been stolen. :banghead:

 

[MrChicken]

I've got a DAO AMT 380. I havent shot it in about 9 years. When I bought it, I put about 300 rounds throgh it without a failure.

The only negatives I can say about is that it is heavy for a small gun and the trigger pull is about 20 pounds. So heavy my wife and son could not fire it.

 

[JMag]

Why have one made?

Gun Parts Corp has firing pins:

http://www.e-gunparts.com/productschem.asp?chrMasterModel=2310zBACKUP SINGLE ACTION


BTW, I've had mine for over 12 years. It's a single action and has ALWAYS gone bang. Heavy, yep. But, here's betting it will stand up to .380s long-term v. a KelTec P3AT.

 

[.45FMJoe]

I love my Kel-tec P-3AT, wouldn't trade it for anything. So small, light and easy to carry everywhere. Thanks for the link, a firing pin is $12. Cool.

Could someone please tell me how to tear it down? Thanks.

 

[telewinz]

The end was in sight anyhow as soon as the Kel-Tec .380 showed-up. AMT had a great idea but it took Kel-Tec to make it work.

 

[Watch-Six]

I had two of them back twenty plus years ago. Neither one ever worked. I traded off the first one. It was a total POS. Later a salesman convinced me to try another one since the "chief of police" supposedly carried one as a backup. I only bought it on the promise that if it was no good that I could return it. It was even worse than the first one. I made the super salesman take it back. It seems like there was some sort of trick to get the disassembly pin out. I can't remember for sure, I only had the first gun briefly and the second one for one day. Maybe, and I mean maybe, the slide had to be retracted somewhat and held open with something like an empty case to allow the pin to come out. Sorry, but I don't remember exactly. Good luck. Zero dollars is the correct price. Watch-Six