AMT Backup 45?

[megatronrules]

I saw one of these at my local shop. I'm kind of intrigued by it. After I a little research I've found its and original and not a high standard model. Being it does not have a firing pin block would it be safe to carry with a round in the chamber?

 

[moxie]

They are typically unsafe since they typically don't work. Junk. Don't carry it at all. Better yet, don't buy it. Don't take it even for free!

 

[Walt Sherrill]

And the ones that do work have a reputation for hurting the shooter almost as much as they hurt the target. They are not pleasant guns to shoot.

 

[jimbo555]

Springfield xds 45 or Kahr pm45. if you need a small 45.

 

[wally]

There are much better choices now. It filled a niche back in its day. QA/QC was spotty but mine worked fine and was carried until the more modern replacement appeared.

Mine has been a safe queen for a long time now, resale value is low, but it filled a need back in the day and I didn't pay a lot for it initially.

 

[MachIVshooter]

Agree with the others. While a novel concept in it's day, poor execution and heavy materials put it at the bottom of the list for subcompact .45 pistols. You'd be better off with the Cobra Patriot.

The PM45 is nice, the CW45 a lot cheaper and not much bigger. Also, I'm not a Taurus fan, but the PT145 is actually a pretty decent firearm, and a lot of firepower in a very small package.

All that said, with modern ammo, the .45 doesn't really offer an advantage over the 9mm, which can be had in even smaller guns costing less money. I have a S&W CS45, which is pretty small, but compared to my DB9 and numerous other micro 9s, it is humonculous.

 

[george burns]

It was unique when it first came out, 20 yrs ago. Now it's not a good choice, the trigger pull is outrageous and you will need to tinker with it constantly

 

[Drail]

It was a dumb idea when introduced - and still is. Just say no.

 

[bannockburn]

megatronrules

Had a couple of the AMT Backup .380s and as others have already stated quality was relatively hit or miss with these guns; mostly miss. Tried the AMT Backup in .45 and found the DAO trigger to be way too heavy to be of much practical use in terms of accuracy and comfort. Lots of better choices out there nowadays for smaller size concealed carry .45s.

 

[jeepnik]

Have carried one for years. It works just fine. And yes it's safe to carry.

Here's the deal. They are not comfortable to shoot. They needed to be broke in before they could be relied on. Just like any other handgun.

But, not very many folks wanted to put the time and effort into them. Most that you will find have likely been shot fewer that 20 times, 5 by each of the 4 previous owners.

Mine will feed JHP's just fine. But, I've put hundreds of rounds through it. Now the trigger is a bit stiff, admittedly. However, a good smith can stone the contact surfaces and smooth and lighten it up nicely.

Oh, and most of the BS about them being so terrible comes from folks who are repeating what they have read on the web.

 

[agtman]

Agree with Moxie & others. That AMT is junk. Pass on it.

If you want a reliable, safe, and smallish .45 auto (typically a 3" gun), look into something like a Colt Defender or New Agent. It will be money better spent.

 

[mavracer]

I sold mine when I got my Kahr CW45 I chopped the grip frame down to take PM45 mags. It's only a 1/2 longer than AMT and the same height, it weighs 4 or 5 oz less too and is much much easier to shoot accuratly. I can easily shoot at 25 yards with my Kahr as well as I struggled to do at 10 with the AMT.

 

[DeepSouth]

I had one back in the day and sold it because it had about a 18-20 lb trigger pull. I don't ever remember it having a problem with it, my brother has one in .40 that has been very reliable and is his primary CCW. They are also heavy when compared to today's poly pistols.

Like other have said, their are better options today, but don't believe they are as bad as they are made out to be.

I really, really wish other manufacturers would make the slides rounded on the top like AMT did. The square slides only cause the gun to print more and add extra weight, IMO.

 

[bikerdoc]

Megatron, you deserve better and your smart enough to find better.
Not in the same league, and maybe not what you want but an officer model 1911 by Rock Island or ATI
Is only a little more and totally reliable.

 

[Gordon]

Jeepnik nailed it, on a good early one before they got rougher than a cob. Sorted out it is quite a poket rocket and you can get accurate hits out to 50 feet if you put a light pipe in the front groove. NOT a head shot gun tho and it does hurt to shoot and is kinda heavy compared to a Shield .40 BUT it is a very small .45 acp. I use mine as a back up to a belt .45

 

[moxie]

Have carried one for years. It works just fine. And yes it's safe to carry.

Here's the deal. They are not comfortable to shoot. They needed to be broke in before they could be relied on. Just like any other handgun.

But, not very many folks wanted to put the time and effort into them. Most that you will find have likely been shot fewer that 20 times, 5 by each of the 4 previous owners.

Mine will feed JHP's just fine. But, I've put hundreds of rounds through it. Now the trigger is a bit stiff, admittedly. However, a good smith can stone the contact surfaces and smooth and lighten it up nicely.

Oh, and most of the BS about them being so terrible comes from folks who are repeating what they have read on the web.

Not all handguns need breaking in.

Have you actually fired a Backup that has had an action job? How was it?

 

[Gordon]

My Back up has an action job and a 10 lb DA smooth pull. I feel the gun is an exceedingly safe pocket gun because the hammer is NOT a striker fire type but remains uncocked. there lies the rub in the design ; the hammer spring is actually part of the recoil spring system and should not be reduced ! FWIW I use +p 185 grain loads in my back up which clock 875 FPS at 15 feet from the muzzle. This load expands well at 50 feet in meat and has noticely softer recoil than 230 loads.

 

[Gordon]

here are good pictures of mine and I carry it on my leg quite a bit
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[herrwalther]

I had a Backup in .380 quite a few years ago. Was actually a great gun with just a few picky points. It didn't like ANY HP ammo. Was FMJ all the way with that guy. It was heavy for what it was, something like 15.5 oz unloaded. And I had to grip it a certain way, the grip safety had the habit of pinching and cut the web of my hand while shooting. Nothing serious, just annoying if you pump more than 50 rounds through.

 

[highlander 5]

I've had various AMT pistols mostly their full size autos in 45 acp not a single one ever worked. Friend had a 380 Back Up first shot the slide sliced his thumb knuckle we thought that he was going to need stitches. Took it apart and did a deburr job on it.

 

[Swing]

I've seen some that run fine and others that were a glorified paperweight. All them, however, had a trigger pull that is beyond terrible. It was a super cool concept in the 90s, but there are better options now.

 

[TruthTellers]

I don't see why people desire a .45 for a backup gun or a primary CCW. A .45 is oversized and overkill for that role. The 9mm single stacks and hollow point design enhancements that have come out the past 10+ years have put the .45 out of business as a sensible CC gun as the 9's hold more rounds.

I would skip it, go for something in 9mm. Unless you are dedicated to reloading .45 or shoot best with .45, don't choose .45 ACP for a single stack carry pistol and don't get AMT. Such better pistols with much better engineering are available.

 

[md2lgyk]

I bought a Backup in .22lr back in the 1980s. I lived in MD then (no CCW) so I bought it just to play with and because I liked the way it looked. All I ever shot out of it were CCI Stingers and it worked every time I pulled the trigger. It was fun to shoot, but I can only imagine what the recoil would be like with a .45ACP version.

I sold the thing long ago, but if I came across another one I'd probably buy it just for the nostalgia factor - I bought the first one the same year I met my wife, and I still have her.

 

[bannockburn]

Gordon

Looks to be a section of fiber optic in the front groove of your Backup. What did you use to attach it there? I took one of my Backup .380s to a gunsmith to see if he could put some sights on it but he said there wasn't enough metal to mill out a dovetail in the slide.

 

[sarge83]

"It was unique when it first came out, 20 yrs ago. Now it's not a good choice, the trigger pull is outrageous and you will need to tinker with it constantly"

My wifes boss sent a Ruger P89, Colt King Cobra and AMT .45 Backup home with her to see if I wanted to buy them, he wanted a new set of golf clubs. I checked all for being unloaded immediately and then racked the slide on the AMT and tried pulling the trigger. It finally went click but with considerable effort. I called my wife into the room showed her the AMT was unloaded and racked it into cocked position and handed to her and said try pulling the trigger. After several seconds of struggling with 2 fingers she got it to click and fire.

Her boss wanted $450 for the Ruger and $450 for the AMT and $300 for the Colt King Cobra which was in pristine condition. I told her ask him for sure his prices and if the Colt is $300 still tell him I'll take it, pass on the others. This was 15 yrs. ago.

I have to .380 single action version of the AMT backup. Goes bang every time, but it hurts to shoot and I don't trust the safety. Had it nearly 20 yrs. Safe queen...