AMt Backup?
- Thread starter jd70
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I have two. The original model a single action .380 and a .45 acp double action model. Both are reliable. The trigger n the .380 being a single action was never an issue. It was a typical new production trigger that slicked up after a few hundred rounds.
The double action trigger does require a harder pull, nothing surprising there. I did have it smoothed up by a good smith who stoned the surfaces and adjusted the springs. A big imporvement.
The only negative I can see, is that if you insist on using sights all the time, you won't like the trough type site. Being that I'm a point shooter at short distances one would normally use these pistols, it wasn't an issue to me.
I still carry the .45 acp frequently, and when I need something smaller I carry the .380. In fact for year's the .380 was my bicycle gun. The frequent exposure to sweat and such did result in staining of the steel (yes, stainless will rust in a wet salty environment), but it's just surface staining, so it doesn't effect operation.
The double action trigger does require a harder pull, nothing surprising there. I did have it smoothed up by a good smith who stoned the surfaces and adjusted the springs. A big imporvement.
The only negative I can see, is that if you insist on using sights all the time, you won't like the trough type site. Being that I'm a point shooter at short distances one would normally use these pistols, it wasn't an issue to me.
I still carry the .45 acp frequently, and when I need something smaller I carry the .380. In fact for year's the .380 was my bicycle gun. The frequent exposure to sweat and such did result in staining of the steel (yes, stainless will rust in a wet salty environment), but it's just surface staining, so it doesn't effect operation.
bannockburn
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I have had a couple of the older. 380 Back-Ups and found them to be okay in terms of manufacture and reliability. Trigger pulls were somewhat heavy and gritty on the ones I had. On the plus side they were one of the smallest .380s at the time and were affordable and available. Down side was quality control was hit or miss and the design itself wasSold somewhat difficult to field strip. I sold the one I had to buy a Colt Mustang when they came out.
wally
Member
They filled a niche in their day, but there are lots of better choices now. As has been said quality control was spotty, but my .380 & .45 worked with only minor parts replacement.
Wouldn't recommend buying a used on without shooting it to be sure it works as I doubt parts are as easy to find now.
Trigger pulls make the current Kel-Tec P3AT, P11, or PF9 seem wonderful. Being all steel they are heavy, which is not a plus for carry , but is a plus when shooting although the sights and triggers make it unlikely you'll enjoy shooting it much.
Wouldn't recommend buying a used on without shooting it to be sure it works as I doubt parts are as easy to find now.
Trigger pulls make the current Kel-Tec P3AT, P11, or PF9 seem wonderful. Being all steel they are heavy, which is not a plus for carry , but is a plus when shooting although the sights and triggers make it unlikely you'll enjoy shooting it much.
Gordon
Member
I have the older made by AMT .45 Back up. It seems fairly well made but I detail stripped it and polished everything up. You can't reduce any springs to improve the pull as it is part of the recoil management 
which it certainly needs! My trigger is about `12 pounds but smooth which is usable. I pounded and glued a piece of fiber optic in the groove that serves as "sights" and it hasn't blown off in 60 rounds. What only 60 rounds fired? 
Well I wanted to see where it hits at 7 yards and it is about 3" low which is OK but after about 12 rounds I skate board taped the grip as it just about jumped out of my hand.
Now it just rasps my hand with a nasty slap that precludes more that about 18 round strings in a day. It shoots about 3" groups at 7 yards which is OK as I guess at 21 feet a head shot would work with that big orange fiber optic.
I had Mika make me a pocket holster for it and it fits in front jean pocket OK and doesnt print much BUT that 22 oz loaded weight is uncomfortable for very long compared to a 14 oz Air weight snub .38. BUT if you have to have a mediocre accurate .45acp that you could stuff in a 1911 mag and hold it there
in an emergency I guess there is no other choice smaller than the MUCH superior Colt Defender .
which it certainly needs! My trigger is about `12 pounds but smooth which is usable. I pounded and glued a piece of fiber optic in the groove that serves as "sights" and it hasn't blown off in 60 rounds. What only 60 rounds fired? Well I wanted to see where it hits at 7 yards and it is about 3" low which is OK but after about 12 rounds I skate board taped the grip as it just about jumped out of my hand.Now it just rasps my hand with a nasty slap that precludes more that about 18 round strings in a day. It shoots about 3" groups at 7 yards which is OK as I guess at 21 feet a head shot would work with that big orange fiber optic.
I had Mika make me a pocket holster for it and it fits in front jean pocket OK and doesnt print much BUT that 22 oz loaded weight is uncomfortable for very long compared to a 14 oz Air weight snub .38. BUT if you have to have a mediocre accurate .45acp that you could stuff in a 1911 mag and hold it there
in an emergency I guess there is no other choice smaller than the MUCH superior Colt Defender .MICHAEL T
Member
Heavy trigger, weight , Better guns out their today
kcshooter
Member
Ugh.
I had one about 8 years ago, honestly one of very few guns I have sold and felt good about. I didn't work on handguns then to the extent I do now, but I don't think anyone could have made that one reliable.
I had one about 8 years ago, honestly one of very few guns I have sold and felt good about. I didn't work on handguns then to the extent I do now, but I don't think anyone could have made that one reliable.
ApacheCoTodd
member
Love my .45 and carry it most days.
The accuracy always surprises me for the barrel length and lack of sights - very good.
I haven't found a round it won't reliably cycle yet and keep Hydra-shoks in for what it's worth.
The AMT mags I've found have been pretty nice quality mags without issue to date.
I had a fella I know who did AMT warranty work back then look it over after I bought it and he found that all the post sale polishing they need to be good guns had already been done.
I like mine a lot, don't worry about it and shoot it 6-8 times a year. Were I to come across another and the price was right that day, I wouldn't mind havin' two of them at all.
The accuracy always surprises me for the barrel length and lack of sights - very good.
I haven't found a round it won't reliably cycle yet and keep Hydra-shoks in for what it's worth.
The AMT mags I've found have been pretty nice quality mags without issue to date.
I had a fella I know who did AMT warranty work back then look it over after I bought it and he found that all the post sale polishing they need to be good guns had already been done.
I like mine a lot, don't worry about it and shoot it 6-8 times a year. Were I to come across another and the price was right that day, I wouldn't mind havin' two of them at all.
I own an AMT SS Backup in 380 ACP. Records show I've put 247 rounds through it. My son has it currently and I'm sure he and his intended have put more down range.
I have no functionality complaints. FMJ RN and Federal Hydra_Shok functioned perfectly for me. I just don't care for the gun much.
Sights are basically useless and the thing is the only gun I own that is actually painful to shoot after a very few rounds. My best accuracy has been, not surprisingly, at 10' or less. The trigger pull is long and heavy and not conducive to accuracy.
Would I carry it? I have and would again, but it's a true belly gun designed for very close range in my opinion. There are better carry options.
I have no functionality complaints. FMJ RN and Federal Hydra_Shok functioned perfectly for me. I just don't care for the gun much.
Sights are basically useless and the thing is the only gun I own that is actually painful to shoot after a very few rounds. My best accuracy has been, not surprisingly, at 10' or less. The trigger pull is long and heavy and not conducive to accuracy.
Would I carry it? I have and would again, but it's a true belly gun designed for very close range in my opinion. There are better carry options.
Patocazador
Member
I have a .380 and a .45 ACP. Both are well made but both are a little finicky with what you feed them.
The .45 had a godawful trigger pull - both long travel and what seemed like a 20 lb. trigger pull weight. The trigger was too long also. It curved up at the tip and would impinge on my finger. I took a Dremel and got rid of the end curve little by little until it was OK. I took the gun to my gunsmith neighbor and he worked on the trigger to reduce it to about 4 lbs.
Couldn't do much with the long pull but learned to live with it. Now my only gripe is, "it sure is heavy." I keep in my truck with an extra clip of handloaded semi-wadcutters.
The .45 had a godawful trigger pull - both long travel and what seemed like a 20 lb. trigger pull weight. The trigger was too long also. It curved up at the tip and would impinge on my finger. I took a Dremel and got rid of the end curve little by little until it was OK. I took the gun to my gunsmith neighbor and he worked on the trigger to reduce it to about 4 lbs.
Couldn't do much with the long pull but learned to live with it. Now my only gripe is, "it sure is heavy." I keep in my truck with an extra clip of handloaded semi-wadcutters.
hemiram
Member
I had, for a short time, a DA 380 with an amazingly high trigger pull. After one mag, my hand shook like I had Parkinson's, and I had a VERY strong grip. Not any more, my hands took a lot of damage over the last 55+ years and they just don't work right. A gunsmith worked on it, and got it down to 16 or so. He didn't want to go any further with it. I sold it off quickly.
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