Amt ??
- Thread starter .cheese.
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wally
Member
Belly up, wouldn't buy one unless I could shoot it first to be sure it works. I've got a couple of good ones I wouldn't part with.
--wally.
--wally.
My dad carried an AMT .380 on his kevlar vest as a backup weapon while he was a patrol deputy. He never had any issues with it. In fact, now that he is retired he's told me he wished he would not have sold it as he was looking for a small summer carry gun.
Jim Watson
Member
About 40 years ago AMT was famous for bringing out the Automag.
They tried to get on the first run of the 1911 bandwagon with the Hardballer, which was not up to the standard of the Automag. There were several different versions of the Backup. If you have a good one, you have a gun unlike anything else then on the market. If you don't have a good one, it is pretty sad.
They tried to get on the first run of the 1911 bandwagon with the Hardballer, which was not up to the standard of the Automag. There were several different versions of the Backup. If you have a good one, you have a gun unlike anything else then on the market. If you don't have a good one, it is pretty sad.
Okiecruffler
Member
You'll find experiences vary greatly. It depends on who was doing the QC that day, they're either very good, or very very bad.
I've had 2, a .380 back up that took 2 people to pull the trigger and a Long Slide that was the most inaccurate single shot pistol I've ever owned. My brother has a Long Slide, the gun built right after mine actually, he's abused for years. He has several high end 1911's and that Long Slide is still one of his favorites.
I've had 2, a .380 back up that took 2 people to pull the trigger and a Long Slide that was the most inaccurate single shot pistol I've ever owned. My brother has a Long Slide, the gun built right after mine actually, he's abused for years. He has several high end 1911's and that Long Slide is still one of his favorites.
MTallct
Member
I had an AMT, It was my first pistol. It was an AMT .40 Backup. I bought it off my local gun club's president. It was the most unreliable thing I've ever put my my hands on. Would not go into battery at least twice per mag. Had to knock the slide closed with the heel of my hand on most rounds. If there was an easy fix, I didn't know enough to find it.
hornet41
Member
Have an AMT Automag ll, 22 mag. Great pistol, accurate and handles great. BUT, is that thing ever loud!!!!!!!!!!!
MTallct
Member
AMT Backup
I won't argue about the heavy trigger. If only mine was reliable it would a have been a nice piece, although hefty for it's size.
I won't argue about the heavy trigger. If only mine was reliable it would a have been a nice piece, although hefty for it's size.
TimboKhan
Member
AMT Hardballers have a great reputation amongst fans of the video game "Hitman", and an exceedingly poor reputation amongst actual shooters.
herohog
Member
The AMT AutoMags I have owned have been great. This is my AMT Automag III in 9mm Winchester Magnum (9x29)...
Left to Right: 9mm Luger, .38 Super, 9mm WinMag, .38 SPL
Left to Right: 9mm Luger, .38 Super, 9mm WinMag, .38 SPL
Stevie-Ray
Member
All of the Automags were at least interesting and some, like the Automag II (.22mag) were downright cool. Run away fast from the 1911s, though. Not a stretch to say the bad ones outnumbered the good.
AMT moved from Covina to Irwindale and eventually changed it's name to IAI. (Irwindale Arms Inc.) Belly-up, now, as was said.
Most famous AMT was Arnold's (Terminator) Forty-five caliba longslide wit laza sighting?
AMT moved from Covina to Irwindale and eventually changed it's name to IAI. (Irwindale Arms Inc.) Belly-up, now, as was said.
Most famous AMT was Arnold's (Terminator) Forty-five caliba longslide wit laza sighting?
DeadHorrorFan
Member
I've always wanted either the Long Slide 1911 for it's role in Terminator, or the Javelina in 10mm....because it's a 10mm. They did make some great reliable guns. It's just a matter of whether you get an original early one, or a later incarnation of the company version.
it's actually not something I was contemplating purchasing.
I ran across an AMT 1911, and was just a little perplexed.
I know that there is plenty I don't know.... PLENTY..... but still, it's getting more and more rare for me to come across a gun and have the reaction of "***?" like I did.
On the issue of quality and price-point, how do AMT guns fare against say STI, Para, Auto (Kahr), etc.? I get the impression they are lower quality than Kimber, Wilson, etc..... but I'm not sure where exactly they fit into the quality and price-point range.
I ran across an AMT 1911, and was just a little perplexed.
I know that there is plenty I don't know.... PLENTY..... but still, it's getting more and more rare for me to come across a gun and have the reaction of "***?" like I did.
On the issue of quality and price-point, how do AMT guns fare against say STI, Para, Auto (Kahr), etc.? I get the impression they are lower quality than Kimber, Wilson, etc..... but I'm not sure where exactly they fit into the quality and price-point range.
bannockburn
Member
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.cheese.
A buddy of mine had a Hardballer that I worked on to get it up and running. The thing that amazed me the most was the obvious fact that there was little, if any, polishing or hand-fitting done to the gun at the factory. The internal areas of the frame and slide were rough and unfinished, and the parts appeared to have been dropped-in to the gun, without any regard to their fit and finish. I eventually replaced nearly all of them with either Colt or Wilson parts. When the gun was working right, it was very accurate, but as the name implied, only with 230 gr. hardball.
A buddy of mine had a Hardballer that I worked on to get it up and running. The thing that amazed me the most was the obvious fact that there was little, if any, polishing or hand-fitting done to the gun at the factory. The internal areas of the frame and slide were rough and unfinished, and the parts appeared to have been dropped-in to the gun, without any regard to their fit and finish. I eventually replaced nearly all of them with either Colt or Wilson parts. When the gun was working right, it was very accurate, but as the name implied, only with 230 gr. hardball.
Okiecruffler
Member
They also made that 30 carbine automag. I'd take a chance on one of those if I found one.
Rampant_Colt
Member
what a cool friggin' ad!
greyling22
Member
from modern firearms website:
"The "new" Automag pistols emerged during late 1980s from the same Harry Sanford who brought the original Auto Mag pistols about 15 years earlier. The "new" Automag pistols (note that they name is spelled in single word, unlike the name of 1971-vintage original .44 Auto Mag) were produced by the company, owned by Harry Sanford and known either as AMT (Arcadia Machine and Tool) or IAI (Irwindale Arms Inc). After some turbulences, AMT / IAI finally went out of business by late 1990s, and sold rights to Automag pistols to another company, Galena Industries, which also did not lasted long. However, in the 2004 the re-established High Standard Corporation announced that it will make Automag pistols; today (spring 2006) only .22WMR Automag II pistols are listed in High Standard price lists. Original AMT Automag II pistols were manufactured since 1987. AMT Automag III pistols were made between 1992 and late 1990s, and Automag IV and V were produced circa 1993-96.
It must be noted that original AMT / IAI pistols were not known for great reliability or durability; most models were "hit or miss" propositions, with some specimens being rather well made and providing good service, and some others being among the worst jam-o-matics available for the money.
The Automag pistols were never really intended for any serious defensive of security use; they key niches were plinking and hunting. The only pistols from Automag line that were more or less suitable for concealed carry were .22 caliber Automag II with 3 3/4 or 4 1/2 inch barrels. Also, all centerfire Automag pistols had rather large grips, necessary because of use of relatively big and long cartridges."
I think I recall them being sued out of buisness for copying the ruger mk2. but I could be wrong.
"The "new" Automag pistols emerged during late 1980s from the same Harry Sanford who brought the original Auto Mag pistols about 15 years earlier. The "new" Automag pistols (note that they name is spelled in single word, unlike the name of 1971-vintage original .44 Auto Mag) were produced by the company, owned by Harry Sanford and known either as AMT (Arcadia Machine and Tool) or IAI (Irwindale Arms Inc). After some turbulences, AMT / IAI finally went out of business by late 1990s, and sold rights to Automag pistols to another company, Galena Industries, which also did not lasted long. However, in the 2004 the re-established High Standard Corporation announced that it will make Automag pistols; today (spring 2006) only .22WMR Automag II pistols are listed in High Standard price lists. Original AMT Automag II pistols were manufactured since 1987. AMT Automag III pistols were made between 1992 and late 1990s, and Automag IV and V were produced circa 1993-96.
It must be noted that original AMT / IAI pistols were not known for great reliability or durability; most models were "hit or miss" propositions, with some specimens being rather well made and providing good service, and some others being among the worst jam-o-matics available for the money.
The Automag pistols were never really intended for any serious defensive of security use; they key niches were plinking and hunting. The only pistols from Automag line that were more or less suitable for concealed carry were .22 caliber Automag II with 3 3/4 or 4 1/2 inch barrels. Also, all centerfire Automag pistols had rather large grips, necessary because of use of relatively big and long cartridges."
I think I recall them being sued out of buisness for copying the ruger mk2. but I could be wrong.
Fat Boy
Member
The biggest issue I've heard of, at least in regards to the smaller "Back ups" is finding additional magazines...
Stevie-Ray
Member
As far as 1911s, I would put them above Llamas, nothing more. Llamas were found to have such different innards that most didn't even consider them 1911s. Getting a good one was a great victory. Other than that you had to MAKE a good one.
I would still consider purchasing an Automag II, though. I always liked them and considered them to most likely be a great and fun toy.
herohog
Member
I plan to add the .30 Carbine III and the .45 WinMag IV to the one I have. I had a friend who I ordered a IV in .45 WinMag for and wish I had gotten it from him when I had the chance. GREAT shooting hand-cannon!
ShunZu
member
Had a .45 hardballer years ago... traded it because it was finicky with ammo and lots of FTF and FTE's. My only experience with the AMT's. Just .02.
I've owned a few, Harry's personal collection is now on GB, being pieced out at auction one by one. You can learn a little of AMT history there. The long-slides are still quite desirable today bringing $6-9 hundred, as are the 50's. The .22mag is a great little sidearm for a walk in the woods. The back-up's are a breed that has been replaced by Kel-tec and other modern makes. The 50 was known as the lightest semi-auto made to chamber that round, maybe not such a good thing. Mine has a tendency to lock the slide back between rounds, but that could be due to my left leg kicking violently upward during recoil, I don't know for sure as every time you trip the trigger there is a moment of time that is lost in distorted confusion. The standard 5" hardballer is the one least loved of the line, there are other 1911's that can do the job in that highly competitive world. The long-slides are my favorites, tweaked a bit they are extremely accurate and reliable, my standard 5" 1911's don't come out to play anymore...
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