Info on a used AMT Backup .380

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doctorj77

doctorj77

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I'm looking for a little pocket carry gun. I have just under $200 to spend. Not a big fan of the Keltecs, or clones like the Hellcat.

I'm looking a used AMT Backup .380 for sale, in SA. He's asking $200 for it. No idea on the function. Condition, its moderate, but afterall, its stainless. An hour on the buffing wheel can clean that up. Comes with one mag, no box. I've read lots of horror stories, or opinions as some call it. Just wondering what the overall consensus is on this little pocket gun. I like it cause its stainless, being its SA design, and mini 1911 feel.

Also, can find some info on the safeties it has. I know the trigger safety is just that, a trigger safety and does not block out the firing pin. But what about the grip safety? Does anyone know if its positively locks out the firing pin when not engaged? Just wondering as it may dissuade me from carrying one chambered.
 
Is it the DAO model of the single action with the safety?

I used to carry one (DAO model) until I got my P3AT. If you can shoot it to make sure it works fine, if not IMHO you are better off with a P3AT, LCP, or even Taurus TCP. All are much lighter and a little thinner, but the AMT filled a niche back in its day, too bad they didn't have the greatest QA/QC making them hit and miss indeed. Didn't help that California was doing their best to drive them out of business.


I paid like $189 new for mine back when they still were being made.
 
I've owned both the SA and DAO .380 Backups, as well as a Kel-tec P3AT. I still have the Kel-tec.
 
Yeah is the SA (single action) model. I've owned a Taurus TCP 738, and owned a S&W Bodyguard 380. Both were pretty good. But I just prefer all alloy guns. I handled teh Keltecs and Ruger LCPs. Of course they got the AMT beat on reliability. But I've never really been a big fan of plastic. I know its lighter and all that, but I just like steel guns.

Now does the DA model measure up any better in terms of reliability? Or is it about the same?
 
Its an assumption. But that's really tough to compare both brands against AMT. I mean first of all, there are far more numbers produced than AMT. Plus, Keltecs and Rugers have a decent track record in terms of quality.

Had AMT stayed in production, it sounds possible they could have gotten their quality standards up too. We'll never know. But since they didn't last long enough, their reputation seems to be 50/50.

I'm still interested in buying the gun, but just was asking people's thoughts on it is all. I carry my Colts and Smiths, but I love the oddity guns. Hell, I even like Jennings despite their reputation. I still don't think its worth $200. Not with the - PR the gunboards have given it. If he can come down in price a little, I'll be interested in buying it still.
 
My SA AMT worked fine, even with the magazines modified to hold one more round. It's heavy for it's size and power.

The ones with wood or clear plastic grips supposedly had more problems than the ones with black plastic grips (like mine)

I told a famous gunsmith (Ikey Starks) that MY particular AMT worked. His advice was to sell it before that changed, so I did, getting a S&W Model 36 instead.

If I was dead set on an all metal .380, I'd get the Sig 238
 
The Sig 238 seems to have its fair share of problems as well.
Click to expand...

Mine certainly had more issues out of the box than my AMT Backup did, and it cost a whole lot more, significantly better shooter though now that I seem to have it working.
 
I have one in DAO and it's basically a safe queen. 380 ACP is the only cartridge I don't load for which I own a gun.

Reasonably accurate within seven yards, long heavy trigger pull and no sights to speak of. The rear sight is a groove in the rear of the slide.

What I dislike the most is you have to drift out a tiny pin to field strip it. But being stainless steel and shot very little that's more of a preference issue. For a "belly gun" it's fine, but it's just not any fun to shoot compared to others I own. Mine even functions perfectly with Federal Hydrashok ammo.

With the advent of subcompact 9mm guns and more advanced designs for the .380, this gun is a Dinosaur.

You can download a manual here:
http://www.stevespages.com/page7b.htm
 
I own both a Sig P238 and a backup SA, there is no comparison, the Sig is much more of a gun than the Backup. One big plus for the Backup, it has no plastic other than the grips.

Having said all that I carry a KelTec, though without any personal attachment, it is truly a survival tool only.
 
I never had any troubles with my SA AMT. Got rid of it years ago because I never felt comfortable carrying it with a chambered round. I still have a set of the black plastic grips if anyone needs them.
 
I carried a DA 380 AMT about my place for years and did shoot a couple of snakes with it. It functioned always 100% and it gave good minute of man accuracy. It was easy to hit the head of medium sized pepper popper with it at 7 yards. What ever you do test fire half a box through the gun prior to the sale. I had another, single action type, and it would never function well and got rid of it.
 
Does anyone know how the grip safety works on the AMT? I know the trigger safety is just prevents the trigger from moving. Its not a true firing pin block.

Reason I ask is I read a lot of people won't carry one chambered. I understand why, but why is the grip safety there then?
 
Having said all that I carry a KelTec, though without any personal attachment, it is truly a survival tool only.
Click to expand...
Yup....same here.
I have dozens of steel pocket guns that I could carry, I carry a basic Kel-Tec tool. It is not for show'n'tell, it's for CC.
I've passed on that same 'Back-Up' model a few times now. While it would be an historical (archeological) addition to my pocket pistol herd, people always want too much money for what they are.
.
 
outerlimit said:
The Sig 238 seems to have its fair share of problems as well.
Click to expand...

The ones I've fired worked great.

Keltecs have had issues, but mine work, as does my Walther P-22.

No matter the gun, you should make sure YOURS works.

I'm not a fan if the .380 for a primary defensive arm, no matter what the capacity is, but if size isn't an issue, CDNN has the 13+1 Beretta 84's for $369
 
Well we'll see here soon enough how it handles. I bought it yesterday for $150. It does appear the safety spring has collapsed under the safety bar. I've ordered a new one + safety ball just to be safe from numrich.

Yeah its a tad heavier, ok way heavier than a Keltec. But I personally like the feel of all alloy guns. I carry a full size 1911 time to time so this doesn't bother me much.

I'm still curious if anyone know though, does the grip safety truly block out the firing pin? I'm wondering how safe the SA design is to carry one chambered.

Will try to get it out to range this weekend and test it out.
 
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doctorj77 said:
Does anyone know how the grip safety works on the AMT? I know the trigger safety is just prevents the trigger from moving. Its not a true firing pin block.

Reason I ask is I read a lot of people won't carry one chambered. I understand why, but why is the grip safety there then?
Click to expand...

The same could be same about most guns with a grip safety, like the series 70 1911. Why is it there? I don't see the point either. My BHP does fine without one. I doubt there is a firing pin block on the SA AMT, but I am not sure. I have never taken one of those apart, just the DA models.
 
I have an AMT .380 sa. It works well if fed full power ammo.

If I sold guns, I'd sell this one first. How can a .380 be that painful to shoot? It's all sharp corners and bad angles. I keep intending to do a melt job on it, but I just can't care enough to do a proper job.

Anyway, I have a P3AT that fills that niche - and eats my reloads, something that the AMT will not do,
 
I have an AMT/OMC 380 and a Kel Tec P 3AT. The OMC is way easier to shoot, owing to its SA, and is much more accurate compared to my P 3AT. What’s more, I’ve never had any firing, feeding or ejecting issues with my OMC. I bought the gun brand new in the mid 70s for about $134.

In contrast, my P 3AT has a loooong and heavy trigger pull. As such, it is only accurate at distances less than 10 yards. What’s more, my P 3AT fails to eject from time to time, which makes me have doubts about its ability to get the job done in a self defense situation.

The only disadvantage to the AMT/OMC in my opinion is its weight.
 
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I would not buy it unless you could test fire it first. My AMT was horrible and never successfully fired a full magazine without jamming.
 
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