Need Your Opinion on an AMT Backup

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wuluf

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I came across an almost new AMT backup in .380 for $200 today and need some opinions. It is a consignment gun so i can't shoot it before i buy it. I'd prefer a Ruger LCP, but doubt they will ever be available in CA. Are these at all reliable? Is this worth buying, or is it the worst POS ever made?
 
I had one that I would only trust FMJ ammo in it. Serveral friends had the same experience. Personally I know of a self defence shooting with one loaded with JHP's that fortunately the first round did enough damage to stop the attack because the next JHP round FTF. With any auto do a 100 round function test of your carry ammo. Oh and check how well you can reach and disengage the safety.
 
I have an AMT Backup Double-Action only in .380, or as AMT likes to put on the slide (just to confuse things further) 9mm Kurz.

3 things bother me about my AMT:

1) The 14-pound-plus trigger pull - this is so heavy that my wife is incapable of firing this pistol.
2) Mine will only shoot FMJ. I've tried Winchester silver tips, but then this turns it into a single-shot, not an automatic, because you have to hand feed every round.
3) The frame on mine got beat up real bad where the slide comes back and hammers on it. I had to disassemble the gun and file off the metal that got pounded out of shape. It still works, but poor design.

Would I trust my life to this AMT? Sure I would, but it wouldn't be the first thing I reached for.
 
the safety on the amt 380. has a habit of coming off in the pocket or holster, makes for fast first shot , but is extremely unsafe.imho
 
There is the issue with the safety switch, and then also the grip safety can be trying at times. Sometimes if you didn't hold on real tight the gun would move around enough after the first shot that you couldn't fully depress the grip safety without readjusting. I dont' think it is worth the 200 bucks.
 
Are these at all reliable? Is this worth buying, or is it the worst POS ever made?
Click to expand...

The fact is that when it comes to an AMT the answer to all of these questions is a big.. maybe. I think the wiser shopper interested in a .380 for self-defense would spend maybe just a little bit more and get something with a better reputation for reliability. Something in a bersa maybe ? I may be mistaken , but I believe those are on the ok list in California.
 
I had a Hardballer. It got stolen. I don't really miss it. I had to take it to a smith right out of the box, wasn't properly fitted. And, that was a 1911. A backup, well, I'd pass. Get a Kel Tec. At least it's got a company backing it that WILL make it right even if it isn't out of the box, which most are. It's lighter and more concealable, anyway. Or a Ruger or a Kahr. AMT?:barf: Want cheap? My son-in-law has a Makarov which I've been shooting at the range and I want one. Talk about a LOT of gun for the money! That thing is reliable and AMAZINGly accurate. I'm talkin' 25 yards accurate, great plinker as well as concealed carry for a couple of bills. How the heck can ya go wrong? And, 9x18 has a bit on .380 for horsepower, enough penetration that I wouldn't be as antzy about carrying it as a primary.
 
My 2003 "Gun Traders Guide" says: New in Box-$250; Excellent Condition-$175; and Good Condition-$120.

I owned one. It was reliable with 95 gr. FMJ (jacketed round nose) ammunition. If you want this for personal protection, that bullet type ain't all bad. You need reliability and penetration, and FMJ should give you that. Federal Hydra-Shok JHP ammuntion would not work in mine.

(It sure would be nice if owner would let you fire at least 50 rounds. That's not many, but 50 shots without a malfunction would make you better about the $200 asking price.)
 
In General...

...with the possible exception of AMT's knock-off of the Ruger 10/22, AMT firearms have a reputation for inconsistent quality. Some designs, such as the Backup in .380 ACP and .45 ACP, have worse reputations, for the reasons cited above.

If money is a major concern, the Bersa .380 seems to have a pretty good reputation. Personally (and I may have more disposable income than you), I can't see buying a .380 (9x17mm) when Kahr produces more powerful yet manageable pistols in 9x19mm (9mm Luger/Parabellum) that are smaller than many pistols chambered for the less powerful 9x17mm.
 
The early ones had a safety, the later ones were double action only.
My dad has the early one, I have the DAO. Both have been reliable but from what I've read quality is hit or miss so it's good you can try it out first. Shoot ammo you intend to carry.
If you want it for pocket carry, the guns are very heavy for how small they are. The trigger pull on the DAO is pretty stiff and it doesn't have sights. Pretty much a "belly gun".
 
I had one. It was a jammomatic. It came up with malfunctions never before seen by man. In one case it tossed a loaded round out on the ground in front of me and put the fired case back in the chamber. Go figure...

Tried three different magazines. Don't recall ever being able to empty a magazine twice in a row.
 
Assuming it is reliable, it's still going to be heavy, under-powered and have a horrible trigger.
 
Thanks for all the replies. This forum is a wealth of information and experience and that's why I spend so much time here! I'll pass on the Backup and keep shopping.
 
Their time has passed, for a while there was a niche in the size/weight/power envelope where you could overlook their heavy trigger and spotty reliability. You have better options now, in fact a new Kel-Tec P3AT will cost only a little bit more, carry much better, and have a warranty that you might need with any gun small for its caliber.

Since you can't shoot it to be sure it works, I'd skip it for sure at $200 as too many of these were hacked on to "improve the trigger" and made totally unreliable instead.

--wally.
 
amt

i bought one in the 70's....i sold it in 2003 for $150....the plastic grips were changed in 2000....i never had issues, it did scare me carrying it....i didn't like the fact that it could not taken apart to clean....spend your money on something with newer technology, such as keltec 380 that is 1/3 the weight, and has more rounds, safer da trigger....amt needs to be in a museum...gpr
 
Long ago I used to own one. This was way back when they came with wood grips. It was the most unreliable gun I ever owned. It was to all intents and purposes a single shot gun--it malfunctioned relentlessly.

I wouldn't buy one unless I could return it if it proved to be a lemon.
 
I have an early one. It shoots fine, no problem with hollow points. Trigger is very firm. Would I pay $200 for it, NO!
 
I had the SA version made by IAI when AMT was called that. It was a jam o matic even wehn clean and with ball ammo. Hard to strip too.

I got it for $150 in 2003 in CA.

I like the idea of the DA version but I've fired the .45acp one and the trigger pull is 20lbs+.
 
I had one that worked every time in the 80's and now have one that is a jamomatic. I'd give $125.00 for my old one back, but you never no what your getting until you live with it a while.

Flip a coin!
 
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