I believe I saw an semi-automatic pistol at a recent gun show and am wondering if anyone has any information as to manufacturer, reliability, availability etc.? Have been under the impression that this cartridge in an auto pistol had proven unreliable. Seems that this one was made by Auto-Mag but I am not certain. Thank you in advance for any and all information.

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Sam
S&WHF 333 S&WCA 2198

AMT once made a stainless semi auto 22 mag.

AMT made the 22mag pistol. Overall they didn't earn a very good rep but if I remember correctly it was crucial to use a certain brand/grain of ammo and you know what that means, 1/2 of the gripers were probably using the wrong ammo. They are fun, one if my pals had one in the late 80's and we had a blast shooting it, never acted up. Talk bout a muzzle flash and report!!!! I'm sure a google search will yield plenty, was called the AMT AutoMag 22WMR, I think.

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Let go...Let Gun

I have a friend who has an Automag in 22 mag. He thought it was a cool idea. He's right, it is. Its also a difficult execution of that idea. At best the guns are finicky about ammo. It took a lot of different attempts before he found one that feeds fairly reliably. Still, its not suitable as a self defense gun due to the feeding problems.

With most ammo, you're lucky if you get one full mag to feed. I believe the Winchester FMJ ammo was the best. We tried that after reading some posts about it on rec.guns or tx.guns.

Its a fun gun to fiddle with. But if you're buying it to be dead reliable, I think you may end up a little disappointed.

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Dick Burg

I had one and it was very ammo picky, it loved Winchester. With the proper ammo it was a hoot, very accurate and very loud and flashy.

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Sie vis pacem parabellum

IIRC it was Winchester that worked. I do remember CCI would NOT work in those guns. Damn, now you are gonna have me wanting one!! I keep thinking about that crazy muzzle flash.

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Let go...Let Gun

Didn't Grendel also make one?

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Old paratrooper in NC

Many thanks guys, I hoped I was not seeing things and it was scoffed up before I made my mind up. From your replies, I take it that they are no longer produced. Seems as though the proper ammo would produce an appropriate small varmint dispatcher of course no better than a nice Mod.51 or Mod.651 or Mod.650 or Mod.48 or any Smith revolver made for the Mag. ammo. Appreciate your interest.

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Sam
S&WHF 333 S&WCA 2198

AMT has been out of business for a while. IIRC, a company in TX was supposed to start making some of their models . Not sure that has come to pass.

I have a 6" Automag II and it was a jam-o-matic until I got a couple of hundred rounds through it. Last time I tried it, it ate everything, but not sure I used CCI.

Also have an Automag III that shoots 30 carbine.. Now that's loud and has a very impressive fireball ..

There is an "AMT auto mag- .22 Magnum 22 LNIB" up for sale on a popular auction site with pictures. Does this look like what you saw?

That looks to be what I saw but more expensive but I am not sure of the condition of the one at the show and there did not seem to be a box or paperwork either. You are right on with the info, thanks to all who responded. I seem to continue to regret that I did not look closer at the time.

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Sam
S&WHF 333 S&WCA 2198

Grendel made the P-30, a 30 shot 22 Mag. I bought one years ago for $150 including 3 mags and sold it a few years later for $250.00. Now the mags go for around $150.00 each.

Just another on the list that I should have kept.

Class III

Would like to get my eye sight changed so that "hind-sight" would take over for "for-sight", could have been off the poverty list and would not have needed the stimulus check. Y'all take care.

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Sam
S&WHF 333 S&WCA 2198

I once tested an Automag .22 MRF at the request of a gun store owner because the guy who had bought it from him said it was inaccurate. As I recall, it functioned reliably. However, it was very inaccurate. I only had a 2" .38 of my own with me at the time, as I recall. At any rate, that is what I shot MUCH better with just to make sure that it was the gun, not me.

Just one example, of course.

Here is a old review my Jeff (I like everything) Quinn

I do like his reviews though.

High Standard Brings Back the AMT Automag II .22 Magnum Pistol

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Still Running Against the Wind

I know that this is an old thread, but in case anyone searches or Googles it, there is another .22 WMR option in a semi-auto, made by Kel-Tek. It's a small 30 shot pistol, partly made from plastics. Here's the manufacturers link:

Kel Tec CNC

Disclaimer: I have never fired, or even held this gun. I just know of it's existence. I don't know whether it's good or not, and neither recommend it nor condone it.

Regards,
aeronaut

Could be a Kel Tec

Kel Tec CNC

If I understand correctly, the Kel-Tec company is sort of a newer and improved version of the old Grendel company. I'm not saying that the new Kel-Tec pistol is just a rehash of the older Grendel P-30...I have no idea what the differences or similarities may be.

But...I do own 2 of the 30 round Grendels P-30s. They have always fled flawlessly for me, though I have mostly fed them Winchester Super-X 40 gr. solids and HPs. They were so troublefree that I decided to acquire about 6 mags for each of them, and put back about 2,000 rounds of the Super-X HPs. Never had the slightest problem with either, and easily capable of hitting man-sized targets out to 50 yards, and 100 yards was not too difficult either...for a pistol, that is.

If the new Kel-Tecs are improved versions of the Grendels, they should be excellent pistols. The only negative I can see with the Grendel is it seems it could be a bit fragile, though I've had no issues yet. I've heard if you drop fully loaded 30 round mags from just a few feet high, they have a tendency to implode, though I've never witnessed this. Hopefully the new mags will be more robust, and it'd be a real boon if they will work in the Grendels, though I find it somewhat unlikely.

Tim

There is one other maker of a .22 WMR auto loading pistol and that is Rock Island Armory or ARMSCOR. Good shooting little pistol. Doesn't seem to be to choosey over ammo.