AMT semi autos, I like them!

[Blackcloud2]

I realize these guns have seen ‘up and down’ quality issues based on what I assume were related to ownership, manufacturing and management changes, but I’ve owned one in 22LR for more than 25 years and one in .380 ACP that I picked up 8 years ago in a Phoenix Gun Show for a very reasonable price, I have no complaints. Both have always fired multiple magazines of ammo without fail, so I apparently snagged two of the good ones! I want one in 45 ACP, but every time I sniff one out, I just miss it. I certainly don’t need another 45 in the arsenal, but I just want to add another caliber into this series of AMT pistols. It’s now something I look for when going to gun shows, which are now coming back and when I don’t have a grandchild playing in one sporting event or another. It’s now more the sport of the search than the gun, it keeps life fun! Any fans or detractors? I’d welcome any and all input on these pistols, I’m just curious as to their time in the buying market because I don’t know a manufacturing date on either. Thanks in advance!

 

[Execpro]

Had the 45acp Back Up in the early 80’s. The hammer broke before I got 10 rounds off ( It broke just above the pivot pin).
When it came back from the factory, I traded it.
Problem was I really liked the gun, just lost faith in its reliability.
It was a fun (for me) gun. I purchased it for carry.
Not worth the $400 if you can find one. JMO

Be SAFE and Shoot Often!

 

[Sgt911]

I had the .380. Hated it so much I gave it away. I do still have a .22mag that I bought and its kind of fun.

 

[Gene L]

I had one in .380 years ago, mid 80s. It wasn't reliable so I got rid of it. IIRC, it was kind of wide and heavy, but back then, the choices were a lot more limited.

 

[oink]

I had a 380 I bought in 82 or 83 or thereabouts. It worked OK. Weren't too many alternatives in that category at the time. I used it mainly as an on duty BUG. I shot it a fair amount for what it was. It liked hard ball and some HPs that weren't very. It wasn't safe in the back pocket without a holster as the safety would always become disengaged and if it's chambered it cocked. It doesn't take too many rounds for the bolt to get pretty beat up looking on the bottom. I eventually traded it in on the new (at the time) double action model. It was junk.

Yours look pretty new. They obviously didn't see much use.

I'd kinda like another of the original 380s just for nostalgia but I won't pay much for one. The only ones I've seen were either over priced, IMHO, or too beat up.

 

[kobsw]

I had a 380 "It wasn't safe in the back pocket without a holster as the safety would always become disengaged and if it's chambered it cocked."

This ^^^^^^^

On top of that and being very unreliable I even had a number of slam-fires.

Please, Please be carful with that gun.

Regards,

Kobsw

 

[hittman77]

My experience is ..... feast or famine. You have a 50/50 chance of getting one that works.

Both of mine were excellent had they been designed as single shots.

 

[wood714]

I had a 380 Back Up that I kept for about 15 years.

Bought it new, and had an issue with like primer strikes. Sent it back, and never had a problem with it after that. Other than what felt like a 20 pound trigger pull. Mine didn't have a safety.

I moved to FL and my ex stayed in Ohio till our house there sold. Only brought 2 guns with me, the AMT and my Winchester 1200.

Took my carry permit class and had to use the AMT for the shooting part of the test. I passed so I guess it wasn't that bad.

 

[foxy320]

I really like the Automag II's, 22 magnum. I have all three barrel lengths. They are a little pickey on the ammo brand but once you find what they like they are dependable & plenty accurate.

 

[pharmer]

I had a "Lightning" (Ruger MK knock off). No problems and it might be why Ruger started making them in SS. AMT really advanced SS guns if nothing else. Traded it maybe 25 years ago for a Model 65. Joe

 

[Gene L]

I think mine was a SA. The one above looks DA.

I bought an AMT Mini Mag .22 Mag. It also was heavy and the grip was wide front to back. Not enough to be TOO wide, but it was clumsy. IIRC, it had a long barrel and slide, stainless. It would sometimes fire out of battery for some reason, enough so I could see fire. The chamber may have been dirty causing that.. I didn't keep it long enough to look into it, and if I'd liked it better, I would have kept it and had it fixed.

The main reason I sold it is it shot really high, and I'm talking feet here at 20 yards. Plus .22 Mag at that time was pretty expensive. It's a caliber I'm not fond of and I only bought the pistol because it was pretty reasonably priced.

I've not had good luck with AMT firearms.

 

[HOUSTON RICK]

Does not look like a strong recommendation to buy. May everyone who has one enjoy theirs!

 

[series guy]

I have this one but it will most likely be traded for a revolver sooner or later.

 

[wood714]

Anyone ever field strip one of the AMT Back Up's?

I watched a video on stripping one, I never could get the pin out of mine.

Thing was almost a 2 person job to clean the barrel, mine didn't have a slide lock.

 

[CapnB]

9mm Backup, DAO. Got it when they were about the smallest 9mm’s available. It was nice and concealable, but absolutely brutal to shoot. All stainless and pretty heavy. Grips, trigger, recoil, everything about it hurt. Qualified with it and carried it mostly for the cool factor (this was in the early 80’s) but eventually went back to a revolver. I’ve still got it, box and all, somewhere in the safe.
Good shootin’,
Doug

 

[snowman.45]

I had a 380 I bought in 82 or 83 or thereabouts. It worked OK. Weren't too many alternatives in that category at the time. I used it mainly as an on duty BUG. I shot it a fair amount for what it was. It liked hard ball and some HPs that weren't very. It wasn't safe in the back pocket without a holster as the safety would always become disengaged and if it's chambered it cocked. It doesn't take too many rounds for the bolt to get pretty beat up looking on the bottom. I eventually traded it in on the new (at the time) double action model. It was junk.

Yours look pretty new. They obviously didn't see much use.

I'd kinda like another of the original 380s just for nostalgia but I won't pay much for one. The only ones I've seen were either over priced, IMHO, or too beat up.

Working undercover narcotics in the late 70's, I had one I carried as a backup to my PPK/S, which was our UC gun. For warrant service and such, we carried 1911's, usually Combat Commanders. I've had the safety work it's way off while carrying in a hip pocket. I also knew of one guy who rearranged the geography of his backside when his went off in his hip pocket. That was enough for me; I went back to my Model 60.

Everything said above about the AMT was true; unreliable and unsafe. Add to that field stripping it for cleaning and maintenance was a PITA and subsequently didn't get done much. And, of course, the .380 in those days was not a barn-burner to begin with. We generally carried hardball and trained to empty the gun in the bad guy's face if we had to use it.

 

[oink]

Anyone ever field strip one of the AMT Back Up's?

I watched a video on stripping one, I never could get the pin out of mine.

Thing was almost a 2 person job to clean the barrel, mine didn't have a slide lock.

Not in years but yeah I've field stripped the single action 380 many times. It is a bit of a pain but I got my routine figured out pretty good with it. Yep, you have to drive that pin out. I kept a wood dowel around for reassembly. Running the dowel up inside the magazine well to position the bolt during reassembly really helps.

 

[Bullzaye]

I've never owned or fired any AMT. At one point, I kinda wanted a .380 Backup, just 'cuz. Got a Grendel and that satisfied that urge. Wanted a .22 Mag later...hmm...another Grendel scratched that itch, as well. Then I wanted a .30 Carbine. I wonder if I could convince Kel-Tec to make one? I'd still like a .30 Carbine handgun. Have thought about a Ruger BH once or twice...but never picked anything up.

 

[hkcavalier]

Most AMTs I encounter used are peened/galled in several spots and some are even missing parts. I don't know what kind of SS they used, but it seems to be too soft.

I remember shooting the Automag II some back in the '90s but always thought it was pretty damn big for what you got.

 

[Sandman4delta]

I have one of the .45's
I've shot two mags through it.
It is pretty snappy, (harsh if you prefer) to shoot, very small mass for a .45
Sights are a trench in the slide but okay group at 15 yds.
It is DAO, no safety, no slide lock on last round, (because it has no slide lock)
I like small guns with big energy so when I saw it I thought I'd try it out.
Sig P220 same day was a kitty cat by comparison.