AMT semi autos, I like them!
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Walter Rego
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A buddy and i each bought an AMT Hardballer around the same time back in 1980. His was a standard model and always ran flawlessly. Mine, a Longslide Model needed to have the extractor tuned and the barrel throated to feed a H&G #68 cast bullet or the Hornady truncated cone 200 grain hardball. Then it worked just fine.
I also have one of the Automag II's. It is ammo sensitive, it works great with most brands of 40 grain bullets but doesn't like a couple of brands and doesn't like the 30 grain hyper velocity loads. I believe that is tied with recoil impulse and powder burn rates. It is quite a flame thrower at the range and a lot of fun.
I also have one of the Automag II's. It is ammo sensitive, it works great with most brands of 40 grain bullets but doesn't like a couple of brands and doesn't like the 30 grain hyper velocity loads. I believe that is tied with recoil impulse and powder burn rates. It is quite a flame thrower at the range and a lot of fun.
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kobsw
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Fishinfool
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I had two of them in the early 1980's - a SA 380, and the small .22 (don't remember if it was SA or DA). Sold the .22 very quickly as it was unreliable, and inaccurate.
The .380, I kept for a while, and put maybe 300 rounds thru. Bit my hand, was never 100% reliable, accurate enough for a hide out gun. BUT, I noticed the slide started getting "sticky". Closer look found significant metal galling on the slide/frame rails. Sold it. This was before the internet, and it wasn't until much later I found out that this was a problem with at least some of their guns. I guess SS manufacture was still in its infancy in firearms, and the metallurgy was off.
Always wanted one of their .30 carbine long slide pistols for the "cool" factor, but based on my experience with the other two, didn't want to risk it.
If you want to purchase additional examples to go with your collection, nothing wrong with that. They were very innovative for their time. But for actual use, there are better choices out there..
Larry
The .380, I kept for a while, and put maybe 300 rounds thru. Bit my hand, was never 100% reliable, accurate enough for a hide out gun. BUT, I noticed the slide started getting "sticky". Closer look found significant metal galling on the slide/frame rails. Sold it. This was before the internet, and it wasn't until much later I found out that this was a problem with at least some of their guns. I guess SS manufacture was still in its infancy in firearms, and the metallurgy was off.
Always wanted one of their .30 carbine long slide pistols for the "cool" factor, but based on my experience with the other two, didn't want to risk it.
If you want to purchase additional examples to go with your collection, nothing wrong with that. They were very innovative for their time. But for actual use, there are better choices out there..
Larry
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minconrevo
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Back about 1979 I bought an AMT Hardballer (.45 ACP) second handed. Serial number under 200. Dang thing would not run. Tried various oils then greases. Quickly had a hammer failure. Sent it back to factory. Took six months for a simple parts replacement. Did not run better when it came back. Somewhere along the way I got stupid and had a good pistolsmith replace the rear sight with a S&W K revolver sight.
The stainless frame and slide would gall against one another. Fix for that back then was to hardchrome the frame rails; I did not want to throw good money after bad.
I understand the later production of Hardballer may have fixed the metallurgy issue. Still I would not own another one. Too many good .45's out there.
I owned an earlier AMT single action .380 that did work and shot well. Could not leave it cocked and locked as their mainsprings springs were no good and would quickly take a set. Just could not trust it. Too many good, dependable .380's out there today, like the Ruger LCP II.
The stainless frame and slide would gall against one another. Fix for that back then was to hardchrome the frame rails; I did not want to throw good money after bad.
I understand the later production of Hardballer may have fixed the metallurgy issue. Still I would not own another one. Too many good .45's out there.
I owned an earlier AMT single action .380 that did work and shot well. Could not leave it cocked and locked as their mainsprings springs were no good and would quickly take a set. Just could not trust it. Too many good, dependable .380's out there today, like the Ruger LCP II.
22lrfan
Member
I had heard all the horror stories about AMT's but found a Hardballer Longslide in a pawn shop back in 2009 that was to cheap to pass up. It's not one I shoot a lot, maybe 1000 rounds total, but I've never had a problem with it. I have no idea what work might have been done on it before I acquired it.
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My experience too. They were not quality firearms no matter what anyone says.........
Backlighting
Member
Ditto for me.
J. R. WEEMS
Member
AMT
Lots of stories around about them at one time. I have this one and load for it. 10MM it is.
Never has given me a problem of ay kind. Stocks are Sambar Stag, but lighting is bad. 
it wont fit in my back pocket.
Lots of stories around about them at one time. I have this one and load for it. 10MM it is.
Never has given me a problem of ay kind. Stocks are Sambar Stag, but lighting is bad. it wont fit in my back pocket.
I have one. I think they "require" CCI Maxi's.
Had an AMT II in .22 mag. Jam-o-matic with any ammo, including CCI.
Bought it as a companion to the Automag III pictured. That hand cannon has performed very well-only issues are too short brass sometimes keep the firing pin from setting off the primer. Went through my 600 .30 carbine empties and segregated the short ones to the M1 Carbine. My Blackhawk revolver also had issues with short brass, but the mil spec gun eats them up.
The III is very accurate and an attention getter on the pistol lanes.
Bought it as a companion to the Automag III pictured. That hand cannon has performed very well-only issues are too short brass sometimes keep the firing pin from setting off the primer. Went through my 600 .30 carbine empties and segregated the short ones to the M1 Carbine. My Blackhawk revolver also had issues with short brass, but the mil spec gun eats them up.
The III is very accurate and an attention getter on the pistol lanes.
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BLACKHAWKNJ
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Bought my Hardballer back in 1978 when they first came on the market. Had to send the slide back, shot too low even with the rear sight fully elevated. Don't know if they fixed it or sent me a new slide but it's been fine ever since.
tndrfttom
Member
I got one of the Long Slides when they came out. It seemed like the perfect gun for our local bowling pin matches. I used both H&G 68 and 230 grain round nose style cast bullets; both functioned fine. I did have the original barrel fail (split) after countless rounds of near-max reloads.
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I love the ones I have Auto Mag 2, the 45 acp long slide, the 45 Win Mag and the 30 carbine. they shoot every time I pull trigger. the 45 win mag is a handful. I never did find the 50 AE
Back-Up .380
It was the "cool compact semi-auto" to buy back in the early-to-mid-80's (and I did) just before divorce-induced poverty closed the books on my gun collecting hobby for 25 years. I never got to shoot the damn thing... and in the meantime, plastic came along and replaced heavy stainless steel. The Back-Up .380 suddenly became a curiosity and relic of a time gone by.
I've still got it in the back of the safe, box and all. One of the original magazines had a plastic part that literally disintegrated over time, but fortunately, I was able to replace that part. In fact, I picked up a couple spare mags for it while I was at it before they disappeared entirely.
It amazes me that these odd little relics still sell on GB for as much as $250.
I'm just waiting for a good local moonbat gun buy-back so I can dump mine and use the cash to buy something good. 
It was the "cool compact semi-auto" to buy back in the early-to-mid-80's (and I did) just before divorce-induced poverty closed the books on my gun collecting hobby for 25 years. I never got to shoot the damn thing... and in the meantime, plastic came along and replaced heavy stainless steel. The Back-Up .380 suddenly became a curiosity and relic of a time gone by.
I've still got it in the back of the safe, box and all. One of the original magazines had a plastic part that literally disintegrated over time, but fortunately, I was able to replace that part. In fact, I picked up a couple spare mags for it while I was at it before they disappeared entirely.
It amazes me that these odd little relics still sell on GB for as much as $250.
I'm just waiting for a good local moonbat gun buy-back so I can dump mine and use the cash to buy something good. 
OLDSTER
Member
IMO the "AMT" pistols have always looked "right". But poor reviews have deterred me from purchasing one.
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