AMT Firearms

[hardrivr]

I've read some good but mostly bad about this make, and from I can see/find they were made in Irwindale, Covina, and El Monte, before it was sold off I guess through bankruptcy, well my question is: Was there a location build that was better than the other? I have an opportunity to pickup some from Irwindale, and even though I see the parts are nearly impossible to find, they look pretty cool.

Thanks,

[Chaos47]

From what I have read different products where better than others.. not so much the time period/location they were made..

So what model are you looking at?

[5ZS]

Aren't they just standard 1911 parts?

[RustyIron]

I had an AMT Backup pistol back in the 1980's. It was in the original .380 offering. As I recall, they were in Irwindale at the time. It was easily the worst-worst-worst gun I've ever owned. It couldn't get through a single five-round magazine without jamming. When it DID work, it was downright brutal to shoot. I sold it after a couple months at a loss, and was grateful to get rid of it. It didn't surprise me in the least when AMT went bankrupt. Maybe the current owner of the AMT name makes better guns--I hope so.

[RR.44]

The guns were hit and miss at best, I had the .45 it was a hit, no FTFs or FTEs, my buddy had the .22 Mag Automag ll, it couldn't go a whole mag without several stoppages, I have seen the Automag .44 going for over 3k. YMMV

[hambam105]

AMT pistols are in long term memory, not a history lesson.

AMT pistols are relics of the past. If you are looking for a service or recreational pistol then AMTs are not a good shooting value.

AMT is your GO-TO choice for any 1978 Disco Dance Party Reunion. The 380 model the OP mentioned should be a real attention grabber at such a gathering.

[rcslotcar]

I own a .380 and .22 cal backup. Bought new at Turners around 1985. The .22 has been flawless with high velocity rounds. The .380 is new in the plastic wrapper just never got around to shoot it.

[hardrivr]

I own a .380 and .22 cal backup. Bought new at Turners around 1985. The .22 has been flawless with high velocity rounds. The .380 is new in the plastic wrapper just never got around to shoot it.

Sounds like the guy that has these I'm looking at... still new in boxes.

.308 Backup (Kutz I think)
.45 Hardball 5"

were the two I was looking at mostly. All from Irwindale

[tonelar]

I bought my hardballer in the 80's. It was the only 1911 of that era in SS. Still shoots great.
Mine was made in El Monte.

[RickD427]

I had an AMT Backup pistol back in the 1980's. It was in the original .380 offering. As I recall, they were in Irwindale at the time. It was easily the worst-worst-worst gun I've ever owned. It couldn't get through a single five-round magazine without jamming. When it DID work, it was downright brutal to shoot. I sold it after a couple months at a loss, and was grateful to get rid of it. It didn't surprise me in the least when AMT went bankrupt. Maybe the current owner of the AMT name makes better guns--I hope so.

I had the same experience with the .380 Back-Up. Additionally the safety on mine was so bad that I would not carry with a chambered round.

Most of their products were universally bad across the whole product line. They never solved the galling problem with their stainless steel. I have heard a few positive reports from Hardballer owners, but that's the only AMT product that I've heard anything good about, and I still heard more bad than good about the Hardballer.

[Oceanbob]

I bought a 1911 Hardballer AMT from B&B Sales for $1000 back in the 80s.

What a piece of sheet.

Sold it for a loss. I don't miss it.

[beerman]

I had a bubby that raved about his auto-mag 3 in 30 carbine..But his were the only good things I ever heard. Pops had a 380 back up..it was a POS. I would be leary buying a gun you couldn't find parts for,unless your going to Queen it.

[AKexpat]

Hardballer

I bought a used AMT (Covina) Hardballer .45 with 2 original mags and Pachmayr grip from a private security guard in 1992 for $150. After the pistol and money changed hands he told me it was a "dangerous" gun: when cocked-and-locked, a pull of the trigger dropped both the thumb safety AND the hammer. I disassembled it at home and it took quite a while to figure out that it had a bent sear pin. (The Covinas always had a bad rep for AMT using soft stainless steel parts.)

I replaced the sear pin, hammer pin, thumb safety, hammer strut, firing pin, and extractor with blued carbon steel 1911 parts from Numrich, and throated the barrel according to Kuhnhausen's bible. I figure I have about $200 and a lot of sweat equity invested in it, and it was a great learning experience.

I still have it and it runs just fine.

Unless you can get a screaming deal on one and like to work on 1911's, I would pass on it.

Jim

[Rhyyke]

Oh man, I'd love to have an .45 Hardballer... OP if you pass on it give me the seller's info!

[JTROKS]

Then there was IAI - Irwindale Arms Inc.

I have a Javelina 7" 10mm and it's actually a reliable and accurate shooter. Was my hunting sidearm when I was stationed in Maine.