.44 Automag

[wtkaiser]

Yeah, but what gun chambers that one? I can't remember the name but whatever it is, it's about as rare as an AM, isn't it? PM me, I don't want to take this thread off topic.

[Hardwarejunkie]

I was coming back from Sac today and stopped in at Wild Bill's Old West Trading Post in Elk Grove. It was my first time there. They have an Automag. Tag said Automag Pasedena, .44 Automag - but the rest of the tag was covered by another gun. They have a LAR Grizzly also (price tag also covered). Kinda cool seeing those guns other than on the internet or an old magazine. Wish I could run across a Gyrojet and a Dardick though.

[wtkaiser]

A gyrojet?!?! Can we reload for them, too? LOL

[Hardwarejunkie]

Yeah - I read too much sci-fi growing up.

Back in the day, I had finally gotten a lead on a Gyrojet for only $600 and then one of the gun bans took affect a killed my chance. I know the Dardick's fell under "a fixed magazine that has the capacity to accept more than 10 rounds" but I don't remember what the deal was with the Gyrojets - rocket propelled ammo? Reloading is probably out, most likely DD in CA.

All I ever got was some trounds and these off eBay.



So has anyone found out how much that Automag is/was yet?

[ih8ca]

Is there that much of a demand for this pistol with the high price?

[billybob_jcv]

Yeah - I read too much sci-fi growing up.

Back in the day, I had finally gotten a lead on a Gyrojet for only $600 and then one of the gun bans took affect a killed my chance. I know the Dardick's fell under "a fixed magazine that has the capacity to accept more than 10 rounds" but I don't remember what the deal was with the Gyrojets - rocket propelled ammo? Reloading is probably out, most likely DD in CA.

All I ever got was some trounds and these off eBay.



So has anyone found out how much that Automag is/was yet?

One of the reasons I love this forum is because someone always says something I've never heard before, then I get to do some googling and learn something new. Gyrojets are cool!

Here's a nice test report:

http://www.smallarmsreview.com/pdf/Gyrojettest.PDF

I would bet anything with the name "rocket" in it was on someone's ban list...

According to wikipedia:

In 1968, the U.S. Gun Control Act of 1968 created a new legal term, the destructive device. Under the new law, any weapon firing an explosive-filled projectile over a half-inch in diameter was considered a destructive device and required paying a tax and obtaining a license. The registration process was changed several years later, but in the interim, MBA created the legal Gyrojet Mark II, firing a .49 caliber rocket.

It doesn't say if the status of the Mark II changed later.

[Cobra66]

The Auto Mag board is here.

http://www.amtguns.info/forum_topics.asp?FID=1

There's a classified ad section as well.

Tony Rumore
Tromix

As far as big bore autos, there is nothing better than an original Auto Mag.

*I tried my best to remember with my pea-sized brain and the following is the best I could come up with.*

There was one almost a year ago in Turner's Outdoorsman in Reseda, CA. It said "Pasadena" on the barrel, but I don't know if that designates the location of manufacture or just the company HQs. I'm pretty sure it was a consignment, and the price was ~$2,750. I hadn't ever seen one in person and spoke to a sales rep for a good bit. I hope I'm remembering the location correctly. Maybe call first. 818-996-5033

Good luck on your search!!

[MarkG35]

The Gun Room in Elk Grove has one in their case.

[Mr310]

Funny this should come up. I was looking at them recently myself. I can't part with the coin right now, but one day, I will own one. How hard is it to come by the ammo, though?

[saki302]

I remember seeing an Automag at a local show not too long ago (1 or two years)- if I remember right, it was at the Glendale show, but he as asking a lot because it was signed or owned by one of the shop owners.

Contrary to FUD, Gyrojets are legal to own here- I saw one for sale at Costa MEsa a few years ago. GOOD LUCK finding ammo for one- and if you find it., it's something like $100 per shot.

The Gyrojets fell out of favor when people foudn out the accuracy is terrible. It also GAINS velocity as you increase distance form the muzzle- until the propellant runs out.
I have *heard* you can stop a gyrojet rocket with your fingertip at the muzzle- but that's hearsay.

-Dave

[wtkaiser]

I read the same thing, and it makes sense. A rocket is not like a bullet, that goes bang in one relatively short moment. A rocket has to build up it's velocity - look at movies of the shuttle system or the old V2 movies. It should build speed until it runs out of fuel, which, in turn, makes it lighter as it goes. It won't coast until it runs out. with a Gyrojet, that should take what, a second or two? That's a whole lot different than the tiny fraction of a second that powder ignites.
Still - reloading them would be a "gas" (DOH! )

[saki302]

I've handled a fired gyrojet rocket once-

I'm not even sure the thing could be reloaded- it had some kind of primer in the center, and 4 exit 'nozzles'- it looked like it was pressed together somehow.

Kind of funny when you think about those awful CGI animations of an ENTIRE bullet flying out of a gun in movies (case and all)- in this case, that's exactly how it looks

-Dave

[westcoast362]

Even if you could reload a gyrojet round, how would recover one to reload? Remember, there is no empty shell. It all goes downrange.

[wtkaiser]

I guess little of this is getting the OP an answer. Sorry about that, THX11384eb! BTW, are you related to "MR. THX1138" himself?