AMT Back-up .45
- Thread starter S&W44
- Start date
Eric Larsen
New member
Good and .....
You are gonna get every response known to man on this one..
Arcadia Tool and Machine...amt is still around and making guns.
The back up is just that a back up or belly gun. The DAO guns
, chambered for 380,9,40 and 45...others 2, has very heavy
triggers. They have a barrel groove for the sights and seem to be fairly well made. I has rented a 9mm and shot a buddies 380
the 9 was ok...trigger pull was so hard, it offset anything else good about the gun. Literally after 2 mags, my finger didnt want anymore to do with it. Now the 380 was a serious treat, light
trigger and accurate out to 45 ft. I would carry the 380 I shot.
The reality of the back up pistols is they are hit and miss. They are either loved or not. The trigger is the most common complaint I have heard of. I think if you can find a 45 that is
a solid gun and you can shoot it. If it seems to function as you
think it should...go for it.
Shoot well
You are gonna get every response known to man on this one..
Arcadia Tool and Machine...amt is still around and making guns.
The back up is just that a back up or belly gun. The DAO guns
, chambered for 380,9,40 and 45...others 2, has very heavy
triggers. They have a barrel groove for the sights and seem to be fairly well made. I has rented a 9mm and shot a buddies 380
the 9 was ok...trigger pull was so hard, it offset anything else good about the gun. Literally after 2 mags, my finger didnt want anymore to do with it. Now the 380 was a serious treat, light
trigger and accurate out to 45 ft. I would carry the 380 I shot.
The reality of the back up pistols is they are hit and miss. They are either loved or not. The trigger is the most common complaint I have heard of. I think if you can find a 45 that is
a solid gun and you can shoot it. If it seems to function as you
think it should...go for it.
Shoot well
Bob Thompson
New member
AMT .45 backup
I have had mine for many years as strickly a backup and feel real confident in it for concealed carry especially in summer. Yes mine has a very stiff but smooth double action only trigger pull but my practice with it has given good groups at backup ranges ( up to about 20 ft.) using a standard sillouette target. I bought it not as a fun or highly accurate piece but strictly backup for life saving. Mine will digest any factory ammo and my handloads without fail. I am aware of some of AMT inconsistancies but I lucked out with mine. Hides well for summer CC and is there at all times I might need it. I carry 100% of the time. I think if you bought one and got a bad one I would try another; you just might luck out as I did. PS, I love the size of a .45 hole in something. Bob
I have had mine for many years as strickly a backup and feel real confident in it for concealed carry especially in summer. Yes mine has a very stiff but smooth double action only trigger pull but my practice with it has given good groups at backup ranges ( up to about 20 ft.) using a standard sillouette target. I bought it not as a fun or highly accurate piece but strictly backup for life saving. Mine will digest any factory ammo and my handloads without fail. I am aware of some of AMT inconsistancies but I lucked out with mine. Hides well for summer CC and is there at all times I might need it. I carry 100% of the time. I think if you bought one and got a bad one I would try another; you just might luck out as I did. PS, I love the size of a .45 hole in something. Bob
Archer1440
New member
My best friend's wife had one as a "car gun". It was very much abused living in the map pocket of her car. She brought it to the range one evening and fired it. It jammed. I looked. The internals were RUSTED. Not the gun's fault IMHO, just neglect.
Cleaned it up and it worked fine after that, but she has replaced it with a Kahr Polymer model, which she does NOT keep in the map pocket.
Cleaned it up and it worked fine after that, but she has replaced it with a Kahr Polymer model, which she does NOT keep in the map pocket.
I should just write this in a Word doc, then copy and paste... 
I bought an AMT 45 Backup a few years ago to back up my HK USP45. I have NEVER been so dissatisfied with ANY pistol I have EVER owned. It HURT to shoot, it ejected brass STRAIGHT into my forehead, it wasn't accurate at ALL, and after about 100 total rounds through it, it jammed closed on an empty chamber, NEVER to be opened again!
It then went back to the factory, who kept it for, I don't remember, 4 - 6 weeks. I had the gunshop owner call them to ask how it was going. The actual response "it'll be fixed when it shows up at your shop".
It came back, and I traded it (along with $75) IMMEDIATELY for a Taurus 85UL. Couldn't have been happier! STILL happy with that trade!
For the size and weight, I'd pay twice as much for a Kahr MK40 over any AMT. AT LEAST twice as accurate, twice as reliable, 100% better trigger, smaller, lighter, and GUARANTEED to go bang when you pull the trigger! And if you ever DO have problems, Kahr Customer Service has always treated me A++ superbly! (Polymer model, thouroughly documented here, not a steel one.)
I am so pleased that some of you have working AMT's, but I will never even look TWICE at another one. In fact, I TRUELY hope that, if I am EVER confronted by a BG with a gun (although I pray I never am) I HONESTLY hope that the BG has an AMT DAO. I'd rather face an AMT than even a Lorcin or Jennings.
I bought an AMT 45 Backup a few years ago to back up my HK USP45. I have NEVER been so dissatisfied with ANY pistol I have EVER owned. It HURT to shoot, it ejected brass STRAIGHT into my forehead, it wasn't accurate at ALL, and after about 100 total rounds through it, it jammed closed on an empty chamber, NEVER to be opened again!
It then went back to the factory, who kept it for, I don't remember, 4 - 6 weeks. I had the gunshop owner call them to ask how it was going. The actual response "it'll be fixed when it shows up at your shop".
It came back, and I traded it (along with $75) IMMEDIATELY for a Taurus 85UL. Couldn't have been happier! STILL happy with that trade!
For the size and weight, I'd pay twice as much for a Kahr MK40 over any AMT. AT LEAST twice as accurate, twice as reliable, 100% better trigger, smaller, lighter, and GUARANTEED to go bang when you pull the trigger! And if you ever DO have problems, Kahr Customer Service has always treated me A++ superbly! (Polymer model, thouroughly documented here, not a steel one.)
I am so pleased that some of you have working AMT's, but I will never even look TWICE at another one. In fact, I TRUELY hope that, if I am EVER confronted by a BG with a gun (although I pray I never am) I HONESTLY hope that the BG has an AMT DAO. I'd rather face an AMT than even a Lorcin or Jennings.
hksigwalther
New member
IIRC, the original AMT went out of business or was bought out. Irwindale Arms, Inc. bought the tooling and eventually, after a year or two, the AMT name and logo. They either relocated or some of the employees bought the equipment and moved or got bought out and the guns made are now by Galena. Not sure if they have the rights to the name as I've seen the Galena name in place of AMT in the circular logo on a few guns.
slick slidestop
New member
I personally do not like the AMT's.
I had a amt 45 about 5 years ago, mine shot were it was pointed and was reliable upto I think 6 or 7 hundred rounds, when the mag spring wore out (it was only sold with one mag) sent it back to amt and they replaced the magazine and sent along a second for free. I ended up tradding it because I was looking for more of a primary carry piece.
If you have other choice's and can spend a little more I highly reccomend the kahr mk-9,mk-40 series in the same size envelope.
If you have other choice's and can spend a little more I highly reccomend the kahr mk-9,mk-40 series in the same size envelope.
F
freedomlover
Guest
A comment from a lucky AMT owner
From what I've read here on TFL, my experience with AMT has been the exception and not the rule. I have a Galena AMT Govt. Model that since break-in has been 100% reliable with every kind of hollowpoint under the sun. It choked a few times while new but not once after the 200-round mark. (Over 1,000 rounds thru it so far.) My dad has both an Automag II and Automag III and has likewise been happy with his AMT's. Guess we just got lucky...
Supposedly the Galena AMT's have a lifetime warranty but I have not read any comments here regarding warranty work by Galena. Based on the comments here at TFL, I believe AMT's quality control is hit-and-miss and would hesitate to recommend one to someone else.
Shoot straight,
freedomlover
From what I've read here on TFL, my experience with AMT has been the exception and not the rule. I have a Galena AMT Govt. Model that since break-in has been 100% reliable with every kind of hollowpoint under the sun. It choked a few times while new but not once after the 200-round mark. (Over 1,000 rounds thru it so far.) My dad has both an Automag II and Automag III and has likewise been happy with his AMT's. Guess we just got lucky...
Supposedly the Galena AMT's have a lifetime warranty but I have not read any comments here regarding warranty work by Galena. Based on the comments here at TFL, I believe AMT's quality control is hit-and-miss and would hesitate to recommend one to someone else.
Shoot straight,
freedomlover
Just my Personal opion but i had a AMT Backup and it
was the most unreliable Small gun i've ever shot .
The $99 Davis 380 was more Reliable . I took the gun
to have it checked out by a gunsmith . and it still jammed
and had other problems . I wouldnt reccomed AMT to
anyone . Just My Opion
was the most unreliable Small gun i've ever shot .
The $99 Davis 380 was more Reliable . I took the gun
to have it checked out by a gunsmith . and it still jammed
and had other problems . I wouldnt reccomed AMT to
anyone . Just My Opion
I have bought a AMT DAO 380 since this post was alive, Had it about a month. I believe its a second run, 6 or 7 years old and it was unfired, bought as part of an estate purchase by a shop I deal with.
I put wolf springs in it, (mag,recoil and firing pin) It has become my daily pocket gun, 100% reliable very accurate even though it has no sites, about the size of p-32 only thicker and about 3x the weight. (18oz empty)
Its just to comfortable and convienent for pocket carry, and I much prefer the 380 vs the 32acp, prolly not much of a difference in ballistics, but the 380 to me feals more on par with a standard 9mm load, and packs more punch.
I'm using and old MD/enterprise pocket holster for a colt pony and plan on ordering a kramer pocket holster soon.
I put wolf springs in it, (mag,recoil and firing pin) It has become my daily pocket gun, 100% reliable very accurate even though it has no sites, about the size of p-32 only thicker and about 3x the weight. (18oz empty)
Its just to comfortable and convienent for pocket carry, and I much prefer the 380 vs the 32acp, prolly not much of a difference in ballistics, but the 380 to me feals more on par with a standard 9mm load, and packs more punch.
I'm using and old MD/enterprise pocket holster for a colt pony and plan on ordering a kramer pocket holster soon.
AMT 380 Back-up
I have had a AMT 380 Back-up for about 12years. The first time I shot it jamed repeatly.Sent back to factory at that time was in California. Have had no problems after that. Gun shoots great at close range. I have carried this 380 all over this USA. Easy to carry weather you are on the beach in a swim suit or in a camp ground. Great for summer carry. This gun is strictly a belly gun. In very close. A last resort thing. A very last. Be safe 12 or 6. Answere 12
I have had a AMT 380 Back-up for about 12years. The first time I shot it jamed repeatly.Sent back to factory at that time was in California. Have had no problems after that. Gun shoots great at close range. I have carried this 380 all over this USA. Easy to carry weather you are on the beach in a swim suit or in a camp ground. Great for summer carry. This gun is strictly a belly gun. In very close. A last resort thing. A very last. Be safe 12 or 6. Answere 12
I bought a new AMT 45 Backup a few years ago and really liked its small size and flatness. But it was totally unreliable, even after many trips back to the factory. Otherwise, I would still have it. I would never buy another one at any price, unless Wilson made it. In fact, it seems like something Wilson could make, and could sell by the ton. adk
AMT. 45 Backup
I remember when the late Harry Sanford introduced this firearm some years back. He didn't look too enthused. I believe that he was the kind of firearms company owner that prefered the Automag series. Nonetheless, I have an AMT .45 Backup. I bought it the first opportunity it was available. I have had mine worked on by a 'smith I truly trust. He did a "Carry Bevel Package" treatment a la Wayne Novak. There is not a sharp edge on this firearm. I had it worked on before I fired the first round through it. It is simple and with few moving parts. It has never failed to go bang when I squeezed the trigger. I currently use the Corbon 165-grain cartridge. I formerly carried the Charter Bulldog Pug it is place with Glaser Silver. The .45 Backup is easier to carry. Its a tertiary unit. I tend to keep just about all the firearms I've purchased. I don't purchase many. I tend to stick with what works. The AMT. 45 Backup is no exception.
I remember when the late Harry Sanford introduced this firearm some years back. He didn't look too enthused. I believe that he was the kind of firearms company owner that prefered the Automag series. Nonetheless, I have an AMT .45 Backup. I bought it the first opportunity it was available. I have had mine worked on by a 'smith I truly trust. He did a "Carry Bevel Package" treatment a la Wayne Novak. There is not a sharp edge on this firearm. I had it worked on before I fired the first round through it. It is simple and with few moving parts. It has never failed to go bang when I squeezed the trigger. I currently use the Corbon 165-grain cartridge. I formerly carried the Charter Bulldog Pug it is place with Glaser Silver. The .45 Backup is easier to carry. Its a tertiary unit. I tend to keep just about all the firearms I've purchased. I don't purchase many. I tend to stick with what works. The AMT. 45 Backup is no exception.