From: boardman%cancer.unm.edu@lynx.unm.edu (Bob Boardman)
Newsgroups: rec.guns
Subject: Re: AMT backup advice/instructions needed
Date: 22 Jan 93 23:41:10 GMT
Organization: UNM Cancer Center

In article <9301211025.aa29102@ingate.microsoft.COM>,
     davidst@microsoft.com (David Steckler) writes:
#
## (re: AMT Backup .380)
##also, how are these guns reliability wise?  
#
#"Some work and some don't and you don't know which yours is until you
#try it out" is what someone on this newsgroup told me. I never could get 
#mine to shoot more than two rounds in a row without a jam.
#
##any comments good or bad?
#
#Well, any gun which has the above reputation doesn't instill a great deal
#of confidence. I decided that, even if I could get mine working correctly,
#I didn't trust it to save my life, so I bought a Walther PPK/S and have
#been very happy with it.
#
##are there any other guns out there in the same size range (tiny) and caliber
##that are a better deal?  
#
#A Walther PPK/S will cost you more (perhaps even twice as much) but is
#a well crafted and reliable gun. There was a big discussion on .380s a few
#months ago in this newsgroup; check back articles or archives for more info.
#
##I like the colt mustang (if that's what it's called)
##but that's single action only, right?  any other recommendations?
##
#
#I personally could never recommend anyone using an AMT Backup because of
#it's reliability problems, not only the one's I had, but stories from others
#too. I've heard that the Mustang is decent and I can heartily recommend
#the Walther PPK.
#
	I was probably the one who gave him the "Some work and some don't.."
  quote above, but the actual quote from the gunsmith was: "AS THEY COME
  FROM THE FACTORY, Some work and some don't, BUT THE ONES THAT DON'T CAN
  ALWAYS BE FIXED BY A LITTLE POLISHING ON THE FEED RAMP!".
	I have a .380 Backup, and I never really tried it "as it came from
  the factory".  There were very obvious milling marks left on the feed ramp
  running at right angles to the bullet path, so I took a dowel rod and some
  silicon carbide paper (#240, then #320, then #400) and gently polished the
  ramp until the marks were gone, and then brought it to a mirror polish with
  some Simichrome paste.  After this treatment, the pistol has been totally
  reliable.  Granted, it does not have the finish of a Walther or a Colt,
  but it is SIGNIFICANTLY smaller than the Walther PPK, and is somewhat
  smaller than the Colt Mustang, and the price is less than half what either
  of these cost.  IMnsHO, the AMT Backup has a niche all to itself - the
  smallest auto firing the .380 ACP, and it's a real bargain to boot!
  Given that the wholesale price is around $180.00, I think it's one of the
  biggest bargains going for a Stainless Steel pocket auto.  You really
  can't go far wrong buying one, polishing the ramp, and then shooting it
  a bunch for reliability testing, since you can always sell it and not
  lose very much if you decide you don't like it.

  -Bob

  P.S.  This is referring to the older single-action AMT Backup - I haven't
         had a chance to try one of the new double-actions yet.

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|**I _AM_ a member of a well-regulated militia - self-regulated, that is!!!!**|
| Bob Boardman,Albuquerque,New Mexico - NRA LIFE, NMSSA, Zia Rifle&Pistol Club|
|        internet:boardman@cancer.unm.edu    bitnet:BOARDMAN@UNMB             |
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