From: cjp@megatek.com (Chris "Systems Stud" Pikus)
Newsgroups: rec.guns
Subject: Re: AMT backup .380
Date: 18 Dec 92 01:56:30 GMT
Organization: Megatek Corporation, San Diego, California

#From article <6034@rosie.NeXT.COM>, by trose@NeXT.COM:
# 
# 
# I am looking for a small pocket pistol for occasional carry
# when belt carry isnot available.   I read an article on the 
# AMT .380 "backup".  The article was very positive.   From I
# have heard there first version of the backup was unreliable
# (the SA version).  Supposedly this new version (DA only) does
# a better > job w/ QA.   Has anybody had any experince with the
# AMT?  I would like > to decide soon so that I can get the pistol
# for under the tree!!
# 
# thanks for the help
# tracy in boston
# 
# trose@next.com

	I just did some work on an AMT single action backup and
feel like contributing my $.02.

	Since I haven't priced them, I'm assuming that the AMT
goes for about $130 wholesale. I could be way off.

	If one compares them to Ravens, Jennings, and Davis' then
this gun really eclipses them all. If you compare it to a Walther
PPK and/or SIG P230 then this gun leaves a bit to be desired.

	Plus's:
	The internal trigger/safety mechanism looked very much like
a 1911 gun. It had both a manual and grip safety blocking the sear.

	The single action hammer was enclosed. This protects it
and keeps it from getting pocket lint in it.

	Heavy trigger pull for  a single-action. I consider this
a plus for a defense gun.

	Minus's:
	To dis-assemble it, you have to drive out the pin in the slide
holding in the breech-block. Then you use a punch to drive the breech
block up through the top of the slide. This makes cleaning a real
problem; and consequently infrequent. [MAJOR MINUS]

	Real harsh recoil. Even with a proper grip, when I fired it
the recoil would force the web in my hand (between thumb and forefinger)
upwards and the slide would drag across it. Really hurt.  But then I
have Glock sized hands.

	No slide hold open on last shot. Or any slide hold open
for that matter. you had to insert magazine and rack slide.

	Barrel is welded to frame. Should not be a problem unless
you wear it out; then you buy a new gun.


-------------

	So if I was going to buy one with my own money, this is
what I would probably do with it:

	1. Stiffen the hammer spring. [This is what I did to the AMT
that I worked on the other day.] This will insure a more positive
hammer strike on the primer; a leading cause of misfires in the AMT.

	2. Polish the feed ramp. Seams and tooling marks were visible
on the ramp where the barrel was welded to the frame. I personally
would polish them to a mirror finish. On the other hand it did feed
CCI Lawman JHPs reliably, so maybe it was good enough.

	3. Stone the sear/hammer interface. this always helps.

	Now granted, if you cannot do these things yourself, then
it could cost you some money. Maybe even enough to erase part of
the price difference between it and a more expensive gun. Especially
if you consider the the expensive guns have more features and come
perfect out of the box. 

	Personally, I would buy a SIG P230. However if my finances
did not permit it, the AMT seems to be a really good value for 
the money.

	Damn, I almost talked myself into buying one of the two. 


-- 
Christopher J. Pikus,        | "...  the trouble with the politics of
Megatek Corp., San Diego, CA | lowered expectations is that whenever you
INTERNET: cjp@megatek.com    | think you've lowered them enough, you have
UUCP: uunet!megatek!cjp      | to lower them again."   -- Michael Kinsley