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November 23, 2011
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I went to the gun show in Louisville and found a Zoo. The amount of exhibitors was down by a third. Mix this with 3X as many attendees and you need close order drill to get up and down the isles.
There was one Dan Wesson 22 cal. pistol pac for $1250.00 not complete, and one beat up wood grip. There were high end high priced shotguns , double rifles, vintage Colts, and Smiths. Strangely there were a lot of AMT's this is strange for a show in my area. My final option was this show made Gun Broker look like a discount seller. R S
April 25, 2008
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Thanks Rod, I almost went to that show, but I figured it would be a zoo. I am glad I didn't spent the time or money there, it would have been a disappointment.
Just curious, what AMT's did they have there. Always liked those pistols, even have a couple. Just sold my AMT Baby Auto Mag on Gunbroker...made out like a bandit on that one!
The Savantist
November 23, 2011
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IHMSA80x80 They had one 22LR and a 22 Mag. 30 carbine, 50 AE, and two 45's. There were others which I am not sure as to what they were. Too crowded to get a close look. R S
April 25, 2008
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The Savantist
February 29, 2012
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Rod Slinger said:
IHMSA80x80 They had one 22LR and a 22 Mag. 30 carbine, 50 AE, and two 45's. There were others which I am not sure as to what they were. Too crowded to get a close look. R S
I have had my eyes out for a Automag V in 50AE ever since I saw one for sale at the gunshop I worked at back in the early 90's. The guy who was selling it at the time, had won it in a contest, but he was kind of a jerk to deal with, so I blew him off and just decided I would order one from my local gun pusher.I believe back then the seller wanted $850 firm for the pistol because it was pretty new, and had only been shot a couple times.
I did not realize what a limited run pistol the Automag V was back then, and I never really liked the too large in the hand Desert Eagle. The gas port was impossible to get at on the DE, and I like to shoot cast bullets a bit too. The Automag V always seemed like a simple, oversize, stainless steel 1911 to me.
I asked my local gun dealer if he could order an Automag V for me at the time, and I found out that it was a limited run gun (very limited, like only 2000-2500 only got made before Arcadia Machine and Tool went under) and it was no longer in production. I kicked myself for years after that for not grabbing that Automag V when I had the chance.
I could still get an Automag III back then, so I ordered an AMT Automag III in 30 carbine instead. I figured it would be a good companion to a M1 30 carbine, sort of like the Ruger 30 carbine Blackhawk revolvers. The AMT III in 30 carbine is an interesting pistol, and it's a hoot to handload for, but man is it LOUD, I'm talking ear plugs and muffs loud.
For years after that I lusted after an Automag V in 50AE. The more I found out about them, the poorer my odds seemed of finding one in any kind of decent condition. They made so few of the pistols, and a lot of them were prone to breakage from factory hot 50AE ammo. Supposedly AMT mostly just slapped the 50AE barrel in the Automag IV, to make the 50 caliber Automag V, and the guns didn't stand up very well to the power of the cartridge.
Fortunately for me, there were a lot of people who would buy the guns, and then sell them after firing them, when they decided they did not like the recoil, or the blast of 50AE after they had purchased the pistol.
I finally managed to find an Automag V, about year or two ago in a gunshop on consignment. It was still in the original plastic box with a spare mag and the papers. It even still had the serial number tag on the side of the box.
I grabbed it for $900.
I couldn't believe my good luck and I swooped it up super fast. I have been hand loading 50AE down to just subsonic levels just for the gun. My best results so far have been with IMR4227 for a powder selection. I have been pushing 300 grain plated bullets at 950-1000 FPS across my chronograph, and the AMT 50AE is a a real pussycat to shoot at those velocities. It shoots superbly, and will hopefully be around with me for a long time.
Here are a couple of pictures of my AMT Automag V in 50AE.
- Bullwolf
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Range Officers
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February 9, 2009
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Cool story about a real cool pistol. I just learned more about AMT than I ever knew prior to reading your post. Thanks for the education, makes me want to learn more for sure about these limited unique pistols.
A man cannot have too many SuperMags
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Range Officers
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March 27, 2009
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Sweet deal and not much over the price from years gone by! I have seen these mostly in 22mag, looked though not very hard! 
April 25, 2008
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Very nice score on the 50AE. I always wanted a set of those Automags in .30 Carbine, 9mm Winchester Mag and 10mm Winchester Mag. Never was much interested in their .22 Automag, it was very finicky about feeding and a lot of them got passed from one owner to the other. I really like the .22LR Lightning pistols, they have better sights and triggers on them than the Ruger MKII's do, and all of mine have been very accurate.
The Backups are very neat, concealable pistols and the Hardballers were decent alternatives to the Colt 1911, but you had to keep them properly lubed. I managed to score an unbelievable 
, only in the AMT department, on a longslide Javelina in 10mm Auto. That is a real powerhouse with the old, full-power Norma loads. And I just sold my Baby Auto Mag, a .22LR lookalike to the original .44 Auto Mags. AMT made some pretty cool guns.
The Savantist
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February 9, 2009
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I am curous about good loads for the .30 Carbine? I load for my Dad's M-1 and am curous of there are some really good loads for an AMT in this caliber. You have my interest peeked on this set-up. Don't need a 50 Cal auto, have that covered in a wheelgun.. Wait a minute, what does need have to do with it?
A man cannot have too many SuperMags
February 29, 2012
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Supermagfan said:
I am curous about good loads for the .30 Carbine? I load for my Dad's M-1 and am curous of there are some really good loads for an AMT in this caliber. You have my interest peeked on this set-up. Don't need a 50 Cal auto, have that covered in a wheelgun.. Wait a minute, what does need have to do with it?
I have had decent results using Accurate Arms #9 in .30 carbine using 12.8 grains of AA#9 and a CCI small rifle primer with a 110 grain jacketed bullet. I use an Over All Length of 1.680. This load gives me 1550 FPS out of the Automag III, and no pressure signs. I would feel comfortable shooting this load in my M1 Carbine rifle as well.
Hercules/Alliant 2400 powder at 13.1 grains, with a 110 grain jacketed bullet and an OAL of 1.680. This load gives me 1500 FPS from my Automag III, and also no pressure signs, using a CCI small rifle primer again for consistency. I would have no misgivings shooting this load through my M1 Carbine as well
My hottest, and most accurate pistol load for my Automag III uses either a 110 grain jacketed bullet, or a 100 grain soft point and 15.4 grains of an old lot of Winchester 296 powder (still in the metal canister) with Lake City .30 carbine brass, an OAL of 1.680, and a CCI #450 magnum primer. I get 1600+ FPS from this load across my chronograph. It's about as hot as I feel comfortable with in the Automag III.
I have never shot this load through a M1, but it should work just fine, many people use W296/H110 in the M1 .30 carbine rifle. I would start at 14.0 to 14.5 grains of Hodgdon H110, or Winchester 296 for an M1 carbine with a 100 or 110 grain FMJ bullet. I would expect around 1950-2050 FPS out of the M1 carbine rifle.
I have pushed the W296 load farther in stronger pistols, (Like the Thompson Contender, and Ruger .30 carbine Blackhawk) as far as 16.0 grains and 1700 FPS. It gives a very large amount of flash, and blast at the muzzle.
If you decide to reproduce any of my loads, especially the W296 one, please work your way up to the maximum charge slowly, and safely using modern H110/W296 powders. I would recommend starting at 14 grains. Powders can vary quite a bit from lot to lot, and my top end powder charge, might be less, or more than yours will be.
Do not just start right off at 15+ grains, or use my maximum load without working up to it in your pistol or rifle. Do not reduce (light load) more than 10% of the starting load data when using W296/H110, or results can be very erratic, and dangerous. In my experience 2400 is a much more forgiving all around powder, especial for use with reduced loads.
If you want a really light pistol load, that will not cycle the action of the Automag III, but is very quiet, and forgiving to shoot (lots of fun in the .30 carbine Ruger Blackhawk too!) try 5.0 grains of Hercules/Alliant's Unique. Be very careful not to double charge that load, as you can probably fit 2 charges of Unique in a .30 carbine case.
5.0 grains of Unique will get the bullet out of a pistol at around 850-900 FPS depending on the gun, barrel length, and or cylinder gap. It's a nice fun subsonic plinking load to shoot.
- Bullwolf
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