AMT Hardballer

Islander1 · 10-18-2012, 20:32

What's your opinion?

Sharkey · 10-19-2012, 14:58

They either worked or they didn't. I liked mine and had no issues with it but I sold it to buy a duty gun on the approved list. This was 20yrs ago though. Unless it is a smokin' deal, there is probably better out there.

bac1023 · 10-19-2012, 15:27

I have one as a collector's item since they were the first full stainless 1911. As a serious shooter, forget it.

In fact, mine has never been fired. Its still brand new.

**Jason D** · 10-19-2012, 16:38

I'd buy one if I could get it cheap.

Snaps · 10-19-2012, 16:52

It's a gun I will own someday. Maybe even the longslide but one of them for sure.

bac1023 · 10-19-2012, 17:00

Quality wasn't good, but they were good looking 1911s.

They were modeled after the Colt Gold Cup NM.

ca survivor · 10-19-2012, 17:47

Bac, is there a 1911 that you still don't have in your collection ? or a particular one that you can't find ?

bac1023 · 10-19-2012, 17:51

Quote:

Originally Posted by ca survivor

Bac, is there a 1911 that you still don't have in your collection ? or a particular one that you can't find ?

Yeah, there are some I don't own. However, I pretty much have everything I want at this point.

I've been focused on non-1911 autos of late. I'm trying to balance out my collection somewhat.

ca survivor · 10-19-2012, 17:56

you have a wonderful collection, enjoy it for many years.

***faawrenchbndr*** · 10-19-2012, 19:08

The slides galled very badly. If you have one, and shoot it, find
some Rig +P stainless steel lube. It is a must to stop the galling

bac1023 · 10-19-2012, 19:32

Quote:

Originally Posted by ca survivor

you have a wonderful collection, enjoy it for many years.

Thank you sir

Islander1 · 10-19-2012, 19:40

The reason I was asking about the AMT, is I was at my LGS picking up a gun that I had some work done to. A guy came in wanting to trade three guns for something different. One of his trade ins was the AMT. I didn't know anything about it. It did look like a Colt.

bac1023 · 10-19-2012, 19:43

Like I said, it's not something you want to buy for serious range time.

Stainless steel back then was not what it is today. Galling was a major concern.

countrygun · 10-19-2012, 19:45

Quote:

Originally Posted by faawrenchbndr

The slides galled very badly. If you have one, and shoot it, find
some Rig +P stainless steel lube. It is a must to stop the galling

It was kind of interesting in that they were a kind-of "Beta" test for SS 1911's. Manufacturers learned a lot about galling from them.

bac1023 · 10-19-2012, 19:55

Quote:

Originally Posted by countrygun

It was kind of interesting in that they were a kind-of "Beta" test for SS 1911's. Manufacturers learned a lot about galling from them.

Yeah, those and dome other eat stainless autos really helped improve the metallurgy of stainless steel.

countrygun · 10-19-2012, 20:09

Quote:

Originally Posted by bac1023

Yeah, those and dome other eat stainless autos really helped improve the metallurgy of stainless steel.

A stainless 1911 is a wonderful thing and in a way we do kind of owe AMT a nod for being a pioneer, but not all pioneering is successful. I may be mistaken, in detail, but my memeory tells me the first "all Stainless" semi auto on the market was the Sterling .22 and .25. (just a little derail)

bac1023 · 10-20-2012, 02:09

Quote:

Originally Posted by countrygun

I may be mistaken, in detail, but my memeory tells me the first "all Stainless" semi auto on the market was the Sterling .22 and .25. (just a little derail)

That very well could be.

Gary1911A1 · 10-20-2012, 09:10

Had one shortly after Col. cooper wrote about it in Guns&Ammo. Took years to get over feeling betrayed, but I did. Mine was terrible, wouldn't feed a complete magazine and had such sharp edges I didn't need a pocketknife.

bac1023 · 10-20-2012, 19:58

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gary1911A1

Had one shortly after Col. cooper wrote about it in Guns&Ammo. Took years to get over feeling betrayed, but I did. Mine was terrible, wouldn't feed a complete magazine and had such sharp edges I didn't need a pocketknife.

I think more didn't work than actually did work.

TTM65 · 10-20-2012, 22:17

I had 2 in the mid 80's, the first one was a complete POS. I sent it back to the factory and was quite suprised as the second one functioned perfectly. I say the second one because I stamped my initials into the frame under the grips, the stamping was gone but the serial number was the same. I am sure they just made another frame or possibly complete gun and sent it back. Either way it ran like a great machine.

Jim Watson · 10-21-2012, 08:04

A friend of mine got one when they were new on the market. It didn't work well, but he was a skilled handtool gunsmith and he tinkered with it until it shot reliably. This involved a lot of Colt small parts and refitting. But it then shot.
He kept it lubricated and had no problems with galling.
It was not at all soft, he shot it thousands of rounds of what we would now call +P and there was no real wear, just a little burnishing of the coarse finish on the frame rails.

Another early buyer here is a toolroom machinist. He welded and cut on his until it worked, too. It has the oddest looking feed ramp I have ever seen, but it feeds any bullet he has tried over the years.

Mayhem like Me · 10-22-2012, 09:29

Quote:

Originally Posted by Islander1

What's your opinion?

Garbage.

They did look cool.. I had a Randall that pistol acually worked...

fnfalman · 10-22-2012, 15:47

Great finger shredder.

You ain't an M1911 Man until you cut your thumb on the thumb safety and slide release on the AMT Hardballer.

fnfalman · 10-22-2012, 15:49

Quote:

Originally Posted by Snaps

It's a gun I will own someday. Maybe even the longslide but one of them for sure.

With a laser on top?

Sarahhh Connoh?

Unk · 10-22-2012, 15:54

Related - had a AMT Back Up in .380 many years ago. You could truthfully say most of the negative comments here about that pistol.

Gave it to a LE SIL years ago..she has since moved on to Glocks and Kahrs.