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AMT HARDBALLER

gars320gars320 Member Posts: 471 ✭✭✭
edited July 2002 in General Discussion
I'd like to get some feedback from the people of the board here about the AMT Hardballer .45acp! It has adjustable sights, trigger, target Hammer etc. I bought mine almost 19 years ago and I never had any trouble with it except a few times it stove piped in the first few hundred rounds. But after I used an anti-galling fluid on the slide rails this problem stopped.
I also used this an a back up on the PD and a concealed carry off duty. When we had to qualify our back ups I kept 40 rounds in the Black every time.
But most people who are aware of AMT's say they are $hi+. For the price I paid for the AMT compared to a Colt that I in o way could have afforded, I just don't get this.
I have been wavering between selling it and moving up or just taking the AMT, having an action and rail job done, adding some Chip McCormick internals and carrying on for another 20 years because this particular gun fits my hand even better than my Sprngfield Armory Trophy Match 45.
What has everyody got against the AMT other than it's an orphan? I very seldom buy parts from the same source, my thinking was "the first one they sold me broke, why gve 'em another chance?" and I have never had to send a gun back to anyone for factory service as yet. For any improvements I like to use a local gunsmith, I hate waiting a couple months to get anything done by factory.
I haven't had a lot of customization done to my guns up till now so how big a problem is it really to switch items between guns like barrels and slides and hammers etc.


Nil Illegitimus Carborundum
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Comments

  • LowriderLowrider Member Posts: 6,587
    edited November -1
    Read the thread about the AMT .380 Backup. I don't know anything about the Hardballers, but I DO know that the company is no longer in business. You won't be sending yours to the factory for anything because there IS no factory anymore.

    Lord Lowrider the LoquaciousMember:Secret Select Society of Suave Stylish Smoking Jackets She was only a fisherman's daughter,But when she saw my rod she reeled.
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  • offerorofferor Member Posts: 8,625 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    As far as I know, AMT made good solid guns. Their Backups saved a lot of cops' lives. I've never heard a bad word about the hardballer either, and I've been at this since the 80s when they were more in vogue.

    It is popular nowadays to run at the mouth about stuff being * -- you're liable to hear that drivel about any brand under the sun -- and it is a red flag that the person has it for brains and can't hold an intelligent conversation.

    The idea of AMTs being bad guns would be news to millions of gun owners, cops, gun writers and dealers who have been selling them to satisfied customers for decades. If you sell it you'll miss it. If you want another gun, fine, but I'd keep this one too. Wait a little while or buy a little less ammo for a month or two and use the savings to refurbish your hardballer. The Hardballer name alone is a classic. I wish I had one to play with. Now that they're discontinued, the price on the better and rarer guns AMT made is only going to go up eventually. A gun doesn't have to be a race gun to be a great collectible. I think you've got a keeper.

    - Life NRA Member
    "If cowardly & dishonorable men shoot unarmed men with army guns, the evil must be prevented by the penitentiary...and not by general deprivation of constitutional privilege." - Arkansas Supreme Court, 1878
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  • SP TigerSP Tiger Member Posts: 872 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    I've got an AMT .45 Hardballer that I bought new in 1989. The only problem I ever had with it is that it would jam on the next-to-the-last round in every magazine full when using flat-nose or truncated cone bullets. I replaced the magazine followers and put a stiffer spring in it and the problem vanished. I almost sold it a couple of years ago, and now I'm glad I didn't. I would like to have a round top slide with fixed sights for it though.

    Better to have and not need, than need and not have.
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  • JustCJustC Member Posts: 16,056 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    I have one with a customized SS slide, beavertail, commander hammer, adj trigger and adj sights installed. It shoots well for me, although I got it used and it shows a good bit of use, it has functioned well so far.

    A buddy at the gunshop told me he saw one lodge a bullet in the barrel and when the guy fired the next round it just shoved it out the end. The gun didn't blow up, although it was very damaged, the guy wasn't hurt.

    A great rifle with a junk scope,....is junk.
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  • NighthawkNighthawk Member Posts: 12,022 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    If it feels that good in the hand and shoots that well Id keep her around.You might have trouble adjusting to a new gun.



    Best!!

    Rugster
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  • PiadeaPiadea Member Posts: 146 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    I had a hardballer and it shot very well, never had a bit of trouble. The problem you have is if you put a lot of $$$$ into the gun you will never get it back out if you sell it. AMT just don't have a good rep.
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  • PearywPearyw Member Posts: 3,699
    edited November -1
    I used a hardballer frame to build a comp gun several years ago. The only things that I didn't like about it was the non-replaceable ejector and the odd trigger width. I took a Gold Cup width trigger and ground it down to make it narrow enough to fit. I am still shooting the gun and it works well.
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  • PearywPearyw Member Posts: 3,699
    edited November -1
    I used a hardballer frame to build a comp gun several years ago. The only things that I didn't like about it was the non-replaceable ejector and the odd trigger width. I took a Gold Cup width trigger and ground it down to make it narrow enough to fit. I am still shooting the gun and it works well.
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  • gars320gars320 Member Posts: 471 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Thanks to all for the information. I think after reading all the comments that I really should keep this one.It does fit me well as is and shoots like a dream. If I have to put some money into it I know that I'll never get it back, but this is no surprise as the Blue Book value toay is less than I paid for it new with my FFL. But if I do put the money in it will be all for me because I am keeping it. Though maybe my son will want it sometime down the line.
    Its good to know that someone else has also had good experiences wth AMT! Thanks again


    Nil Illegitimus Carborundum
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