Thoughts on an AMT Javalina Longslide in 10mm?

Rockrivr1

Rockrivr1

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So I've always wanted a Longslide 1911 and this AMT has shown up on my radar and I'm on the fence on whether I should bid on it or not. I've handled some AMT backups and they seemed not that great. Anyone know what their 1911s are like? If I do bid on it I don't think I'm going to go too much for it. So what's your thoughts on the AMTs?

This is the gun I'm looking at:

LS.jpeg
 
I have one. Mine is stainless. I wasn't aware other finishes were offered. I love mine, but other than the super long slide and barrel, not much is different than the various 1911 variants out there. I'm always worried about breaking the slide or the barrel, simply because they are unique but that's obviously not a major issue.
 
Rockrivr1

I worked on an AMT Hardballer for a friend of mine and it had to be one of the most poorly built handguns I have ever seen. There was virtually no hand fitting of any of the internal parts. It was as if someone was handed a frame, a slide, a barrel, and a bag filled with the parts, and told to slap it together and then move on to the next one. Slide to frame, barrel to slide, and the trigger pull were all pretty rough and it's truly more of a tribute to J.M. Browning's brilliant design that this gun was able to function at all. And don't be misled by the name "Hardballer" as it even had trouble feeding that on occasion!

My other experiences with the AMT product line was I had several of their .380 Back-Up pistols. While they were really small and relatively inexpensive they were also troubled with some of the same problems that the 1911s had, that is indifferent construction and less than 100% in terms of performance.

In regards to the Javalina Longslide your looking at I believe it's been worked on a bit as I seem to recall that all of their handguns were made from stainless steel.
 
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I've heard the same negatives. I also have no personal experience.

I personally would have figured these things are entering "collector's item" territory. I guess if I really wanted a longslide 10mm - which are interesting guns - I'd look into a new one.
 
I've had an AMT Lightning 10/22 clone for over 30 years. It has worked like a champ for me from day one. I reconfigured it as a target rifle with a new barrel, stock and sights awhile back:

1022Target.jpg

I also briefly owned one of their .380 Back Up pocket automatics, which was not so great. One time I dropped the empty magazine and it spontaneously disassembled. Sold it off pretty quickly.

So, yeah, hit and miss.
 
I think they are hit or miss. Their reputation is somewhat buoyed because of the fame of the AutoMag, and Ahhnold and his long slide .45 with laser sight.

I carried an AMT .380 DAO for a while, the slide cracked in half under the ejection port. A trip back to the Mothership got me a new slide... and the pistol quickly became trading fodder at the next gunshow. These days, there is no Mothership for AMT... you break it, you are on your own.

Having said that, it does not look original. If you are able to examine it before purchase, and you are really interested in it, give it a good going over to see what's been done to it... then evaluate whether it's worth the price to you.

For my money, I'd get a Dan Wesson 10mm, or something similar.
 
Lennyjoe said:
The Iver Johnson may be a better choice.

https://www.familyfirearms.com/prod...kote-long-slide-diamondwood-walnut-wlogo-grip
Click to expand...
The Javelina is unique in that it uses a 7" barrel instead of the 6" version that everyone else (including Iver Johnson) uses. Since the gun the OP has shown us is modified, I would assume it is one that was either working or was made to work. Many examples made it out the door in perfect working order. I have both a Javelina and an Automag III and they both function flawlessly.
 
Can't comment on the Javelina, but have a Hardballer -(in pieces)- that I wouldn't give five cents for. Good luck- it might be needed.
 
I’ve got a Government model 45 and a Lightning 22 auto, Ruger wannabe target model. Both very nice pieces with never a hickup of any kind with either. Maybe I’m just lucky? Ex BIL has a long slide on a Government model and it too has been flawless. As I understand it AMT had pretty good models and some not so good ones. I got mine new and cheap at a small auction many years ago so if they crash on me, I’m not out much.
ps: I know milling dovetails for new sights on my Government model slide, that stainless is danged hard.
 
Rockrivr1 said:
So I've always wanted a Longslide 1911 and this AMT has shown up on my radar and I'm on the fence on whether I should bid on it or not. I've handled some AMT backups and they seemed not that great. Anyone know what their 1911s are like? If I do bid on it I don't think I'm going to go too much for it. So what's your thoughts on the AMTs?

This is the gun I'm looking at:

View attachment 1199959
Click to expand...
I had a AMT Auto Mag 3 Long Slide in 30 carbine that I got from my father in law. He never shot it as he got it for a debt payment from someone he had loaned money to. I don’t think it was ever fired I shot it once and then sold it to someone that collects them but as others have said the quality of them is not that great. If you are looking for a long slide look at a Springfield V-16 Longslide I have one they are great guns it is my favorite one. Mine came with both springs one for 45 auto and one for 45 Super I shoot both cartridges. IMG_2020.jpeg
 
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Bought my AMY Hardballer back in 1978, had to send the slide back, it was shooting too low, received it-or a replacement-worked fine ever since. Used it when I shot IPSC 1979-1980, never let me down. Since AMT and its successor companies are long gone, replacement parts will have to be Colt or some other manufacturer.
 
I had a AMT Automag II in 45WinMag for awhile back in the early 90s. It was too much gun so I sold it. Worked okay but I prefer a std 45 acp.
 
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It’s a roll of the dice, IMHO. Caveat Emptor when buying AMT guns is all I can say.

It may be a sweet shooting, hard hitting pistol. My friends have one of the long slides in .45 that shoots well for them. The 7” barrel and extra long slide almost look comical when you first see and handle them, this is from a guy (me) who also has a 6” V-16 like @LV Gun that looks crazy enough. But, that looong barrel has the length to help the 10mm get up to speed nicely and its still packable in even a Yaqui belt slide if you so choose.

Or, it could be an inaccurate, frustrating jam-a-thon every time you try to shoot it.

AMT handguns had a well-earned reputation of being very inconsistent: with one shooting fine and the next two off the line functioning like crap. You never knew what you were going to get, it was either a rose or a turd. And this rep plagued the company through a few ownership reboots until they finally folded.

If you do buy it, let us know how it shoots for you.

Stay safe.
 
If you could find a guy familiar withe the 1911 , seriously capable, then a fitting of parts and replace a few small parts and fit them you will have a surprisng 10mm
The link need to be upgraded and fitted with a better slide stop to it. Busing and fire control fitted and tuned. Wilson Combat has all the little pieces high quality, they all need fitting. The gun is worth it !
 
One of my shooting partners at the club has a rock island in 10mm with a few std upgrades. He was into USPSA with a comp colt in 45 but carries the 10 most of the time now. He doesn't shoot competitions any longer but he speaks highly of the RI.

I still prefer the std colt in 45acp. If I want more power I use a mag revolver or rifle.
 
Rockrivr1 said:
So I've always wanted a Longslide 1911 and this AMT has shown up on my radar and I'm on the fence on whether I should bid on it or not. I've handled some AMT backups and they seemed not that great. Anyone know what their 1911s are like? If I do bid on it I don't think I'm going to go too much for it. So what's your thoughts on the AMTs?

This is the gun I'm looking at:

View attachment 1199959
Click to expand...
Did you end up getting it?
 
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