AMT Lightning

[Lngstrt]

Here's something of moderate ..... or, maybe just minor, interest to Ruger-philes

Not sure if I should keep and shoot, keep and just look at it occasionally or sel.

 

[mohavesam]

Have a 6" and have a few seasons with it, no complaints.

 

[Rocdoc]

Reasonably sure 'Ruger-philes' have other makes. If I owned that AMT you show, it ain't goin nowhere but back in the sale after I shot the snot of it. Life is short, enjoy it!

 

[Lngstrt]

Reasonably sure 'Ruger-philes' have other makes.

I would hope so.

As alluded to on other posts, I just inherited some guns from Dear ol Dad. I had, honestly, never heard of the Lightnings - pistol or rifle - until I found this in his collection.

I was aware of the AMT brand. Back in the early 80s I worked in the gun department of a sporting goods store in Denver and an off duty policeman, attempting to show us his new Backup pistol (.380 if I recall) ..... he dropped it on the glass counter and it went off!!!!! Took out the glass top and side of the showcase and lodged in the front wall of the store. Pretty exciting way to end the day. :shock:

 

[Jim Puke]

Reasonably sure 'Ruger-philes' have other makes.

I would hope so.

As alluded to on other posts, I just inherited some guns from Dear ol Dad. I had, honestly, never heard of the Lightnings - pistol or rifle - until I found this in his collection.

I was aware of the AMT brand. Back in the early 80s I worked in the gun department of a sporting goods store in Denver and an off duty policeman, attempting to show us his new Backup pistol (.380 if I recall) ..... he dropped it on the glass counter and it went off!!!!! Took out the glass top and side of the showcase and lodged in the front wall of the store. Pretty exciting way to end the day. :shock:

My Father left me an AMT Backup in .380...I have shot it some and if I remember correctly, I don't think that I have ever hit ANYTHING that I shot at with it...only gun that I have, that I can say that about.

Might not be the gun...but that does not change the reality. SO, it is definitely a safe queen.

 

[Highstandardguy]

Unless you have the box and all the paperwork, shoot it or sell it. If the trigger is as bad as mine was I can recommend the VQ Ruger Mark sear. It made my trigger much better.

 

[Kevin]

It looks nice. I've never seen one in person, or shot one for that matter, but it sure looks better than the new S&W Victory. I'd shoot it too...

 

[Lngstrt]

Well ........ I now have:

Mark I Bull Barrel c1976
Mark I Target c1979
Mark II Target c1982
Mark III Bull Barrel c2009
New Model Super Single Six c1978

Might just let the Lightning go .......

 

[k22fan]

Back in the 80s a friend bought one through the Shotgun News at a serious get rid of 'em close out price. His worked very well.

That is something I can not say about any of the other AMTs I saw at the range back then. .380 Back Ups and the Auto Mag series in various sizes and chamberings were common. That series borrowed only the name from the original Auto Mag that had a rotating bolt head. I did not see anyone bring one of AMTs 1911s.

I've seen a few Lightnings pass through Cabela's at about half the price of equivalent Mark series pistols. They have no prestige, only the potential to provide an accurate .22 at a bargain price. If it functions well and you'll use it, even as a loaner or for kids to shoot, then you may as well keep it. If it's just a PIA to store then pass it on to a young shooter who will appreciate a bargain.

 

[T.A. WORKMAN]

Nice Shooter!! Don't see them much around here.
Terry

 

[Lngstrt]

There are an awful lot of no-bids on G-Broker!! :wink:

 

[Highstandardguy]

That usually means that the price is too high or there is something wrong with the offering.

 

[NH Rugerman]

Reasonably sure 'Ruger-philes' have other makes.

I would hope so.

As alluded to on other posts, I just inherited some guns from Dear ol Dad. I had, honestly, never heard of the Lightnings - pistol or rifle - until I found this in his collection.

I was aware of the AMT brand. Back in the early 80s I worked in the gun department of a sporting goods store in Denver and an off duty policeman, attempting to show us his new Backup pistol (.380 if I recall) ..... he dropped it on the glass counter and it went off!!!!! Took out the glass top and side of the showcase and lodged in the front wall of the store. Pretty exciting way to end the day. :shock:

My Father left me an AMT Backup in .380...I have shot it some and if I remember correctly, I don't think that I have ever hit ANYTHING that I shot at with it...only gun that I have, that I can say that about.

Might not be the gun...but that does not change the reality. SO, it is definitely a safe queen.

Jim Luke...that reminded me....

I owned a AMT Back up in 380 in the early to mid 1980's...horrible, I couldn't hit anything either but I carried it for a while as it was all I had and could afford at the time.

Finally, I decided that I would trade it in on a Beretta Jetfire in 25ACP as I recall and the dealer looked at me, looked at the gun and completely straight faced asked me if I "trusted my life to the Back up", In which I replied,"yes." He looked back at me and said " your better off throwing rocks!" we both agreed and chuckled, I walked out with the Beretta and have never looked back.

One of the few guns that I have sold and haven't regretted doing so...

 

[tinman]

I've only seen the "Lightning" in pictures but I've owned several of the "Back-Up" over the years. Every one bought from a disgruntled buyer. A bit of smoothing and all of them shot qualifying scores all the way out to 15 yards with zero problems.
I sold each one because .380 wasn't a caliber I was very interested in given the thin ammo choices back then. 8)

 

[dakota1911]

I have seen those at gun shows but never shot one. Didn't Ruger sue AMT over that pistol?

I do have an AMT Hardballer I bought back in 1984. Mine has not been that bad over the years.



And a few years ago I found a little AMT 45 Backup almost new in box. Nothing like 5+1 of 45ACP in a little DAO hammer fired pistol.

 

[RSIno1]

Their shop was down the street from my dad's machine shop. He was a retired tool & mfg engineer and would help them out with their mfg process from time to time.

 

[TucsonDirt]

My wife inherited an AMT Backup in .380, it is a Jam-o-matic!
I've tried changing mag springs and cleaning/lubing/break-in, but it still FTFs one round per mag. Range toy at best, I certainly wouldn't trust it for defense.
OP, that lightning looks nice, I hope it turns out to be a good shooter for you.

 

[reloader]

Back in the 80's I had a AMT Hardballer 45, I considered it the poor man's GoldCup, me being the poor man. It was a pretty good gun for the money. A friend had an AMT back up 380 that was prone to jam and not very easy to hit with. He tried some of my 95 grain FMJ reloads in it and it fed and functioned perfectly with them. It also shot a bit better with them. Back then I used to trim all my cases and check every round for overall length. He was so happy that his gun worked that he had me teach him and his son how to reload. He wife still has that gun and it still shoots fine with reloads.

 

[edlmann]

My Father left me an AMT Backup in .380...I have shot it some and if I remember correctly, I don't think that I have ever hit ANYTHING that I shot at with it...only gun that I have, that I can say that about.
Might not be the gun...but that does not change the reality. SO, it is definitely a safe queen.

Used to have one of these - the sights were more of a rumor than anything else.

Wanna hit the barn? Go inside the barn and close the doors . . . :roll:

 

[DA_TriggR4Ruger]

I almost bought one of these years ago, but opted for the Automag in .22Mag. I sure miss that gun!

 

[m657]

I had the AMT 380 that worked so well and so accurate a buddy whined & moaned & finally gave me an embarrassingly large pile of green backs for it....that I immediately ran out & bought the AMT 45 acp back up. That was a wretched mistake with a horrid trigger & proved to be entirely a lemon.

The AMT 10/22 clone with a factory folding stock, enamored me for a decade or do. It usually fired anything I fed it, but it really wasn't very accurate in comparison with the Ruger version.

I've gotten way better service from any Ruger product that any AMT I've had.

 

[mikewriter]

AMT's are sort of interesting. I have a Backup .380 I found under the cook stove in a camper I was wrecking gout, had been there at least for the 12 years I'd owned the camper - and was loaded! I cleaned it up, replace a few parts, found a brand new set of checkered wood factory grips, some new magazines - and have shot it quite a bit. Mine is actually pretty accurate for a gun with a 2" barrel and no sights. Found that a Lasermax laser sight made for Colt Mustang .380 fits it perfectly, and makes it more accurate. Don't know about betting my life on it, but if it I reach for it when checking noises at night a lot, and I would feel worse about being the guy that got shot at with it!

Your Lightning is nice, I think.

 

[Lngstrt]

I'm afraid to shoot it!!!

I only have about 1000 rounds of .22. Not looking forward to spending 3 times as much to replace it!

 

[gb6491]

Here's something of moderate ..... or, maybe just minor, interest to Ruger-philes

Not sure if I should keep and shoot, keep and just look at it occasionally or sel.

That's a nice example 8)
I've had one for a few years. It's accurate and reliable with Ruger magazines (not so reliable with AMT mags).

I also have a "Back Up" in .22LR. Fun to shoot, but extraction becomes iffy as dirt/fouling builds up :roll:

Lot of muzzle flash with "Stingers"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q6epi-I1GdA

Regards,
Greg

 

[Highstandardguy]

I've had one for a few years. It's accurate and reliable with Ruger magazines (not so reliable with AMT mags).

+1 on the Ruger mags. That's what I use. Saw an "original" AMT magazine for sale for $150. I wouldn't give 15 cents for one.

 

[TX Nimrod]

Odd. I bought a 10" Lightning in the mid-80s and used it for silhouettes for years, never had a failure to feed even with cheap ammo. Had it out last month, put another 100 through it without problems. Never tried a Ruger mag...


.

 

[Highstandardguy]

Good for you. Not positive, but the AMT magazines appear to be the same as the old Eaton mags. Can anyone confirm or deny if Eaton made the AMT mags?

 

[Fenring]

AMT Small Game Hunter .22

10/22 clone but with a solid stainless receiver and 21" target weight barrel, injection moulded stock.

This was very accurate.

Hand to surrender it in 1996 when the Aussie government pretty much banned semi auto's. I'm still angry about it...

 

[JStacy]

I have an unusual AMT Lighting. 10.5" tapered barrel .Fun to shoot nice balance for such a long barrel. It shoot CCI SV very well.

 

[mohavesam]

Notice the "slots" machined into the receiver top on the Lightning pistols. They are slick and adequate for scope mounting, and I wonder... why didn't Ruger add a line of code to the CNCs and do this???
Has to be a bit cheaper than drilling and tapping and cleaning and inspecting and inserting plug screws...
- why have to add a fugly picatinny rail ?