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Post by pbcaster45 on Apr 8, 2020 11:47:09 GMT -5
I'm starting to get hopeful again... got an update from sales at Auto-Mag Ltd and it looks like they are really close to shipping out guns. That's if the new frame supplier comes thru (it looks like they will). I hope I can still shoot the thing, I'm sort of rusty when it comes to shooting magnums!
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cmh
.401 Bobcat
Posts: 3,745
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Post by cmh on Apr 8, 2020 15:55:21 GMT -5
Anxious to see if this really comes to fruition!!!! Curious do you have to pay up front or at the time of shipment?
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Post by pbcaster45 on Apr 9, 2020 11:08:15 GMT -5
It's been so long I can't remember! But I did pay in full...
I loaded up 100 rounds with the Sierra 240 gr. JHC using the same charge I used with the Hornady 240 gr. XTP-HP. I hope my loads will be in the ballpark for good operation. If the updates are correct the new guns are more ammunition tolerant the originals.
Bullet: Sierra 240 gr. JHC Powder: Winchester 296 21.4 grs. Primer: Winchester Large Pistol Case: Starline OAL: 1.600 – 1.605
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Post by pbcaster45 on Apr 9, 2020 14:20:40 GMT -5
Well, compared to SBR Factory ammo my loads are a little anemic! Southern Ballistic Research (SBR) 44 AMP Bullet: 240 gr. Hornady XTP (SL44AM5) Powder: H110 or W296 23.4 - 23.6 grs. Primer: Winchester Large Pistol Case: Starline (Crimp Diameter 0.4570) OAL: 1.5890 - 1.5935 (Crimp is just above cannelure) Average Velocity: 1470 fps Comments: Broken down factory ammo specs.
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Post by bigbrowndog on Apr 9, 2020 15:15:27 GMT -5
PB,....in talking with Lee Jurras before his death, about my pistol. His comment was each gun is an individual both for function and accuracy. The loads listed in my current Hornady book would not function my gun, so I called up Lee to ask questions. His recommendation was once you know what won’t function it, load 3 rounds of a given load, and then Increase it by a third grain to half grain, load three more and then do the next increase, and continue until you have a load that will lock the bolt back n an empty magazine. That load is your start load for function, you might be able to increase a bit over that or you may not. When checking for the load that functions you load one round in the mag at a time, and make sure it is lubricated properly when you change loads. Otherwise you will get false Impressions of what it takes to function the gun.
Loading up 100 rounds of a given load with out knowing what functions is rather optimistic, from my understanding. Hopefully yours is as accurate as mine was and customer service is good as well as parts availability.
Trapr
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cmh
.401 Bobcat
Posts: 3,745
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Post by cmh on Apr 9, 2020 15:42:05 GMT -5
Mr Jurras is one fella that is sure missed here.... he was a wealth of information!!!!
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Post by pbcaster45 on Apr 9, 2020 16:30:58 GMT -5
Oh, yeah! I sure do miss the "Grand Curmudgeon"! I loved it when he chimed in on something - so much experience!
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Post by lockhart on May 2, 2020 12:30:13 GMT -5
I've had both the .44 and .357 Automags, and I always liked the .357 better. Flatter trajectory, helluva lot more muzzle velocity. I had killed 12 whitetail deer with it, usually with the Speer 140 grain soft point in front of 23 grains W-296, sparked by a CCI large rifle magnum primer. This gave a muzzle velocity of almost 1700 fps, out of the 8.5" barrel. My business partner and I were selling those things back in the 1974-78 time period, and we couldn't GIVE em away! These were the TDE guns, and were marked "High Standard". These were some of the "end of the road" pistols and one or two we had, the chambers were pretty rough. We had to do a little polishing of those before we could sell em. I had an FFL for making the ammo and most was made from .308 military brass. Later, we established a relationship with Lee Jurras, and were able to get .44 AMP factory brass from him. It was easily made into .357 AMP by simply running it into .357 AMP full length sizing die. We had bought a total of about 20 pistols from a distributor in Houston, Texas. After we had FINALLY sold those, we didn't order anymore and were officially out of the "Auto Mag" business. Hindsight always being 20/20, we should have ordered 20 MORE! But we were wore out from the experience. The guns did have a few quirks, such as FTE, FTF, and not being real reliable in being able to fire a full magazine without jamming! The .44's had another problem with breaking one or both of the little ears at rear of bolt. They would continue to function with one broke off, usually the top one, but eventually the other would finally break, and you would have a pistol that would no longer function. If I was being offered one of the .44's on the used market, I would not buy it unless the seller let me take it down, and check those ears out. Refusal to let you do that usually indicates the he KNOWS they are broke. Owning, shooting, and hunting with those pistols was an extraordinary experience. Do I wish I had kept mine? Of course, but we all do stupid things in our lives.
P.S. Kent Lomont probably shot more ammo out of Automags than any other living person! NO exaggeration! He was a great help to me in finding functional loads for our pistols. When Speer finally came out with loads for the Automags, we both had a good laugh over them. NONE would function our pistols! I'm thinking they were sticking to pressures for .44 magnums. The Automags would NOT function as semi-auto pistols unless the pressures were well into the 50-60 thousand PSI range. Just a fact of life.
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Post by pbcaster45 on May 7, 2020 13:11:28 GMT -5
After looking at this video I'm really worried my reloads will be too wimpy! Looks like SBR ammo which is loaded fairly hot. link
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Post by pbcaster45 on Dec 30, 2020 9:43:17 GMT -5
They are finally shipping guns and hopefully mine will be shipping next month. I'll post my results. I wonder if my old RCBS 429-240-SIL would work in it? Here's a picture of the first five shipped.
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Post by bigbrowndog on Dec 30, 2020 13:27:08 GMT -5
Purdy,.....hopefully you are happy with your new toy. I was with mine (original)
Trapr
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Post by magnumwheelman on Dec 30, 2020 13:43:38 GMT -5
Those were on my list, when I had the Automag 2,3,4,& 5... but I end up selling those during my sell off... so I'll have to live vicariously through you guys
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jgt
.327 Meteor
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Posts: 782
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Post by jgt on Dec 31, 2020 9:57:42 GMT -5
I was at the Houston Gun show in the Astrodome back in about 72. The guy at the next table was into Automags and was selling them also. He was a very likable guy and as we got to know each other he discovered I was a dedicated, dyed-in-the-wool 44 lover. He tried his best to get me into an Automag. Even to the point of giving me a super good price on one. I loved the idea of one and was all for those that loved them but they just were not for me. The same went for the Desert Eagle. It functioned flawlessly for me when I shot it, but could not do more than tempt me. I hope this new offering has great success because the world can always use more 44s.
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Post by pbcaster45 on Mar 19, 2021 0:13:11 GMT -5
I know it probably means nothing... but I noticed on my .44 Auto Mag Classic Edition order that the status looks different. It went from "Manufacturing Hold" to "Open" and "Need By April 2". Hope it means something good!
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Post by alukban on Mar 19, 2021 8:53:27 GMT -5
I live the next town over from USA Firearms Corp - pass within a block of it on my way to and from work
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