When most people think of the AMT Automag, they probably think of the original chambered in .44 AMP. Most called it the.44 Auto Mag. However, there were subsequent models named with sequential Roman numerals in various other calibers. Someone is offering one of those gun in the June Collection.
AMT (Arcadia Machine & Tool) came out with the Automag II in 1987. It was to be the rimfire pistol in their lineup, but in true AMT fashion, the company didn’t chamber it in the traditional .22 LR. Instead, they made it for .22 WMR, or Winchester Magnum Rimfire. Even though it is a .22 caliber rimfire cartridge, the .22 WMR can propel a 30-grain projectile to 2,300 fps.
A Different Semi-Auto Rimfire
Overall, the AMT Automag design was unlike anything else on the market. In fact, it was and the was the first semi-automatic pistol chambered for .22 WMR. Visually, it’s a bit of a mashup between the M1911 and the M9. It has a barrel bushing like the former and a slide cutout over the barrel like the latter. Featuring an external hammer, the gun fires in single-action only.
Despite being a .22 caliber pistol, the AMT Automag II is not a dainty gun. Made entirely of stainless steel, this gun weighs close to 2 pounds. That’s after a portion of the slide has been removed to help cut some weight. Available with a 6-, 4- or 3.375-inch barrel, the June Collection’s pistol is one of the 3.375-inch guns. This is also referred to as the Compact Model of the AMT Automag II. A total of seven rounds of .22 WMR can be held in the compact magazine.
Without a doubt, the Automag II has a design that is a lot like the stereotypical children of the 1980s. It came of age in an era of questionable fashion and disdain for the traditional. That said, this particular Automag II, which bears serial number C0333, was made in 1990. That means while it is technically a ‘90s kid, it’s still close enough to the ‘80s for its fashion choices to still be acceptable.
Unfortunately, the AMT Automag II never really took off. The original production run lasted 12 years, ceasing in 1999. Perhaps there was a premonition that a gun like this just wouldn’t make it in a 21st century world. Or perhaps it simply fell victim to the gun’s unique design, unconventional caliber and notorious manufacturing quality control standards. Whatever the case, this 35-year-old Automag II is in very good condition, due in part to its durable stainless-steel construction and finish.
Rare to Find AMT Automag
The package offered here is a true time capsule. Folks are bidding on the gun, two original magazines, the original manual and the original box. Collectors could keep it in mint condition, hoping it becomes more collectible in the future.
Or — just hear me out — you could hop in your stainless steel DMC DeLorean, head to the range with your stainless-steel AMT Automag II and turn all sorts of heads opening up the case. Without Doc Brown’s time machine, this is as close as you’re going to get to heading back in time to an era when both parachute pants and heavy pistols in unconventional calibers were really cool.
