AMT Hardballer .45

I have opportunity to buy a "AMT Hardballer .45 anyone had experience on this gun, quality first?

I have not handled one for a very long time, but it’s just kind of a throw together gun when you look at the tolerances.A new Springfield Armory range officer is a better pistol in comparison. So unless you can get one for an extremely good price it wouldn’t be very low on my list of pistols to purchase.
Jon

I have one and I earned 14 leg points with it.  BUT - I had Accu-rails installed and I put in a Kart barrel, spherical bushing, trigger job and replaced the sights with ones from a Ruger Blackhawk.  It is a rugged, solid gun but a bit sloppy on fit as it wasn't intended for match grade shooting.  Mine is almost as accurate as my wadgun after the improvements.  The only thing is the trigger itself.  You have to use the factory one since no aftermarket triggers will fit.  The frame has an extra wide cut to accommodate the wider trigger.

I owned one back in the 70's.  It's a truck gun at best.  The process of dissimilar metals wasn't really a concept yet.  It you work it it will gall.  Like I said, great truck gun.

I have one and couldn't get a gunsmith to work on it, he was afraid of the poor casting practices would leave voids if he milled or drilled on it. It did have a kart NM barrel and bushing fitted by the gunsmith I bought it from. I did find another gunsmith to do work it, he tighten up the slide to frame fit, did a trigger job, and milled the slide for a scope mount plus install a Matchdot.
 This was my wadgun for a couple years, then it got loose again. I got a Springfield RO and had it improved on, much better gun overall. I'm in favor of AccuRails if I were to use it in competition again, but will leave it be right now.
 If I would do it over again, I would have left it alone to use for a Service pistol or "truck gun." That' my 2 cents.

kc.crawford.7 wrote:I owned one back in the 70's.  It's a truck gun at best.  The process of dissimilar metals wasn't really a concept yet.  It you work it it will gall.  Like I said, great truck gun.

This. If AMT had simply used a different grade of stainless steel for either the frame or slide the galling issue would have never surfaced.

I also owned one back in '89 that performed well, but due to the grade of stainless used and it's bead blasted finish, dark areas (e.g., finger marks) would appear from simple handling, even after applying oil to the finish, and that annoyed me to no end. So a year later in '90 when I had the opportunity to do so I sold it to a friend of a friend who needed it more than I did 

Don't walk away from that deal...RUN!

+1 on KC's and DrewBone's comments.  Yea, I tried one out too.

The thing is that if you get it as a truck gun, there is a distinct possibility someone will steal your truck and leave the gun.  

(And take the cannoli.) 

CR