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Hello, gents. A few questions about a new AM II

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Topic: Hello, gents. A few questions about a new AM II
Posted By: Serpico
Subject: Hello, gents. A few questions about a new AM II
Date Posted: 11 Jun 2019 at 3:28am
Hello All. This is my first thread on this site, though I did comment with a question on a different one. Anyway, on to the topic at hand.

I just got an Automag II. Serial number H27290. Irwindale gun. It came to me via Gunbroker and, as I said in my last post, I believe it to have had a VERY low round count. There is no wear on this gun at all, accept the top of the front sight blade. It has a single aftermarket grip screw. I'll see about posting photos later, but I'm trying to paint the picture for the questions I have.

Since I've only had the gun about three days I've only had the chance to run 90 rounds through it. 50 CCI Maxi-mag TMJ and 40 Winchester Super X JHP. Only one FTE, and that was one that failed to feed, so the casing was a little wonky. The FTF's I had were the flat pointed TMJ's hitting the corner of the feed ramp. I'd consider that more a problem with the ammo than the gun. I've been doing a lot of reading before getting the gun (I lost 8 auctions on GB) and have read tons about how finicky they are. Ammo sensitive, more jams than Smucker's, etc.

Is it possible that these guns are like M60 machine guns, where they work great at first but wear out and get sloppy with use, or did I get a "good"one. Really I suppose the question would be how much of a certain ammo should I shoot through the gun before I deem that ammo to be incompatible with my gun.

I know this is a long post, but I'm a bit mystified. I've seen posts on various websites that went something like this:

"Mine only works with Winchester"

"Mine only works with CCI"

"Mine only works with Hornady 30 grain V-MAX"

"Mine only works with Aguila Silver Eagle"

That last one is from this site. Anyway, is this a case of the squeaky wheels standing out, or did I get lucky? Or do I need to run 200 rounds of a given brand before I see problems?

If you're still reading then thank you for your time, and your assistance.



Replies:
Posted By: XP001
Date Posted: 11 Jun 2019 at 6:30pm
This works with a "gas assist" system, if the ammo has flake powder it might clog the gas ports inside the chamber area causing you issues. If the gas ports(18 holes) clog it may be hard to extract shell, may brake extractor, bend hook, stovepipe and other things. Sounds like you have a nice one. 



Posted By: Serpico
Date Posted: 11 Jun 2019 at 9:23pm
XP,

Thanks for the response. How can I tell what kind of powder is used by a specific manufacturer without pulling the bullet? I'm also curious about that gas assist, as well. Has anyone actually cut up a barrel to verify this? Looking at my brass it seems that the brass obturates in to the holes, making the casing harder to extract. That would give time for the pressure to drop to safe levels before the casing can start to extract. It might also explain why certain brands of ammo don't work as well. Thinner brass sticks in the holes too long. I'm not discounting the type of powder, just trying to think it through. 

I saw a photo of a "deactivated" AM II that had a hole cut in the chamber. The contact between the barrel and the "sleeve" looked complete.

Now, my ideas and musings can't explain why the deepest set of holes is just ahead of the case mouth.


Posted By: XP001
Date Posted: 11 Jun 2019 at 10:50pm
Ok, there are 3 rows of 6 holes, total 18 holes. You can see imprints on the casing as well. The chamber is sleeved allows gas from just ahead of the case to go into the sleeve and press the brass back into chamber releasing it's grip in the chamber, sort of "floats" it so it can be extracted after the pressure in the case gets lower than the the system gas pressure. Got a better picture now? 
Yes, I got a barrel that was worked on bad so it was garbage, I took it apart and learned of how the system was installed/made.

As far as powder, pull a bullet OR check your gun for un-burnt powder as far as type.


Posted By: USA 1776
Date Posted: 12 Jun 2019 at 12:05am
Have you read this thread? http://www.amtguns.info/automag-ii-lots-of-problems_topic2483.html?KW=AM+II+failure" rel="nofollow - http://www.amtguns.info/automag-ii-lots-of-problems_topic2483.html?KW=AM+II+failure

-------------
'It has been said that politics is the second oldest profession. I have learned that it bears a striking resemblance to the first.' Ronald Reagan


Posted By: Serpico
Date Posted: 12 Jun 2019 at 2:52am
USA,

I did read that post. I think I just psyched myself out after reading all of the problems people have and am waiting for a hammer to drop with mine. I suppose they are perfectly good guns when treated right, unfortunately a lot of casual gun owners don't take care of guns as if they were precious heirlooms. I suppose most guns aren't, since they'll make more.


Posted By: Walterrego
Date Posted: 16 Jun 2019 at 2:28pm
My experience with the Automag II is somewhat limited, having owned one for only a couple of years and not spending as much time shooting it as I would like. Mine is also an Irwindale made gun, with the serial  number about 5000 higher than Serpico's.

What I have discovered so far is that it doesn't like anything lighter than 40 grain bullets. None of the so called hyper velocity loads with 30 grain bullets function reliably. I believe that not only is the powder burn rate incompatible but that the recoil impulse has something to do with it too but that's just a guess.

I get 100% reliability with these loads: Fiocchi 40 gr. JSP, Remington 40 gr. PSP, Super X 40 gr. FMJ and Winchester 40 gr. FMJ. The older CCI 40 grain loads in the amber colored plastic boxes had a lot of jams. I have not tried any of the current offerings from CCI yet although I have some in stock that I shoot in .22 Magnum revolvers. The good news is that the Fiocchi and Super X loads can often be found at reasonable prices. I bought a brick of the Super X not long ago at $7.95/50.

Regarding keeping the chamber clean: I bought a jar of capers at the grocery store. Threw the capers in the trash and cleaned out the tall skinny glass jar that they came in. The ID is maybe an inch and it's about 5" tall. I put the barrel in the jar chamber end down and use one of those pipettes to squirt just enough Hoppes No. 9 down the bore to submerge the entire chamber area. I let it sit overnight standing up vertically and braced so it doesn't tip over. Hoppes does a good job dissolving carbon but you have to give it a chance to work. When done give it a good shake or use compressed air to blow out as much leftover solvent from the chamber as you can. I also lube the frame and slide rails with Rig +P stainless lube or Brownells Stainless Slick and use FP10 on other areas that need oil. 

They are a lot of fun and I think a lot of the bad reputation is from people only trying a few brands of ammo or failing to keep the chamber clean. 


Posted By: Serpico
Date Posted: 16 Jun 2019 at 4:55pm
Thanks for the input, Walter. As I read your post I turned my head about an inch and looked at the brand new box of Hornady 30 Gr. "V-Max" rounds I just bought to try out. I hope they work half way decently. Luckily it's only one box of 50. In your experience do the malfunctions from bad ammo happen pretty quickly? I think I mentioned it earlier but I had an idea of adding a specific ammo to the "good" list if I could get through 50 rounds well enough.


Posted By: Walterrego
Date Posted: 19 Jun 2019 at 5:54pm
I was not able to get through a whole magazine with the older CCI 30 grain loads without a jam. They were the ones in the amber colored boxes, I bought them at a gun show from a guy that was selling a bunch of older ammo from an estate. I have not tried any current light bullet weight ammo in my AM II.
You might try and locate some Fiocchi  40 grain, they offer them in FMJ, JSP JHP styles. I have perfect functioning with the JSP's. Also the current Super X is available in both an FMJ and JHP bullet and both also worked perfectly in mine. When you find some your gun likes, check Ammoseek.com for deals, some sellers have a flat rate shipping charge of about $14 if I recall so it's good to order 10 boxes or so and be delivered to your door for around $100.



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