AM reliability

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   Good morning Gents. Just wanted to bring something up. I have a North Hollywood TDE .44 AM that I took the time to do the few improvements that help with reliability. I polished most of the working surfaces, got rid of the safety snap ring, and installed the small cap screw, drilled the frame step for the trigger bar spring, polished the feed ramp and installed all new Wolff springs. And swapped the original firing pin for a titanium one from the new company. That being said, I loaded some 240gr. jacketed bullets from different makers, and only run W296, or H110 in the appropriate levels for the AM. 
All that done, I have been shooting my AM this summer each time I go up north and it just occurred to me last weekend that I have been shooting all summer without a single issue with my AM. I run 6 rounds in each magazine and have had zero feeding issues or failure to battery and lock-up. I know these things aren't known for reliability but funny enough I think I may have one of the good ones!!

 Has anybody else achieved this kind of reliability out of their AM's?

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omie01 Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Callahan's Auto Mag Joined: 05 Feb 2012 Location: Minnesota Status: Offline Points: 635	Post Options Post Reply Quote omie01 Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Topic: AM reliability Posted: 05 Sep 2024 at 2:23pm
	Good morning Gents. Just wanted to bring something up. I have a North Hollywood TDE .44 AM that I took the time to do the few improvements that help with reliability. I polished most of the working surfaces, got rid of the safety snap ring, and installed the small cap screw, drilled the frame step for the trigger bar spring, polished the feed ramp and installed all new Wolff springs. And swapped the original firing pin for a titanium one from the new company. That being said, I loaded some 240gr. jacketed bullets from different makers, and only run W296, or H110 in the appropriate levels for the AM. All that done, I have been shooting my AM this summer each time I go up north and it just occurred to me last weekend that I have been shooting all summer without a single issue with my AM. I run 6 rounds in each magazine and have had zero feeding issues or failure to battery and lock-up. I know these things aren't known for reliability but funny enough I think I may have one of the good ones!! Has anybody else achieved this kind of reliability out of their AM's?

Pantera Mike Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Callahan's Auto Mag Joined: 20 Jan 2018 Status: Offline Points: 1007	Post Options Post Reply Quote Pantera Mike Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 06 Sep 2024 at 4:21am
	My 357 runs like a train. My 44 was very good until recently. I installed new springs and I think it now just wants a hotter load. My son’s new Auto Mag has been nothing but reliable, with the caveat that it won’t accept my handloads. I think the chamber is a bit tight and the bolt isn’t fully rotating into battery, so the disconnector won’t allow it to fire. I haven’t taken the time to extra-super-duper resize my brass in an attempt to make a load that works in his gun. He just shoots SBR ammo which works perfectly. (I haven’t tried SBR in my gun for years). Oh, and we both run seven rounds in the magazines without a hitch. My magazine loading tool (shameless plug!) make it easy. I think the notion that the guns won’t run with a full magazine is an old wives’ tale, but I freely admit my sample size is limited to our three family guns.

Rocketthon Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Callahan's Auto Mag Joined: 13 Apr 2013 Location: Texas Status: Offline Points: 274	Post Options Post Reply Quote Rocketthon Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 06 Sep 2024 at 10:35am
	About Mags, my original runs fine at 5 with both 44 and 357, 6 starts the 44 to not be 100% and the 357 still works, 7 and the 44 goes bonkers with the 357 about 50%. I got one of the new old mags on that offer a little while ago and it is not as reliable as the original. Have to remember that these guns are snowflakes, not PC type, but everyone is different so YMMV.
	When you are up to your neck in alligators it is hard to remember your original intention was to drain the swamp

omie01 Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Callahan's Auto Mag Joined: 05 Feb 2012 Location: Minnesota Status: Offline Points: 635	Post Options Post Reply Quote omie01 Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 06 Sep 2024 at 2:14pm
	I guess to be fair, I just heard they don't run well with 7 rounds. I don't think I have ever tried it. Next time out I will give it a go. That's interesting his new gun won't run your ammo. Do you use Starline brass? I have had no issues with my new AM chambering or feeding.

Pantera Mike Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Callahan's Auto Mag Joined: 20 Jan 2018 Status: Offline Points: 1007	Post Options Post Reply Quote Pantera Mike Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 06 Sep 2024 at 3:43pm
	Like I said, I think his gun doesn’t like my ammo because I’m not resizing it quite enough. I use an RCBS carbide sizer which can leave a bit of a bulge at the bottom of the case. I may need to screw my sizer down a bit lower. I just haven’t had the time to try it out.

Rocketthon Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Callahan's Auto Mag Joined: 13 Apr 2013 Location: Texas Status: Offline Points: 274	Post Options Post Reply Quote Rocketthon Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 07 Sep 2024 at 11:32am
	Caution about contacting the shell holder, this can crack the carbide insert in the die. RCBS carbide dies are best with about .030 clearance.
	When you are up to your neck in alligators it is hard to remember your original intention was to drain the swamp

Pantera Mike Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Callahan's Auto Mag Joined: 20 Jan 2018 Status: Offline Points: 1007	Post Options Post Reply Quote Pantera Mike Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 07 Sep 2024 at 4:17pm
	Yes, thanks, that’s a good reminder. I am perhaps being a bit too cautious here, and have a bit of excessive clearance. However, it’s possible the new gun just has a tight chamber and wants brass sized conventionally. I have a 308 small base sizer die that should do nicely, if that proves to be the case. (I also have several old-school RCBS 44 AMP sizers as well)

omie01 Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Callahan's Auto Mag Joined: 05 Feb 2012 Location: Minnesota Status: Offline Points: 635	Post Options Post Reply Quote omie01 Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 10 Sep 2024 at 1:37pm
	Oh, that's interesting. I have always done a light touch to the bottom of the sizing die. I will try doing a .030 feeler gauge and see how that goes. You can always learn something new!