@bob-cohee I’m pretty sure that Patrick had said, in one of his communications, that the new ones had helicoils - I will go back and look to try to find this.
Yes, here it is….it was in his emailed response to the absurd Demolition Ranch video:
“Hey Guys,
I am very disappointed in the Demolition Ranch review. It does not truly represent the new Auto Mag. Matt was using a demo gun that did not have the new helicoils installed in it yet and he completely ignored the workmanship, plus that it was totally reliable. Also, to call a recoil rod coming loose as an “explosion” is just not accurate. The truth always comes out in the end. The problem with YouTube is like much of the current media is that it is more profitable to only tell part of the story that gets the most attention. If any of you would like to discuss this further you can contact us at 843-756-0362.
Lastly, If you have already received your Auto Mag, I would ask that you to send us your personal impression of your new Auto Mag so we can get our customers prospective of their new firearm.
Patrick Henry
Auto Mag Ltd”
What is "the new type of Helicoil", is it the locking type?
@paul-wolf Just wonder if there heli-cored in there or do they have actual threads with lock tight blue on the threads? seems this can be addressed someway but we"will see,Just a thought or maybe it wasn't brand new But we should always check our pistol .I have a 10mm but never had problems with it but, I"m sure the truth will come out in the end.
Can't really use Loc-Tite if you want to strip the pistol for cleaning.
I was always told that the original AMP's were made with a special type of helicoil that included some type of locking substance or mechanism to resist loosening. Here is something I found on line.
Bob—can you tell us specifically where you found that interesting helicoil? The ones in my original 44 Auto Mag are constantly coming loose. I’ve installed new ones to no avail and I have to tighten them at least 1/4 turn after each magazine. Oddly my 357 Auto Mag stays tight….
Mike - I guess I would get in touch with Auto Mag Ltd and see what they are using for helicoils. I have never had much trouble with the rods on mine backing out. I always have done a good job of degreasing both the rods and the helicoils before I reassemble the pistol.
Helicoil makes a locking one which is red in color, is that what you used?
Here is a link to the one I posted a pic of. In reading about it I do not think it would probably work in this application. Good luck and let us know what you find out.
@bob-cohee thanks Bob. Yes I currently have red locking helicoils in mine, two on each side in fact. And I’ve changed rods twice too….
@pantera-mike Did you call Auto Mag Ltd. and see what they are using? The parts store jus shows "Helicoils"
About the only time where I shot my Auto Mags a lot was back when Starline started extruding brass for them and that was probably 20 years ago. I had AMP's before that but I hated processing the brass and did not shoot them much.
I just do not remember the looseing of the rods being a problem and I did not tighten them at the range ever that I remember. I always cleaned the guns as soon as I got home and I remember the rods being a little loose but it never concerned me and when done cleaning and reassembling, I made sure they were tight.
A quarter turn loose would not worry me. A full turn loose would not harm the gun in my opinion.
Are you tightening after every magazine fired? If you do not, do the rods continue to back out more with every magazine shot?
I know they went to recoil springs with finshed ends in the new pistols. It was thought that the springs were turning the rods during compression and release and the finished ends would help this. Are your recoil springs the new ones with finished ends?
Sorry, I'm not much help.
Thanks Bob—yes I got the new springs and recoil rods from the new Auto Mag company and it didn’t help.
The rods unscrew a certain amount with each round fired. If allowed to continue unchecked it would prove to be a disaster. Reportedly loose rods can result in the ears breaking off inside the cocking piece, or the back of the bolt breaking off. So the only thing to do is keep them tight.
Supposedly the new guns have addressed this issue with a different profile to the rear of the bolt and face of the cocking piece.
I don’t ever have a problem with my 357 Auto Mag.
I don’t shoot them as much as I would like right now, but anticipate picking up the pace and will hopefully start shooting them several times each month. I’ve got tons of powder, primers, bullets and brass. The only thing I don’t have enough of is time. But life is short, I’ve had four friends die in the last two months (two of them were only 59 and 61), and what good is unburned powder and unfired bullets when I’m in a box in the ground????
I wonder if Tony Rumore could be of help. He is a Gunsmith and has been at the AMP game along time.
Could a tiny drop of the very weak "Purple Loctite" be used without turning the Helicoils out with the rods?
I have been shooting some until the weather got so cold here, but my shooting interests have turned to some wonderful new target-type 9mm's. I been shooting a Laugo Alien, a CZ Czechmate, a Geiger GRP, a SIG Sauer P226 PPC gun built in the German Mastershop, and I have a Pheonix Redback coming next week. All European built for some reason. My arthritic hands, wrists, and shoulders appreciate the 9's more than the magnums these days. Good luck!
@pantera-mike condolences regarding the loss of your two friends, and considering their ages as well. It has been tough for us as well from COVID impacts.
Well, it's February now, and I hope the 8.5 inch barrels will be coming in soon. I hope Patrick or Rob, will keep us updated.
It should be getting close to the shipping date on the Ravens also.
Has anyone heard anything about them?
Spoke to Rob this afternoon and the following is what he told me:
Shipment of the Raven, probably the first half of March. Supply issues with the bolt assembly.
Brass: Several companies are being contacted by AutoMag to supply brass. Starline may be manufacturing brass in the near future, date unknown
Reloading dies: RCBS is getting close to start manufacturing new dies, no date yet😰
Holsters: 3D printed pistols are in the shop and they need to send them out to holster manufactures, so it will be awhile!
Sounds like Patrick and Rob need some additional help getting all the different parts, components and accessories available for all of us to enjoy shooting the Automag
Thanks for the update Dave!
Thanks for the update!
Any news on 8.5" Classics?
