Machinist

You might not want to load those in an old Colt but the Ruger is plenty strong enough as shown by the fact they chambered the Blackhawk in the Carbine round. At 38,000 PSI the cylinder wall is thicker than with some larger caliber handgun rounds that are loaded to equal or higher pressures.

I would be more concerned about headspace but if Gunrunner got good results then I might try it if they chambered OK. There is usually some play in revolvers to allow the cylinder to rotate freely. This is why primer powered ammo may tie up the gun unless the flash holes are opened out.

303Lithgow

I don't think I want to try it. But it is interesting stuff.

tx gun runner

You can't shoot the 32-20 ammo in the Blackhawk 30 carbine , you can only use the brass to load your 30 carbine with and not all Blackhawk will accept the rims and let the cylinder rotate . Ruger had a special run for Buckeye in 32-20 with a 6 1/2" barrel in about 1989 which was a super gun . I keep it till I got the pair of 32-20 in in 4 5/8 I sold to Gene . The 32-20 is a rimmed 30 carbine and the lever 3 loads for 32-20 match the carbine in a rifle .

http://reloadammo.com/3220.htm

303Lithgow

I haven't shot them yet but am going to the range tomorrow and might take them along. I still have a few tests to finish up on so I might just load them each once to shoot.

KS95B40

Terry, I usually carry it in my truck in case I run across a coyote. I've shot a few with it. I really enjoy shooting it. As others have said, it is a little loud, I keep a pair of muffs on the seat. The muzzle blast is impressive when shooting at dusk but not really noticeable (at least to me) when shooting during the day.

tx gun runner

I reloaded my BH with Unique gun powder and the muzzle blast and noise is 1/2 of the factory stuff ..............

Machinist

I remember reviews of the .30 Carbine BH when it came out and the main complaint was what Gunrunner mentioned, that the report was excessive and the ballistics were disappointing because the factory ammo was all loaded for long barrels. I remember comments at the time that hotter .32-20 loads would go as fast with less blast and noise. It seemed like the lighter bullets in .357 Magnum loads did as well or better with less cost and abuse. Handloads with faster powders might be different but as mentioned, the .32-20 could match it if loaded for the revolver.

There was also a semi-auto handgun chambered for the Carbine round. I think it was the Kimble. It used an unlocked breech and had a roughened chamber to delay blowback. It did not seem to catch on, no surprise. I think that might have been a few years before the BH in that caliber.

tx gun runner

I've play with the 30 carbine and 32-20 for over 30 years in a pistol . I've had 30 carbines pistol in the Auto Mag , Ruger BH and TC Contender , The 32-20 in Ruger BH and lever guns, The TC Contender was a mix of 32-20 brass and .308 barrel to make use of the 100's of different 30 cal bullets weights where 32 only had a few . The 200 gr cast bullet and 165 gr boat tail below in a 1:10 twist barrel in 30 carbine or 30-20 TC barrel was super accurate and would knock steel ram target at 200 meters and NOT kick the hell out you when you pulled the trigger .

KS95B40

AMT made a stainless .30 Carbine semi-auto pistol called the Automag III. They also made a similar one in .22 WMR called the Automag II. I think that they also made one in .45 Winchester Magnum and maybe even in .50 AE. Automag IV and V? don't think that there was an Automag I though.

Same guys who made the original stainless 5" 1911, I think that they called it the Hardballer. I believe that all of their guns were stainless.

tx gun runner

Auto Mag started in about 1971 by Lee Jurras and "Dirty Harry" put it on the map . Lets see Pasadena mfg , TDEmfg , High Standard mfg , and AMT mfg are some of the owners of the Auto Mag . AMT / Auto Mag made the Automag III like GM makes the Chev Corvette ..

Machinist

I forgot about the Automag.

I have the original Guns & Ammo where they introduced the original Automag. It was offered in .44 Automag and .357 Automag, cartridges made from .308 or .30-06 brass cut down. I think there was a .30 Automag as well, based on the same case.This was unique design using a multilug rotating bolt like an M-16 and had a round receiver and ribbed barrel. Automag went out of business and was bought by AMT. I think there may have been other owners who had it as well. The quality varied with the different manufacturers. The Automag II in .22 RFM was a conventional design with flat slide. I don't recall what the Automag III looked like.

The original Automag was expensive to make right and the lack of factory ammo was a big problem. I think Norma offered it but it was hard to find and expensive.

Machinist

Gunrunner, I remember Dirty Harry using that in the one of the movies. Charles Bronson used a Wildley gas operated .45 Magnum in one of his later Deathwish movies. They were trying to upstage each other. There is a scene in the Movie "City Heat" where Eastwood and Bert Reynolds are in a gunfight and every time Bert pulls out a long or bigger gun, Eastwood responds with something even longer. It reminded me of that.

tx gun runner

Dirty Harry in "Sudden Impact" use the 44 amp Auto Mag . Check around 3:50 shows shooting the Auto Mag in the last 4 min of paste . They a lot of different cal like the 30 Cougar and 41 JMP I when to El Monte to see old friends from El Monte High and stop in TDE and AMT went they both were in El Monte. The old Auto Mag cost too much to Machine so the flat side guns in 50AE , 30Carb , 10MM and 22 WRF replaced the AMP guns .

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rR-e9y8mOsc

KS95B40

That must be why there is no AMT Automag I. I think that all of the AMT Automag series looked a lot alike.


I would give the II & III a chance if I could find one for a reasonable price.

Machinist

The original gun was the Auto Mag (two words). It cost more to make than it sold for.



The II and III were called the Automag II and Automag III (one word)



AMT used the name but the design was completely different. The Auto Mag was a large gun that was recoil operated to rotate the bolt. The Automag pistols used the Browning system.

They were all designed by Harry Sanford.

Machinist

I got an Automag II in .22 WMR from my father but I sold it. I wish I had kept it but it did not have the best reputation for reliability and I had no desire for a .22 MRF gun as I could load ,38s cheaper than I could buy Magnum ammo.

It was a sleek feeling gun that looked and felt good in the hand. A reliable and accurate one would have made a fine belt gun for field carry.

tx gun runner

The Automag 3 [ 30 carbine ] was a super gun I never had a single problem with it . They mags used about a 3/8 coil spring and plastic follower it was smooth as glass . I don't know why I sold it I love it ... AMT built both guns Auto Mag and Automag I never notice the difference in the name only Mac would notice . You know I could lived the rest of my life without knowing the difference and been happy .. LMFAO

Machinist

XLCH

This is a 44 Auto Mag and if I find one in 30 Carb I will be thinking very hard about it.

Lower right is factory Auto Mag

tx gun runner

Woow that is a great gun .... and it has the lion head

http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/Vie...Item=347676273