Historically speaking, the AutoMag 180 pistol has been a reaper of investors. Between 1971 and 1982, no fewer than six different companies went bankrupt trying to make a profit building Auto Mags. However, we may have finally reached the end of that streak...
In 2015, all the existing tools, parts, and IP related to the Auto Mag was sold to a new company (Auto Mag Ltd). Similar to the previous companies lured in by the glamour of this massive handgun, these new owners saw the list of existing parts (including several hundred frames) and figured they could assemble and sell a few hundred guns and make a nice return. Also similar to previous companies, they completed the deal and then discovered that those existing parts had major problems. Fundamentally, the Model 180 was simply not a mature design.
Where the new company has taken a new path is that they have spent the past 7 years reengineering the whole gun to fix its shortcomings. They have made a couple dozen design changes, although without changing anything fundamental in the appearance or operating principles of the gun. They have done things like lighten the firing pin, strengthen the locking lugs, tweak the magazine geometry, and so on - the changes that should have been make back in 1971 before the first example was ever shipped.
I came into this review with pretty low expectations - so many people have tried and failed to make a proper Automag that I really didn't think Auto Mag Ltd would be able to pull it off. And yet to my happy surprise, it seems that they actually have. The gun ran flawlessly for me (match footage coming tomorrow) and was actually a lot of fun to shoot.
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About Forgotten Weapons
At Forgotten Weapons I think the most interesting guns out there are the most obscure ones. I try to search out experimental and prototype weapons and show you how they work.
10 Comments
Why did I see an ad for the 1995 Power Rangers movie before the video started?
Don't ask Ian, ask Utreon. Likely that they just want to test out the system before trying to get more people to advertise on the site. Honestly I think some of the old ads are kind of fun to watch, but I'm guessing they don't make much money on them.
It was an ad for the theatrical release (June 30th of 1995 apparently) so I guess they didn't make any money at all.
Hey Ian, utreon supporter here: I noticed your flagship videos on utreon publish the same day as youtube - but they're stuck behind a level 2 user "lock" would you consider allowing those to be visible to all utreon supporters from the date of release? I'm much happier giving you and utreon my money and watch-time than google/youtube.
There is a bug in some of my earlier uploads - we got most of them fixed but there may be one or two more before I started using a new system that doesn't have this problem. Sorry!
Have to wonder though is this a one off that they have tweaked and tuned for Ian and other influencers to shoot and demonstrate to get buyers for guns that won't be quite as well polished? Not saying this is what has happened, but with only 1 being shown & shot a valid question I think, I hope the rest shoot and run as well as this one, as I would really like to get my grubby little paws on one of my own.
Over on YouTube, I got comments from several buyers who have gotten their new AutoMags, and they all have positive things to say about them.
Sweet! Good to know, glad that the new owners are actually trying realize the market for this firearm.