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Bryant Ridge's Analysis: The AMT Automag II is a striking and unconventional semi-automatic handgun chambered in the high-velocity .22 WMR. First introduced by Arcadia Machine and Tool in 1987 and later revived by High Standard, the Automag II stands out as one of the most innovative rimfire pistols ever built. Creating a self-loading handgun for the .22 WMR wasn't easy—this cartridge uses a slow-burning rifle powder that peaks in pressure later than typical pistol rounds. That delay can c …

Bryant Ridge's Analysis: The AMT AutoMag II represents a rare fusion of innovation and practicality in the realm of rimfire semi-automatic handguns. Chambered in .22 Winchester Magnum Rimfire (WMR), the AutoMag II tackles a unique set of challenges typically not encountered in standard autoloading pistol designs. One of the major engineering hurdles was the extraction problem caused by the high-pressure, slow-burning rifle powder used in .22 WMR cartridges. Unlike handgun rounds, these rounds ge …

Bryant Ridge's Analysis: The AMT AutoMag II is a semi-automatic handgun that uses .22 WMR ammunition. It was manufactured by Arcadia Machine and Tool from 1987 to 1999 and is currently produced by High Standard. Designing a reliable autoloading .22 WMR handgun posed several engineering challenges, particularly with extraction. The slow-burning rifle powder of the .22 WMR cartridge creates a late peak pressure, which can cause the case mouth to expand and jam in the chamber when fired f …