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.30 Carbine in an AMT

Warning! Notes: Handgun fired for group at 25 yards. Five-shot groups were fired with the AMT 1911 with a 6 1/2-inch barrel from sandbags. Chronographing was done with an Oehler Model 35P with the start screen at approximately 6 feet. All loads used CCI 400 Small Rifle primers. Winchester brass was used for cast bullet loads. All other loads used Remington brass. Cast bullets were poured of Linotype, sized .310 inch, lubed with SPG and were fitted with Lyman gas checks where needed.

Source: Handloader Issue #260 – June, 2009

Cartridge History

.30 Carbine in an AMT

The .30 Carbine delivers a unique and highly energetic shooting experience when chambered in the AMT AutoMag III pistol. Originally developed during World War II for the M1 Carbine rifle, the cartridge was designed to provide greater effectiveness than a standard handgun while remaining lightweight and compact enough for military support personnel. When adapted into a semi-automatic pistol platform like the AMT, the cartridge takes on an entirely different personality, producing extremely sharp muzzle blast, bright flash, and impressive velocity from a handgun-length barrel.

The AMT AutoMag III was designed around powerful, unconventional cartridges that pushed beyond the performance of traditional semi-automatic pistols. Chambering the pistol in .30 Carbine allowed shooters to experience rifle-like velocity in a large handgun platform while still benefiting from detachable magazine feeding and semi-automatic operation. The cartridge’s relatively flat trajectory and strong penetration characteristics helped distinguish the AutoMag III from more common pistol chamberings of its era.

Handloading the .30 Carbine for the AMT platform requires careful attention to reliable feeding, pressure levels, and proper cartridge dimensions. Powders such as H110 and Winchester 296 are frequently preferred because they produce dependable velocities and proper pressure characteristics within the cartridge’s compact case capacity. Since the .30 Carbine headspaces on the case mouth, maintaining consistent case length and overall cartridge dimensions is especially important for reliable cycling and extraction in semi-automatic pistols.

Handloader Issue #260 examined the .30 Carbine in several nontraditional firearm platforms, including the AMT AutoMag III. Although the pistol remained somewhat niche compared to mainstream semi-automatic handguns, it developed a loyal following among enthusiasts who appreciated its unusual design and high-performance cartridge offerings. Combined with the .30 Carbine cartridge, the AMT delivers a memorable shooting experience unlike most conventional handguns.

Source: Handloader Issue #260 – June, 2009

Be Alert: Publisher cannot be responsible for errors in published load data.

Wt.	Bullet	Powder Manufacturer	Powder	Charge	Velocity (FPS)
90	Hornady XTP	Alliant	2400	Subscribe	1607
Remarks: poor groups
110	Speer JHP	Alliant	2400	Subscribe	1467
Remarks: 1 1/2 inches
110	Sierra JSP	Alliant	2400	Subscribe	1461
Remarks: good load
110	Speer JHP	Vihtavuori	VV-N110	Subscribe	1498
Remarks: poor accuracy
110	Sierra JSP	Vihtavuori	VV-N110	Subscribe	1455
Remarks: okay groups
110	Sierra JSP	Hodgdon	H-110	Subscribe	1521
Remarks: okay groups
110	Sierra JSP	IMR	IMR-4227	Subscribe	1498
Remarks: TOO HOT!
110	Lyman 311316 cast FN	Alliant	Unique	Subscribe	1324
Remarks: good
115	Redding/SAECO 302 cast RN	Alliant	Unique	Subscribe	1324
Remarks: good
115	Redding/SAECO 302 cast RN	Accurate	AAC-5744	Subscribe	1431
Remarks:
130	Lyman 311410 cast RN	Alliant	Unique	Subscribe	1223
Remarks: keyholes