An auto-injector comprising a housing arranged to contain a slidably arranged syringe. The housing having a distal end and a proximal end with an orifice. Spring means is capable of, upon activation: pushing the needle into an advanced position and into an injection site, operating the syringe to inject a dose of medicament, and retracting the syringe. Activating means locks the spring means in a pressurized state prior to manual operation and capable of releasing the spring means for injection. The spring means is a compression spring grounded distally in the housing and proximally bearing against a thrust tube arranged to transmit load from the spring means via a plunger to the syringe and/or the stopper. A tubular syringe carrier is arranged for holding the syringe and supporting it at a proximal end, the syringe and the syringe carrier arranged for joint axial translation.