Author Topic: Llama (Read 1576 times)

HWooldridge · « **on:** July 03, 2003, 08:06:59 AM »

Has anyone looked at the Llama .45 currently selling in the Academy Sports stores for $239? A friend of mine bought one and we put about 100 rounds through it last Saturday. No jams and 2-3 inch groups at 25 yds. I've tried long and hard but can't find too much wrong with it, especially at the price. Anyone have experience with the newer pistols they are making?

mikepow · « **Reply #1 on:** July 05, 2003, 05:26:31 AM »

I got one a few months ago via the internet actionarms auction.
minimax 45 6 shot I love it fired about 200 rnds with it no problems yet.It dosen't like federal hydro shocks but that may change with wear. I am going to get another in 40 cal. I think it 's a great gun for the money Mine was $233.00 new in the box. good luck.
Mike

Old Syko · « **Reply #2 on:** July 06, 2003, 04:11:01 PM »

Unless they've raised their quality by a LOT, you'll be better served to save your money until you can afford something better. My son bought a 45 Llama 2 or 3 years ago and after about 600 rnds of light target loads found cracks in the frame. Just so you know, you can pick up a Springfield mil spec for under $400 and you won't be sorry.

Oldtimer · « **Reply #3 on:** July 08, 2003, 03:53:49 PM »

My first Llama was a .38 Super that I bought used. It shot in the 2 inch range. I thought, if a cheap gun could do so well, I really needed a Colt. The Colt never got under 4 inches. I currently have a Llama .45 and it is a good basic gun. It uses the same magazines as the Colt. The only complaint is that the grips on mine were really brittle, and I replaced them twice. They are not easy to find. I mounted some Colt grips in the upper screw holes, and put a sleeve on the lower part of the grips. It works well enough for my purposes, and the gun shoots OK. I had to have some work done to get it to feed 185 grain hollowpoints, but so do a lot of people who have more expensive guns. One concern, what you see is what you get. There are no aftermarket parts, aside from the interchangeable magazines. That did not bother me, if I want pretty, I just grab another box out of the safe. If I want to carry a gun while working in the woods, or loafing, I can always go with the Llama.

HWooldridge · « **Reply #4 on:** July 09, 2003, 04:25:47 AM »

Well, I took the plunge and bought one. It seems to do fine with no malfunctions and shoots 2-3 inch groups at 25 yds, just like my buddy's pistol. The thumb safety was hard to engage and the trigger pull heavy so I disassembled the whole thing and stoned all the burrs I could find (which were numerous). It appears that zero hand work goes into these but for the price, I consider a couple of hours of my time well spent. The grip safety now works up or down with normal thumb pressure and the trigger pull is crisp and around 2-3 lbs. It's had about 75 rounds thru it so I guess we'll see if anything breaks.

Thanks for the input...Hollis

ccanevit · « **Reply #5 on:** July 09, 2003, 07:17:02 AM »

Is the plunger tube on these still made from plastic? I have an old Llama .45, and the plunger tube is cracked.. I coudln't find a replacement at the time, but it doesn't seem to hamper the function of the gun itself. I've also had problems feeding hollow points, they hang on the ramp of the barrel, but If I remember when I bought it, my friend sold me some black talons with it that fed fine.

what does the plunger tube do? and how does the thumb safety work, because mine has never worked correctly that I can tell. This is the only .45 i've ever shot.. and I liked it alot actually, compared to my Glock 23 I purchased I was more accurate.. maybe the barrel? maybe the gun, who knows.. I figured the 45 was heavier and longer barrel which was why i was more accurate.

HWooldridge · « **Reply #6 on:** July 09, 2003, 08:32:31 AM »

My plunger tube on this new gun is metal. I have not put a magnet on it so don't know if it's steel or diecast but is definitely metal. The old Llamas looked bad - this one doesn't have the cheap shiny look.

txpete · « **Reply #7 on:** September 04, 2003, 10:46:26 AM »

I just bought one of the llama max-I.I took it out for a shoot and was very pleased.this is their "new generation" pistol.
fired off 3 boxes and not one jam or mis-fire and no dinged up brass.
my 1911 colt could take some lessons form this one.the colt was a jam a matic for the first 200 rds.
groups were not that bad with the llama firing off hand 20 meter's groups ran the size of my fist. I am sure that some tuned hand loads will tighten things up some.
I also tried mags from llama,colt,springfield and us gi all worked just fine.
pete

Mikey · « **Reply #8 on:** September 05, 2003, 03:30:51 AM »

Fellas: years ago you could purchase Llamas very inexpensively in 38 Super/9mm Largo and they were a hoot to shoot. I had one for a number of years that just kept on shooting without any problems. Mine was a 38 Super and fed every darned thing I put through it.

I know there are some drawbacks, such as parts availability but one of the fellas I shot with wrote off to the factory asking about parts, telling them how much he enjoyed the pistol, that it shot great and yada, yada, yada, and they sent us a whole bunch of parts for just about every forseeable need.

As for roughness - yep, you will get some but I wouldn't compare the $+ of a Colt to the $- of a lesser expensive brand, as you always give something up for the lower price. As hwollridge said, if you need to spend some time slicking things up it is well worth getting to know your sidearm better.

And hay guys, the danged plunger tube on my old Colt Commander has been replaced 4 times - not great quality. But, you need that part. At least the colt grips hold the plunger tube in place even if it loosens up but you need the plunger to hold the slide safety in place. Hope this helps. Mikey.

txpete · « **Reply #9 on:** September 05, 2003, 12:27:10 PM »

I am going to keep up with the rounds count on my llama max-I and leave it bone stock.if something goes south I'll post it here.I bought it to plink/truck/ranch gun so it's going to get shot alot.
pete