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Llama Max .45 ACP 1911 Clone - Thoughts?

HobbyGuy
I purchased a new old stock Llama Max I (.45 ACP 1911 clone) in the original box with papers for $235 bucks delivered. It's never been fired and was tucked away for a customer at a gun shop for over five years. The customer put $50 down payment on a lay-away of $389.95 in February of 2002 and never came back. The shops policy on a lay-away is one year, so they felt that they had given him plenty of time. Hopefully, his loss will be my gain. It should arrive to my dealer on Thursday, just in time for shooting over the weekend. I've got a Colt and a R.I.A. 1911 and thought this was too good a price to pass up. Does anyone else have one of these and if so, how does it run? Any problems? Are they actually built on the same frame as a Colt and are parts truly interchangeable?

Jim
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Comments

13 comments

Date Votes
  • 1911a1-fan
    will vary from gun to gun, some bad, some not as bad, parts will not interchange with standard 1911 parts

    shoot it and give a report, you will not get many good reports due to its reputation
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  • dheffley
    Llama's do not take after market parts like a milspec 1911, and I believe they are now out of business so replacement parts could become an issue.

    That aside, their quality varies widely. I've seen some pretty good ones, and some pretty bad ones. The most common problem I have seen with them is feeding issues, especially with hollow points.

    Usually it will either be where the throat of the barrel and the ramp meet (a little fitting and polishing will usually correct it) or a magazine issue where the next bullet to be chambered is not in the correct position. A little tweeking in the magazine lips will usually fix that problem.

    When they feed, they usually shoot pretty well, so you may have to do a little work to get it to be a realiable gun, but after that, you'll get your moneys worth.
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  • Colt Super
    I had one, and had no problems with it.

    Doug
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  • Colt Super
    "that freak!"
    -Earl

    I had one and I never had any problems with (it).

    Doug
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  • asphalt cowboy
    Feeding wasn't much of a problem with one of mine, a lite polish on the ramp and throat took care of that.

    My big issue was the rear sight, it didn't make positive contact with any of the surfaces and wouldn't hold zero. Wound up making a shim to place in the bottom of the dovetail to fill the space. Seriously doubt I'll put the work into the other one.
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  • HobbyGuy
    Thanks for the comments. I'll keep my fingers crossed that this is a good one. If not, I'll offer it on GB and let some other poor schmuck the new owner deal with it. [}:)][:D]
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  • MVP
    For the price you wont go wrong.
    You will get that back out of it when you are through with it and they make great truck guns.

    Here is a list of compatable parts.



    COLT 1911 Parts Compatibility List

    The following after-market 1911 parts will work on the Llama Max I 45 L/F and C/F, Llama Max II IX-C and IX-D, MiniMax, MiniMax II and MiniMax Sub-Compact; FireStorm 45 Government, Compact and Mini Compact Models (older style Llama IX-A,B):

    Barrel Bushing
    Guide Rod Assembly
    Springs (Recoil, Hammer and Sear)
    Trigger
    Hammer
    Main Spring Housing
    Barrel Link and Pin
    Bushing Type Compensators
    Hammer Strut
    Sear and Sear Disconnect
    Rear Sight (may require the removal of the firing pin safety - depends on the sight)
    Red Dot Sight and Mount (may require ejector and ejector port modifications)
    Beavertail Grip Safety (not quite interchangeable, but the standard one can be reshaped to allow for a higher grip)
    Magazine (7 and 8 shot Max I C/F,L/F and IX-A,B and FireStorm Gov't/Compact only)

    All the above parts require gunsmithing fit and assembly along with the proper double checks for function and safety.

    ? Pachmayer makes a Signature grip for all Llama Max I C/F,L/F and Llama IX-A,B; FireStorm Gov't,Compact models.
    ? Chip McCormick extra round magazines can be used in Large, Compact and Officers Frame single stack models
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  • Isurelkegns
    according to the paperwork that came with my firestorm .380 I bought the other day Llam is now owned by Bersa.It said that in the box Bersa/Llama/Firestorm Lmtd. I had a Llama Mini-Max that I wouldnt wish on anybody worst gun I ever had but I hear they are hit and miss some good some not I dont know why unless its who is fitting the gun or what.Who Knows I just figured I would add that because of the comment about Llama being out of business it seems they were just taken up by Bersa and perhaps you can get your parts from them.
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  • oldnbald
    For what it's worth, I currently own four Llamas - 1 minimax .45, 1 minimax 9mm, 1 minimax subcompact .45, and 1 micromax .32. I owned a Max 1 for a while, but I traded it off on a para 12-45. I've had no problems with any of them except the subcompact. Have had feeding problems from day one and I can't get them corrected. I love my Llamas; I've found them to be accurate and dependable, and with polished feed ramps, eat everything I feed them. Enjoy it.
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  • 1911a1-fan
    quote:Originally posted by MVP
    For the price you wont go wrong.
    You will get that back out of it when you are through with it and they make great truck guns.

    Here is a list of compatable parts.



    COLT 1911 Parts Compatibility List

    The following after-market 1911 parts will work on the Llama Max I 45 L/F and C/F, Llama Max II IX-C and IX-D, MiniMax, MiniMax II and MiniMax Sub-Compact; FireStorm 45 Government, Compact and Mini Compact Models (older style Llama IX-A,B):

    Barrel Bushing
    Guide Rod Assembly
    Springs (Recoil, Hammer and Sear)
    Trigger
    Hammer
    Main Spring Housing
    Barrel Link and Pin
    Bushing Type Compensators
    Hammer Strut
    Sear and Sear Disconnect
    Rear Sight (may require the removal of the firing pin safety - depends on the sight)
    Red Dot Sight and Mount (may require ejector and ejector port modifications)
    Beavertail Grip Safety (not quite interchangeable, but the standard one can be reshaped to allow for a higher grip)
    Magazine (7 and 8 shot Max I C/F,L/F and IX-A,B and FireStorm Gov't/Compact only)

    All the above parts require gunsmithing fit and assembly along with the proper double checks for function and safety.

    ? Pachmayer makes a Signature grip for all Llama Max I C/F,L/F and Llama IX-A,B; FireStorm Gov't,Compact models.
    ? Chip McCormick extra round magazines can be used in Large, Compact and Officers Frame single stack models






    where did you get this list?

    your listing it as a universal compatibility list or am i reading it wrong
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  • bigtire
    Turn it right around and sell it unfired on Gunbroker. Reliability issues with Llamas are many and well known. Get rid of it fast!
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  • BigGun74
    I had a Llama mini-max. Had nothing but problems with it from day one. It is the only gun I have ever gotten rid of that I didn't have a pang of regret about losing. I have heard they are hit or miss and folks who get a good one will swear by them. But if you get a bad one there doesn't seem to be any amount of gunsmithing that will bring them up to snuff, unless you spend enough that you could have bought a kimber or other "premium" brand to begin with. If you want a good low cost 1911 clone Sell it and put the money towards a Taurus or Springfield Armory.
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  • oldnbald
    This forum has a section for Llama owners. Try it for information.

    http://forum.m1911.org/index.php?
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