Don't Laugh, Llama Subcompact .45

[usnavymasterchief]

I am fully aware that Llamas probably aren't looked upon with great favor so please Y'all don't laugh, I'm serious.
None the less, I have a chance of picking up a NIB never fired 10 round .45 cal Mini Max Sub Compact for next to nothing.
I have numerous handguns from S&W, Glocks, Colts and even a couple of Kel-Tecs but I've never owned a Llama. I have heard they are rather crude.
What I want to do, is completely take it apart and polish every piece in it. Questions: Has anyone tried this? Was the end result worth the time and trouble? Are Llamas reliable? Can you get one to run well?
This pistol is their Duo-Tone model and outwardly it really looks good, not a Kimber or a Springfield Armory but it does look pretty good.
Any advise you folks can offer would be very much appreciated.

 

[bpisler]

I've owned 3 llamas in the last few years.A 45acp and a 9mm in the old style,the ones that kinda looked like 1911's,they both worked well with fmj's and with hollowpoints with a rounded profile,fairly accurate,4"-5" at 25yards with a rest.I also owned a late model that looks like a copy of a goverment model,it has a beaver tail and extended slide release.This worked well with fmj's but needed feed ramp work for hp's.I liked the earlier one better,they looked better with less machine marks and seemed to have better overall quality.If you have the money to spend then i think it would be worth while to buy one to grind on but don't expect to end up with a pistol similar to a springfield or kimber.

 

[usnavymasterchief]

Thanks, I won't get my hopes up too high.
Any other suggestions?

 

[Stevie-Ray]

Sorry but my suggestion is not to buy one. Never heard anything good about these. Reliability factor worse than AMT.

 

[smooth operator]

If the price is right I'd get it. It is what it is but it could be a good deal. I've heard bad & good about them. I know people who own them & like them alot. The people who are negative generally don't own them
Jerry

 

[Detachment Charlie]

Hello in the Goatlocker

Chief,
I picked up a NIB Llama Mini Max on a great price deal. First 150 ~ 200 rounds it was a jam-o-matic..mostly FTF. Using only 230 gr. ball it's OK now. The trigger is rougher than a cob with a about a 267lb. pull -- not the best for groups.
If the price is right, grab it. If all else fails, they are heavy enough for an anchor.

--Former member, Tonkin Gulf Yacht Club

 

[mguffey]

Llama has been around a long time and appears to be making a comeback with aggressive advertising and considerably higher quality. Cannot speak to the one you've looked at as my last one was a .380 built to function like a small 1911. While it was somewhat loose and sloppy, it fired well and on point. So much so, that I'm sorry I ever got rid of it (during a period when I was trying to own fewer guns).

Anyway, the only problem I ever had with it was the rough as a cobb trigger. Got a trigger job and it never let me down. It was a great carry piece.

 

[cratz2]

I have a friend that only has three guns, a shotgun, a 42 (I believe) GI Colt 45, and a full size Llama. I told him the Llama is a piece of poopie but he swears that it hasn't failed in the last 10 yards. He shoots only 45 ball ammo.

I would expect less out of a subcompact but if it's something you're interested in and if it's a good price, I'd go for it.

 

[GlocksRock]

I used to own a llama .380 but sold it shortly after I got it due to the ammo price. I figured I could shoot twice as much 9mm for the price of 1 box of .380, but it wasn't a bad gun, it just didn't feed hollow point ammo too well and was kinda heavy.