Llama Mini Max

[HighVelocity]

Flipping through the sales ads in today's paper I come across an add for a local sporting goods store selling a "Llama Mini Max 45acp" compact pistol for $259.
What is this? It looks like a baby 1911. Is it built to standard 1911 specs? If standard 1911 parts are interchangeable then it could be an interesting little project piece.

Also, I always thought that Llama was of sub standard quality. Has that changed?

 

[MICHAEL T]

1st off Llama has closed its doors. So only Llama's left are at Warehouses. or dealers. I talked with Dist last mo and was told they have spare parts and still honor lifetime Warrenty.
I can't tell if that the 3 1/2 in single stack or the 3" double stack. Llama are kinda hit and miss. I have found their rough but polish the feed ramp and change out mag springs that they work. I have the 3" subcompact 10+1 of 45 . Its a clone of Para Ordanace P-10 now Wart hog.I have a P-10 and have switched the recoil systems in them My Llama mags work in my Para. I was looking at a 3 1/2 compact the other day as I can't afford a Colt Defender or a Kimber. . What bothers me is people will buy a Ket Tec and Fluff and Buff or send it back to factory and tell you how great it is. But if a Llama needs the same Its a peice of JUNK. Both are low priced pistols that fill a need. I now have over a 1000 rounds of Wolf, Win ,Fed, CorBon , thru mine .

 

[Magnuumpwr]

I have a Llama MiniMax 45 ACP and had the same trouble with it that I had with my Auto-Ordinance 1911-A1. A simple mag change solved both. Other than mags, I have not try to interchange any parts between the pistols. Not sure if they will stand behind it, but my Llama has the Davidson Lifetime Warranty. I purchased it on Sept. 04, 2001 and the price break down is $260.00 + 16.25 Tax = $276.25 walk-out price NIB. Forgot to mention that there is a difference between the 2 guns, the minimax has a flared barrel without a bushing and as you may know the 1911-A1 has a standard barrel with a bushing. I am not sure about the interchanging of the trigger groups. Magazines are readily interchangable. Hope this helps you.

 

[chopinbloc]

fwiw, i had a llama minimax in .40 and the darn thing never ran well. it wouldn't completely chamber the round about 1 time out of 5. stronger recoil spring might have helped. tried different bullet shapes and new mags but as far as i knew at the time, llama was the only company that made mags for it. i won't spend a lot of money to get a dog to work, if it doesn't work right out of the box, i might try new mags or springs, but all that just reduces my trust level. my advice: if you just want a cheap toy, go for it, but don't carry it for defense.

 

[osteodoc08]

My RIA compact is fun to shoot. I got some hammer bite from it so I changed out the grip safety for a wilson drop-in. Now it is a joy to shoot. I just wish I had the money to keep up with it's appetite. I've had only minimal problems out of it. Well actually like 1-2 stove pipes after I messed with the extractor some. Since then, no problems.

 

[HighVelocity]

Well, I went and looked at the Mini-max and all I can say is that's it's a $250 gun. It was the roughest 1911 I have ever held. I'll spend my money elsewhere.

 

[tawakoni]

Re-assembling a Llama Mini Max?

I don't mean to hijack this thread but I have a question. Yesterday my neighbor came over with a problem. He said he just bought a Llama Mini Max and stripped it for cleaning after his first trip to the range. He said the recoil spring flew across the room when he took the slide off and when he went to retrieve it he found TWO springs, different size. Now he can't re-assemble it because he doesn't know where the smaller spring is supposed to fit. I've never stripped a Llama of any kind but from the neighbor's description it is nothing like a 1911. Can anyone help me help him?

Best

tawakoni

 

[HighVelocity]

If both springs flew out the same end then the smaller of the two probably goes INSIDE the larger spring. I do not know this to be a fact, just my hypothesis.

 

[tawakoni]

Thanks, HighV. I agree. My Colt 1911 Officer's Model came with 2 recoil springs but I converted it to a single spring right after I bought it 15 years ago. Neighbor said it doesn't have a conical barrel but it should according to what I've learned from this thread. I guess I really need to see the gun but the neighbor said a friend of his is working on it. I'm beginning to think I should just say "Sorry, can't help you". My brief conversation with the neighbor tells me they are both novices. Experts in their own mind.

tawakoni

 

[Zach S]

Llamas are hit and miss, but dont be turned off by a rough one. I've fired rough Llamas that shot great, and I've fired smooth ones that didn't.

A buddy of mine has one he refers to as his "sleeper." If you shot it, you probably wouldnt believe its a Llama.

 

[astraman]

llama

i like spanish guns, hence the handle astraman. buy stars & astras, but stay away from llamas-they're serviceable but usually need tweaking. they are better than the echasa, though.