Llama .45 acp

ten ring

ten ring

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I have a chance to purchase one of these 1911 clones. After checking the net, the reviews are over the map. Some say that these pistols are worthless junk, while others are quite happy with thiers. Any CGN"r own one of these, and what is your opinion?
Thanks in advance for your responses!
 
Decent "shooters" but unless you can get it for ~ $250 or less personally I'd rather have a basic Norinco, SAM or other entry level "real deal" 1911 pistol.

Just my .02

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NAA.
 
x3 - hard to get parts for this Spanish 1911 clone
better buy a Nork, SAM or Regent and you got the open market for any top end parts if you want to up-grade from scratch
 
I have a Llama X1-B 9mm that I've owned for many years. It's been a great gun and it will eat anything I feed it. Problem is the company has been out of business for a few years now and parts are very hard to come by. I've never had anything break but if I do I will probably own a Llama paperweight. I should add that it is also a great looking gun. As others have already stated unless it's a great price it may not be worth it.
 
I had a Llama years ago.It was terrible,really soft metal and rattly as all heck.Parts would be pretty non existent now.Stay clear of them unless its an really good deal,and then get it more as a curiosity.For that money,look for a used Norc.I have owned Stars as well,and they are pretty decent
 
Thanks for all your input guys. I took the gun to the range today to try it out before I purchase. Only fired 15 rounds, and had 2 misfires and 1 jam. Even at the cheap price it has been offered to me, my conclusion is that I would only be buying someone's headache. I will put the money saved towards a more quality pistol.
Thanks again!
Ten Ring
 
I just had my newly purchased xi-a .45acp out and I must say the trigger is not the best my GP100 blows it out of the water, but other than that my initial thoughts/impression is satisfaction about the purchase. The weapon had a purchase date of 1988 and was never fired. I went through 13 rounds with no failures whatsoever. I know that is far from a torture test but given the cost to feed her I doubt I would ever shoot more than 15 rounds at any time.

As far as them being hard to find parts for according to many gun related forums many GI 1911 parts will fit in them.If accurate that should solve most problems I may run into down the road....hopefully

Now I need to buy some new grips the plastic erhh polymer grips she came with are to say the least, tacky and given it has such an awful
name (Llama ...really?) I need all the help I can get..

later!
 
I'm trying to get an nice condition 3rd series 45 model IX-A (1984, D2 proof year) to function reliably.
http://www.cruffler.com/ProductionDataPages/Llama/LlamaDatesOfProduction.html

It was set up very badly by someone who did not know how to adjust the leaf spring.
Grip safety, trigger pull and sear are great now.

Remaining issues are, I believe, either magazine, extractor and perhaps recoil spring related.
Ordered a Triple K 7rd Llama IX-A specific mag, since original mag lips are rather ugly and wavy.
Regular 1911 mags don't fit and lock up properly.
I'll look into the other possibilities for the occasional bullet tip stuck on feed ramp, Stovepipe, and FTE once I get the new mag.
Extraction was sometimes held up by case rim hitting front of magazine follower.
Read somewhere a stronger recoil spring really helps. Will try that also.
Nice gun to shoot and very accurate with 230gr FMJ.
Looks like this:
350px-Llama_IX-A_3rd_series.jpg


If I can get it reliable with 185gr cast semi-wad cutters, I'll be very happy

http://www.carbinesforcollectors.com/llamapage.html
Mine has the rib without any vents.
 
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Change recoil spring and get a gunsmith to clean up the rough spots. Used magazines are around if you look.
 
I had one in 9mm. Shot OK, but parts, mags, and grips were impossible to source. Won't go down that road again.

M
 
dan belisle said:
It's pronounced "yama". They're ok, but nothing to get excited about. They did make a nice more modern pistol called the Omni about 30 years ago or so. I much prefer the Star Spanish pistols, in particular the PD and BM. Nice guns. FWIW - dan
Click to expand...

Yes.

Probably better to buy a Star Super B in 9mm.

These were actually issued to the Spanish military.

I owned a holster-stock Star Model B with a nickel-plated 32 round magazine many years ago.

The quality was very good, but the bluing seemed to wear off more easily than with U.S. pistols.
 
Bit of an update.
16lbs recoil spring too much, pushed Federal 230 FMJ RN more so than usual into case mouth.
Went back to original spring.
Received Triple K mag. Very different follower than original mag, good lips.
Still have issues with some bullets getting hung up on feed ramp and some rims stopping on hitting follower and case mouth of next round.
on ejection. Have tried polishing feed ramp, will try more aggressive angle.
Extractor seems to be in decent shape, I.E. without excessive wear, but I wonder if it has too much slop to hold rim firmly enough.

Time to try some Hornady cone shape bullets.
P4190167_zpsev1ga5jq.jpg

Original on left, Triple K for Llama IX-A middle, and Chip McCormick for Colt 1911

P4190163_zpsd4ru2ntw.jpg

Note wide base plates on Llama mags. Regular 1911 mag would need the the mag latch opening move up a bit to lock up.

both Llama mags seems to have some up and down play when supposed to be locked up.
Had to do some grinding on the grip screws. Some were just a bit too long and dragged on magazines
and had to sand a bit off back of one grip panel for interference with new mag base.

There were rough edges on trigger stirrup dragging on mag so I stoned them.
 
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Purchased one at a gun show in my ealry days......thought it was a 1911 that wasn't norinco so u jumped on it lol.....parts not interchangeable but it worked.....500 flawless rounds thru it.....no issues.....bought for 275$ sold for 350$....bought a colt.....I wouldn't pay over 300$ for this gun......but for entry level I'd say it's betrer than a norinco ANYTHING
 
I have had Llama revolvers in the past & found the ones that I had to be good quality guns.

Never had a 1911 style Llama pistol though.
My question is, since many people say that there is a problem getting parts for these
Llama .45 pistols, then why are they referred to as being a clone. ???

If they were a clone then other 1911 parts would fit just as any other clone.
 
My old man had 3 - 45, 380 and 22. The 45 got stolen, so I can't say much about it, but on the 380, only one side of the barrel was rifled. The 22 was fairly reliable, but I can't remember if it was accurate or not. These were late 40's-very early 60's production. They were nice looking guns, though.
 
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