Opinions on Llama pistols?

[Hale on wheels]

I have been wanting to get a 1911 clone, but I'm not sure if I will like that action over a traditional DA pistol. I found a Llama 1911 clone, supposedly copied from the Colt Defender, that is pretty cheap (i. e. $250). I know you get what you pay for, but I thought maybe I could cut my teeth on a 1911 and if I like it, go get a Kimber. And if I don't care for it, I'm not out much money. Anyone have any recommendations or comments about the Llamas? Also, will the Colt internals interchange with the Llama?



TIA

 

[JSmith]

The Llama is an ok pistol if you are not going to shoot it a lot.

I would rather see you buy a Springfield Mil spec. No the parts will not interchange. The internals and specs are different. Save some more money and do it right the first time.



Have`nt we heard that statement before

 

[Hale on wheels]

OK, thanks for the response. I was kind of leaning towards your idea anyway, but if I heard that the llama was OK, I thought I would go ahead and get it. I got a $50 rebate form for a Para, so I may get one of those. Do you like your 1911(s) more than a regular DA?

 

[Kickin Y2K]

I've got two Llamas that I shoot quite often. They don't even compare to my other 1911 style pistols but have never had a bit of trouble with them either.

 

[slavallee]

Rock Island Armory

If you want a bare bones 1911 clone that you will be able to upgrade later if you want to, get a Rock Island Arsenal 1911. Around $300 or so. Charles Daly also is a good choice. They are made of good materials (not GREAT, but at least Mil-Spec), and should you get the 1911 bombing bug, you can swap in a whole bunch of Wilson Combat stuff and have yourself one whopper of a 1911. Although all curently produced 1911's are really 1911A1's.

I'd stay away from the Llama, but that's just me.



-Scott

 

[Hale on wheels]

Perhaps I should have elaborated on my intentions a little more than I did. I am not looking for a match grade competition gun, I was just wanting mostly a punch holes in paper gun (for fun) and possibly one to carry around some, but that requires good reliability. No doubt that the Kimbers/Wessons, etc are much better guns, I was thinking maybe buy the llama, learn the action of the 1911 (I've never shot one), and if I like the 1911 style over a DA, maybe I would buy a good one. It has to be small though for me to conceal, that is why I did not consider the Daly or similar, because they don't make a compact version of which I am aware. JSmith suggested a Springfield mil-spec, and I think they make one of their micros in mil-spec that aren't too expensive, so maybe I'll look at those, but I'll am still thinking about buying it... its only $250... its the minimax version I think.



Kickin, do they feed JHPs well, or just ball?

 

[sdalton]

I have shot and handled several Llamas. They are JUNK. They are made of inferior metal from South America. Their parts are not usually interchangable with other 1911 pistols. They are not accurate, and they like to jam. There is a reason they cost so much less. I have several Colts, and a Para-Ordinance. I like the para because the fit and finish is better than the Colts, out of the box, and it holds twice as many rounds. If I were shopping for a 1911 pistol for paper punching, I would get a Kimber. Even their cheap ones are superior to most anything else out there under $1200. I interchange a Colt and a Para every other year or so, as a duty gun. Both are very accurate, but the Colt has had extensive work done to it, to make it accurate and reliable. Let me say it clearer. DO NOT BUY A LLAMA.

 

[JSmith]

HOW, get a Springfield Milspec. I tell you this from experience.

To shoot paper($250. 00 gun), I take it you want to shoot paper sometimes, BUT NOT serious target shooting. You also mentioned carrying, I would rather have the Springfield on me for a life threatning situation than the Llama.



As a side note, use hardball ammo to practice with,its cheeper.

 

[Hale on wheels]

OK, I'll stop by and see what Springfields the gun shop has. They do have a compact mil-spec, right? My company decided firearms were offensive material and blocked them from our internet server Thanks for the input, hopefully I can convince the wife!

 

[Hale on wheels]

Well I stopped by one of the gun shops on my way home from work. They didn't have any Springfield compacts but they had a few Kimber Ultra Carry IIs for around $700-750. I needed to get home so I didn't shoot it, but I plan to go back tomorrow or maybe Friday and try one out. I figure it will be like test-driving a new Cummins, and I won't be able to leave without it, so I had better go do some laundry and clean the kitchen to butter up the better half!

 

[Eric Kahn]

I have a Norinco 45 auto, they are all steel and all the parts interchange with the 1911A1 colt gov model, I paid $260 for it a few years back, works great

 

[The patriot]

For a reasonably priced gun, the Norinco's are decent, as are the Charles Daly's and the Rock Islands (theyre said to be the same).

I dont have my price sheet here, but I believe the DEALER price on the CD's is either $259. 00 or $299. 00. Stainless is about + $50. 00.

They come in full (Govt) size, Commander length, and compact. All the same price.

Dealer on a new Springfield Armory is just under $500. 00.

I believe there is a place in Ohio (sorry I dont remember the name) that sells them for $399. 00 brand new.

I dont know how they do it.

The distributor I get my prices from is probibally on the high side.

I've seen an STI Trojan 5. 0 for $760 brand new!!! I want one of them!!! I've heard that they blow the Kimbers away!!

Eric



PS I wouldnt stake my life on the Llama.

 

[slavallee]

The Norincos are O. K. , but the only part that will not swap out from a standard 1911a1 are the grip screw bushings. Also, I'm not willing to trust Chinese steel unless I absolutely have to.



Hale, my suggestion was not for you to go out and get a race gun, but simply for you to be able to do it later if you should want to. If you end up with something like a Llama, or Firestorm and pay $250, that's it. You'd never be able to get your money out of it. That why I'd say drop the extra hundy on the front end and get something that can grow with you should you happen to get into it. Plus, if you don't like it, a straight 1911a1 like the Daly will have a higher resale that the Llama.



Patriot, you're right about the Springfield price, Hale won't be able to touch one for less than $450. That's why I like my 22% under dealer cost discount!



-Scott

 

[Hale on wheels]

I don't mind spending the money on a good gun, I was just thinking maybe I'd get an inexpensive one, see if I like the 1911 style, and then upgrade. But I thought the parts would interchange in the llama. I appreciate your suggestions about the Daly/Rock Island. I will look for some of those. That is also why I asked about reliability... if I need to pull the trigger I need the gun to go BANG! If I could find a Springfield compact for $450 I'd snatch it up in a heartbeat!

 

[The patriot]

$399.00 mil spec Springfield Armory...45 ACP

I cut and pasted this.



I found this incredible price at my favorite place to buy guns since their prices are pretty darn good..... Buckeye Outdoors in Ohio. They are located about 45? minutes east of Columbus, Ohio near Buckeye Lake. (On Interstate 70, get off on the Buckeye Lake exit (79???) and go North for about 2? miles. Huge store! They moved a few months ago. They whip the pants off every other gun store I've been to. Just wish their ammo prices were a little bit better but even then, they're not that high.





http://www.1911forum.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=29272&highlight=$399.00



HTH

Eric