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Well yesterday I went to visit the new Cabelas in Allen TX, JUST to check the place out, and walked out with a gun They had a great sellection of used handguns that were reasonably priced.

The gun that stuck out to me was this Llama Especial .380. it was in prety good shape and felt solid, after about an hour of trolling around i just took the plunge and got it. I told myself if i get this gun it will be my last (gun) purchase for a couple years;-)
It's a cool gun, basicly a miniture 1911 replica, even has a grip saftey. Its relitivly light at 20oz for a steel framed gun. Also thin and compact fits perfect in my hand, and is a great size for CC. I would love to own a real fullsize 1911, but at this stage of my life I cant drop 500-600+ for a taurus or an R.I. let a lone 1000+ for a "high end" one. And I know, save.. but I just cant justify that much for a hand gun.

Took it home and did some research and i believe it was made in '68. I took it apart and cleaned/oiled it. All the parts seem in really good shape and taken care of. I hear the main problem with these guns is the extracter but the one on here seems fine. Wont know till i fire it, have to wait till Monday.

Good luck with your new Llama Kevin. I hope it works out for you. Make sure you make a post after you take it to the range and check it out.

The Llamas are decent little guns. I have one from about the same era. It shoots well and is fairly accurate. I still have the box for mine and it was the only pistol the burglers missed in 1995 when we were robbed. I never had any problem with it but the last time I shot it I noticed after I cleaned it I could dry fire it with out the grip safety being depressed. I need to find a good gunsmith. If any one knows of one in the SE part of Houston area. Just curios as to what you payed if that's not too personal.

I have had one of those since 1978 and the only time I had problems with it was when using sharp lipped Hollow Point ammo or steel or aluminum cased cheap ammo. Either the hollow point lip or the edge of the case hung on the throat of the chamber. I have never had a failure with hardball round with a brass case. Love the size!

Good gun for the price in that era. I had one and loved it. Same problem as Voyagerjohn with the hollowpoints but mine was with the wide tips / large cavity. It was a little picky, but aside from that I never had a problem. Did a little polishing and found ammo that worked reliably. In that collection you have there, it would be the one I would carry.

EDIT: Sorry, mine was a .45 and slightly larger. Looked exactly the same though.

I got one in parts from a member here and it has became a nice carry piece for backup. I did have the rib on top milled off and I repainted with black CeraKote. Check the recoil plug on front to make sure it is secure, mine disappeared in the yard when it was being fired. as old as these are they wear out.

DFWTT wrote:Good gun for the price in that era. I had one and loved it. Same problem as Voyagerjohn with the hollowpoints but mine was with the wide tips / large cavity. It was a little picky, but aside from that I never had a problem. Did a little polishing and found ammo that worked reliably. In that collection you have there, it would be the one I would carry.

EDIT: Sorry, mine was a .45 and slightly larger. Looked exactly the same though.

I think that this issue is common with older guns. Back then most people shot hardball ammo in their automatics.

rm9792 wrote:I got one in parts from a member here and it has became a nice carry piece for backup. I did have the rib on top milled off and I repainted with black CeraKote. Check the recoil plug on front to make sure it is secure, mine disappeared in the yard when it was being fired. as old as these are they wear out.

Sounds cool you got a pic? I took it to the range and put 50rds though it and it fed and ejected w/o problem and was fairly acurate at 10 yards once i figured out the sights. Its real nice to shoot very little recoil, just a little hammer bite one my hand. I think this will make a great summer carry or a back up its light and thin and more comfy than my other guns.

WildBill wrote:

DFWTT wrote:Good gun for the price in that era. I had one and loved it. Same problem as Voyagerjohn with the hollowpoints but mine was with the wide tips / large cavity. It was a little picky, but aside from that I never had a problem. Did a little polishing and found ammo that worked reliably. In that collection you have there, it would be the one I would carry.

EDIT: Sorry, mine was a .45 and slightly larger. Looked exactly the same though.

I think that this issue is common with older guns. Back then most people shot hardball ammo in their automatics.

Yup!

DFWTT wrote:

WildBill wrote:

DFWTT wrote:Good gun for the price in that era. I had one and loved it. Same problem as Voyagerjohn with the hollowpoints but mine was with the wide tips / large cavity. It was a little picky, but aside from that I never had a problem. Did a little polishing and found ammo that worked reliably. In that collection you have there, it would be the one I would carry.

EDIT: Sorry, mine was a .45 and slightly larger. Looked exactly the same though.

I think that this issue is common with older guns. Back then most people shot hardball ammo in their automatics.

Yup!

In the sixties and seventies the only factory loads available for .380, 32 ACP, .25 Auto and even 9mm Para were FMJ "hardball". I can't recall even seeing .45 ACP except hardball also. I used to recommend .38 special and even little High Standard Sentinels with .22 LR HP over any of the little automatics like Llama, Berettas, etc since the ball ammo was almost useless for SD. I had a copy of the "Armed Citizen" from American Rifleman where an MD was robbed coming out of a pharmacy. He pulled out his .25 Auto and shot the guy several times before the BG ran off, only to be arrested at the hospital. I would show it to people but even then a lot of times they'd buy a little auto anyway. The irony was that the doctor was quoted as saying he was going to buy a more powerfull pistol, a .32 ACP.

kevin wrote:

rm9792 wrote:out.

Sounds cool you got a pic?

I will try and get a pic up later. Also shaved down some alumagrips to fit. I am learning to jewel so I practiced on this one while it was apart. I am having trouble getting pics to post but here are the links in the meantime.
http://home.swbell.net/mortmit/Llama__1_.JPG
http://home.swbell.net/mortmit/Llama__2_.JPG" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;