The Loadout Room
Menu
  • Shooting
        • Pistol
        • Pistol Accessories
        • Rifle
        • Rifle Accessories
        • Shotgun
        • Machine Guns
        • Air Guns
        • Ammunition
        • Optics and Sights
        • Weapon Lights
        • Tips & How-To
        • Concealed Carry
        • Holsters
        • Suppressors
        • Precision Rifle Shooting
        • Firearms Training
        • 1A Gun to Ride the River With: The Smith & Wesson 686
        • The Tristar folding shotgun is ready for your wilderness adventuresThe Tristar folding shotgun is ready for your wilderness adventures
        • maxim defense cqb stock (8)The Maxim Defense CQB Stock: Short and Sweet
        • Perfecting your zero | A little help goes a LONG wayPerfecting your zero | A little help goes a LONG way
    • Close
  • Gear Reviews
      • Mission Gear
      • Camping Gear
      • Survival Gear
      • Medical Gear
      • Adventure & Travel
      • Knives & Tools
      • Overland
      • Disaster Preparedness
      • Footwear
      • Womens Gear & Clothing
        • RIP-MVehicle Preparedness: Fast access to essential items | Grey Man Tactical RIP-M
        • Midland radioOverland Essential | Midland Radio MXT275 | GXT1000
        • ppGrab your gear and go | Here’s everything you’d need to build an adventure go bag
        • Scrubba Washbag: Keep your clothes clean in the fieldScrubba Washbag: Keep your clothes clean in the field
    • Close
  • Men’s Lifestyle
      • Fitness
      • EDC
      • Eyewear
      • Watches
      • Electronics & Technology
      • Downtime
      • Mens Clothing & Accessories
      • Manly Skills
      • Style & Grooming
      • Gentleman Drinks
      • Crate Club
        • The Outdoor Edge ParaClaw: A concealed stingerThe Outdoor Edge ParaClaw: A concealed stinger
        • How to determine how long you have before the sun setsHow to determine how long you have before the sun sets
        • fireWilderness survival expert breaks down how to build a fire
        • 5.11 Tactical Expedition Long Sleeve Shirt5.11 Tactical Expedition Long Sleeve Shirt, SWAT Tested and Approved
    • Close
  • News
  • Video Demo
  • Shop

Llama Micromax .380 1911: Half the Size, Twice the FUN

First Look: Llama Micromax .380 1911

May 23, 2018 by Graham Baates Leave a Comment

So tiny! Note the variety of ammunition types towering behind the gun.

After a long wait the Llama Micromax is finally here and in our hands.  If you’re not sure if you’ve heard of Llama before it’s because you have and you haven’t.  The original company closed down some time ago but their ideas are now living on through the craftsmen of Metro Arms and brought to us by the selective scouts of Eagle Imports.  Metro Arms is the same people who make the incredible Bobcut we covered in an earlier article.

On to this gun.  This is not the first .380 1911, but it may be the first good one.  Others have tried with moderate success to combine the blow-back operation generally affiliated with Browning’s .380 ACP and the styling and feel of the 1911.  For some reason success has escaped those makers and now Metro Arms and Llama are giving it a stab.  You may be wondering why.

Contrary to popular misconception, .380 ACP (9x17mm) is a Browning round and was based on .45 ACP.  It’s actually about a 7/8 scale down.  Set the two rounds next to each other and observe their shapes.  .380 is NOT related to 9x19mm which was developed in Germany.  Before the era of the wonder nines .380 was the best you could get in a tiny gun.  With proliferation of single-stack 9mm handguns .380 fell a bit to the wayside.  Ammunition makers did not give up and today there is a plethora of options chambered in .380 ACP.  We have fourteen different loads on hand for testing ranging from 56gr up to 102gr.  What .380 does undeniably provides is the opportunity to make smaller handguns and feature the reliability of blow-back operation.

Here’s a look at the MicroMax on the bench.

For the numbers fans here are the specifications taken directly from the product website:

Caliber .380 ACP
Action SA
Capacity 7+1
Barrel Length 3.75″
Front Sight Dovetail
Rear Sight Novak-Style
Finishes Matte Blue
Grips Contoured for comfort
Construction 4140 Steel Frame / 4140 Hammer Forged Steel Slide
Safety Ambidextrous Thumb Safety / Beavertail
Weight 22.9000
Length 6.3″
Height 4.5″
Width 1.2″

Share This

Filed Under: Pistol Tagged With: .380 ACP, 1911, arms guide, GBGuns, Graham Baates, Llama, Llama Micromax .380 1911, Metro Arms, Micromax, TAG, thearnsguide

About the Author

Avatar

Graham Baates “Graham Baates” is a pen name used by a 15-year active Army veteran who spent most of his time in the tactical side of the Intelligence community including tours in Afghanistan and Iraq. Post-Army Graham spent some time in the 3-Gun circuit before becoming a full-time NRA Certified defensive handgun instructor. After more than 1,900 hours instructing he now works as an industry writer while curating a YouTube channel on the side.

See All Graham Baates Articles

More From The Loadout Room

Comments

What’s Hot

Top 8 upgrades every Kel-Tec Sub 2000 owner needs: MCARBO parts review
Featured

Top 8 upgrades every Kel-Tec Sub 2000 owner needs: MCARBO parts review

Why .45ACP is an outdated caliber
Ammunition

Why 45 ACP is an outdated caliber

Featured

Stories from Delta Force Selection: When not to dance

Ammo Review: CCI COPPER-22, the Fastest .22 LR Ever
Ammunition

Ammo Review: CCI COPPER-22, the Fastest .22 LR Ever

Safariland Model 7304 ALS/SLS holster
Firearms Accessories

Safariland Model 7304 ALS/SLS holster

Email Newsletter

Sign up to receive email updates daily and to hear what's going on with us!

In Case You Missed It

Gear Reviews

A Gun to Ride the River With: The Smith & Wesson 686

October 9, 2019 Leave a Comment

Camping Gear

The MSR Pocket Rocket | Your little camp dragon

October 8, 2019 Leave a Comment

The Outdoor Edge ParaClaw: A concealed stinger
EDC

The Outdoor Edge ParaClaw: A concealed stinger

October 7, 2019 Leave a Comment

Gear Reviews

A plate carrier for the big boys: AR500’s Testudo Gen 2 is a good pick for large frames

October 7, 2019 Leave a Comment

Get it on Google Play

© Copyright 2021 Crate Club Group · All Rights Reserved.

  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use
  • Advertisers