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Pistol

First Look: Llama Micromax .380 1911

June 17, 2018 by Graham Baates Leave a Comment

First Look: Llama Micromax .380 1911
First Look: Llama Micromax .380 1911
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″

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About the Author

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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.

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