The Llama MicroMax is a 1911ish pistol scaled down for a different Bronwing cartidge, the .380acp. We first took a look at this compact firearms in an earlier article. Like most guns chambered in .380acp the Micromax is blowback-operated which requires a careful balance of slide weight, spring rate, and calculation of the expected energy generated from the ammunition used. Most .380acp ammo is around 92-96gr. That is exactly why we tested it with more than one dozen different loads ranging from 56gr to 102gr. We wanted to know if they would all cycle and would they all be controllable.
We were impressed with the results. The MicroMax is comfortable in both large and small hands. Thin enough for smaller hands, and those of us with banana-hands can comfortably wield the MicroMax thanks to a rounded heel, finger extension on the magazine, and generous beaver tail. No slide-bite of hammer-bite with this gun! While not as compact as the Bersa Thunder .380, it offers a different sort of classic styling. Fit and finish were excellent which isn’t suprising considering the Llama is actually manufactured by the smiths at Metro Arms. Those are the same craftsmen who brought us the Bobcut.
In case you missed the tabletop article, here are the specifications as taken directly from Eagle Import’s product page:
| 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″ |
Nay-sayers may question why such a gun exists. For me it’s the beauty of 1911 styling combined with the ease of shooting .380 ammunition. The gun has a great feel in the hand and is an absolute joy on the range. As proven by the NRA several years ago, modern .380 ammo is 78% as effective as modern .45acp ammo. Shot placement is king, so why not shoot what you can hit as quickly and accurately as possible?
