Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Handguns found me a 1911 in .380

I got a Llama 380 from Bass Pro,of all places.It feels really good in my hand ,but the trigger has a "hitch" in it,it'll need some attention from a smith.As far as Bass pro goes,I think that's my last purchase there---what cluster flop--- two hours of three different employees going back and forth over the paperwork plus at first they weren't going to let me examine the pistol without the trigger lock being removed.I was able to work the pistol only because there was a certain manager onsite otherwise I would not have been allowed.But it's a really sweet little gun!

When those work, they are nice little guns. I bought one at a gun show like 20 years ago, though, and it jammed constantly.

I’d like to have a Browing.

Some 1911 pistols from Phillipines will have Llama name etched on the slides. You know, steeped tradition, great reputation and all....🤣

Long time ago I had a Browning .380, got it from an ex police officer who used it as his back up carry gun. I got it pretty "reasonable", suspected it might have been "confiscated" from some undesirable. Remember it as a fine little firearm, and at the time I wanted one for needs it filled. Years later I traded it on the first .44 mag Contender I ever saw in a shop - still have that one. Shop owner gave me a real good "trade in", but a fellow I worked with who did some collecting told me it was probably worth more.

Mike Holmes

Are you referring to a Browning BDA? Those were actually made by Beretta, imported by Browning.

Years ago I bought a .380 Colt Pony Pocketlight. It was a beauty. Every time I went out with it, I felt I was under gunned. Traded it for a CZ 9mm compact.

Could have been a BDA, was a LONG time ago! I just know the pistol was "marked" as Browning?

Mike Holmes

Browning sold the Model 1910 in several variations up until the 1970s, it was a neat, trim little piece. After 1968, they had to add target sights and grips so it could be imported, but the earlier models were neat, trim, cute little pistols. FN had monkeyed around with the basic design since before WWI, Gavrilo Princip used one on Franz Ferdinand. FN dinked with magazine capacity (lengthened the grip), lengthened the barrel, yadda, yadda, but the basic gun (blowback operated) remained the same.

Got one of these in L.A. during 1968, one of the very last to make it into the U.S. after passage of the GCA. Carried it off duty for several years, till something else turned my head. Very easy pointing and reliable, probably one of the best shooting .380s at that time, perhaps even better than the Walther PP and PPK.

Exchippy, as well as I can remember, my Browning .380 looked like yours.

Mike Holmes

Yeah, that's the one I was thinking of. After 1968, they lengthened the barrel/slide, added the beer can adjustable sights, and a thumbrest on the left grip panel, to make it compliant with importation rules.

Lucked into a new Colt stainless 1911 MK IV/Series 80 Government Model .380 Auto at a gun show back in the 80's. Chunky little thing that I carried for a time until a S&W half the weight 337PD .38 Special J frame took its place in a front pocket. That little .380 doesn't get out of the drawer much, but it sure is a cute little miniature 1911.

Because regular folks in Mexico are not permitted handguns chambered in military calibers (9mm & .45ACP), a Commander-sized 1911 in .380ACP was developed for that market:





It’s a soft shooting rascal with not much more felt recoil than a .22LR, and a 4-1/4” barrel to add just a bit more speed to the .380’s slugs.

Star used to make DK a small light .380 like Colt Pony. Similar guns are still made by Kimber and Sig Sauer.

I gotta admit, that thing looks like fun...................but I've got a bunch of 9mm 1911s, and I could always just load milder stuff for those pistols. I ain't in Mexico.............................

Well, it was certainly fun working up the prototype on a lark:

(Check out that cute serial number.)

You’ve identified just one of many reasons to be thankful you’re not in Mexico these days. A favorite 9x19mm load, which is easier shooting from a full size 1911 than any factory .380 ammo could ever be, is a 125gr. cast SWC over 2.7gr. Bullseye and a CCI 500 primer (works best with a 10 pound recoil spring):

(Just ignore those two dropped shots, caused by a loose nut behind the trigger.)

The ability to load the 9x19mm round light probably explains why the .380ACP Commander-sized 1911 has not been offered in the U.S. of A.

That Llama is not much of a real 1911.

Mm

I thought the Baby Rock was a nice feel in the hand. I have no use for a heavy 380 though. Of course Browning has a version too.

Baby Rock or BBR

Certainly not the best choice for a combat pistol cartridge, but the .380 ACP WAS a military cartridge for at least five European armies most notably chambered in the Walther PPK used by German officers in WWll.