One of the questions we get most often at Gun Tests is whether an older gun someone has happened on is worth the time and trouble to mess with. These “oldies but goodies” can show up in pawn shops, online auction sales, gun shop display cases, or in the closets of relatives who no longer want them. So we set the wayback machine to 25 years ago to find some winners and losers for you to consider.
It’s always been hard to find a low-priced 1911 that simply offers reliable service rather than upgrades that aren’t really necessary. Fully adjustable sights, match barrels, bull barrels, reverse bushings, slide serrations, lowered and flared ejection port, reduced-mass hammer, adjustable “match” trigger, frame checkering, cocobolo grips, Memory Groove grip safety, Accu-Rails, enlarged magwell and hard chrome are all options that are available for the 1911 pistol. But a basic Government model that functions 100 percent is still a formidable weapon without the extras. Furthermore, in “G.I” trim the 1911 pistol is a bargain in terms of power and control.
To look for the basic elements well executed, we tested a basic Colt’s Government model, a Llama MAX-1, and a Firestorm 45.
Colt’s 1991A1 Series 80 Stainless No. 01091
In guns of this type, mating the slide to the frame and fitting the barrel play a huge part in how well, or poorly, the gun shoots. After each shot the gun goes through a cycle that unlocks and resets the relationship of the barrel and the sights, which are fit onto to the slide. Two ways to get the right fit: A master gunsmith can hand-fit the slide to the frame, or the pistol can get a head start on this process with the accuracy of CNC machining.
Whatever process Colt is using, we found the frame-to-slide fit to be slightly loose, while the fit on the other two pistols was rock solid. Accuracy at 12 yards unsupported was about 2 inches, but consistently high.
Our only real complaint was in the action of the thumb and grip safeties. The thumb safety was a little stubborn to apply and took some breaking in before it would completely fill the notch in the slide. It never did snap on and off happily. The beavertail grip safety is flat in profile, so if you have a hollow profile to the palm of your hand, it may be more difficult to completely deactivate. We could feel a direct interaction between the grip safety and the trigger as we held the gun. This is a minor detail that interferes with take-up and let-off that can be remedied by a competent gunsmith. Of course, both would add to the gun’s cost.
The 1991A1’s finish is a matte or sandy stainless. We like it because it has the advantages of stainless steel without the glare. The front and rear sights are a contrasting black. The rear unit is drift adjustable for windage, and the front sight is press fit into place. The black grips also contrast nicely, featuring the Colt logo and checkering cut into a rubber compound that was cool to the hand and did not snag clothing.
Slide serrations are to the rear of the ejection port only, but we felt they were best of the bunch. The ejection port is neither lowered nor flared, which resulted in a slight flattening of the case mouth on ejected shells. This gun uses a standard short guide rod that, we feel, does not aid control as much as a full-length unit when the shooter is hammering the trigger. The trigger is fashioned from alloy, but it is neither skeletonized nor adjustable.
This basic Colt 1911 with upgraded finish experienced 100 percent reliable delivery of a formidable ballistic payload. This is a pistol that is easily and quickly reloaded. It includes two safeties that deactivate the trigger. Even in its most basic form, the 1991 pistol can be operated with one hand without requiring a change of grip to manipulate triggers and safeties. Basically, the Colt 1991A Series 80 is a competent platform that can be upgraded, modified, and rebuilt with readily available parts. The 1991A1’s finish is a matte stainless. The front and rear sights are a contrasting black. The rear unit is drift adjustable for windage.
The Colt’s grip shows a lot to like, but also the gun’s shortcomings. We didn’t like the action of the thumb and grip safeties. The thumb safety never did snap on and off happily. The beavertail grip safety is flat, so if you have a hollow profile to the palm of your hand, it may be more difficult to completely deactivate. The black grips contrast the gun’s metal finish nicely, and the checkering was cool to the hand and did not snag clothing. Slide serrations are to the rear of the ejection port only, but we felt they were best of the bunch. The trigger is fashioned from alloy, but it is neither skeletonized nor adjustable.
Llama MAX-1 45 ACP
The Llama name has been associated with low-end 1911 pistols for some time. We are willing to bet at least some of our readers own or know someone who owns a Llama. We do, and those consumers have no complaints about the pistol. The only variation from standard Government design on the MAX-1 is the grips, which make the pistol larger in circumference. Some shooters will prefer these panels.
Llama pistols are imported from Spain, and their reputation is varied. We have often written that the first practical difference between products at opposite ends of the price spectrum is the consistency with which they perform. It is possible to find a lemon from any factory, but the chances of finding one in a budget product line are much greater. Likewise, it is possible to find a pistol that costs less but shoots nearly as well as some higher priced models. It is this relentless search for value that drives many shooters.
And, it would seem on the surface, the Llama delivered value. After comparing the accuracy data collected for the Colt’s pistol and this gun, it would seem it shot well enough to get a recommendation. But wait—our Llama MAX-1 printed groups about 7 inches to the left of point of aim.
This still might not be fatal if the rear sight could be drifted to make the gun shoot nearer POA. We calculated that the drift needed would be around 0.05 inch to the right, if indeed the problem was with the sight.
But on a semi-auto, the shooter is actually aiming the slide, and it can be cut and mounted unevenly on the frame. Or the barrel can be out of line within the slide. To check which relationship was off center, we disassembled the pistol and measured the surrounding metal at the bushing. (No bushing wrench is supplied with the MAX-1.) We were prepared to measure the amount of metal on each side of the bushing to see if the barrel was centered in the slide. There was no need to open the calipers.
The hole cut for the barrel was noticeably off. The amount of metal to the right measured approximately 0.112 inch and amount of metal to the left measured 0.09 inch. To compensate for this disparity, the rear sight would have to be moved 0.05 inch for a neutral center. But, there isn’t enough material on the slide for this to do this without the rear sight hanging off the side. And, even if we found a way to move it, the ability to point this pistol would be severely hampered. Frankly, we never expected to encounter this type of problem.
Even in a batch of low-end guns we thought it would be enough to weed through and just find one that goes bang all of the time. However, that you might need to pack a set of calipers when shopping for a pistol is unacceptable, in our view. That’s a shame, since shooting the Llama was not unpleasant, and it proved reliable.
Firestorm 45 Government (FS45GM) 45 ACP
The Firestorm we purchased represented another aspect of the less satisfactory side of the spectrum. The Firestorm differs only in grip from the Llama; it is imported by the same company and is also manufactured in Spain. We did not know this when we placed our order. It could be said that the Firestorm is the same pistol as the Llama, save for the standard grips and the name “Firestorm” engraved on the slide.
We shot this gun during break in before it started to malfunction repeatedly. But the end came during chronographing, when the Firestorm decided it did not have enough energy to repeatedly strike the primer and ignite rounds. Prior to this it was somewhat stubborn about completely chambering a round. Perhaps the ramp wasn’t cut properly. Perhaps there was too much friction between the slide and frame caused by improper machining. After the experience we had with the Llama, we now feel that anything was possible.
Gun Tests Recommends
✘ Llama MAX-1. Don’t Buy. We cannot recommend a pistol that is machined so that it cannot shoot straight, even if it is otherwise reliable.
✘ Firestorm 45 Government (FS45GM) 45 ACP. Don’t Buy. We cannot recommend a pistol that does not function reliably even if it shoots straight.
● Colt’s Manufacturing 1991A1 Series 80. This proved to be a reliable defensive tool that is ultimately more usable than many of the latest “wonder” guns. At the time of the original test, it was about twice as expensive as the other two guns, but it didn’t exhibit the deal-killing problems the others presented. Sometimes you get what you pay for.
