Malfunctioning Star Firestar .45

H

hogslayer6

Inactive
Ladies and Gents. I have a Firestar in .45 ACP that developed a malfunction in which the hammer fails to fall. The problem is related to some sort of "detent" or "pin" inside the magazine well that is depressed when the magazine is inserted. I bought two aftermarket magazines but the problem didn't go away. On the magazines, there is a mark on the left side that looks like scratching/marring from the detent rubbing the magazine as it is inserted. If the hammer doesn't drop I can press up on the bottom of the magazine and then the gun will usually fire.

The problem started about 2 years ago out of the blue; one day it worked and the next it didn't (figuratively speaking). Now you are probably asking, "why hasn't this fool done something before now?" The answer is that I have been over here in SWA keeping these savages from killing one another, or us, for a good part of that 24 or so months; and the time I was back I had other, more "earthly desires" to occupy my time. Plus I have about 10 handguns of one type or another to play with. Right now I have a little time on my hands, so I want to pick the brains of some gun smart folks before I go home in a few months.
Thanks
Hogslayer 6
 
Take off the right grip. Under there is the mag disconnect. If you insert the mag in the frame you can see how the mag disconnect unblocks the trigger mechanism. On the firestar I had I actually took out the mag disconnect and replaced it with a pin so the gun could fire without a mag in it. Mark
 
I had a couple of 9mm Firestars, and all that was needed to disable the mag safety, was a small shim under the disconnect. It simply disables the safety, but does nothing to alter the gun.
 
Many Thanks

Thank you both for the quick answer. I guess I have my fix and it only took less than a day. I will pull her apart and do some work and hopefully have her back in the holster when I get back home. Thanks again for the help. Hogslayer6 out.
 
Firestar Magazine Safety Solution

Here is what worked for me on my M45 Firestar. By trial and error, I determined that the rubber grip would slightly press the leaf spring of the magazine safety and block the trigger, depending on how the shooter gripped the pistol. So sometimes it would fire and sometimes it would not.

My solution was to take a sharp knife and carve away the rubber inside the grip where it interfered with the tip of the leaf spring.

IMG_1837.JPG


The bright metal in the upper right corner of the grip is where I gouged out the rubber. This modification allows the magazine safety to work properly and does not modify or disconnect any of the hard parts.
 
Great info, haven't had any issues with mine yet,
but it's good to have a few ideas on hand if it ever happens!!

Note: S&W 3rd Gen single stack .45acp mags also work in the Star 45,
all you have to do is mill/file/drill/etc the mag catch hole in the same place
as your standard Star mags.
So when you see those 4506/45xx mags on sale for $15 at CTD/etc,
grab a few ;)
 
[QUOTEI thought Firestars were written off as semi-reliable junk years ago? No ? ][/QUOTE]


Thought wrong. I always thought mine was far from junk. Now last of the Llama 's Junk is to kind of word

The new Llama from Metro Arms in Philippine's are good pistols .
 
I thought Firestars were written off as semi-reliable junk years ago? No ?
Click to expand...

Seems like you are not well informed. I have shot a 40 & 45....both were fine. To me, they're just unique range guns.....but heavy!
 
i have several Stars and Llamas from the mid 60's to the mid 80s; they are far from junk. Keep telling that though, so I can buy them cheap when I find them.
 
CORRECTION: DO NOT REMOVE ANY MATERIAL FROM THE GRIP.
IT IS NEEDED TO HOLD THE TRIGGER BOW IN POSITION TO ENGAGE THE SEAR.

IMG_1837.JPG


I ALSO COMPLETELY REMOVED THE LEAF SPRING
AND IT DID NOTHING TO HELP
BUT MERELY DISABLED AN IMPORTANT SAFETY FEATURE.
THE MAGAZINE SAFETY DID NOT HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH THE PROBLEM.

It appears that the tip of the trigger bow is overriding the sear.
I have attempted to bend the trigger bow to solve this but am not
completely satisfied.
 
RE: Firestars = junk.

I've had several Firestars (9mm and .40) as well as a couple of Firestar Plus (9mm compact) -- and they've all proved very reliable and good guns.

The only issues I've heard of, over the years, is that extractors for the .40 versions, if damaged, are hard to replace. That may or may not be the case nowadays, but some of the Spanish Gun forums may be able to point to parts suppliers.
 
Star pistols have always been well engineered and made firearms which in many cases were well ahead of their time (Star BM commander size 9mm, Star PD first compact .45 in production). Many of the pocket .380's of today are a clone of a Star design of the early forty's, Mustang, Sig P238 and Kimber Micro pistols included. I have all of the above and find the mags are pretty much interchangeable between them.
Other than their weight Firestar pistols will often shoot a ton of ammo without failure, unfortunately with the demise of the company repair parts are often used and scarce.
 
RE: Firestars = junk.

I've had several Firestars (9mm and .40) as well as a couple of Firestar Plus (9mm compact) -- and they've all proved very reliable and good guns.

The only issues I've heard of, over the years, is that extractors for the .40 versions, if damaged, are hard to replace. That may or may not be the case nowadays, but some of the Spanish Gun forums may be able to point to parts suppliers.
Click to expand...
No, the Firestars are most certainly NOT junk. I've got the .40 and the .45 Firestars in what Star used to call their "Starvel" finish, which looks like stainless.

I bought both of my guns in the early '90's. As Walt mentioned, I had some extraction problems early on with the .40. I sent the gun back to Interarms, and they replaced the extractor with a blued piece. I've had no further problems with the .40.

Because of the virtual impossibility of finding parts for these guns any longer, I don't shoot them much anymore. I did drag the .45 out of the safe not too long ago, though. For such a short barreled gun, it is amazingly accurate and a sweet shooter. I'm sure that the weight of the gun helps to keep the recoil of the .45 under control, despite the gun's small size.

It's too bad that Star went out of business shortly after they introduced the Firestar. I've got a lot of guns in my safe, but I've got a special fondness for these 2 little beauties.
 
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