Star Firestar M43

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pcoutu17

New member
I don't even know how I first found these guns, but as soon as I started researching them, I wanted one. From what I've seen, they tend to be accurate and reliable, barring early models with firing pin issues, and have great ergonomics. Apparently they were the handgun of the year for Guns and Ammo magazine in 1991 (according to wiki).

Anyhow, I just found this (see attached pics) gem, and I could only hold out on buying it for about a day :rolleyes:. It appears to be NOS and in fantastic shape. I can't wait for this to arrive at the LGS for pickup!

Any of you other folks had any experiences with these?
 

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Congratulations! I doubt you'll be disappointed, in fact I bet you'll love it. A bit heavy, but solid and typically known for exceptional accuracy.

My first semi-auto pistol purchase was a Firestar M40 back around '92 I think. That particular pistol I purchased new through my father's FFL that he held at the time. I loved it, but unfortunately couldn't achieve very good consistency with it. Eventually I learned that particular pistol had a problem beyond just me being the 'jerk' on the trigger and had it replaced, it's replacement proving very accurate. Ultimately the extractor failed on the replacement which they were known to do with the M40, but I was fortunate enough to secure a replacement and an extra for possible future issues.

Since those, I've obtained a half dozen of Star's later model offerings and have not experienced any further issues with countless rounds through most of them. Well that is except for an Ultrastar in .40 that I purchased last year that came with some serious cosmetic problems that I'm in the process of correcting, but it has functioned flawlessly.

Despite the few problems I've had, Star built some outstanding pistols through the many years that they were in business, and I am very fond of their pistols that I own. I won't hesitate to acquire more as the deals come along and tend to seek them out.

I wish that they were still in business as I'd love to see what they would be putting out now.

P.S> I would suggest that you stay away from the +P gimmick ammo, and use snap caps if you intend to dry fire it.
 
Awesome information! I'm glad to hear that you've had mostly good experiences with your Stars and I hope to have the same with mine. I'm really interested in finding an excellent Super B now as well.

While I can't comment on personal experience with Star yet, everything I've seen points to solidly built firearms with designs that I love. I'd be interested to see what they'd put out now as well.

I'll certainly stick to standard ammo and avoid any dry firing. Thank you for the advice! It'll most likely be mostly a safe queen/interest piece, but I'll definitely take her out now and then.
 
I had an M45, and found it fun to shoot and easy to shoot accurately.

I found it somewhat compromised by very soft metal, which led to the harder barrel peening the softer frame when I foolishly ran +P .45s through it. So I second the advice not to use +P or NATO ammo. You may have less of this issue in 9mm, but I would still stick with standard pressure, and maybe 115 grains.

Mine also broke its firing pin safety and had its slide release start slipping, again I think because of weak metallurgy, supposedly typical of Spanish guns.

Have fun, but I would rely on your other guns for defense. You might want to see who has parts or provides service, if anyone, just in case. It's been awhile since Star has existed, let alone imported to the US.
 
It seems to me that the .40 and .45 versions of their guns had more issues than the 9mm. Not to say that some of the problems aren't inherent of the design/manufacture, but they seem to manifest in the higher calibers.

A fun, interesting shooter is really all this will probably be, so I'll stick to cheap, light ammo to help with longevity.

I'll definitely be devoting some time to locating extra parts and services!
 
Very nice! Good luck on the Super B. I love mine! :)


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Got my starval finish M455 45acp in 1992. They are heavy to now day standards however great guns. I got the M43 9mm in 2008 because a good friend said I needed to to go along with my other Star and the it was only $250. Never had any problems with the 45 what so ever. I have the optional extended magazine in them.

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I loved my Firestar 9mm EXCEPT:

I never could get the "catch" smoothed out in the firing pin block mechanism. It ruined what was otherwise a very smooth and very crisp excellent trigger pull. No matter how much I polished the parts, the "catch" never went away.

I eventually sold the gun after a couple years.:(
 
Your friend was right peggysue, but left out the part where you need the M40 with the Starvel finish to complete the set!! :p

I had a bit of a 'catch' in the safety of the second M40 I got as well gyvel.
If you would put a little pressure further back on the hammer from it's full cock position, it operated smoothly. With the hammer resting at full cock it would take considerable effort to apply the safety, yet would come off safe easily.
It has been so long ago that I don't really remember exactly how I corrected it, but I know that I did a little more than just polishing to get past it.
Probably shouldn't have attempted it but I got dumb lucky in the end, though being older now I'd probably enlist a qualified smith to do it for me if I were to do it again.
 
Congrats you picked a pistol that is known for reliability and accuracy, however, they are heavy as hell to pack around all day. I carried my 43 as a plain clothes weapon for a short time but the weight and no butt caused my pants to require constant hoisting into position. A better belt would have helped but i went back to my Commander LW. My pistol has shot well and without malfunctioniing for many years.
 
I have a Megastar 45. Accurate. Durable. It's almost the size of my Desert Eagle 44! Cool looking gun; but definitely not my EDC.
 
I have a Firestar Plus in 9mm. Great mid sized weapon. I use it for CCW a good bit. It is a brick; but a fun high quality brick nevertheless. You will start looking for litter mates now. I think between me and my Dad we have 3 or 4 Stars now.
 
Yeah, the Plus is called the M243 it has a double stack mag and an alloy frame. Controls and function are basically the same though. I think pretty much any of the Stars are underrated. For the right price it's hard to go wrong with one.
 
Wow, I knew these used to be relatively popular, but that was pushing 20 years ago. I'm pretty shocked to see how many folks still have one, or have had experiences with them. I'm assuming part of it may also be that the influx of the Model Super B from surplus sources has enhanced the search for Star firearms a bit.

Seriously though, why don't many manufacturers still make all steel, or at least alloy, truly compact firearms anymore? I know that carrying around a block of steel or metal isn't always the most comfortable or practical thing, but there are plenty of people out there, myself included, who prefer the heft and feel of metal when it comes to a gun. I have nothing against polymer, at least as far as it being a proven material, but there's just something that pushes me towards the more robust feeling guns out there.

Some of the only ones I can really think of would be the CZ 2075 RAMI and a couple of the SIG P-series. I'm sure there are a few more out there, but not anywhere near the diversity of options as there are for polymer
 
Star built a decent quality firearms at a reasonable price and have some very devoted fans and followers, myself being one.
Just an FYI, the slide's will interchange from the M43 and M243. Not saying that I would try firing it that way, but for curiosities sake I tried it and they do interchange. I was curious having read of an elusive Firestar Plus in .40, and tried it with both the M40 and M43 slides on the M243 frame if memory serves.
The M243 is a pretty cool pistol with the factory 13 round double stack magazines on a frame not that much larger through the grip than the M43. With the alloy frame I don't trust shooting mine that much though since they're not making any more. That is my youngest son's favorite pistol on range day and he's pretty proficient with it.

Seriously though, why don't many manufacturers still make all steel, or at least alloy, truly compact firearms anymore?
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Many manufacturers still do, but you are correct that there are seemingly many more that are made of plastic. A lot of reasons get pointed to like weight considerations and such, but I tend to think that the biggest consideration is cost in manufacturing and profit margin in the end. It's just the world we live in.

I'm envious Skans, I've yet to obtain the Megastars in 45 or 10mm and they're both on my list.
 
I've had several M243 -- the firestar Plus -- great little guns. Double stack with alloy frames, and a bit more compact.

I'd pick up another, if I happened across one. Parts may be a problem, but they don't generally need any. The mags must not be made of unobtainium -- you simple don't see them, anymore. The trigger on any of these guns can be easily tuned.

When had a M43, the joke at the range where I shot was that IF I missed the bad guy, all I had to do was drop the gun on his foot, and he'd be out of action. It was a heavy gun.
 
Great gun, reliable, comfortable to shoot (because of its weight). I finally gave mine up when I started to carry on a daily basis, (because of its weight). The only issue that I recall was a run of brittle firing pins that didn't effect the serial number range of my gun. It's a good thing they're sturdy, because parts are nearly impossible to find anymore.
 
I have one I bought years ago.

Very good trigger that improves a lot when used.
Very accurate.

Way too many tool marks and indications of cutting corners to get to a price point though.
Mine has a bent piece of metal that's supposed to be the front sight.

That's the way it came when NIB.

Magazines are insanely overpriced for the M43.

One real positive thing I can say though is - - - they don't get much better looking than the M43.
One great looking little gun...
 
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