Star Firestar M43

I've got 3 of the "number" Stars now...
M43
M45
M205 (.40S&W)

need an M40, and the M205 9mm version next :)

Here's some helpful info that I only recently found out...
the M40 & M43 mags interchange, you can put 9mm in the .40 mags
and they'll still load & fire, even rapid-fire.
Did it just for giggles, was shocked when it actually worked!!
Then ran across an article from the 90's that said Star did that on purpose.
Also holds true for the M205's.

S&W CS45 mags fit the M45, BUT you have to add the mag catch holes.
I'd bet that the same holds true for the CS40/M40 & CS9,/M43
but I don't own the CS9 or CS40 yet...
S&W mags are SO much easier to find ;)
This also means that you can add holes to other 45xx mags to use as well...
so I went from having one mag to 7 mags after a wee bit of milling ;)
This is particularly helpful as BOTH are my EDC, due to the ability to switch mags!!
Thunderwear & SmartCarry double pistol holsters,
with extra mags in IWB mag holders resolve any low-ammo issues ;)

I've got REALLY big hands...long fingers, so the M43 was difficult to hold,
so added a Hogue slip-on with the little finger grooves,
which made it MUCH easier to get a good solid grip on for me :)
forget which Hogue model it was, so go to a shop that doesn't mind you
trying a few out for proper fit :)
 
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Here's some helpful info that I only recently found out...
the M40 & M43 mags interchange, you can put 9mm in the .40 mags
and they'll still load & fire, even rapid-fire.
Click to expand...

Yes they do. One of the magazines that came with mine was for a .40.

Magazines are insanely overpriced for the M43.
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Yep, that they are, if you're used to buying 1911 or Glock magazines. A sort of local place (40 miles away in another city) had a box of assorted Star magazines. $45 each for the M43.

Mine has a bent piece of metal that's supposed to be the front sight.
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Interesting. Mine just looks like a sight.

Did they make Firestars right up to the end, when the company went bust?
 
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Oh, the reason S&W mags fit so dang well in Stars...
back in the old days, Star made the M28, which became the M30/31,
specifically to fit the 5900 series mags, as their double-stack mags didn't work!!
Star was having issues figuring it out, and decided it would be easier to subvert
a popular pistol mag instead of figuring out what was wrong with their double-stack design ;)

This is why, when I got a S&W CS45, (w/ 3 extra mags)
decided to try out the mags in the Star M45...
and was rather shocked when it fit perfectly, but would not lock...
so I looped my pinky underneath and test-fired...with great results :)
Afterwards, brought it home and got to work milling the holes for the mag catch!

As I said above, its my hope that the .40 & 9mm S&W mags will also fit,
but haven't gotten either yet...altho I found a likely .40 candidate yesterday...
 
Mine has a bent piece of metal that's supposed to be the front sight.
Click to expand...
Are you sure that you're not confusing an M43 Firestar with another pistol that Star produced or one produced by another manufacturer? I ask because I have a few extra parts for my Firestars, including one front sight, here is a photo of it.

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Mind you the photo is kind of crappy with using my phone, but I'm not sure how it could be mistaken for a bent piece of metal or even made to look like one.
I've also not noticed any excess of tool marks over what are commonly found on most other brands, or any indicators of Star attempting to cut corners to keep costs down on any of their pistols that I own, ever.
Are you sure that you're not thinking of another pistol or manufacturer?
 

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Nope - it's the Firestar. I'm 99% sure.
I'm too lazy to dig through the safe and get it out for a picture.

While it's crude as all get out, it doesn't seem to affect the shootability of the gun any.
 
Should you ever get the chance Hal, I would very much appreciate seeing a photo.

I must admit that I recently saw a pistol at two local gun shows, (same pistol, same vendor, different shows), that was identical to a Firestar M43 produced by the Star Bonafaccio Echeverria of Spain. By saying identical, I mean that with even greater scrutiny the second time I saw it, I could not find any difference beyond the markings on the pistol and the magazine. Though the vendor would not allow me to field strip the pistol for closer scrutiny without purchasing it. I regret not purchasing it, but I had Christmas gifts claiming my semi-disposable income at the time.
The magazine was unmarked, unlike the factory M43 magazines which are stamped with their 6 pointed logo symbol of a star and the caliber. Yet the magazine was identical and not something produced by an aftermarket magazine manufacturer.
The rubber grip panel was lacking the Star logo yet was textured in the exact same fashion as the M43, 40, and 45, and many other Star offerings.
The roll mark on the slide indicated it was produced in Romania of all places and as memory serves contained the words, "Novus Modul CAI" and the caliber which was 9mm, nothing more. I believe that all that was on the frame was a number for serialization but I'm not certain.
There was nothing else on the pistol to identify it or it's origin that I can recall, and it was a spot on copy of a Firestar M43. I searched diligently online but couldn't find any information to explain it. Was it a contract for, made by Star? Was it the result of liquidation of tooling from the Star factory, or the later Star/Astra (Astar) factory? But I think that Astar or some remnant of may still be producing firearms, just not exporting them to the US, but I just don't know.
My 'google-fu' may just not be strong enough.
Maybe someone here knows something more?
Should I ever run into the vendor or that pistol,(or another like it) again, I'll buy it just to satisfy my curiosity and I sincerely hope that I do.
 
Nope - it's the Firestar. I'm 99% sure.
I'm too lazy to dig through the safe and get it out for a picture.
While it's crude as all get out, it doesn't seem to affect the shootability of the gun any.
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I had an M43 Firestar and was not "crude" in any fashion. What you are describing is not the Firestar that I had.
 
I have the M43 and I think it's a very well built handgun. I purchased mine not long before Star went out of business or was bought out? The gun shop I bought it at was unloading them because of that! :rolleyes: I tried to use it for concealed carry but it pulled my pants down to bad,,, to heavy! :D
But I still have it and appreciate it for what it is! I also have an old Star Md# B 380, it's well built and a fun shooter! :cool:
Star made some great guns! ;)
 
Ok - went down and dug through the safe & found the M43.

I owe an apology here!

The front sight is the same as shown above.

Now I'm confounded as to which gun in the safe does have the funky front sight.
I'll have to go through the safe and find it.

Sorry about that!
 
Lock n load, If you have a Star in 380 it is probably a model S or SS, a model B is a full size 9 mm. Even as heavy as a Star 43 is the model S is Light, graceful and easy to shoot.
 
It was a Star Firestar, silver/alloy.

The local dealer swapped it for a Ultrastar, which seemed fine enough other than being really heavy for its size (and plenty ugly too).
 
It was a Star Firestar, silver/alloy.
Click to expand...

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe that the Firestar Plus (M243) has an alloy frame, as well as being double stack, and is a different model than the M43, which has an all steel frame. I think the M243 only came in 9mm, but I have seen rumors that point to some .40 cals existing. Which caliber was yours in Dashunde?
 
pocutu17 said:
Correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe that the Firestar Plus (M243) has an alloy frame, as well as being double stack, and is a different model than the M43, which has an all steel frame. I think the M243 only came in 9mm, but I have seen rumors that point to some .40 cals existing. Which caliber was yours in Dashunde?
Click to expand...

I've had both the M40 (Firestar in 9mm), an M43 (Firestar in .40) and several M243's. The slides are similar -- or perhaps the same, but the 40/43 had a steel frame and were single stack, while the M243 had an alloy frame and a double-stack, hi-cap mag.

I've only seen electroless nickel-plated M40's and M43's. I think that finish was called Starvel, but they apparently also offered blued and traditional nickel plated models. I have owned both blued (they seemed black) and Starvel-finished M243s. Both types were great shooting guns, but the smaller, lighter Firestar Plus (M243) was a handier gun for carry.

The Fjestad Blue Book says Star advertised the M40 Firestar Plus (alloy-framed and double stack) in 1995, but never sold them commercially. Starvel (electroless-nickel) finish seems to be a more durable form of nickel that is more environmentally friendly during the plating process.

Just about anything you might want to know about STAR handguns can be found here: http://star-firearms.com/firearms/guns/firestar/index.shtml

Star was supposed to introduce the .40 version, but apparently never released that model commercially. I have found the mags at gun shows and used them as hi-cap for the 9mm version of the Firestar Plus when I couldn't find 9mm versions. High-cap "Plus" mags are almost impossible to find, nowadays. I got my first Firestar Plus models in the late 1990s, and picked up a few in the following years. Always traded them away, but always had good service.

A couple of people I've talked with had the M40 model (.40) had the extractor break, and they became boat anchors -- as nobody had that part, anywhere. Since then, I think you can find some parts on some of the C&R and Spanish gun boards.
 
I have had the firestar 9mm for ~19 years.
I also bought the 40sw at the same time in starvel finish.
But the 40 jammed. I was mad about advice from the wife about how to chase sheep with a motorcycle. I took the 40 back and threw it at the seller. I did not get any money back. Probably an extractor or ejector, but I had adrenaline. Those sheep were not cooperating with me.

So 19 years with the little 9mm and it is perfect, except for the weight. It would make a good glove box gun.
 
I frickin love the Ultrastar, shoots so sweet :)
I'll have to find a 9mm version someday...

Meanwhile, for those who do get a Star,
other than doing the usual 1st range visit & cleaning,
afterwards, IMMEDIATELY take out the extractor,
go visit a local metal shop & have them make a few copies.
At least 4 or five...just so you don't ever have to do it again,
and if you run across a broken one,
you can pick it up for a song & have it working again in minutes ;)
 
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