Star Model B 9mm

A

Adventurer_96

New member
Are these pistols worth $169? I have yet to see one up close, but the idea of a 9mm 1911-style (minus the grip safety) seems neat to add to a collection.

Who has experience with them? I've seen the ads from AIM and SOG, and I've been thinking of one for about a month now.
 
stars

I've got a Star PD(.45) and 2 Star BK(?)s - small frame 9mm. Also have several Astras. Never had any problems with any of these Spanish-made pistols. Only real problem is finding extra mags - esp. for the PD. It was fickle and only liked factory mags. The two BKs came in original boxes with an extra mag. I seem to recall I paid about $175.00 each for them and that was about ten years ago. I've thought about getting one of the full size ones just to compare to my Colt, just never had the opportunity. Advice? If you like it and have the money buy it. First thing I did was take out the mag disconnct on all of them, but we all have our own ideas... For what it's worth, Jefff Cooper was a long time fan of the PD.
 
I carried one offduty as an LEO in the seventies when the only semi autos available were either Colt or S&W 39(both too expensive on my $125 wkly pay). I put maybe 3-4k of rounds through it and IIRC had no jams with ball ammo.
Albert
 
Star

These are very rugged and reliable guns. I believe that you can find a recent review at www.cruffler.com. Star magazines are available from Forrest Inc as well as Gun-Parts and Jack First.

I have several Star's the PD and Firestar and they are excellent.
 
As 0007 mentioned, the B series Stars are reduced in size from 1911's. They are proportioned for the 9mm cartridge, and nicely concealable. If you do get one, watch it if you take it apart-on the PD I had, the left grip provided the stop for the downward travel of the thumb safety, and removing it (IIRC the grip screws went directly into the frame, be careful here) allowed the thumb safety to pivot to where the spring under the safety could take off. If you find a PD in good shape, it's a nice item as well.
 
I bought a star model b "super" a while back

and I use it as a range gun. Fairly heavy, so it soaks up recoil. Double taps nice (but I'm no pro). As accurate as I am (see above comment as to pro status)

The side take down lever broke after I had it for a few months, set me back $30 and took alot of searching to find one on the web. Made me aware of the problems of buying guns no longer in production. The thing I like least about it are the grips. They are the hard plastic.

I bought one for the same reasons as you, liked the 1911 look and feel and liked the price. The trigger isn't the same (it pivots) and there are other differences, but I still take it out once and awhile to shoot. I sometimes shoot it as a second entry in IDPA shoots. It puts you on same (8 rd) mag capacity as 1911 shooters, so you can compete with them if you like.

As I remember, if you do look up the threads, you'll see that dry firing the pistol is a bad idea.

-K
 
Thank you for your replies. I was unable to find any information on a search here, go figure! I guess it's just a matter of time before I get one now. Maybe there'll be one at the show this weekend.
 
Hello. Sorry the search didn't work out.

I've owned a couple of Star Model B pistols and currently own one that has been slightly modified.

The guns are reasonably accurate and trigger pulls can vary quite a bit, as in from good to "usable."
One of my guns fed about any JHP while the other was more picky with other than a round-nosed style bullet.

I do NOT recommend using hot 9mm loads in these older guns. Both of mine showed a bit more wear than what I'm used to when shooting heavy loads and I do think that on these pistols, the steel's a bit softer than what we're used to.

That said, they work great with standard pressure ammunition in terms of wear, at least in my limited experience.

The main problem is that spare parts are a bear to find should you break or lose ANYTHING. Magazines can still be found, but they, too, are drying up as STAR's been out of business for several years now.

The Model B, P, A and B Supers ARE prone to break firing pins if dry-fired as their firing pins are not retained with a plate, but rather a vertical pin under the rear sight.

Best.
 
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