Star pistols?

M

mcshot

New member
As an offshoot of the "best single stack nine" thread there were a few positive comments on Star pistols. I've had several including a collection of Firestars, an ultra and a Super Model O.
I loved them but needed (?) a high quality M1 garand shooter so they went to a good home.
I had to have another and found a chrome BM with pearl grips that fits perfectly. The BM is a 1911 design made for the military, police and home defense.
Anyone else have experience with these under appreciated bargains?
Thanks,
mac ;)
 
Every Star I've gotten my hands on has been a flawless performer. I carried a Firestar in .40 for a while, and I really like those small pistols. The only caveat would be spare parts availability, but I wouldn't hesitate to buy any Star pistol, especially since they are underappreciated and available for a song and a dance.
 
Stephen A. Camp and I both have a Star BM and think very highly of them. Mine was a Spanish police trade in and I paid $125 for it. It shoots well and feeds every type of 9mm ammo. Once again I really like mine. Regards, Richard
 
I've got three Stars and am looking for a fourth. (I recently traded a C&R Star Model B for a Star Firestar Plus.)

The small, steel-framed Stars are very solid, very accurate, and very heavy. My M-40 is one of the most accurate .40s I've shot (short of a target-grade pistol), and the trigger, which I've had worked on, is superb.

For several years I carried a Kel-Tec P-11, a nice, durable, reasonably accurate concealed carry gun. Then I found a Star Firestar Plus (in 9mm) at a local pawnshop, for $129, like new.

The P-11 got pushed to the back of the gunsafe -- the Star Firestar Plus was easier to shoot, about the same size, only a little heavier (due to an alloy frame), and because its a double-stack, it'll hold 10-rounds, or with a larger mag, 13 rounds.

I shot the P-11 in an IDPA match and didn't shoot nearly as well as I usually do. The first time I tried the Star Firestar Plus, I had the best scores of the match. (Small, local match, no real heavy-weight competition, but relatively speaking, nothing to be ashamed of.)

I'd like to find a Star Firestar Plus in .40 -- I know they make them, and stumble across the mags from time to time -- but so far no luck.

(I have a number of high-quality guns, and know what a good one looks like and shoots like; the Stars, while not the best, are far better than many guns that cost a lot more... Its a shame they quit importing the new ones.)
 
Gentlemen, Thanks for the replies. I'm interested in what the BM designation means.
BTW, CDNN has demo mags for the BM for 11.99 ea. Mine just arrived today and although blued (as noted) they show no sign of use. Most other places I checked including mag dealers at gun shows run about $30.
mac
 
I enjoyed my Star FIRESTAR .45 and for a short while the one I had in .40 as well. These little Spanish pistols are fantastic.
 
I have a model 43 firestar in 9x19 and it worked well right out of the box. I'm keeping it.

I also have a Star Model B Super. After a couple of trips to the gunsmith, it is almost reliable. It still jams once in a while. If you get into the Star Model B's, or Super B's, expect to do some work on it to get it right. I would expect to replace the recoil spring right off the bat, and probably have to have the feed ramps on the frame and barrel polished as well as a throat job. A new magazine might be in order. That should do it.

Also realize that not many parts are available for the Stars since they are out of production. Some are harder to find than others and for some models more than others. As scarce as parts are for the Model B Super, I can only imagine trying to find anything for the Model P (the .45 ACP version). I ran a couple of searches on the Model P and found diddly squat. If I were looking for a .45 bargain, I guess I would try the Sistema Colts.

-10CFR


http://www.thefiringline.com/forums...id=70016&sortby=lastpost&sortorder=descending
 
I LOVE my firestar .40 cal. Now that I have some spare parts for it, I can shoot it regularly again. I carry it in a Blade-tec paddle holster and it wears quite nicely. Very accurate and a joy to handle. I heard a rumor that Star was purchased by someone and may be back to producing pistols. I hope the bring back the firestar line, maybe a DAO version!!! (Hey, I can dream can't I?):D
 
It doesn't hurt to dream.

I saw a megastar .45 in StarVel at the Hbg gunshow last month and I was tempted. :) As usual, I just didn't have the cash. I was even more tempted by the CZ40 I saw new for $259, and the Remington 870 parkerized w/ extended mag and synthetic stock new for $299 at the same show. I was really grexin' over those.

BTW, glockorama, I just realized I never answered your email. Sorry about that - I wasn't ignoring you - I just forgot. Nothing new to report on the Super B. I haven't messed with it lately. I'm over $400 into it. I think I'll keep it because I like playing with it. I didn't have to put that much in it, I just wanted to try the FAC ported barrel, and that's where most of the expense came from.

-10CFR
 
10CFR - I'm not familiar with a Star P in .45 acp, but I've had the PD for about 15 years now. It's compact (Colt Officer's size), aluminum frame and came with a throated feed ramp NIB. I've never had a hint of a problem with her. She hits POA with 185 gr. CorBons, Golden Sabers and HydraShoks. You can find an occasional PD on the used gun Web sites.

I have heard that another Spanish gunmaker -- I forget the name -- bought Star, but that was a couple of years ago. Haven't seen anything since. There are a couple of Web sites for Star owners. I don't recall the URLs, but if you do a Google search -- www.google.com -- you should find them easily.
 
Clark,

Here is Cruffler's review of the model B Super:
http://www.cruffler.com/review-May-01.html

Here you can find the Model P (scroll down until you see it):http://www.cruffler.com/JLD.html#Firearms

Marstar (in Canada) on models A,B,P pistols:
http://www.marstar.ca/starapbs.htm

Some more Star info here:
http://www.donttouchme.com/star/

Hope this helps. There are also a bunch of places selling the old Model B's and Super B's. As I and others have said, caveat emptor with those old military models - they need work and parts are htg. The new models do seem to work o.k., though.

-10CFR
 
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