[alan]

Anyone know of a source for the above? Looking for factory spec springs or equivalent replacements.

Star went out of business a while back, being taken over by Astra or Liama if memory serves. The firm that took them over has since gone the way of all flesh.

Unfortunately Wolff does not make springs for this particular pistol, I checked with them.

Thanks in advance for any information.

[Jim K]

I wonder if Wolff would tell you if they make a spring of the required dimensions. That spring doesn't look awfully different from other recoil springs in 9mm pistols, and I have little doubt something would work. Of course it would not be original, but it should function.

FYI, OD is .378", ID is .306", coil diameter is .036".

I admit to being puzzled as to how that spring could weaken or get lost. It should be good for many thousands of rounds with no problem. It is permanently assembled to the guide rod and the two were intended for replacement as a unit. There are not too many 30M's in the country. They were never imported commercially; the only ones brought in were surplus Spanish service pistols, which is why there are just about no parts available.

Jim

[Sunray]

Try this guy. He has some Star recoil springs. It's not Numrich/Gunparts.
http://www.gun-parts.com/recoilsprings/

[Ray P]

You could also PM THR member STAR. Do an advanced search by member name. He also has a thread under "Buy Sell & Trade: Accessories"

I bought a factory M-43 mag from him a while back; No problems & very quick service.

Edited to add: Iparguns in Spain still has parts, but language & a poor internet site make it rather tough to work with them. IIRC, Star (the THR member) lives in Spain, and is in frequent contact with gun & gun parts suppliers in Spain.

[alan]

Sunray:

Thanks for the link; his site mentions some Star springs, but none for the Model 30. Numrich seems permanently OUT OF STOCK re these springs.

Jim Keenan:

Thanks for your input. Re that, at one point I spoke with a gentleman at Wolff Springs. The idea you came up with didn't seem to work out, though I could try again.

As for the import status of the Model 30, when they were available, Interarms had imported them at least mine is so marked. Looking at the serial number, above 1,800,000, assuming that represents the number of Model 30's made, seems like quite a few in not all that long a time.

You are likely correct re replacement as a unit, guide rod assembly with "captive" spring would be a snap to install, though the assembly does come apart and goes back together fairly easily, assuming that one has either spring pliers or three hands. I have neither.

As to spring life, I've run several thousand rounds of lead bullet handloads through the piece with present spring. I've noticed some peening of recoil abutments in the frame, which could be caused by weakened recoil spring or possibly "soft steel", which Spanish made pistols supposedly were troubled with at one time. I do not believe the loads I shoot are excessive, 122 grain hard cast bullets at 1050-1100 ft/sec, IPSC Minor Caliber Spec. Recoil buffers, ala Shock Bufs seem unavailable.

RayP:

Thank you for the information.

[Jim K]

Hi, Alan,

Mine is 187775x. I doubt they made that many, even though some went to the police and Civil Guard. I suspect they started at 1800000, so the first two digits represent the model, a pretty common practice in Europe.

Frame peening where the slide stops is common on most autos of that type (including the 1911, though most of the peening is on the guide rod) and rarely is enough to cause a problem. The barrel stops on the slide stop pin, so it doesn't peen the frame.

I am interested in your saying the guide rod/spring assembly comes apart. It does not on mine. The guide rod is heavily peened over to retain the washer and spring; it was obviously never intended to be disassembled. I have seen similar arrangements with a "U" washer, which could be disassembled, but that is not the way mine is.

Jim

[alan]

Jim Keenan writes:

Hi, Alan,

Mine is 187775x. I doubt they made that many, even though some went to the police and Civil Guard. I suspect they started at 1800000, so the first two digits represent the model, a pretty common practice in Europe.

Frame peening where the slide stops is common on most autos of that type (including the 1911, though most of the peening is on the guide rod) and rarely is enough to cause a problem. The barrel stops on the slide stop pin, so it doesn't peen the frame.

I am interested in your saying the guide rod/spring assembly comes apart. It does not on mine. The guide rod is heavily peened over to retain the washer and spring; it was obviously never intended to be disassembled. I have seen similar arrangements with a "U" washer, which could be disassembled, but that is not the way mine is.

---------------------

Peening I mentioned appears in three places. One is at bottom of frame, the other two are vertical abutments on each side of frame. Peening appears caused by an "underlug" on the slide striking these surfaces during cycling. Looks as if a recoil buffer would help here, if any were available. There do not seem to be any though.

As to the captive recoil spring ass'y., I have several, all but one comes apart. The rod coupling, bit that is flattened and drilled or punched for slide stop unscrews from guide rod, after removal of a small locking pin. Using spring pliers or the "third hand" that all gun nuts should have, pull the spring away from the coupling end. You will then see a "u" shaped notch in the rod. The locking pin is located there, going though a small hole in the rod coupling. Push this pin out, a paper clip will do, and carefully unscrew the coupling. Your pistol might be either earlier or later manufacture than mine, ergo the difference in a component. I have an exploded view/parts list that I could copy and mail you if you like. Send postal address.

I've used mine in IPSC competition, while heavy, 40 ounces empty, it handles well, good sights and nice trigger action, at least in mine. Shoots straighter than I can hold too. To bad Star folded.

[Ray P]

I have had a 30M, specifically the 30MI; marked with an I for an Indian Army contract. They are excellent pistols. I didn't notice any peening on mine that seemed any worse than on my 1911a1 in similar locations.

[alan]

RayP:

Are you using a "shock buf" on your 1911? Use thereof could be a factor, though other factors could be there too. Possibly I'm making more of what might be slight peening than it's worth. Possibly, that "black cloud" still follows me.

I've always thought that the Model 30 was a quite good pistol, to bad that Star folded.

[Jim K]

Hi, Alan,

Well, I'll be darned! We live and learn. I would have sworn that the spring and guide rod was a permanent assembly. I still can't help in finding a replacement spring, but thanks a lot for the lesson.

Maybe in return, a tip on spring capture. I just pulled the spring down and used a pair of lock pliers to hold it while I drove out the pin. I made copper pads for the jaws because I use them a lot for stuff like that.


Jim

[alan]

Jim:

When I mentioned the use of spring pliers, which I do not have, and that "third hand", which I seem to have lost track of somewhere, I should have added a little imagination. Thank you for having provided that.

If you want a copy of the exploded view/parts list I mentioned, let me know.

[Ray P]

Are you using a "shock buf" on your 1911? Use thereof could be a factor, though other factors could be there too. Possibly I'm making more of what might be slight peening than it's worth. Possibly, that "black cloud" still follows me.

I've always thought that the Model 30 was a quite good pistol, to bad that Star folded.

Agreed! No, I don't use them in my 1911a1. Must admit; I didn't like all the aluminum flaking I got from my Star PD frame before I changed out the recoil buffer. The only two things I wasn't too sure about on the 30MI was the plastic insert for the barrel bushing, and "chatter" marks on the inside of the frame above the barrel.

Like you, I wish they hadn't gone out of business. Ultimately, I traded my Star 30MI for a S&W 639 just because factory parts and service support are still available. (But I HAVE kept my Star M43 as a carry gun).

[Ray P]

Alan - did you try a PM to Star?

[alan]

RayP writes:

Agreed! No, I don't use them in my 1911a1. Must admit; I didn't like all the aluminum flaking I got from my Star PD frame before I changed out the recoil buffer. The only two things I wasn't too sure about on the 30MI was the plastic insert for the barrel bushing, and "chatter" marks on the inside of the frame above the barrel.

---------------
I'm not familiar with the Star PD, other than to ave heard it was not suitable for "hot" ammunition. Commercial or military ball was supposed to be o.k., but nothing more than that. As to the "plastic insert" in the Model 30, that is new to me, there never was one in my Model 30 and I cannot say that I ever noticed "chatter marks".

Also, I did contact Star and Iparguns. Waiting a reply right now.

[Ray P]

There was some sort of plastic washer or bushing at the front of the slide on my 30MI. The chatter marks were in the top forward interior of the slide; not the frame as I stated earlier. But even with that said, it was a very accurate and effective pistol.

[unreconstructed1]

sorry to have ressurected such an old thread ya'll, but as there was no reply confirming or denying, I was just wondering if anyone ever found a U.S. source for Star M30 parts.

i tried contacting the Spanich company, but after losing my job and the crumbling dollar, the cost of parts+ shipping has made teh project unadvisable, at least if i can find them somewhere in teh U.S.

[alan]

Ray P wrote:

Alan - did you try a PM to Star?

I did, as I recall, no reply though.

All:

Re recoil springs for this particular item Star Model 30M, found that a fellow shooter, a machine designer by trade was able to have springs made via where he works, a manufacturing outfit that among other things, does spring winding in house.

Interested parties might check amongst their acquaintances.

Thanks to all for suggestions, advise and input.

Unreconstructed:

At one time, the following people had recoil springs for Model 30's. The price was right too. Last time I ordered anything from them, a while back, they were no longer selling individual springs. They were selling recoil assembles, spring and captive guide rod assembly. As I recall, the price was $15. There was also a gunsmith in Arlington, VA, Mike's was the name, he used to be with Interarms, and I had gotten some parts from him. Recoil springs were no more, last I had heard.

Lee's
3401 W. Pioneer Drive, Suite 2
Irving, Texas 75601
972-790-0773

[Moonclip]

There is a Spanish gun forum on www.gunboards.com that I think the member STAR posts on.