Did I Do Well? (Firestar)

[seeker_two]

Yesterday at one of my favorite gun shops, (Praco Gun & Pawn, Waco TX) I ran across a M43 Firestar single-stack 9mm. Finish was 80%, but it was mechanically sound. Best of all, they were asking only $169 for it (and I talked them down to $155!… )

Only bad thing about it was that they only had one mag (the one w/ the gun) for it. Anyone know where I can find more? Also, it didn’t have an owners manual w/ it (just the Interarms & Star safety manuals—some which have hilarious illustrations). Where on the Internet or snail mail can I find how to field strip this model?

Many thanks in advance…

 

[..]

did you try cdnn investments out of abilene tx?

price sounds good, i remember when my brother bought his he paid around $300. i think they had just come out or gained slight popularity.

 

[Marko Kloos]

The Firestar is an awesome little gun...cocked & locked single-stack carry in a reliable package smaller than an Officer's model 1911. Congrats on a good buy.

To field-strip a Firestar, remove the magazine and check the chamber. Then push the slide back a little so the little vertical marks at the rear left side of the slide and frame line up with each other. Then push the slide stop lever out of the gun from right to left and pull it out...use the bottom of a magazine to assist if the lever is a little tight in the frame. Once the slide stop is out, you can pull the slide and barrel forward and off the frame. Take the recoil spring and guide rod out from underneath the barrel, and you're done. Reassembly goes in reverse order.

Ammoclip.com has spare magazines for the Firestar in stock:

http://www.ammoclip.com/F/firestar_9mm.htm

 

[railroader]

Watch ebay for mags. They come up now and then for decent prices. Also if you have the grips off the safety will turn down past where the top of grip was for stripping the gun. There is a TINY spring and detent pin that will go flying. I did this and spent an hour crawling around on my floor. Mark

 

[QuarterBoreGunner]

I had one of these when they first came out- loved it; well made and more accurate than it should be. My only complaint was that being all steel it was a bit heavy for carrying.

Still wish I had it though.

 

[WESHOOT2]

VAGUE MEMORY

Of 100+ yd plinking with a friend's off my back deck.......

Heavy, but nice. Good gun.

 

[10-Ring]

Seems like a good price The Firestars seem like well made & sturdy handguns.

 

[Tamara]

They didn't really sell well only because they hit the market before the "shall-issue" CCW wave peaked and right smack in the middle of the early '90s fascination with giant, 200-shot double-action Wondernines.

If Star could've held on long enough for these things to have been marketed post-'94, I believe they'd have sold rather well. They're good little guns.

 

[firestar]

seeker_two,
It looks like everyone has covered your questions already. I think these guns are a steal for anything less then $300. The are all steel and made better than most guns costing much more. There are no corners cut on quality and the accuracy may surprise you.

Mine has been extremly accurate. I shot a 2" 5 shot group at 25 yards off hand with mine with four of the 5 grouping under an 1"! It is actually the most accurate semi auto centerfire pistol that I currently own. If I gave it a trigger job and some target sights, it might do quite well for bullseye.

It looks like CDNN is the best bet for mags. I need some also, I want the nickel with the finger extension. If I find some at a great price, I'll let you know.

 

[D.W. Drang]

LSW's M40 (.40 S&W) Firestar came with one mag, we've gotten her 3 7 and 3 6 round FACTORY mags off of eBay for good prices. The most expensive were two of the 7 rounders w/finger extensions $31 each, which is probably $20 less than you will find them at CDNN or Numrich--IF they have them!
Pro-Mag makes after market mags for them, which I believe you can get from Numrich-I mean "Gun Parts Corpration" --and from CDNN.

 

[Shawn Dodson]

I got my M43 as a Father's day gift in 1992.

Excellent, accurate little gun. Just don't dryfire it. Early models had brittle firing pins, and were the subject of a recall by Star. Mine broke. Star sent me a replacement. I also bought a spare.

Meprolight used to market tritium night sights for them. I have a set installed on mine. Nearly 10 years old and they're still glowing bright.

Best wishes for good luck with your new Firestar.