Opinion on Star 9MM

[texaspetron]

Please give me your opinion on a Star 9mm semi-auto.

Thank you

Texaspetron

 

[Hacker15E]

Which one?

The Star BM 9mm is a great little pistol -- there are several threads on them on this forum.

Generally well thought of, inexpensive, tough to find parts for other than the internet, occasionally [falsely] accused of being made of 'soft' Spanish steel.

 

[Bush Pilot]

Is there a source for mags for the Star BM 9mm?

 

[Confederate]

I've owned several Star BM 9mm pistols and have a high regard for them. With a 1911 design, the pistols are generally reliable and well made, but parts are increasingly difficult to find and reliability is about the same as any good 1911 (which tends to be not quite as reliable as newer designs). All in all, they tend to be overpriced based on the prices I've seen of late, but if you have one in hand, it's a decent pistol. Some won't fire hollow-points reliably, but if the feed ramp is polished and opened up a bit, it should do fine.

If they were still being made, or if the parts (like springs) were readily available, I'd love to have another. Autos can be pains in that some of them can be difficult to maintain. Some people change all the springs after every 5,000 rounds, and some replace extractors and extractor springs. That's why I prefer current production models. Decent revolvers have production runs that go for years, yet many autos don't. I wouldn't pay more than $275 for a like-new Model BM.

See: A Critical Look at the Star BM



.

 

[Hacker15E]

Have prices on BMs really gone up that much? I bought two of 'em 4 years ago for $150 each at Military Gun Supply in Ft Worth.

 

[Otony]

I find it amazing that folks get so revved up about the Springfield EMP when the Star BM has been around for the last 30 years.

Granted, the EMP is in current production, with available parts, and likely made from far better materials. Still, the reviews make it out to be so incredibly innovative and it really isn't all too terribly different than a BM.

Like new BMs are running just over 300 bucks. What are used EMPs going for?

 

[Full Metal Jacket]

you think Star BM's are the same quality as the EMP's??

 

[woad_yurt]

Take a mag and the gun to a shop that has mags. Match one up. I have a Star MOD 30MI and S&W 5900 series mags work just fine. I had to remove the mag safety, though. Maybe Star didn't invent a whole new mag for your pistol either.

About Star's quality: Star made some very good stuff. They'll compare favorably to any other maker's offerings, for sure.

 

[GBExpat]

I own 4 Star BMs and really like them. I have found them to be accurate & reliable ... and a bit heavy.

 

[The Lone Haranguer]

I always thought the compact pistols sold in the 1990s called "Firestar" were neat little guns. They were made in 9mm, .40 S&W and even .45 ACP. But I never got a chance to try one out.

 

[Nasty]

I still miss the compact BKS Starlite in 9m/m I carried back in 1971 when first drafted. I could carry it anywhere...and did.

 

[HisSoldier]

and likely made from far better materials.

Huh? The EMP has an alloy frame, therefor the Star has better material in my opinion.

 

[Shawn Dodson]

I have an S/A Star 9mm M43 Firestar. One of the first ultra-compact 9mms. Reliable and accurate. All steel construction. It was nicknamed "the brick." I CCW'd mine for several years.

 

[Full Metal Jacket]

Huh? The EMP has an alloy frame, therefor the Star has better material in my opinion.

 

[Mike J]

I had a Star back in the '90s it was a good gun. I traded it for a bow because I was strung out on deer hunting then though.

 

[Mad Magyar]

Is there a source for mags for the Star BM 9mm?

Yes, check the large ads in the Shotgun News....Several outlets sell the 9mm & Largo mags for STAR.....Having just moved, don't have my latest copy to give you a specific source...

 

[The Bushmaster]

Have we figured out which Star Texaspetron is asking about?

The Lone Haranguer... If you are ever in my area. I have a Firestar of 1992 vintage (M43). You would be more then welcome to try it on my range behind the house.

 

[crstrode]

Very well built rock solid and reliable.

BTW, anyone need a brand new Bianchi holster for a Firestar?

http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=163133285

 

[9mmepiphany]

Huh? The EMP has an alloy frame, therefor the Star has better material in my opinion.

one of the big knocks on the Stars had always been their steel quality...so i wouldn't take the above statement as a given.

a while back Tim LaFrance (LaFrance Specialties) took the BKS (alloy frame) and made it a combat worthy gun like the EMP. he called it the NOVA and it was a lot like a SAO ASP (which was based on the S&W M39). back then, i'm thinking mid-70s, it was priced right around $1k

 

[CoRoMo]

The ones that I've shot were surprisingly accurate and impressively compact. Small, all metal shooters.

 

[JR47]

one of the big knocks on the Stars had always been their steel quality...so i wouldn't take the above statement as a given.

Would someone please find a link to this crappy rumor? During WWI, BEFORE Star was a company, the French placed huge orders with the then existing Basque pistol manufacturers. They were so, large as to overwhelm the companies in short order. These companies then sub-let, contracting various parts to family and friends. Trouble arose with "soft steel" when the various sub-contractors used ANY steel that they could find for the parts. To them, steel was steel. It got so bad that the French put inspectors in the assembly plants. After the War, the French "surplussed" the majority of their Ruby handguns, without, of course, mentioning the problem.

Neither Astra, Star, or Llama have ever had the mythical "soft steel" problem.

I own a Star Super B, in 9x19, made in 1947. It is a dependable, accurate all-steel pistol. I also own a BM. I've had much worse luck finding mags for the Super than for the BM. The BM is a very nice all-steel 9x19 pistol.

 

[aka108]

Sold off all of my 9mm incl a nice luger. My Starfire (30M) is the only one I'm keeping. Reasons are that it was the most accurate of any and 100% reliable and would handle any type round fed to it. It is heavy, not very pretty or highly finished. It just works.

 

[9mmepiphany]

Would someone please find a link to this crappy rumor?

Jeff Cooper, Cooper on Handguns: "the Stars are known to have had a problem with sub-standard steel"
George Nonte, Combat Handguns: "...some issues with softer steel"

 

[Fleetman]

I own three Star's. Model B 9mm, Firestar .45, and a 31P .40S&W.

All have been extremely reliable but the .40 and .45 are heavy. The Firestar would make an excellent club if you happened to run dry!

 

[PT1911]

I have a Star PD that I am extremely pleased with. Unfortunately, I passed on a BM in a local shop a couple of times... hopefully it will find its way back and I will be able to remedy that mistake.