Quality of Star PD .45?

[vanfunk]

Hello Folks,
I have an opportunity to buy a Star PD .45ACP in LNIB condition for $275. I'm thinking about buying it to have a lightweight, totable .45 for woods-walking with my chocolate lab puppy. I understand that these are not the best guns for putting a few hundred rounds downrange each weekend, but I do shoot my carry guns and thus do not want something with poor "shootability". How are these for overall quality and accuracy?
I know they use some sort of recoil buffer - are these readily available?
Thanks!
vanfunk

 

[N.M. Edmands]

Star PD

I have one on my hip as I type. Excellent pistol, the original liteweight " Officers" size 45.It eats anything I feed it ,and accuracy is good.I bought it used with an unknown # of rounds thru it, but the "buffer" was broken when I got it. The buffer is part of the recoil assembly. They are available from Jack First Co. for $14 ea.
[ I bought spares ] Get a spring kit from Wollf and a 16# recoil spring. [ factory was 12#] Use only standard pressure loads and you'll be very happy. I carry 230gr loads, but use moderately loaded 200gr lead or plated semi-waddcutters for practice and play. Good price/go for it. [I put 50 to 100 rds thru it a month]

 

[vanfunk]

Thanks for your reply Mr. Edmands!
I think I may buy the pistol this afternoon, after giving it a thorough going over in the shop. I'm intimately familiar with 1911's, but not so with the Stars. What areas should I pay atention to when looking the piece over? Any areas of regular peening/cracking, etc?

Sounds like yours is very reliable. I shoot alot of 200 grain SWC's through my .45 ACP pistols and would like to shoot the same through this pistol. Am I to assume that these are likely to be reliable in the Star?

Thanks again,
vanfunk

 

[Bobby Lee]

Unlike some auto pistols the buffer of the Star Pd IS REQUIRED to keep the frame from being battered.

If you shoot without the buffer you will damage the frame.

The buffers last a long time. Just keep an eye on their condition and replace them as they wear.

The Star PD is a fine little gun. I wish they still made them.

 

[N.M. Edmands]

Star PD

Van, Van, Van, Mr. Edmands was my dad, I'm just "hey you". Peening occurs same as 1911, at the spring tunnel/guide rod flange impact surface on the receiver. The difference is on the Star the hard plastic buffer is the guide rod flange head! I have not seen any cracked examples, but "assume" ,slide rails, dust cover, and slide stop pin hole. I got mine cheap [< $200 ] because of the "cracked", but still functional buffer, and the owner thought the machining cut above the slide stop @ the rear was a crack. I informed him it was not but he wouldn't beleive me. My gain.
Nat

 

[Rockstar]

Haven't checked with them lately, but Jack First would sell the buffer without the recoil spring/guide rod assembly for a lot less than $14. Replacing the buffer is easy; there's a screw in the end of the guide rod.

As others have said, the PD is a lightweight, aluminum-framed pistol. I wouldn't buy one for the purpose of putting a lot of rounds downrange, but they are great little carry pieces.

 

[Bobby Lee]

I have seen at least three Star PD pistols ruined from shooting without a buffer.

It will batter the frame at first and crack it if you keep shooting.

With the buffer they will last a long time.

 

[N.M. Edmands]

Star PD

Rockstar; I dug out my receipt cause I'm often wrong , but in July of 04 I bought 3 buffers from JF for $42. Buffers only. Sources for them have dried up and JF has them made for thier operation. Still cheaper than I found on the auction sites. Gun Parts gets some used every now and then. I really feel the recoil spring upgrade extends the life of the buffer, but to much will hammer the slide stop, receiver interface on return to battery. Great gun. P.S. The heavy recoil spring also helps keep ejected cases in the same county .

 

[Pointman]

I think it was Cooper who said the PD should be shot a little and carried a lot because they're rather abusive to the shooter

 

[N.M. Edmands]

200 swc

Vanfunk, sorry I didn't answer this in my other post, but I had to experiment W/ OAL. Ended up with 1.235". As fortune has it, my other 45s like this also

 

[vanfunk]

How is the recoil on these things? I don't find the recoil of my Colt Commander to be abusive, but it is a bigger and heavier pistol than the PD. Again, prolly not the kind of piece I'll be blazing away with at the range, but I'd want to be able to go through 100 rounds in a seesion without having to put my hand on ice.
Thanks,
vanfunk

 

[N.M. Edmands]

Recoil

Recoil tolerance is a personal thing, but with all due respect to Col Cooper, mine is fine for me.[ 200+ lbs, 6', meaty hands] Had Pachmyer grips when I got it. Removed the backstrap and cut off the frontstrap leaving just the side panels. Later got a set of factory wood scales,and thats how i've kept it. Works for me.
Used it in an IDPA match, W/ a follow up steel match with no complaints. 125rds approx.[ don't ask how i placed not important
HTH

 

[vanfunk]

Thanks again. If its mechanical health is as good as its outward appearance suggests, then I'm going to buy it today.

vanfunk

 

[Drakejake]

I have had two Star PD's, still have one. Both of them have had failures of the mag latch. The mag pops out with every shot. On the Star I retained, I have rigged up a system to keep the mag in. The Star in my possession has an extremely good trigger. The one I sold was not so good. Recoil is strong, as you might expect from shooting .45 from such a small, light platform. This firearm has many fans, but it can have problems.

Drakejake

 

[N.M. Edmands]

Drakejake, I had similar problems with mine. I cured it with a stronger mag catch spring and judicious use of a file and a scraper to enlarge the shelf contact with the mag notch. If you remove the catch and present it to the mag, you will be able to see where it needs to be releived. Take a look/ worth a shot

 

[FireStar_M40]

Info On Star Pistols..

Hope these links help you with your decision..

http://www.hipowersandhandguns.com/StarPistols.htm

and

http://www.donttouchme.com/star/

FireStar_M40

 

[Rockstar]

N.M., thanks for the follow-up. I can't imagine paying $14 for a recoil buffer. I'd think they'd be pretty easy to fabricate. I thought you'd paid $14 for a new recoil assembly, which included the buffer.

 

[Drakejake]

Mr. Edmands,

I tried replacing the mag latch spring but this did not work. There is a limit on how strong a spring can be put into that small hole. I have not tried any filing and will look into that option.

Thanks,

Drakejake

 

[ftierson]

Like N.M. Edmands, I have one on my hip as I type too.

They are great guns. Mine is the earlier type with the full, adjustable rear sight. I bought it in 1986 and immediately sent it in to Metalife Industries to have it Metalifed (hard chromed). I had the frame left black.

I have carried it consistently since then, and it's still in great shape. I try to limit the number of rounds that I put through it each year to prolong it's life. I believe that Star recommended that the buffer be replaced about every 700 rounds, but they did not bother to mention that in the factory operator's manual that came with the gun. I bought a bunch of buffers directly from Interarms to keep the gun going...

I also put a set of Pachmayr Signature grips on mine many years ago. I also was able to pick up another couple of sets of the Sig. grips, NIB, at a gunshow for $15 for the two sets (since there is almost no demand for that stuff anymore). Given that the original Pachmayr Signature grips are still perfect, I'll probably never need the new ones.

I carry Glaser Blues in the gun, with a reload using the old Speer 200gr JHP (flying ashtray) in the backup mag. The reload duplicates the old Lawman 200gr JHP factory load that is no longer available.

I have had no mag latch problem (knock, knock, knock on wood).

I have a couple of friends who also carry Star PDs...

It's a great gun. If you can pick up a LNIB one for $275, grab it. If you decide not to pick it up, let me know where it's for sale .

Have fun with it.

Forrest

 

[vanfunk]

Well, I went ahead and bought the little pistol for $200 (good customer discount). It shows more carry wear than I thought, mostly on the dustcover of the frame. The slide has a few little scratches, but 'tis nothing I wouldn't have put on there myself in a couple of outings. Mechanically, it appears to be new. It wears a set of Pachmayr signature grips, which make it feel more substantial in the hand than its outward appearance would suggest. The grips are a bit "meaty" though, and I may try to find some of the original checkered wood grips to slim it down some. I've been carrying it unloaded "mexican" style in my jeans around the house today, and it's really not any harder to wear than an S&W model 60. Controls are positive, slide locks back every time on an empty mag, sight picture is the same as a 1911 government model (sights are adjustable, but look rugged). I really love the way I can drop it loose into the side pocket of my barn coat when I'm out in the woods - I know it'll be very reassuring to have 7 230 grain .45 slugs at my disposal should I encounter any wild dogs or coyotes (or murderous ne'er-do-wells). What's not to like? Not much. Recoil with CCI Blazer 230's is stout but not unmanageable by any means. I'm hooked, and consider it to be quite a bargain at 200 clams. I already ordered some replacement recoil and magazine springs from Wolff. Now to consider a source for replacement buffers...

Here's a big thumbs up for the "big" little Star!

vanfunk

 

[ftierson]

Good decision...

I agree that the Signature grips fill the hand. But then, I have pretty big hands and they feel great to me. I also think that they look better on the gun than the original thin checkered wood grips, but that's a personal preference call. The original wood grips work fine, and they do make the gun feel appreciably smaller in the hand.

Enjoy the PD.

Forrest