star 9mm?

[billsnogo]

I just visited a local gun shop and they had a star 9mm, never fired, but handled plenty, very nice chrome, two mags, pearl grips, and box and paperwork for $300.

I have never heard of them, are they any good? Any problems with jams, misfires, ect?

it looks like this one:
http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.asp?Item=32770197

thanks as always

 

[Mayo]

1. Great gun for the money
2. No more than $200 IMO but $150-175 is more common

 

[patentnonsense]

Stars are generally quite good quality - close to Beretta and Browning. There are some milsurp Stars around now which are dirt cheap - 125 or so - but they aren't much to look at.

The ad you referenced says it's an "SA," but there is no SA model - that's just from people misreading the company name. (Star S.A. is Spanish for Star Inc.)

The model is usually on the bottom of the butt, next to the mag well. Once you figure out which model you're looking at, you can get a pretty accurate comparison from gunsamerica or gunbroker. Stars are usually pretty cheap, just because not many people know about them. (Bill Clinton killed them off.)

 

[Tecolote]

A while back I had a chance to fire a Star 30M. The trigger was smooth and deliberate. I remember that it was reliable and accurate. I wouldn't hesitate to buy one if I found a good deal on it.

 

[tracer]

Was it a BM or Firestar M43? If the BM,I would be interested.
tracer

 

[billsnogo]

I believe it to be a B, but not 100% sure until I look again.

 

[Walt Sherrill]

If its a B, it should not be CHROMED -- if it is, something has been done to it, and its NOT nearly new, etc. Shouldn't be nickel-plated, either. If its a B, its about $100 too much, and then some. Fairly nice guns, but very old. Parts should NOT be a problem.

Stephen Camp, who participates here, has a nice Star B, if I remember correctly. Loosely patterened after the Model 1911. His was a great shooter, and he has posted evaulations, somewhere.

Newer models, like the Star Firestar (or alloy-framed Firestar Plus), will often sell in that price range, and are great guns -- but some parts (like extractors) are almost impossible to find (especially for the .40 models).

Newer models were often available in Electroless Nickel finish, which may be what you saw.

There are a bunch of great S&W semi-autos available in that same price range, and I'd go THERE, first.

 

[Bobby Lee]

You can buy all the Star BM pistols you want now on the surplus market from $130 to $150.

They are one of the best deals on a handgun you can find for the money.