Star BM 9mm opinions?

[megatronrules]

Whats your take on these guns as far as quality goes and such? Also how well will they feed JHP ammo? I've had limited experiance with star pistols but its been all good,were the BM 9mm's good guns for those who have one how do you like it? It would seem for the $200 they run that isn't bad for an steel 9mm compact pistol. So whats your verdict on these I might just get one depending on the input you guys give. Lastly it very much like my beloved 1911's

 

[Rogerwilco]

This link should help.
Star BM

 

[wally]

Generally very good guns for the money. Can get them for about $150-170 at gun shows -- which is worthwhile because they are surplus guns condition varies.

I've two, both are good shooters. Mine fed JHP although two of the four mags needed stronger springs to get the nose up enough to feed with 147gr JHP, 124gr seemed fine. I mostly shoot cheap ball ammo in mine, Wolf and CCI Blazer.

--wally.

 

[Mulliga]

I have one. I took out the mag safety. It eats nearly all hardball, and feeds the Remington bulk pack hollowpoints well. I'd like it more if it didn't bite my hand so much.

 

[wardog]

I really like mine. Just something about an all steel single stack 9. The finish on mine wasn't too good, so I had it reblued for $65 in a matte finish and it looks like new.

 

[kimbernut]

Star BM

Seems to be very well made. The one I have has one design "flaw"in my opinion(well two flaws if you count the magazine safety which is easy to remove). When the hammer is down the firing pin is protruding thru the breech face.Something to keep in mind at all times if yours is of this design. From what I understand there are two designs-this one and the standard inertial firing pin design. Is there an easy conversion to the inertial firing pin system?

 

[MAURICE]

Good gun.
I took the magazine safety out of a friends (on his request) and that made a lot of difference. Mags now drop free and you dont have to have a mag in to fire the weapon. If the firing pin sticking out of the breechface worries you, then I would just keep it cocked with the saftey on, or keep the chamber empty.
As kimbernut said, removing the magazine safety is a piece of cake. Took me all of a minute to get it out.Cheap ammo, ten round capacity, two mags. Lot of fun at the range.
Here they go for about 160 bucks.

 

[jacketch]

Most, including mine, have very nice triggers. Mine as quite accurate and has been very reliable.

 

[albanian]

I have three Star BMs, a Star B, a Star Firestar M43 9mm, and a Star BKM (alloy frame Star BM).

Accuracy ranges form above average to match grade! Triggers range from good to great. Quality is excellent on all of them. Reliability on all but the 1945 era Star B and one model BM has been 100%. I had a few jams in one of my BMs, I think it is an extractor issue. The "B" was old and after getting a new mag, it ended up being very reliable, I am not sure if I had a jam with the new mag.

The downsides to the Star Bm is, the can bite your hand. They are heavy for a 9mm. The are Single action only. There are not alot of replacement parts for them, there are parts if your need them however. Some have extractor issues. I don't think they were designed for JHPs but most seem to feed them fine. I have been told that you should not feed them a stead diet of +P ammo due to softer then modern steels used in them. Firing pins can break in them if you dry fire. Most likely, your sights will be out of whack. Most of the ones I have seen have the rear sight drifted in the slot past center. When moved back to center, they seem to be on target. I don't know if they were just bumped or intentionally drifted.

They are not exact copies of the 1911 but they do give you the feel of a slim 1911. They are about 7/8th scale and seem to fit most people well. IMHO, they are the best deal on a used handgun right now. They sell for $129 at places like AIM and can be had for less than $200 almost everywhere. If someone is selling one for much more than $200, they are taking advantage of you. For the price, you can not beat them! They are now in the same price range as the Mak. There really is no comparison between the two. The Mak is awkward and clunky with terrible ergos and fires a weird 9x18 cal they costs more then 9mm yet is far less powerful. The 9mm is not a powerhouse but in the right load, it is a good defense round, the Mak is not much more than a .380acp.

 

[GaryK]

I have a Star BM and like it a lot. I think that they are well worth the $160.00 or so that they are going far. They are a good gun to carry in your vehicle since they are so inexpensive and are chambered for a reasonably powerful cartridge.

 

[Sam]

I have been playing around with mine for a few months now. I like it a lot.
Started carrying it regularly about a month ago. Decided to do a decent carry pistol based on it. The frame has been electroless nickeled, along with 5 magazines, very mild carry bevel, slide lightly blasted and parkerized black. Trigger cleaned, up all internal parts debured and polished as required, very slight feed ramp re-contour, new grips of Ziricote, all controls parked black. I'll be testing it out tomorrow after the finish on the grips dries.
I'll take it to our get together in Socorro on Saturday, let everybody try it out and they can write it up.

Will post pix when I figure out how to make the camera work.

Sam

 

[ruger270man]

sam, post pics stat!!!

 

[SapperLeader]

Sam, sounds like a nice star, would love to see pictures of it

 

[dogngun]

Star made very high quality handguns, and the BM you see for sale is a great carry pistol. FYI, my 1983 Gun Digest has the civilian version (nice blue, walnut grips) listed at $340. (The Colt Commander was selling for $399.95)

They are worth the money .

Mark

 

[WhoKnowsWho]

I might end up picking one up next week if the show has a good price. I like the looks, and it seems to be a good deal.

 

[Erich]

I got to shoot Sam's at the Socorro get-together: Very nice gun! One of those that, like the S&W 39-series, is just a pure-dee pleasure to shoot with the caliber. Heavy enough to feel like a gun and to soak up the negligible 9x19 recoil. Nice trigger. Smallish rear sights, but perfectly workable. Nicely accurate. Pretty looking, too - made me want one just like it.

When I ran a gun store for two years ('88-'90) before I went off to study thievery, we used to sell a lot of the BMs as back-ups to cops. Never had one come back.

It was very interesting talking to Sam about the BM at the get-together - he knows a pile about them. If you have any specific questions, he'd probably be the man to ask.

 

[Sam]

I will get some pix posted. I'm not near as good at working this digital camera as I am with a Nicholson mill, but it will happen. Used all of my dry fire time tonight working out the bugs, posing the pistol, getting lights on it and then the battery died. Recharging now, then I get to learn how to post a picture!

Sam

 

[wardog]

Here is a picture of my BM after a matte finish reblue. Wish I had taken a before pic.

 

[Sam]

Here is apic of my BM
Don't get too critical, my photography leaves a lot to be desired.

 

[Erich]

I think the pics are pretty good, Sam. (I'd forgotten about the jeweling you did.) Seriously, we might have to talk about some trades.

 

[kimbernut]

Star Bm

Very sharp looking, Sam! I just shot mine for the first time Saturday- they shoot great-the only snag I ran into was that it only locked back after last cartridge twice out of five magazines. I'm looking forward to dressing it up. Did you rework an existing set of grips there or is that a pair made for it? They look good!Great job!!!

 

[albanian]

Sam, that is the best looking Star BM I have ever seen. I am a bit of a Star fan myself. I have three Star BMs, one Star BKM, one Star Firestar and I had half a dozen other Stars that I ended up selling or tradeing.

I have a factory nickel Star Bm that was made for some branch of the Spanish secret police. It is marked CSP. on the slide. They are great guns that are always fun to shoot.

I have a run of the mill blue Star BM that I might try something like you did. I am not a fan of two tone but I have been thinking of getting it parked or maybe some kind of matte nickel.

 

[Sam]

Glad you all liked it, thank you for the good words.
I did this one for myself in two tone as I have always liked that scheme.
I have done several two tones, 3 all Electroless and about 20 black parkerize.

Made the grips from Ziricote (cordia dodecandra). I have 10 board feet left from a previous project and this was a tag end. CAUTION: although the wood is not "toxic" the sawdust is really nasty. Every place it touched me developed a little blister. Do not get it in your eyes. Took a couple weeks to heal. Once finished it is no trouble at all.

This particular piece had the following work done:
Convert to inertial firing pin
Bevel mag well
De snag
Strip, deburr and polish all internals
Replace all springs
Build up bushing and re-fit
sandblast exterior to a very fine even frost
parkerize slide and controls
Electroless nickel frame
Fit, plate, and number 5 magazines and replace springs.
Make those grips.

I couldn't tell you exactly how accurate it is as I have never grouped it.
If I do my part it will stay on a bowling pin all day at 50 yards. 16" gongs at 100 all day long. Used it for a class last Sunday, fired over 600 rds assorted factory, reload and garbage ammo without a bobble.

Sam

 

[albanian]

Wow! Sam, it is good that you are here. There are a lot of people that are interested in the Star Bm now that it is on the surplus market. I'm sure you will be busy with replies based on how much you know about this gun.

I have some questions for you if you don't mind. Who does your finish on these guns? What custom work would you have done if you had to keep it to a modest level of work and therefor money? Do you know of any after market rear sights that will fit the BM's rear dovetail? Or do you know the size the dovetail so I can find some sights to fit it for myself?

One of the three Star BMs I have is a real shooter. It is so accurate that I would have no problems spending more than I paid for the gun on some custom work. It needs some better sights for sure but I also would like to find some grips and decide on a finish for it as well. It is going to be for target only so CCW is not an issue. It is going to be my sleeper pistol for when I get back into Bulleye. I is the most accurate 9mm I have ever owned, shot or seen in person. I have owned a lot of 9mms because that is my favorite cal but even the best Hi Powers and Berettas I have owned are not as accurate as the Star.

 

[Sam]

Albanian,
I do all the work right here in my shop. Metalwork, park, plate, and wood.
I never really measured the sight dovetails as none of the folks I've done em for wanted adjustables yet. Next one I tear down, I'll measure. I believe it is .305x 60deg. Either way it wouldn't be any trick to fire up the Nicholson and make one fit.
As for what I would do to keep cost down, thats interesting.
Just like 90% of what comes through the door, it didn't really need anything.
It got what I wanted not what it needed.

Sam