Star BM barrel link issues

[JackofallTrades]

This is my first post so I'm hoping I'm in the right area here. Bought a star BM about 3 years ago and it has been totally reliable, fmj, hollow points, handloads, it eats it all. A few months ago though, the barrel link broke. Did some research and that seemed to be a regular issue. I got the new manufacture EGW barrel link made from stronger steel since they seem to break links often. Installed it, it seemed to fit right, and went back out to the range this weekend. Put through 50 rounds and I go to take it apart to make sure everything is working properly when I get home and the slide stop won't come out for dissambly. I nudge it out with a nylon hammer and it turns out the slide stop bar has bent right where the barrel link contacts it. Due to the fact that it is the first time I've had it out with the new part I can't help but suspect it's the cause. My other theory is an old, weak recoil spring that is allowing high slide velocity, which first broke the barrel link and now that I have a reinforced link that won't break it battered the slide stop pin. I'm curious if you guys have any experience with this happening on your guns and whether you might know if it's one of my 2 theories or possibly something else. Thanks for any help and sorry for the long post

 

[tark]

I assume you bought the gun used. If so, always replace springs as a matter of course. Wolff makes em' and they are cheap. your spring theory sounds valid.

And welcome to the monkey house!!!

 

[12Bravo20]

While the Star pistols are not a true 1911 type pistol, you still sometimes have use different links or have yours fitted to the pistol. Yes old weak springs will cause issues. The recommended interval to change springs is 3-5 thousand rounds. IF you still have problems after replacing springs, have the barrel link looked at and either swapped out or fitted to your gun.

 

[GeoDudeFlorida]

The

This is my first post so I'm hoping I'm in the right area here. Bought a star BM about 3 years ago and it has been totally reliable, fmj, hollow points, handloads, it eats it all. A few months ago though, the barrel link broke. Did some research and that seemed to be a regular issue. I got the new manufacture EGW barrel link made from stronger steel since they seem to break links often. Installed it, it seemed to fit right, and went back out to the range this weekend. Put through 50 rounds and I go to take it apart to make sure everything is working properly when I get home and the slide stop won't come out for dissambly. I nudge it out with a nylon hammer and it turns out the slide stop bar has bent right where the barrel link contacts it. Due to the fact that it is the first time I've had it out with the new part I can't help but suspect it's the cause. My other theory is an old, weak recoil spring that is allowing high slide velocity, which first broke the barrel link and now that I have a reinforced link that won't break it battered the slide stop pin. I'm curious if you guys have any experience with this happening on your guns and whether you might know if it's one of my 2 theories or possibly something else. Thanks for any help and sorry for the long post

The Star BM is not a 1911. Unlike the 1911, the barrel recoil stops never reach the recoil shield brace in the frame.


It's a design flaw. This guy has a pretty good video on how to correct that.


Use hardened steel for this mod.

 

[GBExpat]

... It's a design flaw. This guy has a pretty good video on how to correct that.

Thanks for providing this, GeoDudeFlorida (Good Post)! This is the first that I have heard of this issue ... time for me to closely check my 4 Star BMs.

A side note ...

Like most YouTube HowTo videos, I found this one to be painnnnnnnnnnnful to watch. 3 minutes of information in a 16½ minute video. JEEEEEEZ!

The Good News (in addition to the fact that now I have an idea of how thick to craft the shim) is the guy had clean hands that sported trimmed & clean fingernails. WHOA! I don't think that I have ever seen that before.

 

[GBExpat]

OOPS! Forgot to extend a handshake ... sorry ...

Welcome to THR, JackofallTrades!

 

[lewolf]

I think your theory about the weak recoil spring causing high slide velocity during recoil is the correct theory. I don't think your issues are symptoms of a design flaw in the Star BM.

 

[JackofallTrades]

I think your theory about the weak recoil spring causing high slide velocity during recoil is the correct theory. I don't think your issues are symptoms of a design flaw in the Star BM.

I think I'm gonna go with both. The weak recoil spring has exposed the weakness in the design. I'm buying a new slide stop but I'm also going to replace the recoil spring and add a shim, because if my theory is wrong I don't want to destroy yet another slide stop.

 

[JackofallTrades]

So I know it's been a while but I finally had enough other parts I needed to make the order worth the shipping. I wanted to give an update for anyone else who ever has a similar issue because I ran into a staggering lack of information for such a relatively common gun. 1. I have decided against the shim because puting a piece of unsecured metal into the action of the gun just doesn't seem like the right move to me. 2. I am replacing the recoil spring with a standard weight 12 lb Wolff spring and also got a replacement slide release from sarco. The thing I really wanted to mention on here is replacing the recoil spring. I found 0 solid info from anyone who had actually replaced it and lots of false info from guys saying it couldn't be replaced so I wanted to say definitively that it can and it's easy. All you do is thread the guide rod out of the U shaped piece on the end. I used 2 pairs of channel locks padded with thick vinyl to grip it. The best way to do it is to push the spring away from the threaded cap and hold the guide rod there so as to keep the spring pressure off the cap and it's threads as you remove it. New spring is on and gun appears to function correctly but we won't know for sure until the range this weekend. Hopefully I can scrounge together 100 rounds to test fire.

 

[H&R Glock]

I shimmed all of my 4 BM's. I used rubber cement to glue the shim to the frame. The frame was de-greased/de-oiled before installation. Shims are still there after firing lots of rounds. If the shim ever comes loose, I will notice it while cleaning the gun. The shim is so small that coming loose is not a worry.

 

[JackofallTrades]

So I know it's been a while but I finally had enough other parts I needed to make the order worth the shipping. I wanted to give an update for anyone else who ever has a similar issue because I ran into a staggering lack of information for such a relatively common gun. 1. I have decided against the shim because puting a piece of unsecured metal into the action of the gun just doesn't seem like the right move to me. 2. I am replacing the recoil spring with a standard weight 12 lb Wolff spring and also got a replacement slide release from sarco. The thing I really wanted to mention on here is replacing the recoil spring. I found 0 solid info from anyone who had actually replaced it and lots of false info from guys saying it couldn't be replaced so I wanted to say definitively that it can and it's easy. All you do is thread the guide rod out of the U shaped piece on the end. I used 2 pairs of channel locks padded with thick vinyl to grip it. The best way to do it is to push the spring away from the threaded cap and hold the guide rod there so as to keep the spring pressure off the cap and it's threads as you remove it. New spring is on and gun appears to function correctly but we won't know for sure until the range this weekend. Hopefully I can scrounge together 100 rounds to test fire.

I guess I forgot to ever follow up but wanted to give this story an ending for anyone coming through looking for info, so sorry for reviving a dead thread. I have 500 rounds through it with no issues, new slide release is holding strong. So if you want to go the shim route feel free but just know that regularly replacing the 5 dollar recoil spring, a bit more often than other guns, will yield good results.

 

[Nature Boy]

I picked up my first Star BM a while back and really like it (for the same reasons most others do).

Your post has me ordering a new recoil spring and barrel link, just in case. Thanks.

(Can’t have a thread without pics)

 

[GeoDudeFlorida]

I sold my shimmed BM last month for $350. It was a nice little gun but the money went to a good cause. Bills.

 

[JackofallTrades]

I picked up my first Star BM a while back and really like it (for the same reasons most others do).

Your post has me ordering a new recoil spring and barrel link, just in case. Thanks.

(Can’t have a thread without pics)

View attachment 1108420

I agree. I think it is my favorite gun to shoot of any I own.

 

[shoobe01]

Star classic series pistols are not 1911 clones /at all/. There are zero interchangeable parts as they evolved to have some styling cues that are a bit Colt Model O but evolved there, did not start trying to be knockoffs or clones.

Parts are getting harder to find since the company has been out of business for decades, but here's a list of places to start:
http://star-firearms.com/info/parts.shtml

Agree 1000% always replace springs, especially recoil spring, especially as barrel length drops. I'd consider an elastomeric buffer. Wilson ones aren't too hard to cut down with an X-Acto, and will remain located with the recoil spring hole, but will not fit unmodified.


In all machines, be careful changing out parts for stronger ones. Strengthening things can cause things that aren't supposed to break, to break.

I have not heard of this being a common issue (i.e. no one has ever bugged me about it, at all). I see some discussing it now I google this, but still odd. I thought unlike 1911s with their variations you didn't need to fit shims as they just work in the rare cases they break so... following with interest.

 

[9mmepiphany]

I guess I forgot to ever follow up but wanted to give this story an ending for anyone coming through looking for info, so sorry for reviving a dead thread. I have 500 rounds through it with no issues, new slide release is holding strong. So if you want to go the shim route feel free but just know that regularly replacing the 5 dollar recoil spring, a bit more often than other guns, will yield good results.

Thank you for offering closure to this thread