Star BM NATO pressure rated?

[Robk13]

Hello all, I'm a little curious about what ammo I can use in my Star BM. I got a case of that MEN 9mm NATO and I got to wondering if it can take the extra pressure of the NATO rounds. I know most say not to use NATO in these old guns but they always use parts availability as their reasoning. I have also seen some star model BMs marked NATO on the slide for the 89 and up models.

With that aside, can these little steel guns hold the pressures and if they can't what parts go first? Should I save the NATO loadings for my newer pistols? I contacted MEN in Germany for their spec sheet on that ammo that I will include in my post, thanks everyone!

 

[rust collector]

I owned a BM for awhile, but sold it before they imported a bunch more. Back 10 years ago parts were becoming rare. Although I am sure NATO spec ammo could be used in them, it would be hard on shooter and gun, because of size/ergos and the metallurgy of the age and origin. I would use the NATO 9mm in a newer and bigger gun.

 

[Robk13]

I owned a BM for awhile, but sold it before they imported a bunch more. Back 10 years ago parts were becoming rare. Although I am sure NATO spec ammo could be used in them, it would be hard on shooter and gun, because of size/ergos and the metallurgy of the age and origin. I would use the NATO 9mm in a newer and bigger gun.

Sound advice thank you for the input, that's something I hadn't considered, I have larger hands and that hammer will probably be more likely to bit me with the NATO loading

 

[Robk13]

Also just to throw something else out there, has anyone ever seen bulging cases due to unsupported Chambers like the star or certain Glocks have with NATO ammo or is it more of a reloading issue?

 

[gunnerh]

I have fired nato and +P ammo in my Star BM. The fired cases looked good on both. The +P hurled cases far and wide. White box ammo works well in my gun,so no reason to push these gun to the limit. Your mileage may vary.

 

[mjsdwash]

Also just to throw something else out there, has anyone ever seen bulging cases due to unsupported Chambers like the star or certain Glocks have with NATO ammo or is it more of a reloading issue?

I used to reload 9+p, past NATO pressure, never saw a bulge in anything. Never seen ANY 9mm bulge though

 

[Robk13]

Thanks for your responses! It's always comforting to know someone else has fired a few NATO rounds in the stars. Though I don't plan to fire any +P loadings, when I have them stocked I'd like to use up some NATO ball in it.

Are some cartridges more prone to bulge than others?

 

[SHOOT1SAM]

CAN it take NATO pressure? Probably. It’s one of my most favorite pistols; I wouldn’t do it. I want to shoot it a long, long time, and High/NATO pressure loads can only lead to accelerated wear & tear.

Sam

 

[Random 8]

You have a relatively modern martial arm from a Nation standardized on the 9x19 NATO cartridge. This is the ammunition it was designed to fire.

My Walther P1s are also NATO rated and I absolutely won't shoot anything even approaching CIP, +P or NATO max in those, but I would not hesitate if I had to.

That being said, you will absolutely get more wear and tear and less pleasant shooting with the full powered NATO spec ammunition. I guess it's up to you, but if it were my gun (and it may soon be, an LGS has them for $200 OTD), I would fire the mildest ammo that will reliably cycle the action, as I do in all of my automatics with the exception of special use ammo.

Based on an unscientific test, what would and would not cycle my Argentine Contract Hi-Power FM90, Win white box and Remington generic 115 grain were very mild.