Star BM?

[PabloJ]

For those who've owned and shot them, what are the pros and cons of the Star BM's? Southern Ohio guns has them surplus for $219 and that's awfully tempting.

Too heavy too carry no spare parts to replace worn ones if one is used as a shooter, therefore, useless.

 

[MosinT53Hunter]

Too heavy too carry no spare parts to replace worn ones if one is used as a shooter, therefore, useless.

While I will agree to the almost no spare parts, it is a nice truck gun. I have one, and I enjoy it, just as I enjoy my super star in 9mm Largo.

 

[HisSoldier]

If you only own one gun then I can see getting picky, 92% of my guns are for range fun only, not for carry, so weight and caliber and even reliability have no bearing on my enjoyment of almost all of mine. Having said that the Stars are some of the most interesting and beloved guns I own.

 

[CajunBass]

I bought one a few months ago, with the box, instruction booklet (in Spanish), and a couple of extra magazines. I think I paid about $275.00 for it from a local dealer. Good feeling gun. Heavier than I'd want for a carry gun, but I wasn't going to carry it anyway. If a part breaks, big deal, I'll dig something else out of the bag/safe. It's a fun gun and that's all.





Now, I just need to get out and shoot the darn thing.

 

[Tallball]

I just now ordered one from AIM Surplus. They are too nice of a gun to not buy for $250-ish. It can keep my Super B and CO company. I have shot thousands of rounds through my Super B with no problems, so I am not worried about wearing it out anytime soon.

 

[Tallball]

Mine arrived at my FFL today. I got it for $300 OTD including shipping and FFL.

It has moderate holster wear and seems not to have been shot much. It feels good in my hand and points well. I'm looking forward to shooting it next weekend.

 

[bannockburn]

Classic Firearms sent me an email that they have Star Model BMs in Good to Very Good condition, with original box and manual, for $229.99.

 

[Panzerschwein]

To all those buying, let me know how great they are to shoot when they eventually break.

Good luck finding parts to keep these guns shooting.

 

[GBExpat]

To all those buying, let me know how great they are to shoot when they eventually break.

Nice.

 

[lsudave]

To all those buying, let me know how great they are to shoot when they eventually break.

Good luck finding parts to keep these guns shooting.

What's going to break? Only thing I've heard of on Stars is the firing pin, and if you don't dryfire without a snap cap, that's not an issue. Spring issues, get some from Wolff or similar. I mean, it's not a gun you want to shoot a thousand rds a week through, but I've never heard problems specifically related to Star (other than the firing pins). It's an attractive design in a common caliber, in an inexpensive package. All guns eventually break if/when you shoot them enough. Putting one in the safe or nightstand, and occasionally putting a couple magazines through it, won't hurt it.... they've made it 40-50 years now.

 

[GunnyUSMC]

A few years back I was having gun withdraws and needed to buy a gun. Wanted a Star Mod. B, but no one had them in stock. I stopped in at a LGS and looked at some of the Wholesaler flyers and saw that one had Mod. BMs for a good price. I had them order me one with an extra mag. Ended up paying something like $212. It arrived a week later with the factory box, owners manual and cleaning rod. The gun was in great shape with 95% of the bluing. The cool thing is, the box and the owners manual both had the guns SN# on them.
It's a great little shooter.

 

[CajunBass]

To all those buying, let me know how great they are to shoot when they eventually break.

Good luck finding parts to keep these guns shooting.

So they might break. Big deal. I'll just pull another gun out of the range bag, or the safe. If I can get parts, great. I'll get it fixed. If not, I could sell what I've got for parts to someone else. Or since I'm basically lazy just keep it for a paper weight or something.

It's just a gun. Not the Holy Grail.

 

[OneFreeTexan]

I have a Star I use as a range gun,,, love it..!! Don’t count rounds through it but it’s been a lot.

 

[GBExpat]

I just got an email from SOG:

http://www.southernohiogun.com/star-model-bm-9mm.html

 

[jmace57]

I have one and it is one of my favorite guns to shoot. A recommendation, I think J&G has them as well, and they are offering spare mags for $20 each. That is a steal. I paid $60 for one mag and $70 for another in the past few years.

 

[GBExpat]

... A recommendation, I think J&G has them as well...

Your post# is 40. Look at post# 39.

 

[Sistema1927]

To all those buying, let me know how great they are to shoot when they eventually break.

Good luck finding parts to keep these guns shooting.

The same could be said for old cars, old airplanes, old boats, old ham radio gear, etc. So what is your point?

 

[Janos Dracwlya]

I wish I'd have bought one of these a few years ago when they were under $200. I still want one, so I'm going to be on the lookout. Star was a first-rate gunmaker, and a huge loss to the shooting community the world over.

I have a Model B that is - supposedly (the marks could be fake, I don't know) - WWII, Nazi-marked, and it is a great shooter; I also have one of their last gun, the Ultra.

 

[MedWheeler]

Cooldill writes:

To all those buying, let me know how great they are to shoot when they eventually break.

Good luck finding parts to keep these guns shooting.

You're usually above this.

 

[Panzerschwein]

Cooldill writes:



You're usually above this.

Look, there is a well known shortage of parts for these Star 9mm pistols and there has been for years, that's all I'm
saying. I may have came off as brash and sorry if I offended anyone, but it's still the truth of the situation.

 

[GunnyUSMC]

Here’s mine.

 

[kBob]

Bbra,

I agree about purse carrying a loose single action auto loaded and ready.

A bud had a Star FireStar in .45ACP he pouch carried. Being a cheap b....person he did not buy a pouch that was made to carry in but just picked up something from Something Mart-o-another with a large zippered pouch and a small wallet pouch on front. Sort of like a cheap purse on a belt, eh? He further decided that he needed no holster as it "Only slowed him down" Of course as a long time 1911 user he carried with the chamber loaded, hammer cocked and safety up. Hey, just cause the Star has no grip safety don't mean nothing has to change!

While visiting his sister he removed his pouch in her small car and dropped it on to the floorboards of the back seat. The results were rather loud, and thanks to a .45 slug passing through a plastic bottle of motor oil messy and expensive as she insisted on new floor mats and the hole in the floor being patched and was concerned about the shiny spot on her drive shaft. Seems a #2 pencil had gotten itself into the trigger guard, something had pushed off the safety, and the drop was enough to set things in motion.

Thank goodness no one was actually hurt.

It is good to learn hard life lessons second or third hand, is it not?

-kBob

 

[MedWheeler]

Cooldill writes:

I may have came off as brash..

That's all we were saying. The parts shortage is no secret. Besides, some of us actually collect more than we shoot. There will one day be a shortage of parts for any discontinued models, such as milsurps, but that doesn't stop collectors (and shooters) from buying them. It's a shame, too, as I feel my Star is as well-crafted as my Bulgarian PM is.

No worries.

 

[Gun Master]

Here’s mine.
View attachment 767224 View attachment 767225

Nice !
As I remember my Star BM interaction, years ago, it was difficult to retract the slide.
Do you have "to bust a gut", to pull yours back ?

 

[GunnyUSMC]

Nice !
As I remember my Star BM interaction, years ago, it was difficult to retract the slide.
Do you have "to bust a gut", to pull yours back ?

The slide pulls back pretty easy.