Hello. I've owned two Model B 9mm Stars over the years. In fact, this model was the first centerfire pistol I bought as an adult way back in the early '70s. The first one was problematic in feeding JHPs, but was reliable with about any 9mm ball. I bought one of the last batch made new by Star in the '80s when the overrun or canceled military orders allowed for their sale in the U.S. Sights were finished in a dark grey and slide serrations were a bit different. Otherwise, the gun looked about the same as the old one with the exception that it had a lanyard loop.
This pistol shot just fine and fed JHPs so long as they were of the more rounded ogive type round. The fixed sights were regulated just fine IF you were shooting at about 200 yards! My gun hit extremely high. The earlier Star with the smaller fixed sights was pretty well on.
I wound up having a set of adjustable Millett sights added and some other changes, but no accuracy work. I removed the magazine disconnect so that magazines would drop free.
This is my Star Model B after some changes were made. The gunsmith made the stocks.
Since the "refinements" done on this pistol did NOT include any kind of accurizing, comments on accuracy and groups are likely relevant.
These 5-shot groups were fired with the Star @ 15 yards:
...at 25 yards...
..and 50-yards...
I like the pistol, but don't suggest using +P ammunition in it. As has been noted elsewhere, the steel does seem "soft" relative to other pistols, but the guns do seem to work fine over the long-term with standard pressure ammunition. Were I using the gun for protection, I'd likely use Federal's std pressure 115 gr JHP. I've had good luck with it in the field on varmints and it feeds fine in the pistol, at least in my experience.
The Federal "9BP" groups and feeds well in my Model B.
the bbl shows adequate case support.
Spare parts can be extremely hard to find right now though I believe spare magazines can be found at
www.cdnninvestments.com and some parts are listed occassionally via "Shotgun News." I use CZ75 recoil springs (18lb conventional) in my Model B. Works fine in my experience.
These guns do NOT lend themselves to dry-firing w/o a snapcap. The firing pin's notched such that a vertical pin under the rear sight holds it in place.
Should you buy one of these neat-handling, "graceful" pistols, I'd pick up a couple or three spare magazines and then be watching for spare parts and picking up such things as firing pins, extractors, or other small parts as I could.
Best.