Star pistol?
- Thread starter S_O_Laban
- Start date
- Status
Steven1281
Member
I own a Star BM 9mm. Have found it to be good reliable pistol, but wasn't appropriate for ccw with one in the pipe. I'm comfortable with cocked and locked - just not on this particular model as a primary carry piece. Lack of a grip safety was a factor. (I have since acquired a j-frame airweight).
So, for ccw, I'd vote no, citing a lack of safety features. For general target shooting I'd vote thumbs up. For the money, they are a very good value in my opinion.
You might also want to do a web search to help determine availability of parts. I haven't needed any in the year I have owned mine, but we all know stuff happens and this is not the most common pistol on the market.
I made some teak grips for mine - I think it improved it significantly.
So, for ccw, I'd vote no, citing a lack of safety features. For general target shooting I'd vote thumbs up. For the money, they are a very good value in my opinion.
You might also want to do a web search to help determine availability of parts. I haven't needed any in the year I have owned mine, but we all know stuff happens and this is not the most common pistol on the market.
I made some teak grips for mine - I think it improved it significantly.
S_O_Laban
Member
Thanks for the info, excatly the type I was looking for.
Of course anybody else that wants to chime in please do.
Of course anybody else that wants to chime in please do.The Stars have an excellent reputation for quality and reliability, something other Spanish made pistols generally don't have. I did quite a bit of research on the Stars when finally deciding to have a 9mmP other than the extra cylinder for my old 3-screw .357 Blackhawk. Being a 1911 fan I wanted something similar without having to pay the Colt price. The Stars fit the bill nicely. I bought a compact BM first and then followed with a full sized "Modelo Super". They both function well but the "Super" seems to be sighted in for 100 yards, shoots damn high with all ammo tried. Parts availability can be a problem but fortunately there are a lot of Stars out there and they tend to not need anything for thousands of rounds of use. If you do look into getting one make sure of the caliber before purchase, if it is marked 9mmP it is in 9mm Luger/Parabellum. If marked 9mm it will be a 9mm Largo and a much harder to feed cheaply.
dairycreek
Member
I had a Star about 5 years ago.
It was a reliable weapon about which I had no complaint. Like Steven1281 I was not comfortable with the "cocked and locked" carry arrangement so I traded it for something else. As I remember it was heavy and well built. Hope this helps some. Good shooting
It was a reliable weapon about which I had no complaint. Like Steven1281 I was not comfortable with the "cocked and locked" carry arrangement so I traded it for something else. As I remember it was heavy and well built. Hope this helps some. Good shooting
Detachment Charlie
Member
Almost on an impulse I bought a Star BM a few months ago at a gun show. One of the best buys -- ever. Solid piece of goods. Forged steel and well machined. A little honest holter wear, but inside it's pristine. And the trigger -- like butter. I am seriously thinking of buying another as an investment, because the price on these, much like the South, will rise again.
I do use it for ccw, alternating with my S&W 2" M.10. My Star has eaten, fired and ejected everything I've shoved in the magazine, so far...
Buy one.
Can you tell that I like this gun?
I do use it for ccw, alternating with my S&W 2" M.10. My Star has eaten, fired and ejected everything I've shoved in the magazine, so far...
Buy one.
Can you tell that I like this gun?
Oleg Volk
Moderator Emeritus
I like Star BM. Fairly accurate, with a decent, if not great, trigger, very comfortable to fire and 100% reliable.
S_O_Laban
Member
Thanks again for the replies this info helps quite a bit.... the only drawback is that they're not C&R but still look good enough to get a couple.
but still look good enough to get a couple.Jeff Timm
Member
Finding real Star magazines has always been a problem. I have a Star .380 which is totally unreliable.
I had a Starfire which I couldn't get a magazine for, even when they had an importer.
Geoff
Who notes others have Stars and been pleased.
I had a Starfire which I couldn't get a magazine for, even when they had an importer.
Geoff
Who notes others have Stars and been pleased.
Ukraine Train
Member
My dad has a Super B. It's very accurate and has a light, crisp trigger with a little takeup and no creep, but hasn't been very reliable for us. It consistently fails to feed, though I think this can be attributed to the main spring. I've been trimming about a half coil off every time I go to the range and the failures seem to be diminishing in frequency. It also sometimes fails to extract, I'm not sure why because the extractor looks like it's fine. Also, just last week the slide release lever broke, specifically the tang that the magazine follower pushes on to raise the slide catch. Good project gun lol.
Nathanael_Greene
Member
Star BM's are great little pistols. The worst thing about them is that name.
Imagine going around having conversations like this: "I've got a BM in my pocket. I just love it. My BM feels so good in my hand! You should see the other guys at the range when I show them my BM. I'm thinking about getting another one--Can a guy have too many BMs? Yep, ever since my buddy lent me his BM, I really wanted one of my own to carry around. So, that's my concealed weapon; I take my BM everywhere. Here, want to see it? It's really shiny! Let me show you!"
Eww.
Imagine going around having conversations like this: "I've got a BM in my pocket. I just love it. My BM feels so good in my hand! You should see the other guys at the range when I show them my BM. I'm thinking about getting another one--Can a guy have too many BMs? Yep, ever since my buddy lent me his BM, I really wanted one of my own to carry around. So, that's my concealed weapon; I take my BM everywhere. Here, want to see it? It's really shiny! Let me show you!"
Eww.
fallingblock
Member
I bought a Star BM in Arizona.....
And toted it as a truck gun all over the Southwest.
It was a very well-made gun and never malfunctioned through many rounds of factory 9mm.
Its presence once saved me from being perforated by a marlinspike along the Texas border.
Only financial duress forced me to part with it.
The BM is one of the better efforts from Star, and I'd recommend it as a well made compact 9mm pistol.
And toted it as a truck gun all over the Southwest.
It was a very well-made gun and never malfunctioned through many rounds of factory 9mm.
Its presence once saved me from being perforated by a marlinspike along the Texas border.
Only financial duress forced me to part with it.
The BM is one of the better efforts from Star, and I'd recommend it as a well made compact 9mm pistol.
The Star B has one advantage over the 1911 type for carry. In the 1911, in condition one, the hammer rests on the sear; the safety blocks sear movement. In the Star, the safety positively blocks the hammer.
If the 1911 is dropped on the hammer, the sear or hammer or both will be destroyed. In the Star system the hammer is pushed back off the sear, then blocked by a large internal part of the safety. A blow to the hammer won't ruin it or the sear or even harm the safety.
The grip safety of the 1911 type does not block the sear, only the trigger bow, but in the Star, there is no need to block the trigger and it can move back with the manual safety on since the hammer is drawn back from the sear.
Jim
If the 1911 is dropped on the hammer, the sear or hammer or both will be destroyed. In the Star system the hammer is pushed back off the sear, then blocked by a large internal part of the safety. A blow to the hammer won't ruin it or the sear or even harm the safety.
The grip safety of the 1911 type does not block the sear, only the trigger bow, but in the Star, there is no need to block the trigger and it can move back with the manual safety on since the hammer is drawn back from the sear.
Jim
I carry a Star PD occaisionally,, which would be the same size as the BM but in .45. I have no problem carrying it cocked-and-locked. I've never had the safety go off accidently so that's a non issue and since I carried a Glock for a number of years, external safeties don't mean much to me. Think about this - ALOT of people carry 1911's that have had the grip safety pinned. It usually is not a problem, just watch where your finger is!
Take Care,
Mike
Take Care,
Mike
star m-4o
i carry a star m-4o firestar most of the time depending on my dress code for the day, as it is heavy but it is compact and as i shoot the 1911 platform better than anything else she is comforting. i have considered a bm but funds have precluded my desire. lol
i carry a star m-4o firestar most of the time depending on my dress code for the day, as it is heavy but it is compact and as i shoot the 1911 platform better than anything else she is comforting. i have considered a bm but funds have precluded my desire. lol
wally
Member
I liked my Star BM that I'd ordered from J&G Sales well enough that I jumped on another for $145 with two mags at yesterday's gun show. Spare parts can be a problem with these so I was happy to get a sapre gun
Great little shooter, Commander sized, all steel, 1911 ergnomics, works great with cheap Wolf 9mm ammo. Both mine have triggers that border on great, definitely better than decent when compared to what comes on most new guns these days.
Probably the biggest knocks are the magazine disconnect safety, the fireing pins are prone to break with dry firing, and definitely not safe for hammer down on a loaded chamber -- as the firing pin protrudes beyond the breachface when the hammer is down on an empty chamber.
--wally.
Great little shooter, Commander sized, all steel, 1911 ergnomics, works great with cheap Wolf 9mm ammo. Both mine have triggers that border on great, definitely better than decent when compared to what comes on most new guns these days.
Probably the biggest knocks are the magazine disconnect safety, the fireing pins are prone to break with dry firing, and definitely not safe for hammer down on a loaded chamber -- as the firing pin protrudes beyond the breachface when the hammer is down on an empty chamber.
--wally.
wally
Member
Of course it doesn't protrude when in battery -- it'd fire!
If you lock the slide back and then press the firing pin with a screwdriver blade flush with the back of the slide, like it'd be with the hammer down, you'll see the fin sticks out the breech face. This means with a round in the chamber with the hammer down the firing pin is resting on the primer *AND* the hammer is resting on the back of the firing pin with space between it and the slide so a blow to the hammer will fire the gun!
This is the exact same situation that lead to the old Colt Single Action Army pistol to be carried with the hammer down on an empty chamber -- drop the gun so something hits the hammer and it'll fire!
--wally.
horge
Member
Anyone have experience with the wannabe ghost of STAR (Bonifacio Echevarria) and ASTRA (Astra-Unceta &Co.)?
As in, ASTAR and its line of Spanish pistols?
They look similar to the old pistols, but looks are one thing...
As in, ASTAR and its line of Spanish pistols?
They look similar to the old pistols, but looks are one thing...
Gordon
Member
I like my Star AS in 9mm largo, I have an extra barrel in 9X19 for it . Ditto for my Astra 400.
Ala Dan
Member in memoriam
A former friend of mine who is now deceased bought a Star BM
when they first came to North America. Price? $85 OTD, and it
was 100% reliable with all types of ammo. I guess his ex-wife
sold it for crack cocaine, I don't really know?
Best Wishes,
Ala Dan, N.R.A. Life Member
when they first came to North America. Price? $85 OTD, and it
was 100% reliable with all types of ammo. I guess his ex-wife
sold it for crack cocaine, I don't really know?
Best Wishes,
Ala Dan, N.R.A. Life Member
WVleo
Member
Star BM
Hi, I just picked up a Star BM I ordered from AIM. What a beat up piece of ???? ! I'll never buy from Aim again, this must have been used as a hammer! Well I learned my lesson never again buy sight unseen on the net . I know it was only $170 OTD ,but even the guide rod has huge dings ! Holster wear at AIM must mean they throw it against a concrete wall. Rust even on the trigger. Yeah I could send it back , but then I'll get screwed on the FFL and the shipping . They know this I believe and stick it to those that are shipped . Worst gun purchase I have ever had. And others seemed to get decent Stars from AIM or I wouldn't even have taken the chance. It goes in the local swap sheet tommorrow ! AIM NEVER AGAIN ! WVleo
Hi, I just picked up a Star BM I ordered from AIM. What a beat up piece of ???? ! I'll never buy from Aim again, this must have been used as a hammer! Well I learned my lesson never again buy sight unseen on the net . I know it was only $170 OTD ,but even the guide rod has huge dings ! Holster wear at AIM must mean they throw it against a concrete wall. Rust even on the trigger. Yeah I could send it back , but then I'll get screwed on the FFL and the shipping . They know this I believe and stick it to those that are shipped . Worst gun purchase I have ever had. And others seemed to get decent Stars from AIM or I wouldn't even have taken the chance. It goes in the local swap sheet tommorrow ! AIM NEVER AGAIN ! WVleo
- Status
