Wait, is it 2017 again?

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NIGHTLORD40K

NIGHTLORD40K

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I think I stepped through a portal that dropped me 4 years in the past....

Found a pair of nice compacts at pre-Coronabidenpocalypse prices at the LGS today!
IMG_20211118_202139_4.jpg
Sig P938 for $350 (with 4 magazines) and a minty old Star Firestar 9mm for $250!

These two make an interesting comparison, both being single-action, single-stack, metal-framed, hammer fired 9mm compact autos. The Sig, being alloy-framed, is a bit lighter than the all-steel Star, but not drastically so.
IMG_20211118_202956_6.jpg
Both feature ambidextrous safeties. The Star also has a reversible magazine release.

IMG_20211118_202931_5.jpg
Both feature 3-dot sights, though the Sig's are much larger and have tritium insets. Interestingly, the Star's rear sight is easily adjustable for windage via set screw.

IMG_20211118_202311_2.jpg
With the factory extended magazine inserted in the Sig, both pistols have the same 7+1 capacity and are virtually the same size, with the Star being just a hair longer and the Sig a hair taller. Star did offer an extended 8-round magazine for the Firestar, though it had a weird and rather awkwardly shaped baseplate. Mine only came with one 7-round unit, but extras aren't hard to find (though $$).

IMG_20211118_202638_9.jpg
Width is also nearly identical on these two guns when the Sig is wearing the rather porky factory rubber grips. A set of thin rosewood panels is in my shopping cart.....

IMG_20211118_202850_8.jpg
Cant wait to get these classic carry peices to the range for some flogging! :)
 
The P365 killed the P938 as well as most other 7 round capacity pistols. Crazy times though.. I bought a new Sig P238 Legion two years ago for $450 and got a range bag, extra mags, and a couple boxes of ammo from Sig for free!

Now, used P238 Legions are going for stupid prices.
 
The local FFL who handled mililtaria wanted $500 for an old Firestar a few years back. I passed and bought the P938. That magazine has an extraordinarily stiff spring to keep up with the lightning fast slide. Don't be surprised to discover it needs a mag loader, the polished mag sides are nearly impossible to hold onto.

The P938 has a reassembly caution about a finger sticking up from the frame, download those directions as damaging it is possible. Mine had the G10 grips which didn't lack for grabbiness. I eventually sold it and bought a P365 which is now my only small 9mm. SIG has pretty much limited the P938 to a few models now from the dozen different finishes they used to offer. It's definitely a collectible now.
 
NIGHTLORD40K said:
I think I stepped through a portal that dropped me 4 years in the past....

Found a pair of nice compacts at pre-Coronabidenpocalypse prices at the LGS today!
View attachment 1038846
Sig P938 for $350 (with 4 magazines) and a minty old Star Firestar 9mm for $250!

These two make an interesting comparison, both being single-action, single-stack, metal-framed, hammer fired 9mm compact autos. The Sig, being alloy-framed, is a bit lighter than the all-steel Star, but not drastically so.
View attachment 1038848
Both feature ambidextrous safeties. The Star also has a reversible magazine release.

View attachment 1038849
Both feature 3-dot sights, though the Sig's are much larger and have tritium insets. Interestingly, the Star's rear sight is easily adjustable for windage via set screw.

View attachment 1038853
With the factory extended magazine inserted in the Sig, both pistols have the same 7+1 capacity and are virtually the same size, with the Star being just a hair longer and the Sig a hair taller. Star did offer an extended 8-round magazine for the Firestar, though it had a weird and rather awkwardly shaped baseplate. Mine only came with one 7-round unit, but extras aren't hard to find (though $$).

View attachment 1038855
Width is also nearly identical on these two guns when the Sig is wearing the rather porky factory rubber grips. A set of thin rosewood panels is in my shopping cart.....

View attachment 1038859
Cant wait to get these classic carry peices to the range for some flogging! :)
Click to expand...
Id’ve dislocated my shoulder pulling my wallet out if I had seen that Star at my LGS, that’s an amazing buy for that chunky little shooter :thumbup:.

When you get a chance to shoot them let us know how they shot for you. :)

Stay safe.
 
The Firestar pistols are in between the Sig P938 and a compact 1911 (3.5" barrel). And the Sig P238/938, Kimber Micro, Springfield 911, and early small Colts are all based of an original Star design. I have a Firestar M40 (40 S&W) and M43 (9mm) along with a Sig P938. I enjoy all three of them. The Firestar steel frames make them smoother to shoot, especially the M40. One day I will add the Firestar M45 (45ACP) to the collection. The funny thing is the Sig P938 is smaller and lighter than a Glock G43.

Yes I would have whipped out my wallet ASAP too for those prices.
 
12Bravo20 said:
The Firestar pistols are in between the Sig P938 and a compact 1911 (3.5" barrel). And the Sig P238/938, Kimber Micro, Springfield 911, and early small Colts are all based of an original Star design. I have a Firestar M40 (40 S&W) and M43 (9mm) along with a Sig P938. I enjoy all three of them. The Firestar steel frames make them smoother to shoot, especially the M40. One day I will add the Firestar M45 (45ACP) to the collection. The funny thing is the Sig P938 is smaller and lighter than a Glock G43.

Yes I would have whipped out my wallet ASAP too for those prices.
Click to expand...
I had an M45 Firestar some years ago, and while I found it to be a reliable and soft shooter, it was strangely inaccurate- even by stubby compact pistol standards. The killer, however, was the ridiculously stiff recoil spring and rather useless slide serrations which made it nearly impossible to slingshot a round into the chamber. I ended up passing it on, somewhat regretfully. It was a neat package and fit my hand well.

The 9mm version seems "just right" to me. :)
 
NIGHTLORD40K said:
The 9mm version seems "just right" to me. :)
Click to expand...

I find that my M43 and M40 are both pleasant to shoot and very accurate with the right loads. Shooting 40 S&W 180Gr SD ammo is not bad at all in the M40.

And of course it is usually a toss up between carrying the P938 or G43 when I want something light and small. Now for pocket carry it is usually the Kel-Tec P3AT r sometimes the Sig P938. The Firestar M40 was the first pistol I bought for myself after getting out of the Army in 1997. It was my HD and EDC gun for a long time.
 
Tirod said:
The local FFL who handled mililtaria wanted $500 for an old Firestar a few years back. I passed and bought the P938. That magazine has an extraordinarily stiff spring to keep up with the lightning fast slide. Don't be surprised to discover it needs a mag loader, the polished mag sides are nearly impossible to hold onto.

The P938 has a reassembly caution about a finger sticking up from the frame, download those directions as damaging it is possible. Mine had the G10 grips which didn't lack for grabbiness. I eventually sold it and bought a P365 which is now my only small 9mm. SIG has pretty much limited the P938 to a few models now from the dozen different finishes they used to offer. It's definitely a collectible now.
Click to expand...
I was considering the G10 grips. The factory rosewood panels are pretty, but if I start carrying this on the regular, I may very well switch to the G10.

I can get the first 5 in the mag no problem, but ya, 6 and 7 take some oomph, lol.

Ive discovered removing the magazine safety on the Firestar is very easy and allows the mags to drop free too......
 
I have removed the magazine safety on both of my Firestar pistols. And yes it allows the mags to drop free.

On my P938 I bought the Nitron version with the polymer grips and night sights. I like them. I did not go with the finger groove grips since I have yet to find any finger grooved grips or frames that fit my hands.
 
A buddy brought his little Sig 9mm last week, and is a good bit smaller than a 365.
It was either a 238 or 938, the mag. held six rounds.

The recoil wasn't bad, and I simply had to reposition my support thumb away from the very narrow frame (the right hand thumb), placed in front of the trigger guard - I think....
 
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