Which surplus pistol?

Status
Not open for further replies.
i mean, its the size of pistol i want for a 9mm.. i dont think full size 5 inch pistols, and the width and length of a 1911 magazine well really fits the 9mm all that well.. so the star is basically a 1911 designed for 9mm, so its certainly something i want at some point.. its probably what i will decide on for those reasons

im just hoping i'll be able to conceal it daily and it not end up being something that just gets left at home due to size or weight.. the CZ70 being easier to conceal seems like it would be something that'd be more comfortable to carry.. i could pocket carry the CZ70, or even a P-64.. but my options for a BM are much more limited
 
Last edited:
now, if stars were more reliable than 1911s in 9mm, that'd interest me because i have almost no interest in 45acp
I have 3 different Star models, the B Super, the 30M, and the BM. All three are in 9mm, and all have been 100% reliable in my experience. The B and B Super is based off the A series (9 Largo), and I've read some folks run into problems at times. I think, based on my own experience, that it might be due to adding an A mag by mistake (both A and B mags and magwells are longer, but the B's are tuned for 9x19, while the A's are tuned for 9x21).

The B and B Super closely resemble a 1911, without a grip safety. The Super has a takedown lever instead of the 1911 style takedown.
Mine (Modelo B Super, note the takedown lever on the righthand side of the frame):
32024333394_b0b77bb404_c.jpg
32867230075_25c885a79c_c.jpg
aah, so the super B is more like a sig P210
Sounds like you might have read up on the 30M, which shares the design of having internal slide rails with the P210 and the CZ 75. But of those 3 guns, the 30M is probably the least graceful, most brute-strength design. Gun seems to be machined out of a solid chunk of steel. It's a DA/SA, 15 rd doublestack. From what I read on another forum, it was this model that the Spanish Guardia Civil swapped to, which is why the BM's came back to the Star factory. They did a trade-in. The same poster stated that they preferred these to the Beretta 92 models they went to later, and some have held on to them. This one, btw, no longer has the firing pin issue. In fact, the safety is such that it completely prevents the hammer from hitting the pin (moves it away), but doesn't disable the hammer or trigger. So you can dry fire this one to your heart's content ;). Also comes with factory rubber grips, which provide a very comfortable and sure grip.

Again, mine
32713816622_5f6f3e0157_c.jpg
32024463084_08ae6f9bc7_c.jpg
 
No, that's not what I'm saying.

OTHER 9mm guns were going around $250-$300; the Star Model B and the B Super; the FEG 9HP, the Kareen Hi Power clone, things like that.
Around that same time, you could get a Bulgarian Mak for under $200, a P-83 for around $150, and a CZ 70 for $100.

Surplus runs in waves. If you get in early, you get a good deal. I bought my first BM from GunProDeals, it was in legit Very Good condition with 2 mags for $222, +$14.99 shipping. With cardboard box, cleaning rod and manual. That gun has an excellent matte blue finish with minimal wear.
The one I got from Classic, was listed as "Fair" condition for $150. I added an extra magazine for $20. Shipping was $20. So total (minus FFL) was $190. The first one I received was worn, probably less than 25% of the blue was still there. It was nowhere near as nice looking as the first one; we found a crack on the slide rail and sent it back for exchange. I got a very nice one in exchange, but I think that might have been due to having to RMA it. The one I did receive finally had some slight evidence of pitting, had been polished and reblued (at the Star factory after turn in, I suspect)... I'd say the blue is close to 100%, but the actual condition of the gun might be a little less than the other one.

Here they are,
VG condition ('79)
View attachment 800312
and
Fair condition ('76)
View attachment 800313
And just to be clear, the other sides match in condition.

Once this wave of Stars starts to dry up, the prices will go back up. I've heard people say the BM's were going for around $300 or more a few years ago. They are nicely made and reliable, and they fill a niche you can't find in new manufacture guns.
The size is in between a 1911 Commander, and a Kimber Micro 9 or Sig 938.

The closest thing I can find in size is a RIA Baby Rock, and that's in .380. And even then, if you go by MSRP, you can get 2 of these for the price of 1 RIA.

It looks like compact single stack version of FN HiPower. I would say it's best deal in surplus firearm right now.
 
i mean, its the size of pistol i want for a 9mm.. i dont think full size 5 inch pistols, and the width and length of a 1911 magazine well really fits the 9mm all that well.. so the star is basically a 1911 designed for 9mm, so its certainly something i want at some point.. its probably what i will decide on for those reasons

im just hoping i'll be able to conceal it daily and it not end up being something that just gets left at home due to size or weight
Well, this becomes a quandary. The size is excellent for a 9mm, probably ideal ratio. But you mention weight... the one thing this isn't, is light. It's a robust gun, to say the least. It has a steel frame, and as best as I can judge without a scale, the reported weight of 34 oz unloaded (almost 2 lbs), is correct. It's every bit as heavy as the B Super, which has a 5" barrel, despite the BM having a 3.77" barrel. It's not noticeably thicker, but it's just got a massive presence.

From what I've been able to determine elsewhere, the gun was designed around Spanish Santa Barbara 9mm ammo, which posters state were some pretty hot loads.
Recoil is minimal, especially for such a short barrel.

But it's not a pocket carry. You'd need a good holster.
 
ya know, i probably actually could pocket carry the BM. i seen people pocket carry glock 19s which are physically larger, longer, thicker, etc, albeit lighter, if i modify a 1911 streamlight to fit the BM to get a light/laser on it, it'll give it more of a pocket shape.. if i had a leather holster that had a flap to cover the grip, i could probably fit it in my pockets.. i only wear cargo pants

weight aside, its only an inch longer and an inch taller than a PPK at roughly the same width

i would probably have to design myself a custom holster for it to break up the shape.. but yeah, that thing would fit in my pockets

also, now that i look at the BM, i think i will might end up taking some material off it.. im not too fond of the swell at the bottom of the grip, and if i extend the straight portion of the grip up under the trigger guard more to give it a bit of an undercut, that'll reduce a few ounces no doubt and make it more ergonomic
 
Last edited:
RE: weight. I may have mentioned this before, but one of the ongoing jokes at the indoor range where I shot when I had several Stars was, "if you miss him, you could always drop the gun on his foot -- that'll put him out of action."

True, even for the Starfire line, which wasn't that big. The Star Firestar Plus models were a lot better, as they had alloy frames. (I'd buy another one of those, if I found one at a good price.)
 
i think some of my hesitation towards the larger pistol is the concern with printing.. some states you get in a lot of trouble if you print and that makes people extra concerned about it happening, but looking at the state laws where i am there arent any such laws of that nature.. as long as you make a reasonable effort to keep it concealed, you wont get in trouble if it prints.. this makes me more confident carrying a 35oz pistol, or possibly larger

even though i can fit either of these in my large pockets, the CZ70 isnt really that much lighter or shorter than the BM for it to make enough of a difference, and neither one is going to be a comfortable gun in the pocket... so im not going to use that as a metric to judge either one.. im going to stick to whichever is the best made, highest quality, most reliable of the CZ70 vs Star
 
Last edited:
i think i'll get the BM

I'm sure you won't be sorry. I was so surprised by the quality of the finish and the ergonomics when I got mine last week. I love it.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
RE: weight. I may have mentioned this before, but one of the ongoing jokes at the indoor range where I shot when I had several Stars was, "if you miss him, you could always drop the gun on his foot -- that'll put him out of action."

One of the things I love about the Star BM IS the weight. It shoots like a dream even with hot handloads. Felt recoil is minimal.

I'm really sick of shooting/handling plastic guns. I grew up and got old shooting nothing but all-steel guns and the SA feature really appeals to me with that sweet trigger pull.
 
i have to agree with patocazador.. compact pistols with no weight to them have a lot more noticeable recoil.. this isnt a machismo thing, but less muzzle flip translates into faster rapid fire, which means if youre having to fire at a target multiple times in a self defense scenario, all else being equal the steel framed pistol will generally put more shots in area they need to go.. i also like a safety that lets me carry "cocked and locked" which allows me a much lighter, more accurate trigger with less risk
 
Patocazador said:
I'm really sick of shooting/handling plastic guns. I grew up and got old shooting nothing but all-steel guns and the SA feature really appeals to me with that sweet trigger pull.

I'm not sick of shooting a gun that's heavy or light, but I do understand the difference between carrying a HEAVY handgun all day versus a light one. For just plinking at the range, I'll lean toward a heavier gun every time, especially if I'm shooting something that's a little bit hot, but for carry the choice isn't that easy.

This was not a discussion of what's best for day-long carry, so to push this discussion in that direction is silly. But that side-effect of a heavy gun is an issue that the buyer should think about if he or she ever feels the need to carry the weapon selected. If it's a heavy gun that's chosen, then it's really important to have the right holster and belt -- which can make a heavier gun much more tolerable.
 
Last edited:
im going to have to experiment with some carry options if i get the BM.. try to find a comfortable way to carry it, i'll probably star carrying 4 o clock position since its going to start cooling down now to where i can wear a jacket, and i wont have to worry about printing at all.. but i may just get a shoulder holster or belly band holster to keep the weight directly off of my pants
 
ive actually been having a hard time finding spare CZ50 or CZ70 mags.. surplus BM mags are fairly easy to find.. and i'd imagine its not that hard to find a magazine spring to fit them either if they need it
 
surplus BM mags are fairly easy to find.. and i'd imagine its not that hard to find a magazine spring to fit them either if they need it

Everywhere I looked they were more than the $20/ea. you can get them for when ordering. I got one extra and am glad I did.
I like the checkered wooden grips but then I'm putting looks above function.
 
im not too concerned about grips, or even finish, those can be improved upon later.. and instead of bobbing the hammer to deal with hammer bite, i could just manufacture a new hammer for it in the colt commander style
 
im not too concerned about grips, or even finish, those can be improved upon later.. and instead of bobbing the hammer to deal with hammer bite, i could just manufacture a new hammer for it in the colt commander style
I have always thought it would look really neat having the commander style hammer on it. I wonder if in the future someone might even make and offer them for all these Star BM's that have been coming in...one can hope.
 
the star hammer isnt all that complex, it wouldnt be hard to transfer the shape of to a piece of annealed 4140, shape it with files, dremel, and a bench grinder till you get it to fit and work the way you want it to and heat treat it.. it'd be a fun DIY project that would also eliminate the hammer bite issue that i know i will have with it.. my hands are fairly large
 
Last edited:
does anyone know how the front sight on the BM is attached?.. from photos it looks like its slotted and possibly silver soldered or brazed into place and then filed down to adjust elevation while the rear is dovetailed in and drifted to adjust windage.. although nobody makes a set of night sights, im pretty sure i can adapt a rear by reshaping the dovetail off an existing night sight to fit, and if i knew how the front was installed i could come up with an idea for that too
 
animus_divinus said:
...does anyone know how the front sight on the BM is attached?

Someone with a BM may explain that my following comments are a misinterpretation of what I've seen, but ...

I have some diagrams for various guns (from The Gun Digest book of Exploded Gun Drawings) and they seems to show that many of the Star models, including the BM and BKM, have front sights that are an integral part of the slide and not a separate part.

The Starfires, the P, A and B had parts listed in the diagrams for a front sight. Some of these front guns appear to be staked, while others like the Starfires had dove-tailed front sights.

If the BM front sight is part of the slide, it should be easy for a gunsmith (or you, if you have access to the proper metal-working equipment) to shave the front sight and mill in a dovetail that will let you mount just about any sight system you want.
 
The Star BM's are good solid pistols. Mine shoots as well as the majority of my full-sized service pistols. The OP will enjoy shooting it. :)
 
ooh.. i wonder if i could do a bobbed grip on the
Someone with a BM may explain that my following comments are a misinterpretation of what I've seen, but ...

I have some diagrams for various guns (from The Gun Digest book of Exploded Gun Drawings) and they seems to show that many of the Star models, including the BM and BKM, have front sights that are an integral part of the slide and not a separate part.

The Starfires, the P, A and B had parts listed in the diagrams for a front sight. Some of these front guns appear to be staked, while others like the Starfires had dove-tailed front sights.

If the BM front sight is part of the slide, it should be easy for a gunsmith (or you, if you have access to the proper metal-working equipment) to shave the front sight and mill in a dovetail that will let you mount just about any sight system you want.

i'll have to look into that more.. the photos of the front sights i seen that looked to be soldered or glued in, i dont know which star model the pictures were of exactly.. it could have been the full size B and the BM being integral to the slide.. i seen a video of someone installing a front sight onto a larger star model and that front sight was peened onto the slide since there isnt much meat there.. i really wish i knew the thickness of the slide under the front sight.. i could engineer an option ahead of time
 
does anyone know how the front sight on the BM is attached?.

I just looked at mine. There is a slight gap ~.003 or so at the bottom of the front edge about 1/32" to the rear so it probably is soldered in a milled slot kind of like a mortise and tenon juncture. It does not seem to be integral with the top of the slide. Heating it might release the sight blade.
This is conjecture on my part.
 
I just looked at mine. There is a slight gap ~.003 or so at the bottom of the front edge about 1/32" to the rear so it probably is soldered in a milled slot kind of like a mortise and tenon juncture. It does not seem to be integral with the top of the slide. Heating it might release the sight blade.
This is conjecture on my part.

so then its basically a staked/peened front sight like what a lot of colts have.. some of these were also brazed'soldered inside the joint, so yeah, it may take some heat to get off.. do you know how thick the slide itself from the top to the inside underneath the front sight?
 
Last edited:
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top