Found the PERFECT pistol for small-handed beginners!

[patentnonsense]

I've been looking for awhile for a centerfire auto that small women can shoot comfortably for LOTS of range time - and I think I've finally found it. The Star SS is a downscaled all-steel 1911 clone in .380, and is an absolute pussycat to shoot. It's not as light as a "purse pistol" would be, which is a plus for learning to shoot - I've known women try to start with a Keltec P32 and regret it, and all blowbacks seem to be much tougher to operate.

You can find these used for $200 or so, and you can still buy new mags for them from CDNN very cheaply. Some other locked-breech 380s I know of are the Colt Mustang (much more expensive), the Colt 1903 (lots around, but usually pretty whipped) and the CZ83 (which I don't know anything about). I've tried several other 32s and 380s made for the European police market, and not found anything with this combination of small grip, light recoil, and light recoil spring.

So I finally got one of my small-handed friends to take a range trip with me - she ran through 150 rounds (which was all the 380 I'd thought to bring), and is now picking out color-coordinated accessories - I think she likes it!

 

[PaleRyder]

Stars in general are very good guns.

 

[bnolsen]

and what would make the star nicer than a bersa thunder 380 which you can find new for $170 ?

 

[patentnonsense]

and what would make the star nicer than a bersa thunder 380 which you can find new for $170 ?

Because the Star is:
- locked-breech, not blowback, hence less recoil and easier slide operation;
- steel frame, hence heavier weight and less muzzle jump;
- this Star (SS) actually has a smaller (though vertically taller) grip size than the Bersa;
- Bersa 380 mags cost several times as much as the Star mags.

Yes I've tried both on female beginners, and I actually liked the Bersa well enough to buy one for such range outings - but found it wasn't working very well for that purpose. For introduction or building basic skills I've come to believe that NO compact carry gun is the best choice, for all the reasons above. I'm not knocking Bersa - they're a very good buy at their price point, and I keep watching them for interesting new stuff - but fit, finish and materials on all the Stars I've seen run closer to Browning or Beretta (though not quite their equal) than to Bersa.

 

[PaleRyder]

Stars are the only other semis than Browning I even like.

 

[PaleRyder]

Oops. I forgot about Berettas. Must be getting senile.

 

[Outbacker]

Thanks for the thread, patent. Been looking for a pistol for the wife. We'll definitely take a look at the Star.

 

[patentnonsense]

Also check out the Beretta 84 (double-stack) or 85 (single-stack) - for my small-handed friends their grips aren't quite as comfortable as the Star, but they may be easier to find. However, I'm not sure whether these are locked-breech or not. If you do like the feel of the Beretta 84, then you can buy the SAME pistol in the Browning version (the Browning "BDA" .380) from CDNN for less than $400. (The Star SS will be cheaper if you do find it though.)

 

[sendtoscott]

still locked breech?

I thought Star started making them blowback recently.

 

[patentnonsense]

Star was killed off by the import restrictions quite awhile back. They may have had blowbacks in carry gun, but the SS is a duty pistol for countries where .380 is regarded as adequate - the action is actually a little tiny version of a 1911.

 

[Majic]

I used one as a training pistol about 15 years ago. They are really nice little pistols. One girl I know took to it like a duck to water and I eventually sold it to her. She's still deadly accurate with it today and who knows how many rounds she has run thru it. They are quite durable.
Beware if you have large hands and shoot one. That hammer will bite you if you are not careful (just don't ask me how I know).