Star 28- likely to break?

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Fat Boy

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The local hock shop has a Star 28 for sale. Priced higher than GB but no shipping, FFL fees, etc. this handgun has an awfully nice trigger pull, and fits my hand nicely

The concerns-

1. One magazine included- I have been searching the Internet and finding no supply of magazines for this gun. I have read that s&w mod 59 magazines will work but can't officially confirm that

2. This is the kicker- with Star out of business, and parts supplies minimal to non-existent, if a part fails I am pretty much fixed with a nice paperweight, single-shot, whatever.

I understand that predicting failure is a tough challenge, but I am thinking historically, how often has this model failed, or experienced parts breaking?

Thank you
 
Regarding the magazines, this is from a Star Firearms tribute page:

http://star-firearms.com/info/mags.shtml

Models 28, 30 & 31

The 28/30/31 series can use Smith & Wesson 59xx (eg: 5906, 5946) magazines with no modification. Note that this only applies to magazines of exact factory configuration. Many aftermarket magazines are somewhat squarer on the front, so will not fit in the Star pistols.
Click to expand...
 
I had a Star Model 28 and that gun was built like a tank. I believe it was adopted as the standard sidearm of the Spanish Army.Bought it mostly to use as my car gun. My main concern at the time wasn't parts breakage but finding extra magazines. Tried a lot of different places but couldn't find any. Eventually I traded it in on another 9mm.
 
They were a sturdy pistol, but anything can break & if it does, as you note- you're outa luck with that one.
I'd pass.
Denis
 
I, personally, would never worry about parts breakage on a gun.

1. It happens rarely.
2. If it does, it's not worthless. Post it on Gunbroker and I guarantee you someone will buy it even broken.
3. If it does break, if it's your ONLY gun just go buy another one. I'd wager though that MOST people on this board have more than one handgun and if you needed another one you have something else to fall back on.

I mean, if the gun is fragile enough that you worry about it literally breaking a part when you need it (ie, junk like Jennings or Lorcin), then sure, avoid it. But worrying about obtaining parts? I wouldn't.

In many years of shooting and owning dozens of guns I've only had one gun break and become inoperable - the trigger snapped in two on my Ruger Std .22LR.
 
Like the 30m it is a tank. I believe it takes the same mags as the 30M. ProMags will work reliably with one slight modification. There is a dimple on the side of the mag for the hold open. On the ProMag it sticks out too far and binds on the mag well. All you need to do is take a punch and tap the dimple slightly and the mag can be inserted and removed properly and the hold open remains functional.
 
Pass.

BUT...I'd get the magazine for the S&W 59, then a good used S&W 659/5906 to go with it. Sadly, some of the first things that go in an auto are the springs. S&W autos have springs that will be around for quite some time. And parts.

The Stars had great reputations; I just wouldn't get an obsolete pistol with one magazine. Besides, the S&W second- and third-generation pistols rock!
 
The Star 28, 30, and 31 all use the same magazines. Promag and Triple K also made magazines but they will probably need some modification before they work right. The model 59 magazines also fit but have no provision for deactivating the mag safety. You will need to disconnect the mag safety permanently or modify the 59 mags.

These pistols were some of the best built pistols Star made and aren't likely to break but if they do it will most likely be a firing pin or worn out spring. Something any gunsmith can easily handle. Of the 28, 30, and 31, the 31 is the most refined in its design. Its the most reliable and strongest of the three. Although any of the three would be a good gun.
 
I've recently purchased both a Star 30MI and 28PK. Both wonderful shooters and I'm not planning on putting a lot of rounds through them...and certainly nothing more than 124 gr. FMJ. (Both are range guns.)

That said, I have a couple of S&W 39 and 59 series guns and while parts for them are easier to find than for Stars, they too are out of production.

If I were giving advice (which I guess I am) I'd go with one or two of the older Smiths first. The 5906 are a great bargain these days, are also built like a tank, and shoot like crazy. I'd look at the "value" pistols like the 908 and 910 as well...excellent shooters and excellent value. Plus, just for nostalgia, a gun in the 39 series. Probably a 39-2.

If your tastes absolutely run to the Iberian Peninsula, don't overlook the Astra line. All steel model 70's (SA single stacks) or the A-100 double stack SA/DA trigger. Well made and fully functional even in today's environment.

Good luck....
 
Don't know the price, but I'd try to buy a new CZ-75B, instead. Or a Beretta M-92FS. You may be able to find a good used one.

A man I used to know wrote the review of the Star M-28 for a very well known gun magazine. He told me that the importer had to send him three examples, because all had flaws. Yet, he was told to gloss over them, and when the article appeared, the M-28 was the cover gun! The M-28 miserably failed the US trials that resulted in adoption of the Beretta M-9.

I think the reason for the M-30 was to iron out problems with the M-28. The M-31 was just a shorter M-30, basically.

I'd be very concerned about broken firing pins with all Star guns. Maybe extractors, too. But Interarms used to advertise that a commercial range had over 93,000 (?) rounds through a rental M-30. I called that range. They confirmed, but said that by then, the gun had probably been fired over 100,000 rounds. But they said that a few parts had been replaced as they broke. I don't recall what. He said that Interarms supported the guns very well. But that company is now gone. So is Star.
 
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