Star BM--Wow

[Cosmoline]

I recently picked up in trade a beat up old Star BM, 1979 Spanish police issue. I wasn't expecting much from it, but I read some good reports here and took it out to the range over the weekend. The results were very impressive. I fired a mix of 9x19 loads from my old ammo boxes, about 350 rounds total. The only problem I had with it was gripping it too high, because I'm used to shooting wheelguns. So I got bit a few times by the hammer, but nothing serious. It was enough to cause me to flinch and cause a partial stovepipe. I somehow grabbed the brass with the slide by pulling back really fast after the scrape. It barely constitutes a jam, and took half a second to clear. I suspect it may need a new ejector at some point, though. The ejection seemed a little weak. Most of the brass ended up on my table or just to the side of it.

Accuracy was good. Like most military or surplus police firearms this one is sighted in further out than typical CCW iron. About 25 meters. So it hits high at ten yards, but not so high as to be a problem.

It ate the standard 9x19 ball well, as well as heavy ball and heavy hydro-shock and Ranger.

The size is just right for my stubby hands. It would make an ideal SA pistol for a woman or small handed shooter.

I'm currently wearing it in a double shoulder rig with my SP101. I'm much better with the wheelgun so that's still my main go-to handgun. But who knows I may swap it out as I get better with the Star. I'm also looking for good IWB leather.

I can't say it's going to win any beauty contests, though:

 

[XavierBreath]

For an under $200 pistol, the Star BM is a definite best buy! I like the Star Modelo B as well!

 

[George Hill]

See, its because of guns like these out there on the market... I see no reason for Hi Points. None at all.

 

[White Horseradish]

George, here's your reason. http://thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=201782

I've had this problem for months. Had I had it with a Hi-Point, I would have just sent it to the factory and got back a working one. Lifetime warranty and all that.

Care to tell me where I could send my Star for a free fix?

 

[jagdpanzer347]

Hey Cosmo, thanks for the review. I've been contemplating purchasing an inexpensive 9mm for a while. The Star is on my short list. Any idea how parts/magazine availability is? What about long term durability?

-jagd

 

[Hacker15E]

Any idea how parts/magazine availability is? What about long term durability?

Parts availability is definitely the pistol's weakest point. If you're looking for parts at your local gun shop, you're not going to find anything. Even Brownell's and the like don't really carry much of anything. If you look on the 'net, though, there are ample supplies of the specific parts that generally need to be replaced on the BM (extractors, etc).

As for durability...they are right up there with any other steel auto. There are widespread rumors of "soft steel" in them, which is probably not true. I own two of them and have run a thousand or so rounds through each of them since purchasing them surplus back in March. I have literally had zero problems with either of them with any ammo (FMJ or HP) that I've fed them -- no FTE, FTF, nothing.

I've posted this on THR before, but I still like showing off "my pair"; I highly recommend picking one (or two!!) up.

 

[Forrest]

Parts are a bit iffy. I was able to get a few spares from Gun Parts Corp a year or so ago, but they did not have all that I wanted. Aftermarket mags as sold by Gun Parts Corp were not impressive at all. They worked after just minor tweaking but are lighter gauge than original and follower design is majorly different than originals.

I was able to get a good mag recently at a local pawnshop. It must have some history. In a blister hang card marked Interarms, it is a nickle plated mag with follower the same as Star mags have. $35 but worth it.

For long term durability: it's a good gun, made fairly well quite a while ago. Don't expect parts support. Shoot it enough for familiarity only, that's about the niche that it fills. Worse than a J-frame Smith in that regard. Bottom line though, I trust mine. It serves a purpose when a Commander is too big.

 

[Erich]

Want to see a nice Star BM? Check out the photos of the one featured in this thread - "before" and "after" close ups are down around post #15. List of work done to the pistol by a board member gunsmith is in the thread as well.

http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=201537

 

[Cosmoline]

That's some amazing work.

As far as spare parts, I'm just going to buy another one

 

[Detachment Charlie]

I've had one of these little pistols for about two years and love it. Got two extra mags for it (nickle followers) and it eats anything. Now carrying pow-R-Balls in it.

But, guys, it's the trigger. Hi-buck, custom 1911's can't match the trigger on mine. Hell, my S&W Model 10 shot single action has a hard time coming close to being this sweet.

For a small 9mm, it's tad heavy. Also, cocked and locked really isn't too smart with this pistol. It's my #2 carry piece (XD45 is #1 -- more and bigger holes ).

But, I LOVE my Star BM.

 

[Juna]

I shot a Star Model B (bigger than the BM), and I loved it. It was beat up and ugly as sin, so I was expecting it to shoot accordingly, but man was I surprised at how nicely it shot. The only thing that kept me from buying it on the spot was lack of parts availability and service. Were it not for that, I'd own that Star today, and it would have been my first gun.

 

[Cosmoline]

I did a little holster shopping and found to my surprise that a medium size Uncle Mike's IWB is the best concealment method for it. I keep it at five o'clock with the clip of my suspenders hooked over the soft holster. The suspenders themselves take the weight of the holster extremely well. I was thinking about going with a Jackass rig, but I'd keep running into the same problems with my cover shirt blowing open while riding my bike.

Not too bad for a pistol I got in exchange for some spare ammo and a holster that cost $8!

 

[Sam]

I have never needed any parts for my Star. Admittedly the firing pins WERE a weak point. Star updated the design on them quite a while ago. Older pins(non inertial) can be upgraded to the new style in about an hour. Any smith with a clue can make you one from scratch in about the same time.

There is enough meat on a Star extractor to recut it 2-3 times if you wear it out which is unlikely. It too can be made by a competant smith for a hours labor and a dime worth of steel.

Original magazines can be found, usually need resprung, generally run about $20 plus the cost of springs.

Do NOT in any way pamper the thing. None of this shoot for familiarity only business. You are not going to wear it out. Sorry, that's just sort of how it is. I don't know how many thousand have been through mine now but it is a lot.

Det Charlie,
Cocked and locked with a Star is SAFER than with a 1911. Examine the mechanism very closely and you will see why.

Sam

 

[tracer]

Passing this on Mike at 704 739 2150 has some Star parts.
tracer

 

[PX15]

JMO:

Two of the absolute best pistol buys available today.....

My Star BM has been fantastic, and so has the Walther P1. I paid $139 (more or less) for the Star and $199 for the Walther.. (add tax, etc.)

Best Wishes,

J. Pomeroy