Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunter's Campfire Range Report: Star BM

Our LGS had these on sale a few weeks ago for $220, and one followed me home. Not sure exactly how that happened, but it did. I suppose that we will have these available for a while, and then the supply will dry up.

Origin: Spain, where it saw service with the military and the police.

Design: Borrows heavily from the 1911, but chambered in 9mm Luger. SAO. Apparently, often used in motion pictures to represent the 1911.

Size: Almost the same outer dimensions as the Springfield XDs with the Springfield 8 round mag.

Barrel: 3.8", which is 1/2" longer than the XDs.

Weight: Pretty heavy. It's an all steel design.

Safety: Left side thumb safety, like the 1911. Safety also locks the slide.

Capacity: 8 rounds.

Accuracy: Pretty good. From a rest, 3" groups at 15 yards. The XDs is a little better than that.

Trigger: Quite a nice trigger. Much better than the original XDs factory trigger. In fact, better than the XDs trigger after new springs and polishing.

Replacement magazines: Real original magazines run about $40. But for $20, you can buy a P225 magazine and make a couple of minor modifications. Modification consists of painting silver Sharpie on the right front of the magazine body, and inserting the body into the mag well. The magazine catch will leave a scratch that shows exactly where to extend the existing catch point with a Dremel tool. Remove the rubber boot on the bottom of the magazine, and sand about 1/8" off the top. If you want the magazine to freely eject, you might give it a little squeeze in a vise to skinny it down a few thousandths.

Bottom line: Very much worth the price. Probably too heavy to carry well, but a good home or car defensive gun. Very pleasant to shoot at the range. Seems like it might be a reliable, well-made item. Check with me in 5 years, and I'll have a better assessment.

Like this one denton?

My friend bought one of those from Bud's a year ago. He and I were both very surprised with it. Very reliable, accurate, easy to shoot handgun.

Cool!!!

Alantic Firearms has a bunch of surplus pistols on their site

Check em out.

I remember when Star was selling a lot of those new back in the late 70's, or so. They were one of the early compact 1911 style compact pistols. They also made a model PD which was in .45 ACP with an aluminum frame.

Orange okie.....

A lot like that, but with more "character".

Mine probably looked like that 40 years ago.

j & g sales has them too, along with replacement wood grips and spare magazines, less than the 40bucks mentioned.

My wife shoots a PD and loves it. It’s a quality .45 that shoots well. I think they are underrated.

Yes. They were the go-to gun for a 45 more compact than a Commander if you couldn't afford a Detonics. Then Colt finally came out with the Officer's Model.

Had one in 45 , really liked it , surprisingly accurate . Guy I bought it from came back crying his wife was bitching him out for selling it , it was a gift . So I reluctantly let him buy it back . Reluctantly I say .
Kenneth

I like the old Firestars. I have one in .40. One of the earlier "pocket rockets".
I just wish they had grip safeties so they didn't need a holster.