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  #1  
Old 07-21-2018, 05:16 PM
Richard Simmons Richard Simmons is offline
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Been looking for one of these for close to 10 years and today I stumbled onto this one out of the blue.



It came with one mag which I think is a Triple K. Cleaned up very nice. The pic above was taken right after I got in my truck after leaving the gun store. Will post more later this weekend. The buffer is in good shape, looks like a newer replacement so I'll hit the range tomorrow.

Proof code puts it as a 1985 model. I'd like a few more mags. Originals seem to be a bit on the expensive side and hard to find. Most are used. Are the Triple K mags any good? Depending on how it performs tomorrow I'm thinking I might order a Wolff spring kit. Will also order a few more buffers regardless.

So far it feeds ball just fine from the mag when hand cycled. I've always thought the PD was a great little CCW piece and I passed on one 10 years ago and regretted it ever since. Real happy so far that the hunt is finally over
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Old 07-21-2018, 05:18 PM
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Today's your day. Enjoy your purchase. Go buy a lottery ticket.
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Old 07-21-2018, 05:19 PM
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Oh man, that is nice! Congrats on a great gun!
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Old 07-21-2018, 05:46 PM
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Back in the 1980s a friend had one that shot like a target pistol and rarely or never jammed. I told him if he ever wanted to sell it bring it to me. Without warning me he dumped it at a gun show. Afterward he explained that like a used car he did not want a friend telling him about his old car's break downs.

Eventually I bought a PD then parted with it after buying a S&W Model 4516-1. I'll hunt around for left over PD magazines.
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Old 07-21-2018, 05:52 PM
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One of the pistols I regret selling, in order to purchase something I can’t remember.
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Old 07-21-2018, 06:04 PM
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Years ago I was in a pawn shop while a guy was pawning his PD. I knew the guy and knew he would never come back for it. If I could have been in there 5 minutes earlier, I could have bought it for more than he pawned it for. Another missed opportunity.
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Old 07-21-2018, 06:13 PM
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There's one at my LGS for $450. I keep thinking about it, but haven't been motivated to buy yet. If it was $100 less it would be at home already.
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Old 07-21-2018, 06:13 PM
Qc Pistolero Qc Pistolero is offline
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This gun is a sleeper.People don't know how good they are until they try or buy one.I'm glad for you;you made a good buy.
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Old 07-21-2018, 06:24 PM
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I had 2 of the PD's and a few of their little brothers BKM's. They are a fantastic 45 that is Carry Comfortable! Mine were both later units. The early unit's frame cracked above the slide stop hole on the left side. Star found this had no ill effect on the gun's operation, but for cosmetic reasons, they added the cut during manufacture. I had a total of 8 mags, I too will see if any are in hiding.

A little over 25 years ago I got rid of any 45 that didn't use a 1911 mag or a 220 Sig mag (That was seven 45's). Shortly thereafter I got rid of any 45 that didn't shoot Hydra-Shoks to the sights (that was two 45's) That only left me with 23 guns that shot one ammo dead-on! My sons each received one for their 21st birthday, and sold off a few more (9), leaving me with 11. I would normally say I need more, but I proved to myself "Need" is a useless word!

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Old 07-21-2018, 06:26 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by dr. mordo View Post
There's one at my LGS for $450. I keep thinking about it, but haven't been motivated to buy yet. If it was $100 less it would be at home already.
I traded mine in for $300 each-25 years ago. In good shape I'd bite if I was in the market!

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Old 07-21-2018, 06:43 PM
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Heads up, the early version had a polymer recoil buffer that would split and bind in the recoil spring. The buffers can still be found, the later PD’s got a redesigned recoil spring guide.
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Old 07-21-2018, 06:50 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by 27 Man View Post
Years ago I was in a pawn shop while a guy was pawning his PD. I knew the guy and knew he would never come back for it. If I could have been in there 5 minutes earlier, I could have bought it for more than he pawned it for. Another missed opportunity.
I hate it when that happens in a pawnshop. Missed a 1960's dated Enfield No.1 from India in much the same manner.

To get back on topic, I have the PD's big brother, a Megastar. It's about the most unconcealable weapon short of a 155mm howitzer.
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Old 07-21-2018, 07:12 PM
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Back around 1977, a friend of mine had a Star PD. It shot very well. One day at the range, we were shooting it and had shot up all of our .45 ACP ammo. I got to digging around in the bottom of my ditty bag and found about 12 rounds of ACP loaded with Keith 255 grain semi wadcutters. These were left over from when I had a 1917 S&W and half moon clips.

I figured we could load them up in the magazine and then manually feed them. Nope, everyone of them feed like round nose ball ammo. I was amazed! And they grouped pretty good too!
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Old 07-21-2018, 07:45 PM
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Her she is all clean and ready for the range tomorrow.



Was thinking a CCW this small in a caliber this big needs a little more than your average EDC blade.



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Old 07-21-2018, 07:45 PM
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Her she is all clean and ready for the range tomorrow.



Was thinking a CCW this small in a caliber this big needs a little more than your average EDC blade.



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Old 07-22-2018, 07:11 AM
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As I mentioned earlier, magazines for this gun are some what difficult and or expensive. While gathering info I ran across a statement that S&W Model 457 mags work great in the PD.

Don't have any 457 mags so I can't confirm this. Anyone else heard this or have both the mags and the gun and can check please?

I'm finding 457 mags priced more in line with after market PD mags than the more expensive factory mags. I'm also presuming that the quality of the S&W mags would be better than after market.
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Old 07-22-2018, 08:53 AM
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The PD is one that’s on my BOLO list.
FYI Jack First has the buffers.
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Old 07-22-2018, 09:33 AM
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Quote:
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The PD is one that’s on my BOLO list.
FYI Jack First has the buffers.
Thanks. I found his website. There are some listed on eBay and or Gunbroker that are cheaper, mostly because JF charges a minimum shipping charge of $10.60. Can get three delivered for less than the price of one from JF.
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Last edited by Richard Simmons; 07-22-2018 at 10:34 AM.
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Old 07-23-2018, 05:04 PM
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Just wondering if anyone had any input regarding the use of S&W M457 mags or any other mag options?
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Old 07-23-2018, 07:08 PM
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You can use 1911 mags, just takes a little file
Work. Got mine in 1980. Still got it. first
45 I ever had.
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Old 07-24-2018, 12:30 AM
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S&W Model 457s use the same magazines as 4516-1s and later dashes. I owned my Star PD and my 4516-1 at the same time. Their magazines sure looked different. The S&W holds 7 rounds and the Star a smaller number that I'd have to look up. I was waiting for a member who knew for certain to post they do not interchange. In a round about way serger did that.
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You can use 1911 mags, just takes a little file
Work. Got mine in 1980. Still got it. first
45 I ever had.
Model 1911 magazines do not work in Model 4516s regardless of dash number. 25 years ago, like most Stars, PDs came with one magazine and new factory magazines were $40. You must have a GI Joe .45 1911 magazine you can hold next to your PD magazine. Please post the comparison.

How did it group and was it reliable?

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Old 07-24-2018, 06:10 AM
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I do have some GI mags and will check. Ended up having company over on Sunday so missed the range. Forgot how noisy a two year old can be. Going to the range might have been quieter but until we get great grandchildren little ones in the house are few and far between so I'm kinda glad I skipped shooting this once.
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Old 07-24-2018, 05:02 PM
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Nice find! From the markings it appears to be a Interarms import. Good news there, the early PD's were imported by Garcia. Star would get a bit lax with heat treatments on their guns, PD's included and the PD's got a bad rap for awhile. Interarms wanted to import them if they would get the heat treatment right and they did. I had two of them and wish I did not trade em off way back. Enjoy that one!
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