Firestar Model 30MI and S&W 59 Mags

S&W59 · Oct 13, 2018

I picked up this beauty today at a local pawn for $275. Its a Firestar Mod 30MI, an extremely interesting little 9mm pistol that has some of the oddest features. Its safety disengages the firing pin but has no effect on the trigger or hammer, you can single or double action the hammer with it engaged. It has a magazine safety. It completely disassembles with absolutely no tools. The firing group (hammer, spring, disconnector, etc) are modular to the gun and comes out as a unit. The ONLY screw in this gun is the mag release button retainer. The rear sight is user-adjustable with a jeweler's screwdriver. The factory magazine is blued steel but it has a metal follower.

Now here's the question. I have read on a couple sites that original S&W 59 magazines work in this pistol. I have one such magazine with my Gen 1 S&W 59 but I am loathe to dig it out of storage. I tried my 5906 magazine and it won't fit. Anyone have any solid experience in this matter?

Sevens · Oct 13, 2018

I've got a Star 30MI as well. The magazine has the same dimensions and could be made to work, but the S&W magazines don't defeat the magazine disconnect.

So they won't simply "grab and go" but I believe they can be altered -- or you need to remove the pistol's magazine disconnect safety.

I can definitely say that Star Model 30/31 magazines are scarce and pricey.

LVSteve · Oct 13, 2018

S&W59 said:
I picked up this beauty today at a local pawn for $275. Its a Firestar Mod 30MI, an extremely interesting little 9mm pistol that has some of the oddest features.

Little??

Have you weighed it yet?

IIRC, the slot in the S&W magazine requires filing to work in a Star 30. Google is your friend regarding the details.

Edited to add:

Star Firearms : Information on Magazines

Note that it says only S&W original mags work, not aftermarket.

jmace57 · Oct 13, 2018

I have one (and used to have 2). They are great to shoot. So "beefy" there is almost no recoil.

I have bought repro magazines (Triple-K) on-line relatively inexpensively, but I had read on a Spanish firearms forum that you almost always had to modify them. That is what I discovered as well. They seat fine, but are too tight to eject when you release...and you have to REALLY get a good grip on them to pull them out. I smoothed them out on the side with a Dremel tool, basically taking away the layer of paint and a tiny bit more, and they work fine.

Walter Rego · Oct 13, 2018

I have a Star Model 30M. Being a resident of a state that does not allow the sale of magazines that are over 10 rounds except to LE agencies I have had to make do with what I can buy. I know that there will be some that bash ProMags but here is my experience:
First, you do not want to remove the mag safety. Personally I hate them and remove them when I can but if you field strip the pistol and look at the lever that is part of the mag safety you will see that it supports a thin part of the frame so just leave it in and live with it.
Now, the challenge will be to adjust the little tab on the right side of the mag that is punched through from the inside of the mag body that trips the mag safety and allows the trigger to be pulled. My experience has only been with the 10 round ProMags but both jammed in the grip frame when I tried to insert them into the gun because that little tab was binding. What I did was stripped the mag body of the floorplate, spring and follower, whittled a piece of hardwood to fit inside the mag body just behind the tab that is punched through and to support the mag body, and then gently tapped the little tab with a brass punch to lower the amount that is sticks out of the mag body. With the gun field stripped you will be able to observe the tab binding in the mag well and when it trips the mag safety lever. Mine only took a couple thousandths of an inch of adjustment. If you pound the tab back inward too hard it won't trip the mag safety so go slow and observe.
I have adjusted three of the ProMags and they function 100%. Good luck with it, the Star Model 30 series guns are built like tanks and while not exactly something that you would slip into your waistband for a CCW, they are rugged and well made service pistols.

Stevie · Oct 14, 2018

I bought some original Star 30 mags from Numerich earlier this year

Jaymo · Oct 14, 2018

I've always wanted one of those.
Star made great pistols.
I regret selling my BM to a friend.
I've owned 2 M45 Firestars. Sold one to buy a Maadi AK (that I ended up selling).
Bought the second M45 to replace my original one.
Would love to have a Megastar in 10mm and .45, and another BM.
Always wanted a 30M.

The only guns that I can actually say I know for a fact take 59 series mags without alteration are the Daewoo DP51/Lionheart series, and the Marlin Camp Carbine. IIRC, the Kel-Tec P11 takes them, too, but I've never tried it.

I feel your pain on Star mags.
If I'd never sold my original M45, I'd have more than two mags for it. They are not cheap or abundant.

Walter Rego · Oct 14, 2018

Here is one taken apart showing the modular construction and major groups as S&W59 describes. There was an ad in one of the firearm rags back around 1990 about a pair of Model 30's that were used as rentals at an indoor firing range in Northridge CA. Both had in excess of 75,000 rounds through them and were still going strong.

DumpStick · Oct 16, 2018

I've got a Star 30 MI, that I purchased new back around 1988. I actually shot it so much I shot the barrel out, sent it back and they replaced the barrel for me. That must have been around 1993 or so.

I purchased an extra factory mag back during the Clinton administration, paid $40 back then.

I have a few of the 59 series mags that I obtained to use in that Star, but I never got around to seeing if they fit. I don't shoot it as much as I used to, and I suppose I didn't feel the need.

Racer X · Oct 16, 2018

I have both a 5906 and a 6906, as well as a P-11. Yes the S&W mags work fine. It's best if you get +10% Wolff mag springs though. The short light fast moving P-11 slide can move faster than a tired stock S&W mag spring can lift a round. YMMV.

scoobysnacker · Oct 18, 2018

Congrats on the MI, I have one and it's a great gun!

If you retain the magazine safety, then no, a stock 5906 mag will not work. I've checked with mine. Like was posted above, I also read somewhere that in this case, it's best to leave the safety alone.

Funny story about how I got my spare mag...
I own quite a few different pistols, so I look around at "unknown" magazine listings on gunbroker and the like. They tend to be cheap, and if you own enough different guns, there's a good chance you can find something that fits one of your guns.

I had a couple that fit various guns, then got a mag for around $10 that wouldn't fit anything I had at the time. A little research told me it was a Star, with the telltale tab on the side. A little more research told me I got a great price on the mag, and the pistol was worth owning if you could find mags... so I went and bid on/bought a 30MI for about $300.

scoobysnacker · Oct 18, 2018

Walter Rego said:
Here is one taken apart showing the modular construction and major groups as S&W59 describes. There was an ad in one of the firearm rags back around 1990 about a pair of Model 30's that were used as rentals at an indoor firing range in Northridge CA. Both had in excess of 75,000 rounds through them and were still going strong.

That's a nice image of the removable hammer assembly. That's a nice design, makes it easy to work on things.

I like the Tokarev design too, the assembly just rides in the frame and lifts out with no effort at all.

dogngun · Oct 22, 2018

Had one years ago and sold it, like a fool...MOST accurate DA service pistol I ever owned...a very well made if large pistol. There were mags available at the time, probably from Numrich or maybe Sarco.
Good luck - enjoy.

Firestar Model 30MI and S&W 59 Mags

S&W59

Member

Attachments

Sevens

Member

LVSteve

Member

jmace57

SWCA Member

Walter Rego

Member

Stevie

Member

Jaymo

Member

Walter Rego

Member

Attachments

DumpStick

US Veteran

Racer X

Member

scoobysnacker

Member

scoobysnacker

Member

dogngun

US Veteran

Similar threads

Latest posts