Star Firestar M40
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I am a little surprised when people comment on the weight of the Firestar. I find it easy to carry in an IWB holster. May be it's because I've never owned polymer-frame pistols and most of my shooting experience has been with the Browning hi-power or with steel frame revolvers.
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I got the 9mm version a few years ago as part of a trade. I’m not a big 9mm fan, but did have fun shooting it over the course of several range trips. It was accurate, reliable and very manageable with recoil. I always thought that if you ran out of ammo in a SD scenario, it would make a nice club
I found someone who liked it more than I did, so I traded it. I liked the platform enough that if I ever came across a .40 or .45 at a good price I’d probably buy it. You don’t see them very often.
Is the .40 built on the .45 platform like the 4013 and CS40? If so, it would be a good candidate to turn into a 10mm.
I found someone who liked it more than I did, so I traded it. I liked the platform enough that if I ever came across a .40 or .45 at a good price I’d probably buy it. You don’t see them very often.Is the .40 built on the .45 platform like the 4013 and CS40? If so, it would be a good candidate to turn into a 10mm.
OP
915
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I’ve been carrying it solidly for a little over a week now, and have had the opportunity to put more rounds through it, so here are my thoughts now that I’ve lived with it for a short bit.
I recently held my friend’s Springfield XD and it blew my mind that somehow the thing held 19+1 of 9 mm and weighed less than my Star, even fully loaded. The Firestar is not efficient in utilization of size or weight. It’s the old way of gun making, with a little bit of 80’s ingenuity thrown in.
However, I’ve found during my time on gun forums that there are a surprising number of us that find a lot of appreciation in the old way of doing things, myself included. In the constant quest for the smallest, lightest, highest capacity platform, something was lost. If that ‘something’ appeals to you, the Firestar could be your kind of thing.
It is heavy. If you are used to carrying more modern, lightweight designs, it’s going to feel strange. However, it sure doesn’t weigh as much as my Colt Commander 1911 or my S&W 13-3 3”, and I carry both frequently. With a good rig it carries just fine.
One thing I will note though, is that because of its small size I forget sometimes to watch my hip when I walk past things, and it is so heavy that it doesn’t deflect if I bump into something like a lighter pistol would. I have made a few very unsubtle thuds bumping into walls and doors carrying OWB.
The weight really becomes appreciated during shooting. To be fair, the only other 40 caliber guns I’ve shot were polymer. This gun makes it feel like a 9 mm. It’s a joy to shoot, and has the extra power of the .40 to boot. On the range, this translates into excellent results with no apprehension of the recoil and a great SA trigger. Years ago, I trained a lot on a full size polymer .40 and never had results this good. I credit all of it to the weight and better trigger.
Pictured here with Hornady TAP .40 S&W JHP, has seen many cycles, as can be seen. Good ammunition that was on every shelf a decade ago, long gone in favor of the latest and greatest...much like the Firestar.
Grips are not hard to find but holsters are...odd? However (and unsurprisingly), holsters for all-metal, single stack autos work pretty well. Thanks to one I had laying around and the generous contribution of another forum member (thanks again!), I have several good options.
I can’t comment a great deal as to reliability as I haven’t had it long enough, but this gun seems overbuilt in just about every regard and I have yet to have any sort of failure. I have heard of issues with brittle firing pins and extractors. New, stronger replacements are available, but I’m hoping careful loading and avoidance of dry firing will keep my originals in good shape.
I feel like my post is getting a little long, so I’ll wrap things up. I’ve really come to appreciate having this on my side when I need something compact but don’t want to feel like I have to sacrifice anything but capacity over my larger carry guns. For the record, they are also all-metal and heavy, but there are a lot of us that appreciate that kind of thing.
I’ve seen others say the same thing and I have to mirror it myself...someone should make these again.
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I recently held my friend’s Springfield XD and it blew my mind that somehow the thing held 19+1 of 9 mm and weighed less than my Star, even fully loaded. The Firestar is not efficient in utilization of size or weight. It’s the old way of gun making, with a little bit of 80’s ingenuity thrown in.
However, I’ve found during my time on gun forums that there are a surprising number of us that find a lot of appreciation in the old way of doing things, myself included. In the constant quest for the smallest, lightest, highest capacity platform, something was lost. If that ‘something’ appeals to you, the Firestar could be your kind of thing.
It is heavy. If you are used to carrying more modern, lightweight designs, it’s going to feel strange. However, it sure doesn’t weigh as much as my Colt Commander 1911 or my S&W 13-3 3”, and I carry both frequently. With a good rig it carries just fine.
One thing I will note though, is that because of its small size I forget sometimes to watch my hip when I walk past things, and it is so heavy that it doesn’t deflect if I bump into something like a lighter pistol would. I have made a few very unsubtle thuds bumping into walls and doors carrying OWB.
The weight really becomes appreciated during shooting. To be fair, the only other 40 caliber guns I’ve shot were polymer. This gun makes it feel like a 9 mm. It’s a joy to shoot, and has the extra power of the .40 to boot. On the range, this translates into excellent results with no apprehension of the recoil and a great SA trigger. Years ago, I trained a lot on a full size polymer .40 and never had results this good. I credit all of it to the weight and better trigger.
Pictured here with Hornady TAP .40 S&W JHP, has seen many cycles, as can be seen. Good ammunition that was on every shelf a decade ago, long gone in favor of the latest and greatest...much like the Firestar.
Grips are not hard to find but holsters are...odd? However (and unsurprisingly), holsters for all-metal, single stack autos work pretty well. Thanks to one I had laying around and the generous contribution of another forum member (thanks again!), I have several good options.
I can’t comment a great deal as to reliability as I haven’t had it long enough, but this gun seems overbuilt in just about every regard and I have yet to have any sort of failure. I have heard of issues with brittle firing pins and extractors. New, stronger replacements are available, but I’m hoping careful loading and avoidance of dry firing will keep my originals in good shape.
I feel like my post is getting a little long, so I’ll wrap things up. I’ve really come to appreciate having this on my side when I need something compact but don’t want to feel like I have to sacrifice anything but capacity over my larger carry guns. For the record, they are also all-metal and heavy, but there are a lot of us that appreciate that kind of thing.
I’ve seen others say the same thing and I have to mirror it myself...someone should make these again.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
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Well, there is a reason it was Guns & Ammo magazine’s handgun of the year in 1991. Definitely a solid pistol.
Can you address my question in post# 23? Does it have the proper ejection port dimension and removable magazine spacer to accommodate a 10mm shell? With it’s weight and over engineered construction, it would sure make a sweet concealable single stack 10mm carry piece!
Can you address my question in post# 23? Does it have the proper ejection port dimension and removable magazine spacer to accommodate a 10mm shell? With it’s weight and over engineered construction, it would sure make a sweet concealable single stack 10mm carry piece!
OP
915
Member
Sorry, meant to but completely forgot! Unfortunately, the Firestar is the opposite...parts between the 9 mm and 40 are nearly 100% interchangeable, while the 45 utilizes a larger frame. The 40 has a different barrel and a beefier slide but that’s about it. Even the magazines are interchangeable, with the 40 completely filling it lengthwise.
I agree though...with enough heft, a 10mm in this size would be a real sleeper!
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ShivasIrons
Member
I was in Florida when they pioneered CCW laws back in the 90s. There were not many choices. Small 380s of good and bad manufacture, j frames and the like, Beretta 22s and 25s. The Firestar was a pretty hot ticket then and received a lot of press. It was used by many CCW holders.
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