otis24
Member
Any thoughts on the Star BM 9mm? Decent quality??? Reliability?
Star BM 9mm?
- Thread starter otis24
- Start date
I have one. Ejection is a problem. Finding parts is a problem. I think a new ejector and spring would solve the problem.
I have one and like it. Haven't had any problems with it. Only paid around $200 for it. There was a long thread about it early this year. IIRC the consensus was very positive.
Seen a few reviews of the Star BM formerly issued pistol to Spain's military and police and they were all positive. Steel frame single stack 9mm, parts appear to be available. Like most LE handguns will show some wear but usually have low to moderate round count.
I've had one for a few years now, and really like it. All steel! I am not an auto jammer lover, have no plastic pistols, but the Star is fun to shoot, never had a hicup with it. In fact, just today was at a gun store and the owner keeps one there and his has some nice grips and am thinking of getting some different ones for mine.
I bought one and liked it a lot. Think of it as a right sized 1911 for 9mm with a bobbed heel that makes it very nice for concealed carry and an external extractor.
For comparison purposes, the Star BM is bottom right, along with various 1911s in different sizes:
And here is one along side a Micro 9. The Micro nine is smaller and lighter but the Star BM holds more rounds and is much easier to shoot at speed give the heavier weight and better grip.
And here is a Star BM alongside an officer framed 1911. It’s not obvious but the Star BM is also a little slimmer overall.
Everyone always wails “they don’t make spare parts, what will you do when it breaks!?!?”
Really? I’ve been shooting since I was 6, and I’ve owned handguns since I was 18. I’ve shot a lot of rounds, upwards of 30,000 rounds in the years I shot practical pistol and with the exception of the last couple years, I normally shot 300 rounds a week minimum with handguns.
I’ve never had a hand gun break. None. Not one.
Now…part of that is because:
-I don’t do stupid things like a 2000, 3000 or 5000 round challenges, but instead clean and lubricate them after I shoot them, and weekly for my carry guns.
- I don’t work on them without the right tools and if I am not sure how something disassembles or assembles, I pull up a schematic for it, look in one of the many gun smithing books I have, or look it up on the internet;
- I change the recoil springs on most of my pistols every 800 rounds unless the manual specifically lists a longer interval;
- I don’t change the engineering by messing with the recoil spring weight and hammer spring weights, unless I have a very specific purpose and then I ensure the combination of recoil and hammer spring weights will properly manage the recoil without beating the slide or frame with excessive slide velocity forward or backward; and
- while I have handloaded for 46 years and rarely buy factory ammo, I am very diligent about my loading practices.
But a bigger part of it is that most handguns, are very durable and reliable provided you don’t abuse them.
——
That said the last time they were being imported they were inexpensive, so I bought two of them.
Then I acquired a third when I traded a total POC S&W Body Guard .380 ACP for it after a single unsatisfying range session with the S&W.
In short, mine are well made, have been accurate, pleasant to shoot and have been very reliable even with hollow points.
Prices have gone up slightly, but they are still a great bang for the buck, selling in the $300-$330 range for nice examples and in the $240-$250 range for less nice examples.
For comparison purposes, the Star BM is bottom right, along with various 1911s in different sizes:
And here is one along side a Micro 9. The Micro nine is smaller and lighter but the Star BM holds more rounds and is much easier to shoot at speed give the heavier weight and better grip.
And here is a Star BM alongside an officer framed 1911. It’s not obvious but the Star BM is also a little slimmer overall.
Everyone always wails “they don’t make spare parts, what will you do when it breaks!?!?”
Really? I’ve been shooting since I was 6, and I’ve owned handguns since I was 18. I’ve shot a lot of rounds, upwards of 30,000 rounds in the years I shot practical pistol and with the exception of the last couple years, I normally shot 300 rounds a week minimum with handguns.
I’ve never had a hand gun break. None. Not one.
Now…part of that is because:
-I don’t do stupid things like a 2000, 3000 or 5000 round challenges, but instead clean and lubricate them after I shoot them, and weekly for my carry guns.
- I don’t work on them without the right tools and if I am not sure how something disassembles or assembles, I pull up a schematic for it, look in one of the many gun smithing books I have, or look it up on the internet;
- I change the recoil springs on most of my pistols every 800 rounds unless the manual specifically lists a longer interval;
- I don’t change the engineering by messing with the recoil spring weight and hammer spring weights, unless I have a very specific purpose and then I ensure the combination of recoil and hammer spring weights will properly manage the recoil without beating the slide or frame with excessive slide velocity forward or backward; and
- while I have handloaded for 46 years and rarely buy factory ammo, I am very diligent about my loading practices.
But a bigger part of it is that most handguns, are very durable and reliable provided you don’t abuse them.
——
That said the last time they were being imported they were inexpensive, so I bought two of them.
Then I acquired a third when I traded a total POC S&W Body Guard .380 ACP for it after a single unsatisfying range session with the S&W.
In short, mine are well made, have been accurate, pleasant to shoot and have been very reliable even with hollow points.
Prices have gone up slightly, but they are still a great bang for the buck, selling in the $300-$330 range for nice examples and in the $240-$250 range for less nice examples.
So long as you purchase for a reasonable price (BB57 laid that out well), you'll be able to get your money back if it's not for you. They do have a remarkable following.
One of my good friends whose opinions I generally trust (whether we agree or not!) carries one, and has for a couple of decades. They're good guns if that's what you're looking for, and you can afford to buy a couple of extras if you're worried about parts (I wouldn't be!).
One of my good friends whose opinions I generally trust (whether we agree or not!) carries one, and has for a couple of decades. They're good guns if that's what you're looking for, and you can afford to buy a couple of extras if you're worried about parts (I wouldn't be!).
HOUSTON RICK
Member
LVSteve
Member
Mine works. Nice trigger, all steel, heavy little bugger, about the same as a HiPower. I stick to standard pressure ammo because of its age and the fact that +P and 9mm NATO were not a thing when Star designed the BM.
SGT ROCK 11B
Member
Star Model BM - Wikipedia
Star BM were made 1972-1992. My remembrances from 50 years ago they were cheap pistols and they will not feed JHPs without a professional gunsmith to clean it up.
Save your money for something nicer. JMHO
Star BM were made 1972-1992. My remembrances from 50 years ago they were cheap pistols and they will not feed JHPs without a professional gunsmith to clean it up.
Save your money for something nicer. JMHO
SGT ROCK 11B
Member
Nice critique but how many rounds do you have downrange with them?
Hindsight is always 20/20 and in hindsight I wish I had bought one (or more) of these when they were in every LGS gun case in town for <$200.
These days if you can even find one, they are generally in the $300-$350 price-range around here.
I have a couple of other Star manufactured pistols and their quality seems to be up to par. I just wish I had bought 1 or 2 of these when they were flooding the local market.
Oh well, we all live and learn....
These days if you can even find one, they are generally in the $300-$350 price-range around here.
I have a couple of other Star manufactured pistols and their quality seems to be up to par. I just wish I had bought 1 or 2 of these when they were flooding the local market.
Oh well, we all live and learn....
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DUSTYDOGDAN
Member
I bought 2 back when they were $180 to $200. Both functioned good but one would not hold open on the last round once and a while. There are parts on Fleebay. I like the pistols and was happy I got them when they were a good deal.
I’ve owned all three of mine for about 5 years now. I carried one on each end of my weekly commute to northern VA. I didn’t shoot the NoVa gun much beyond the initial 200 rounds I normally put through a carry pistol. I shot it at the NRA headquarters range a few times, but I only had to endure 2 pays per pay period in DC.
The other two were each fired for the same 200 round reliability test and then were fired around 50 rounds each every week or two for from late summer into December, so let’s conservatively say 8 range trips and 400 rounds through each.
That’s:
- 200 rounds on one;
- 600 rounds on each of the others.
So 1400 rounds to that point.
I then ended up in MN for 8 months where I carried one or the other of them daily and shot one of them on weekly range trips 50-100 rounds per trip. I did miss a week here and there, so let’s say 34 weeks and averaging 75 rounds per trip. That’s roughly and conservatively 2550 rounds, or about 850 rounds each.
They still get shot on occasion, and carried now and then, although I started carrying a slightly lighter handgun after I moved back to NC full time.
But that’s in the 4000 round neighborhood, split between the three of them.
My impression of all three of mine is that they were not shot much or even carried all that much in Spanish police/military service.
Picked one up a few years ago. No complaints. Been reliable with FMJ, haven't tried any hollow points and doubt I will. Decent trigger, decent accuracy, quite heavy but that makes for mild shooting. I like it and have no regrets buying it. Have not used it in the carry rotation. Not why I bought it and I have many other things for that use. Just wish Century used a smaller import stamp. Would have been nice if they left the Guardia Civile markings but I'm guessing that was the Spaniard's idea. Not unusual on European surplus, especially law enforcement surplus.
What OWB holster do you guys use. Last Reno, Nv. gunshow I picked up an El Paso .45 M1911 that fits the gun. The holster is fully flower stamped, new and cost $100. I actually walked around with the Star looking for a holster.
Ivan the Butcher
Member
I owned a BM and a BKM (alloy frame), they both worked fine. I shot hundreds of Winchester Silver Tip Hollow Points through them and never had a problem, and never had to repair anything about 1990 I divested of all my semi-auto 9mm and kept the full auto.
Ivan
Ivan
Trooper224
Member
They were a solid option when very few options existed. Spare parts can be hard to find if the need arises, so keep that in mind if you're inclined to shot it on the regular. But, as an occasional range gun or a just because gun, there's no downside.
