Star PD .45acp Pistol

[jimmyj]

In my advancing years CCW weight on my hip has become bothersome.
Years ago I had a Star PD .45 Pistol that IIRC (?) had a lightweight frame, thus was lighter to carry.

Has anyone had experence with this model ?

Opinions ?

 

[Tam 3]

Light, accurate, reliable; mine isn't for sale,

Regards,

Tam 3

 

[CAPNJIM01]

I had a friend that had one years ago, more years than I like to think about. Any way it was accurate closeup and didn't kick very much. If you find one at a price you can live with I say get it.

 

[Papa Lee]

Star PD

I had one back in the 90's. No complaints.

 

[ColbyBruce]

I have owned a few of them

Star has been out of business for a good while. Magazines could be costly and difficult to find. The recoil buffers could also be hard to find. The spur hammer was rough on clothing. All of mine functioned well and were reasonably accurate.

Have you considered a S&W Shield .45?

 

[Erich]

When I managed a gun store for a couple years in the late Eighties between college and law school, these were still popular enough (mostly as backups for LEOs) that we kept them in stock. They were pretty nice guns. The downsides of spare magazines and recoil buffers have been mentioned.
One that has not been mentioned yet is the relatively brittle nature of their firing pins: do NOT dry-fire these (or the Star BM/BKMs, either), or you are likely to find yourself in scouring the internet trying to buy a replacement pin.
Because of the parts replacement issues, I haven't given them any thought since the Nineties when Star went out of business. On the whole, I'd opine there are much better and more practical modern arms that fill this compact, light .45 ACP niche (I note I'm wearing a Glock 36 as I type this, and the Shield that was mentioned is a dandy). Recoil on these polymer guns is somewhat less than on the Al-framed Star PD, too, but a .45 ACP probably isn't an issue unless you have grip frailty or reasonably serious arthritis.

 

[oink]

I've never had or shot the Star but I considered it back when they were being imported and were common and cheap. However, there were enough stories out questioning their reliability at the time to keep me away. I have an XDs in .45 that fits the small .45 bill fairly well. I carry it with a factory +1 extended magazine with sleeve. I took the extended magazine with sleeve to my belt sander and rounded the back corner off as far as I could so it wouldn't print too much. No manual safety but it does have a grip safety. The trigger isn't terrible.

 

[xfarfuldog]

I agree with Erich. I love the old third gen Smiths as well as revolvers. I do own a 6906 and 3913. I would love to own a 4566 or a Star. But when it comes to self defense I prefer a modern design where parts and accessories are easily available. Car gun is a Glock 19 or VP9. But carry is a high capacity thin, lightweight Shield +.

 

[robertrwalsh]

I would not go with one for the reasons mentioned above. There are very similar alternates available that are currently in production and have parts, magazines and service available.

 

[Rpg]

In about 1980, a gentleman who used one joined our IPSC club and shot matches with it.

Most of the members were surprised anyone would use one in a match. We were also surprised at how well he did!

 

[LVSteve]

The Star PD has quite a cult following. When a distant relative passed and his stuff was being sold off, the PD was the one everybody wanted. The BKM (alloy version of the BM) also attracted attention. I have a number of Star pistols but I don't shoot them enough to worry about spares. The only Star in 45 I have a is a Megastar, and you probably don't want one of those behemoths as a carry gun.

I agree with others that there are a slew of modern, compact/subcompact polymer 45s that should fill your need.

 

[Dave Baird]

I get hung-up on cult-following guns myself, like the PD45. I guess if you could find one in like new condition, so you know the frame hasn't been battered, you could trust in for CCW. If not, a Shield would be the safest bet?
Dave


I love old guns!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[biku324]

Had one in the 70s but was unimpressed. i haven't seen one in decades.

 

[shawn mccarver]

Jeff Cooper thought highly of the Star PD .45 at one time, but he warned me that the metal was, in some cases, soft. He recommended that after zeroing, load up, and "carry much and shoot very little." Later, he got a Colt Officer's Model .45 ACP, and I am not sure what happened to his Star PD.

All that said, the P365 seems a better choice these days.

 

[swagmeister]

Magazines and parts will be a problem. Had one several years ago and the firing pin broke after I shot a few rounds in it and I did not dry fire it (got it used and the prior owner could have gone overboard with snapping it). Not a firing pin for it to be found anywhere. Dumped it off at a local gunshop with full disclosure of the broken pin and received a small amount of money they gave me for basically a parts gun. I took a real bath on that one. Won't own another one.

 

[majick47]

Star PD on my list, as Jeff Cooper said if used for intended purpose to carry much shoot very little all will be fine. Star PD was never intended to be a high volume range/target pistol, used as a backup and/or a lightweight hard hitting primary weapon when concealment/climate is a major consideration. Checked around for magazines, recoil buffers and firing pins all are available none costing a fortune. Consider the Star PD like a Smith alloy J frame or Colt alloy Cobra/Agent, lightweight and concealable. Just follow the warning re not dry firing and you will be fine.

 

[BLACKHAWKNJ]

Relying on a vintage firearm from a long gone manufacturer not a good idea IMHO for the reasons mentioned.

 

[lihpster]

I have one plus an extra new magazine in the package and a few of the buffers. Never shot it or carried it, myself. I just bought it because you don't see them every day. Thought about making it my truck gun but it just sits there on the shelf. Jimmy, if you're serious about one, let me know via PM. We could probably make a deal.

 

[deputydon]

I have a Star PD in the box w/extra mag. I shot it some years ago. As I recall it shot very well & had no problems. I will keep it until the end. Also had a BM in the box that I recently sold. Not a real big 9mm guy.

-don

 

[SRG]

Carried a Star PD for a few years in early '80's prior to Colt Officer's Model coming out. It was a good serviceable concealed carry gun at the time and the only option for a lightweight .45 ACP. As many have stated, it was designed to carry often and shoot very little. I sold mine shortly after getting my first LW Officer's Model. There are better choices these days due to the magazine and spare parts issues.