Surplus Star BM and Beretta 92S

[Rick_A]

I picked these up as early Christmas presents while they're available and prices good. My son liked my compact 9mm 1911 and my girlfriend showed a fondness for my Beretta 92FS Centurion. The Star is 1911-ish and the Beretta has only minor differences from the current production guns.

These came from Classic Firearms. The BM is a Century import and the 92S was imported by R Guns.

Both were rated in good to very good condition. Cosmetically, they're both on the lower end of that scale. The Beretta has significant speckling in the grip frame finish, and the Star has some discoloration throughout. Mechanically the Beretta feels solid and new-like. The Star rattles like an old warhorse.

As far as shooting the results speak for themselves.
20190524_160309 by Slick_Rick77, on Flickr
20190524_160339 by Slick_Rick77, on Flickr

20190524_160251 by Slick_Rick77, on Flickr
20190524_160331 by Slick_Rick77, on Flickr

I find the Star tolerable (it's rougher shooting than expected) and the Beretta will be tough to give away.

 

[dmthomp32]

I've never owned a star but the Berettas are a solid deal. The only thing holding them back (in my opinion) is there vintage style sights. Other than that the one I had was a solid performer.

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[JayFramer]

It’s really funny, my 92S as well as my Bulgarian Makarov are supposed to have worthless, low-profile “vintage style” excuses for sights according to the internet.

It’s also funny when people at the range notice the ragged hole groups these primitive sights make in the target.

Maybe the sights are just fine, but some people want to shift the blame to their equipment?

No, can’t be.

 

[jmace57]

I bought one of the Star BMs 8 or 9 years ago, as I came across it cheap ($120) at the time. I didn't have high expectation for it, but I have found it to be one of my favorite guns to shoot. The all-steel gun soaks up the recoil. Mine had a terrible condition finish on it, and I refinished it. If I had waited 6 or 7 years, I could have gotten one of these a lot nicer for a little more money.

I have a Beretta 92 as well. I'm a big guy, with big hands, but man, that is a big gun.

BM before and after:

 

[BB57]

I've sold every Beretta 92 i've ever tried to love. They just don't fit my hand.

However I own three Star BMs because, like 1911s, they fit me really well and I find they shoot really well. I own three partly for long term insurance against limited parts supply (although they are not prone to breakage) and partly because I can leave one in my truck, carry one in MN and have one at my other residence in NC with no need to check one as baggage on the flight in between (and I usually don't check baggage).

 

[HOUSTON RICK]

The only problem with the Star BM is that the magazines are expensive and can be hard to find off the internet. It is a good shooter. I have not tried the Beretta 92F yet. but from those who have as many dislike as like it - maybe out of respect for the 1911 it sort of replaced.

 

[dmthomp32]

It’s really funny, my 92S as well as my Bulgarian Makarov are supposed to have worthless, low-profile “vintage style” excuses for sights according to the internet.

It’s also funny when people at the range notice the ragged hole groups these primitive sights make in the target.

Maybe the sights are just fine, but some people want to shift the blame to their equipment?

No, can’t be.

Pretty sure no one said they didn't work. They just aren't as easy to acquire and shoot as easily as modern day sights.

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[LVSteve]

The Star rattles like an old warhorse.

Curious. My BM and B Super are both nice and tight and shoot very well. The 30M I just acquired is a bank vault.

The B Super is an ideal training gun for new shooters IMHO. They seem to run OK even on weak 115gr ammo and the 40oz weight kills the recoil.

 

[Rick_A]

The only problem with the Star BM is that the magazines are expensive and can be hard to find off the internet. It is a good shooter. I have not tried the Beretta 92F yet. but from those who have as many dislike as like it - maybe out of respect for the 1911 it sort of replaced.

The magazines can currently be had for $45 shipped. Expensive, but not extravagant.

There are generally two camps for the Beretta 92 detractors. One is those with experience with them that find the grip to be too large, and the other is those that believe them to be a piece of garbage for indistinct reasons. The M9 most definitely replaced the 1911 as a general issue sidearm which has now being replaced by the Sig M17 and M18.

I have always found the Beretta M9/92 series to fit me perfectly, and to be accurate, reliable, and smooth shooting.

 

[Rick_A]

Curious. My BM and B Super are both nice and tight and shoot very well. The 30M I just acquired is a bank vault.

The B Super is an ideal training gun for new shooters IMHO. They seem to run OK even on weak 115gr ammo and the 40oz weight kills the recoil.

Examples surely vary.

 

[BB57]

The magazines can currently be had for $45 shipped. Expensive, but not extravagant.

When the recent batch of BMs came in there were also a larger number of magazines on the market in the $20-$25 range. That was the time to stock up.

 

[Texas Star]

I've read that dry-firing tends to break Star firing pins.

 

[Rick_A]

I've read that dry-firing tends to break Star firing pins.

That's supposed to be true on at least this example...and there's reportedly two types of firing pins through the production run; one of the inertia type and the other not.

 

[LVSteve]

I've read that dry-firing tends to break Star firing pins.

Yep, snap-cap is mandatory.

 

[dogngun]

YES - Don't do that!

I've read that dry-firing tends to break Star firing pins.

Dry fire them ONLY with a snap cap or fired case...not on an empty chamber.
The way the firing pins are sprung, if there is no case to absorb the impact, the force of the spring will stress the firing pin and eventually break it.
They are available on Numrich, but they are a PITA to replace, and best treated carefully.

Speaking from experience!

 

[dogngun]

One more -I have owned several STAR BM's, a Super B and a 30M...ALL first rate pistols, and the 30M was extremely accurate.