Posted: 3/8/2010 5:46:58 PM EDT
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The Firestar Series was the now defunct Star company's attempt at a compact pistol. They were made in 9mm (M43), .40(M40) and .45 ACP (M45). The 9mm and .40 were the same size, and the .45 was slightly larger. While compact, they were heavy even by the standards of 20 years ago. Some would claim this was a good thing because it's all good quality steel (which is true), but I'd still rather have my Glock 26. Two finishes were available, blued and Starvel. Starvel was Star's term for brushed nickel. Don't believe anybody who claims a Star pistol is stainless (I've seen this).
IMO, Star pistols from the late 80s to the end have always been underrated. Two interesting features that were used in Star's last generation of pistols were: 1) coned barrels 2) slides running inside the frame. Both would seem unnecessary in a compact pistol, but so be it, it can't hurt. I'll do the Megastar (perhaps the biggest conventional pistol made in quanity) at a later date. This is the M45 (single stack 6+1): 
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Quoted:
Sweet a semi auto blunderbus. 
Seriously though what was the idea behind the tapered barrel? The point of a coned barrel is to make a rigid seal with the slide, and allow the barrel to drop for unlocking. It does a very good job of rigidly aligning the barrel properly. While it performs like other good methods, it is supposed to wear a lot better. |
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If you want to get technical, that would be a Gen II compact as it came after the Star PD. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Star_Model_PD  |
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Quoted: Quoted: Quoted: The Star guns were solid built and well suited for the job They also weighted 3 times more then they need too..I owned a m40 and couldn't fine a good way to carry that fucking boat anchor. I take it you've held a fully loaded Megastar? Oh yeah! Lots of steel in that bad boy. There is one for sale at a local shop and no one seems to want it. |
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I owned and carried one of those little nickle plated M43 " Firestar " very compact, REALLY straight shooting little 9mm.
I shot it in our informal gravel pit "combat matches" a few times.... prior to that firestar we were all shooting .45 auto exclusive. I showed up and won a a couple shoots, the guys quickly added a power factor to our games, so I had to hit each target 3 times, the other guys with 45's only had to hit twice. So. that was the end of competition with the nine mm. picked up a lightweight officers 45 next, as soon as I realized the 45 officers was 9 ounces lighter than firestar.... I sold the Firestar. Anyway, well built pistol, flawless, perfect function, extremely ( ridiculous really ) accuracy, inexpensive, and just freakinHEAVY...... these days, if I wanted nine, i would rather have a Glock26, easier to put nite sights on Glock, and magazines just about grow on trees. . . . . (You will NEVER see a 33 round magazine for a M43.) |
I wouldn't buy one, but my BIL gave me a Firestar .45 a couple years ago. Trigger pull is horrible, but can be made better. The mag disconnect is the first thing that had to go - it's an easy fix. I have big hands and shoot with a high grip, so the beavertail bites the hell out of me. And if you're going to do a detail strip, be very careful when you take off the safety. If you're not prepared, the safety detent will launch at an amazing velocity and it's hell finding where that little part flew off to. But for what I paid for it, it's a good little .45 
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