Anyone Carry A Star Firestar?

[Harmcat3]

imported post

I own an M-45 and it is one of my most accurate pistols (up to about 25 yards) which surprised me when you consider it's barrel is only 3.5". An interesting aside to this is the fact that it is easily the fastest pistol I have for shot recovery/second shot. (double tap) It's almost auto fire fast. I have developed an immense level of respect for the designers of this weapon.

My biggest problem right now is the same as many others here. I can't find a good holster or factory magazines, with the grip extension preferably. I have pretty big paws and I actually think the extended base mag will improve my grip with a corresponding improvement in accuracy and or speed. btw, Those ProMag plastic .....things are as useless as mammary glands on a snake. Anyway, I really enjoy my Firestar M-45 and plan to hang on to it for a while.

One quickie techie comment; when working on your pistol, you might want to try a little trick I use. Several of you have mentioned unexpected flying bits during these procedures and I have a cheap solution. Find a clear plastic storage tub large enough for you to execute your dis-assembly. Cut two mouse holes in one side or on opposing sides depending on your tub size. Put your hands through these holes to do your work. Any errant flights will be limited to a much more easily searched area. (and you don't poked in the eye by said bits.)

I'm a noob here so I thought I would try to contribute something to this great site. You know, get off on the right foot so to speak.

 

[GWbiker]

imported post

I own a Star Firestar M-43, single stack, SAO, 9mm. Bought it new in '93. All steel, heavy and accurate.

I noticed the M-43 feeds anything IF slide rails and barrel locking are cleaned well, then lightly lubed with Slide Glide medium weight.

I recently purchased a Firestar 30MI, BIG brother to M-43.
The 30MI is DA/SA, 15+1, 9mm. Heavy, big, reliable and VERY accurate.

IMHO, the later Star handguns are vastly underrated, thus available at a relatively easy price at many gun stores.
Unfortunately, Star prices often remain high at gun shows.

 

[Grapeshot]

imported post

Welcome Harmcat3 and GWbiker to the thread that just keeps on ticking - over two years now. Star owners are a special breed and yes Stars are quality guns that shoot very well.

Only complaint that I have ever heard is that they tend to be a little heavy - come on, they are made of steel! Can't believe that and ounce or two would bother some and the small amount of extra weight does help to tame recoil.

Read back through the thread and you will find great information on parts, mags et al. All non-serial numbered parts are still being manufactured in Spain precisely to specs on the original machinery.

Yata hey

 

[car102]

imported post

Anyone looking for magazines with finger rest can email iparguns@iparguns.com. I just got one for my M43 Firestar for 55+15 for shipping. When I sent an email , Jorge replied back and gave me instructions on sending Paypal payment to a different email adddress. I was reluctant, but desperate to get one. After I sent payment I received the mag in the mail 7 days later. My little Firestar has always worked perfectly. I do keep it clean and lightly oiled of course. The next day I found another one at gunbroker.com so now I have a spare. Gunbroker.com has a lot of different items for all Firestars, and it costs only $1 to register. Iparguns bought out Star and probably has everything for Firestars.
For years I have wanted the finger rest mag to improve the grip when pulling from theholster and it really makes a big difference in providing a full size grip. It was only after reading this forum that I foundout about Iparguns.
Ihave a nice Bianchi accumold holster and 1 3/4" leather belt that allows me to carry comfortably.

 

[GWbiker]

imported post

FWIW....Went to a Tucson Gun show this weekend and noticed two BIG Star Firestar handguns for sale - both Interarms imports.

One Star Firestar 30MI, Black, 9mm, 15+1, SA/DA with one magazine. Good condition - $300 OBO.

One Star Firestar, 31M, Starvel, .45ACP, 12+1, SA/DA with one magazine. Good condition - $480.

I was tempted to buy the .45, BUT I already have 6 .45ACP handguns.

 

[Grapeshot]

imported post

GWbiker wrote:

FWIW....Went to a Tucson Gun show this weekend and noticed two BIG Star Firestar handguns for sale - both Interarms imports.

One Star Firestar 30MI, Black, 9mm, 15+1, SA/DA with one magazine. Good condition - $300 OBO.

One Star Firestar, 31M, Starvel, .45ACP, 12+1, SA/DA with one magazine. Good condition - $480.

I was tempted to buy the .45, BUT I already have 6 .45ACP handguns.

Slackard! :lol:

Yata hey

 

[elwebb]

imported post

I own a Star Firestar M-40 and I have owned it since 1989. It is very reliable and even if you OC, it does not stand out. I prefer concealed carry as I do not want anyone to know that I am carrying. Too many times people have freaked out when they see someone OC. The old adage that ignorance is bliss is not too far from the truth.

I am currently searching for an extractor for my M-40. Do you or anyone you know have any ideas?

Good Luck in OC

 

[elwebb]

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Try Brigade Gun Leather. They are super quality and the holsters are made by hand and for the specific gun.

Good Luck

 

[sudden valley gunner]

imported post

My Auntie had one in Hawaii and when I was on the Big Island that was the one I got to use in my Uncles home built gun range inside a lava tube. Nice gun!!!!

 

[car102]

imported post

For Firestar parts send an email to iparguns@iparguns.com It is where I found my m43 mag w/finger rest. Jorge replied same day, and I got part in mail 7 days later. It is in Spain and I sent payment through Paypal. Jorge was very helpful. I would check gunbroker.com first . There are a lot of Firestar parts on the auction site that are in the US.

 

[Grapeshot]

imported post

Yep, Iparguns is mentioned several times in this thread - they are a Star owner's best friend.

IPARGUNS MANUFACTURA DE ARMAS, S.L.
Sostoa, 2 bajo - 20600 EIBAR (SPAIN)
Tel. + 34 943204117 Fax + 34 943120906
e-mail: iparguns@iparguns.com
web site: http://www.iparguns.com

Yata hey

 

[Tomahawk]

imported post

Due to work being done on my house recently my 1911 had to go into storage for a while, so I brought the Firestar 45 out of home defense back-up duty and put it back into carry service. Still my favorite pistol.

I agree about holsters; I've found a few that fit it over the years, but haven't found "The One" yet. The ones that fit the pistol well don't tend to fit me the way I want and vice versa. Right now I have a "Magjic" holster, made by a guy in Pennsylvania somewhere. It is almost the perfect fit for the pistol, but if you don't draw correctly it can come off your belt along with the weapon, which is Bad. But I think I have a solution...

 

[Grapeshot]

imported post

Tomahawk wrote:

Due to work being done on my house recently my 1911 had to go into storage for a while, so I brought the Firestar 45 out of home defense back-up duty and put it back into carry service. Still my favorite pistol.

I agree about holsters; I've found a few that fit it over the years, but haven't found "The One" yet. The ones that fit the pistol well don't tend to fit me the way I want and vice versa. Right now I have a "Magjic" holster, made by a guy in Pennsylvania somewhere. It is almost the perfect fit for the pistol, but if you don't draw correctly it can come off your belt along with the weapon, which is Bad. But I think I have a solution...

Which is ........ ?

Perhaps have same holster made in a belt slot type and learn to draw it right.

Or send it to me - after some extended training it should become more compliant.

Yata hey

 

[Tomahawk]

imported post

Well, the problem is that the holster is held onto the belt (or your pants, or whatever) by a rare earth magnet, which is simply not secure enough. If you pull up on the pistol just the right way it will come off the belt. I may modify it so it is effectively a belt loop holster, but I am still thinking of how to do it without mangling it. Anyway, this thing was made a guy and his wife from somewhere in Penna. who came down to one of our Va. gunshows a few years ago. I don't even remember his name, it was a small business.

 

[Cossack54]

Star Firestar parts

I know that this thread is comming in late as compared to the times the others were posted but I have some great news for those of you still trying to locate parts for your Firestars. I found one while desperatly looking for a part for my M40.Here it is....http://e-sarcoinc.com/... This company has bought all the remaining parts from Star(Interarms) . They have more than just springs and magazines like other sites I've been on. These are real parts. Parts with meat on them to get your pistol up and running again.
I hope you guys make good use of this site, as I did, and get the parts you need. Just don't get to greedy and buy everything up so that others may repair their pistol and enjoy them as much as I have enjoyed mine. Have fun and happy shooting!

 

[Grapeshot]

I know that this thread is comming in late as compared to the times the others were posted but I have some great news for those of you still trying to locate parts for your Firestars. I found one while desperatly looking for a part for my M40.Here it is....http://e-sarcoinc.com/... This company has bought all the remaining parts from Star(Interarms) . They have more than just springs and magazines like other sites I've been on. These are real parts. Parts with meat on them to get your pistol up and running again.
I hope you guys make good use of this site, as I did, and get the parts you need. Just don't get to greedy and buy everything up so that others may repair their pistol and enjoy them as much as I have enjoyed mine. Have fun and happy shooting!

Linky no worky

"The page you have requested cannot be found or has been removed"

The absolute best source I have found is following, though their web site in not active for some reason.

IPAR Guns, Espana
Founded in 1997, this Eibar-based company is comprised mostly of former Star employees, including engineering staff. They purchased the bulk of the Star parts inventory, and have some Astra parts as well. This means they should have parts for every Star pistol ever made, especially the modern series which are so poorly represented in the US. I am told they ship internationally, though can only presume frames and barrels will be difficult to impossible to import, depending on the laws of your country.
Visit their website for further info. They also sell other neat stuff like DEWATs of a lot of other firearms, and refer to other guns, so if you have a question about a part they do not list, I would call them up.
Calle Sostoa, 2-4
Aptdo. P.O. BOX. 527
20600 Eibar (Spain)
E-mail: iparguns@iparguns.com
Phone: +34 943 20 41 17
Fax : +34 943 12 09 06

 

[Cossack54]

Star Firestar parts

I clicked on the site several times before I posted it, and it came up every time. I just tried it again after reading your post and it came up for me! Do not know what the problem is but you can try www.e-sarcoinc.com and see if you have better luck with it. This even worked for me when I clicked on the link.

 

[Grapeshot]

I clicked on the site several times before I posted it, and it came up every time. I just tried it again after reading your post and it came up for me! Do not know what the problem is but you can try www.e-sarcoinc.com and see if you have better luck with it. This even worked for me when I clicked on the link.

We have a BINGO - don't know what the problem was, but I have saved the link now.

Strange about Ipar's web site - hope they're not gone. They were great each time I ordered from them, they would send me multiples/extras of what I had ordered.

 

[Cossack54]

I checked them out not to long ago and had some problem with their site also. Being the stubborn billy goat that I am, I kept plugging around and fell into this site. What a surprise when I saw all the parts they carry. Don't know for sure if there is another site out there better. If there is I have'nt come acrossed it yet. I had my M40 for years and hardly shot the thing but every article that was out at the time these guns came out said they were good shooters. They are heavy but that makes for better control of recoil. Funny thing, I sold it to my brother, after buying a Don Hume leather IWB for it a month earlier. He loves the thing, as did I. I was, like everybody else, a little concerned about parts availability but seeing how I never really shot it much it was really still a new pistol. After three trips to the local shooting range a part failure occured. I felt so bad. I felt like I ripped him off. Thats when I really dug into the internet and eventually found that website. What a relief to see they had alot of parts and most importantly, the part he needed. The particular part, Can't remember what it was called now, was actually machined off center and created a thin wall on one side of the hole where the firing pin spring went in. When the piece of the part broke off it jammed the gun up and nothing worked. Everything is hunky-dory now though. Shoots great and he's as happy as Lark.

 

[Grapeshot]

Went back in the thread to see how I got into Ipar's web site and YES it works.

Click on the web link http://www.iparguns.com/cas/index.htm

Warning - do NOT click on "enter"button as that will get you a "Not Available" error message.

Instead click on "English" at extreme top right corner,

Then click "products" from top menu......and walla, you're in.

If you call them (I did) be prepared for the language difficulties - they are good people to work with though. They have most of the original toolings! Down side is that payment is in Eurodollars and that fluctuates.