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A Good Pistol for $150.00?

3K views 28 replies 16 participants last post by  ngashooter 
#1 ·
I had my doubts, but I decided to take a chance. Classic Firearms had been advertising Star BM 9mm pistols for $200.00 and I was interested. These are surplus duty guns from Spain previously issued to their Guardia Civil, imported by CAI, and graded "Good". Then I saw the video offering "Fair" condition guns for $150.00 and decided to gamble. I ordered one figuring it would be a project if it was in bad shape. I didn't pay extra for hand select, I just got whatever they pulled from the crate. My pistol arrived today, so I went down to pick it up at the FFL dealer. Upon opening the factory plastic box (containing pistol, magazine, cleaning rod, and manual) I wasn't overly impressed. Speckles of surface rust covered much of the gun, but I knew to expect it on the grade I bought. Bringing it home and stripping it down made me feel much better. The internals were great and the bore bright. About an hour and a half with Hoppes#9, gun oil, patches, and fine steel wool revealed a fine pistol. All I've done is clean it so far. I may do a little more polishing with steel wool and then use some cold blue where the finish is thin. I'm very happy to get an all steel 1911 style (no grip safety, pivoting trigger, captive spring assembly, and magazine disconnect are main differences) 9mm for that price. The gun is solid, well made, has a good trigger, and 8+1 capacity in a commander sized package. I already have a couple of holster options onhand so that's a bonus. The Star was $150 plus $25 shipping. My LGS charged me $10 for the transfer. I have a grand total of $185.00 invested and think I got a heck of a deal!
 

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#4 ·
I was thinking it’s a Hi-Point thread :D

Looks solidly built. At under $200, beats the 1911 9mm options out there.
Hope it gives you some fun range time.
 
#5 ·
No Hi-Point pistols for me! This thing is locked breach, swinging link, John Browning all the way. It has an external extractor like later Hi Powers, but any 1911 shooter will feel right at home with it. I'm hoping to shoot it tomorrow. I Have Blazer Brass FMJ and Winchester PDX1 Bonded HP ammo to try. The Star is said to feed many types of hollow points, so we'll see.
 

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#7 ·
You'll like the Star. I shot my buddy's BM and it's nice.

My Super B is a great shooter except it has jamming issues that I need to get fixed.

Good buy!

Aqualung
 
#13 ·
You will enjoy. Fun to put some life in it and should be fun to shoot. You will have to let’s us know how it shoots.

Just thinking another option to cold bluing is you could clean it up and creakote it to your tast.
 
#20 ·
My first Star BM is the chrome with pearl grips, came with manual, two chrome magazines and plastic box with accessories. No nasty import marks on it. The second blue one I got many years ago at J&G for under $150 out the door with factory cardboard box and manual. This was before all the police markings were milled off and new serial numbers were added. Mags can be found for $19 and the mag safety is easily removed by taking off the right hand grip panel. Very easy to shoot and manageable because of the steel frame. I had thought about buying a new 1911 9mm but these are much cheaper, dependable and accurate.
Fun pistols, enjoy!
 

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#26 ·
Very nice.

Surplus guns are almost always a great deal, and there's almost always some sort of surplus guns available, which are a much higher value than say a Jennings or Hi-Point for around the same price, if only the folks looking for a cheap defensive firearm knew to look for them.

To this day, I regret passing up an opportunity to buy an FEG PA-63 (which is essentially a clone of the Walther PP) for $150 in excellent condition.
 
#29 ·
Enjoyed a good range trip. The BM shot great. I'm glad to report that hammer bite was not an issue. The only problems encountered were one failure to feed with a Winchester PDX1 124gr +P hollow point, and a rear sight that is a little loose in its dovetail when the slide heats up. I'm very happy with my bargain 9mm!
 

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