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Star Firestar M-40

toydeluxe
I've got a chance to buy a Firestar M-40 (.40cal) right now for $100.

I've never even heard of this company, so I'm wondering if there's anything I should know about this gun in general.
It also has the name "Interarms" stamped on it.....which I think I have heard of, but not sure what relation it is to the gun.

I just got the gun last night to try out, but haven't got a chance to shoot it yet, since I've come down with the flu.
So far, my first impression of the gun is that it's somewhat heavy, but seems to have good mechanics, and functionality. It's definitely not perfect as far as the finish goes, and it's had some rounds put through it (judging by the wear on the slide).
I do like it's overall looks, and size though.

The one thing that really concerns me though, is the way the bullets eject. Please forgive my ignorance as the only handgun I've ever owned is my Beretta 92F. With my Beretta, if a round is in the chamber, and you pull the slide back, it kicks the round out. I'm pretty sure every gun I've shot is that way.
However, the Firestar doesn't eject the round out when you manually pull the slide back.
IF you ask me, it seems like that's a sign already that this gun will jam..........in fact, I'm almost afraid to shoot it at this point.
My question is (forgive my ignorance once again).....when the slide is under pressure of a round going off, will it then, hopefully, kick the round out? Is this gun simply not designed to manually eject a round?
I kinda don't like that, cause if I was in a shooting situation where I need to stop, and get a round out of the chamber, it's not possible.

Please, someone give me some insite, before I test this gun out and get hurt.

Please let me know if there's something I missing, or doing wrong.

THanks!!!
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Comments

10 comments

Date Votes
  • Bittersweat
    I tend to agree with you. The no-manual-eject of this Star would scare me too. I believe your Star has a broken extractor. (no yelling, please. I could be wrong.)
    This would explain the $100. price tag. These are genarally good pistols, easily worth $300. My friends have had Firestars in 9mm and have had no function complaints at all. Maybe you could "price" repairs at your local gun smith. Then you could let us all know how this turns out.
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  • toydeluxe
    So, my initial theory is correct?

    It's supposed to eject a bullet, even if I'm not firing the gun, and pulling the slide back manually?

    If I have to start putting money into this gun, I'll probably not buy it.
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  • Bittersweat
    Yes.
    Yes.
    A very reasonable choice.
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  • Pearyw
    For $100, I would buy it and sell it for parts here on GB.
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  • deputydon
    Those are great little guns - all steel. Repair shouldn't be all that expensive. If you don't want it I'll take it. -Don

    blonds.bmpWhen they pry it from my cold dead fingers.
    Parsons.gif
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  • mark christian
    I have owned a 9mm M43 Firestar for many years and it is one of my favorite small automtaic handguns. All steel, very rugged and quite compact. Your problem is probably little more than a broken extractor and I doubt that the price of repairs would be so much that $100 would not make that Star a good buy.

    StarM43.jpg


    "Nothing can ever be made 'idiot proof' because idiots are simply too clever"!
    Mark T. Christian
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  • allechalley
    I had one of these and tho it is a chunk, it probably is one of the smaller .40's until Kahr came along. Mine shot very well, not a hand biter, either. And was quite accurate and controllable for it's size. It seems to me it was rather anemic when you hand cycled the slide but would throw the empty case well clear. Probably have a 'smith check the extractor, but still seems a good deal for such a little power house.
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  • greeker375
    Have had Star products for years, Mod B, BKM,BM,PD and 3 Firestars 9mm-40-45.
    Very reliable and accurate.

    If you don't want to buy it I WILL!





    "the difference between the almost right word and the right word is like the difference between a lightning bug and a lightning bolt" - Mark Twain.
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  • 1KYDSTR
    I'll never quite understand why Star disappeared here in the US?!?! The final chapter in their US import line was, I thought, VERY well thought out and extreemly well made, particularly for the money. I have an older Megastar and really love it! Big, heavy, accurate and boringly reliable with about any ammo you'll ever have occasion to use.

    For $100, I wouldn't even bat an eye, unless you can detect anything past the broken extractor. Get it, and at the least, sell it for parts as it will bring a nice chunk of change that way!

    "When I cease learning...I'm dead"(Me)
    "When I was 14 I used to marvel at how ignorant my old man was...by the time I was 21 I was truelly amazed at how much the old bugger had learned in the intervening 7 years!" Samuel Clemens
    "History is written by winners"(Patton)
    "You get a lot farther with a kind word and a gun than you do with a kind word alone!"(Al Capone)
    "There is nothing lower than the human race...except the French" (Samuel Clemens)
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  • temblor
    Pretty good guns for the money --- but be forwarned that parts are hard to find for that model. I have one of the same guns you mentioned here right now that belongs to a friend with the same problem ( bad extractor)and have not had much luck finding a replacement extractor for him. -- If you buy it and find a source for an extractor let me know where you got it! -Good Luck......[8D]
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