Star 30M 9mm ??
I put one on lay-away today. It's the first one I have ever handled. This one's a model 30M followeed by an "I" or a "T", all steel, double or single action,adjustable sights, with a 15 rd. magazine. The action reminds me a little of a High Power and the slide is similar to a SIG in design. It's heavy and fairly wide but since I have large hands that's no problem. My questions are: How do these shoot (accuracy), how well do they feed, and what is one in very good condition worth? This one cost me $190 plus tax. I'll bring it home as soon as I have a chance to pick up a NC handgun purchase permit. I plan to carry it in the glove or toolbox of my pick-up as it's way too heavy and bulky for concealed carry. I normally carry a SIG P-220 but hate to get it all dinged up in the truck.I was also wondering what the "I" or "T" following the model number means.
"Let him step to the music he hears, however measured or far away." Thoreau
"Let him step to the music he hears, however measured or far away." Thoreau
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Sometimes when you get a deal, that seems to be, to good to be true, it is.
Hopefully you got return rights on it?
Your particular model hasn't been made since the early 90's. The Star Firearms Company, went belly up in 1997.
If your going to use it for self defense, take it out and shoot the s*it out of it. Make sure it's reliable.
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The Spanish military chose the Star Model 30M as there service pistol and I think that it was the first DA handgun produced by Star. As the snowman has mentioned, these pistols have not been imported for over a decade (Interams was the importer of my own Model 30PK) and with Star out of business you are not going to find spare parts or repairs easy to come by and extra magazines seem VERY tough to locate. On the other hand, I always liked the pistol and thought that it handled well (although the alloy frame variation is much lighter than your steel variation) and that the accuracy of the Star was decent enough for general shooting purposes. Fit and finish was just so-so and my own pistol had very poorly fitted grip panels. My pistol handled Winchester Silvertip and Fiocchi 115 gr. JHP rounds without complaint, but as a military firearm it was designed to use standard ball ammo of the typical NATO STANAG pattern which is 124 grs. If in nice shape I'd say that $190 was a fair price.
Mark T. Christian0 -
I also owned a M30, and the earlier M28.I was not impressed with its overall quality, but it was totally reliable.A SIG will work just fine with a ding or two[8D]!!!That would be my choice, but then I'm a diehard SIG fan.
Mark...I think the M28 was Stars first Wondernine.
Love them Pre-64's!!!!-Bob0 -
I think more highly of Star pistols than Mr. Snow. Their quality is not as high as the top quality brands, but it is not bad by any means. Most later Stars are very reliable. As Mr. Christian says, the M30 was adopted by the Spanish as their service pistol. It is a reliable, tough pistol. I like the removable modular hammer/main spring/backstrap assembly.
The Model 30 was not, however, the first double action Star service pistol. That was the somewhat rare Model 28, which has a wide spring steel extractor similar to early Smith & Wesson Models 39. Later pistols used more conventional extractors just as did the S&W M39-2.
These Star service pistols are often found at bargain prices because many are afraid of parts and magazine availability. I suppose parts could be a little tough, but they are not prone to parts breakage. Magazines appear on the various auctions sites from time to time. I have bought quite a few for my Models 28, 30 and 31PK.
These Stars are part of the "Wonder Nine" era, which is what attracts me to them. I think it was an important era, and, from time to time, I try to pick up some of the more obscure ones I missed when they were new. A plus is that they are usually a lot less expensive now!0 -
I have a 2 model 30's and they are good pistols. Mags are a problem as the factory only made the 15 round high caps. Pro-mag made a 10 round mag for a short time. I picked up a couple at the time and they work well. I have seen these at gunshows, but they are getting hard to find. 0 -
I had a 30M. Found it to be extremely reliable and accurate general use gun. Target pistol it isn't. I liked the size and weight especially when shooting it. Having owned a number of Stars thru the years I have found them to be quality firearms. $190 is a good price for a M30 in good shape. As I recall I got more than that for mine. -Don When they pry it from my cold dead fingers.0 -
I had one of these and found it to be reliable and dependable. It is not an H&K or Sig, but it will work. I bought the 100 rd. box of Winchester FMJ at Walmart and they worked fine in it.
Also, I can't confirm this, but I have seen the "I" marked guns advertised as guns that were meant for Iraq. The story went that they were purchased by Saddam before Gulf war 1, then never delivered because of the war. At least that was the story being told by a guy who had one for sale on a competitor's web site.
Frankly, I think anytime you can get a steel frame, high cap. gun like this for less than $200 you should grap it.
Is it true that cannibals won't eat clowns cause they taste funny?0 -
we own or have fired at least 12 different models of STAR pistols. these are some of the most reliable, well made pistols of the 20th century. the STAR MODEL A, and STAR MODEL B are easily ranked among the top 20 MILITARY / COMBAT handguns of the last 100 yrs.
while some have been abused, neglected, and are in bad shape, overall they are superior to damn near any semiautomatic pistol in there price range.
i personaly own a STAR MODEL A (1922 VARIANT) in 9mm largo, and my father owns a STAR MODEL SUPER B in 9mm luger. both exhibit exeptional accuracy, reliabilty, anf function without a flaw.
i concentrate mostly on older models and have found then to be superb. we stock several newer models at the shop, and they are all exeptional pieces.
while the majority (75%+) of spanish handguns are cheaply made garbage, STAR firearms are as good as it gets. we own at least 7 spanish guns, all very well made.
most STAR pistols i have fired are oddly accurate...
best regards, mike.
What other dungeon is so dark as ones own heart, what jailer so inexorable as ones own mind.
contact me at the shop at waltsgun@aol.com best regards, mike.0 -
I saw a Star Mod 30MI, "Starfire", in a pawnshop. Looking at it closely I was impressed with the fit, finish, and handiness. I bought that pistol for a measily 150.00. Bought some American 9mm and tried it out. I have been shooting competively for forty five years and have never had the accuracy as I've had with that pistol. I have held a pistol NRA Master Classification, have two Navy Excellence in Competion medals, and am a graduate of the Navy's Small Arms Marksmanship Instructor school. I recently requaled for my carry permit. I fired five shots that you could cover with a small paster, and the examiner said that was enough and signed my paperwork. Everytime I shoot that pistol or clean it, I am dumbfounded at the high quality workmanship. I have shot many Smiths mod39 while teaching pistol in the Navy. The Smiths don't hold a candle to the Starfire. Sincerely, onepopper
one popper0 -
onepopper, are you sure your pistol is a "Starfire?" A "Starfire" is a single action .380 last made in the early 1970s, and is officially designated as a Model DK, not a Model 30. The Models 28, 30 and 31 do not have any model names associated with them. They have only the model number designations.
Perhaps you mean a "Firestar," which is a single action pistol offered in 9x19, .40S&W and .45ACP. There were also the giant Megastar and polymer Ultrastar. I always kind of regretted not buying a Megastar in .45, which reminds me a bit of the H-K Mark 23.0
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