interarms star bm 9mm

bamafan4life · January 8, 2009, 06:26 PM

well i got this gun today and its a interarms star bm 9mm ive read very little about it. but what ive read its supposed to be okay accurate and pretty good reliablity i also read something about it being spanish? whats up with that? if you have any information on this gun please tell me it will be aprectiated

RJay · January 8, 2009, 08:52 PM

You read something about it being Spanish , and what's up with that? Simply put, it was made in Spain or are you the only one in the Western World that didn't know " Star" was a Spanish firm??

I owned one, gave good service. Since Star ( Bonifacio Echeverria SA ) is no long among the living , parts of any type are getting harder and harder to find.

CowTowner · January 9, 2009, 07:42 AM

Here's some history on the company:
http://www.star-firearms.com/star/index.shtml

BlueTrain · January 9, 2009, 09:53 AM

I have one of those myself. A nice size gun for the caliber if you like single action autos. They can't be carried with the hammer down, however; the firing pin is too long. I also owned one of the last BKMs sold by Interarms, which has also passed into history. The BKM was an almost identical pistol in aluminum allow. I shot it until it began falling apart.

I'm not sure there are any handguns being imported from Spain anymore, new ones, that is.

I also have owned in the distant past other Star automatics in .22 and .380. There were several variations of small automatics, all single actions, all similar to Colt automatics, though I don't think they ever had a hammerless (meaning enclosed hammer) model. I think they may have even produced a model sold as a Colt at one time, the Pony, but I haven't researched that.

Colt supposedly at one time in the early 1920's produced a pistol that was a scaled down .45 in a proprietary .38 cartridge but they couldn't manage to sell any. Introducing a new firearm right after a war usually doesn't work, apparently. I'm sure I read something about this in the American Rifleman but I've not been able to find any reference to it anywhere.

Tom2 · January 12, 2009, 08:04 PM

Star made a little .45 auto practically identical to the BM. Those were all the hot item before the US makers started really supplying the subcompact .45 market very well. But they were advised to shoot with only standard ammo, no hot stuff, I don't know how good they were with HP ammo. Occasionally I have seen one used and they are more money than the 9MM versions for sure. Actually the Firestar was probably considered an updated and more refined/modern rendition of the small Star auto. Those were quite popular for a few years. But the biggest caliber was .40 as far as I know. Those had a good rep. for a SA auto.

Socrates · January 12, 2009, 11:35 PM

I'm sorry to hear you bought one. YOu should take it apart, ship it to me in Kali in a number of seperate boxes, and, I will examine it for you...

BlueTrain · January 13, 2009, 08:29 AM

I think I have owned every variation of single action auto that Colt ever made (no .32's and no Ponies) and today the only single action automatic I have is a Star. But I think that says more about me than it does about either Star or Colt. I never had a Star .45 (PD?), though.

Come to think of it, I've never owned a Combat Commander, a .38 Super or 9mm Commander, and there never was an alloy fully size 1911 for some reason. But over the years, especially around, oh, about 15 years ago, there were all sorts of variations, particularly with the .380's. All gone now. My choice remains the .45 Commander (lightweight)--and I don't have one.

FALPhil · January 13, 2009, 10:21 AM

Great little single stack 9mm. I shot mine at a 55 gal drum once at 100 yards. I was able to make hits 50% of the time.

It makes a great CCW too.

boxerrider · January 13, 2009, 09:47 PM

I bought myself one a couple years back. I had it for a couple of nice range trips then Dear Sweet Wife started carrying it. Mid 1970's manufacture I think, Spanish police surplus. Paid right a $200 w/ box, manual, cleaning rod/tool and two mags. Guess I'll have to buy myself another one. Are some of them C&R?

Bill DeShivs · January 14, 2009, 12:19 AM

Many BMs had an inertial firing pin, many did not. The ones that didn't can easily have the pin shortened to allow for hammer-down carry.
The later Firestar utos offered no advantage over the BM. They were basically the same gun, but bigger and heavier. They sold well because the American gun buying public was buying anything new at the time. Had Star kept on plugging along with the PD/BM/BKM guns, they probably would still be in business.

BlueTrain · January 14, 2009, 10:54 AM

Maybe they'd still be in business and maybe not. However, Star pistols were not the best Spanish pistols made. That would probably be Astra. I think I broke something on all the Star automatics I ever had. In no case did it ever disable the gun but still, not something that you really want to happen. The ejector came loose in the BKM I had and on a .380 (don't remember the model number), the slide stop/release broke. Again neither prevented the gun from firing. On the other hand, I found that on Colt .380 Government Models, it didn't take much to bend the spring that works the slide stop (no, I haven't looked up the technical term).

Star manufactured some very light 9mm pistols. Skeeter Skelton used to praise one called the Starlight, I think it was called.

All the Stars that I ever owned or examined were well finished, however, and if you liked Colts, you probably would like Stars. They weren't identical and the Star had a different trigger arrangement and never had a grip safety, I think. I suspect their weakness was the steel they used but Brownings have been accused of having "soft" steel, too.

I'd like to see a police or military holster for the BM.

sixgunluv · January 14, 2009, 09:34 PM

Bill D,
It appears my new Star BM has the longer firing pin, I would like to be able to carry it hammer down....should I buy another firing pin or it it a simple enough job to shorten mine?

ChancePendergrass · July 10, 2009, 10:59 PM

My Uncle Has The Same Gun Never Jams And Decent Accuracy

smd1677 · November 2, 2011, 08:59 PM

I have owned a Star BM for more than 20 years and have thoroghly enjoyed it, it has always been accurate and reliable, it has been used by the Spanish "Guardia Civil" as well as the Israeli Army. The only problem is that I did'nt purchase extra mags when they were readily available, if anyone can point me in the right direction to purchse one I would be in your bebt.

January 8, 2009, 06:26 PM	#1
bamafan4life Senior Member Join Date: January 4, 2009 Posts: 190	interarms star bm 9mm well i got this gun today and its a interarms star bm 9mm ive read very little about it. but what ive read its supposed to be okay accurate and pretty good reliablity i also read something about it being spanish? whats up with that? if you have any information on this gun please tell me it will be aprectiated

January 9, 2009, 07:42 AM	#3
CowTowner Senior Member Join Date: October 17, 2007 Location: Cowtown of course! Posts: 1,747	Here's some history on the company: http://www.star-firearms.com/star/index.shtml __________________ NRA Chief Range Safety Officer, Home Firearms Safety, Pistol and Rifle Instructor *“Today, we need a nation of Minutemen, citizens who are not only prepared to take arms, but citizens who regard the preservation of freedom as the basic purpose of their daily life......”* President John F. Kennedy

January 9, 2009, 09:53 AM	#4
BlueTrain Senior Member Join Date: September 26, 2005 Location: Northern Virginia Posts: 6,141	I have one of those myself. A nice size gun for the caliber if you like single action autos. They can't be carried with the hammer down, however; the firing pin is too long. I also owned one of the last BKMs sold by Interarms, which has also passed into history. The BKM was an almost identical pistol in aluminum allow. I shot it until it began falling apart. I'm not sure there are any handguns being imported from Spain anymore, new ones, that is. I also have owned in the distant past other Star automatics in .22 and .380. There were several variations of small automatics, all single actions, all similar to Colt automatics, though I don't think they ever had a hammerless (meaning enclosed hammer) model. I think they may have even produced a model sold as a Colt at one time, the Pony, but I haven't researched that. Colt supposedly at one time in the early 1920's produced a pistol that was a scaled down .45 in a proprietary .38 cartridge but they couldn't manage to sell any. Introducing a new firearm right after a war usually doesn't work, apparently. I'm sure I read something about this in the American Rifleman but I've not been able to find any reference to it anywhere. __________________ Shoot low, sheriff. They're riding Shetlands! Underneath the starry flag, civilize 'em with a Krag, and return us to our own beloved homes! Buy War Bonds.

January 12, 2009, 08:04 PM	#5
Tom2 Senior Member Join Date: June 23, 2004 Location: Ohio Posts: 5,676	Star made a little .45 auto practically identical to the BM. Those were all the hot item before the US makers started really supplying the subcompact .45 market very well. But they were advised to shoot with only standard ammo, no hot stuff, I don't know how good they were with HP ammo. Occasionally I have seen one used and they are more money than the 9MM versions for sure. Actually the Firestar was probably considered an updated and more refined/modern rendition of the small Star auto. Those were quite popular for a few years. But the biggest caliber was .40 as far as I know. Those had a good rep. for a SA auto. __________________ Your gun is like your nose, it is just wrong for someone else to pick it for you!

January 13, 2009, 08:29 AM	#7
BlueTrain Senior Member Join Date: September 26, 2005 Location: Northern Virginia Posts: 6,141	I think I have owned every variation of single action auto that Colt ever made (no .32's and no Ponies) and today the only single action automatic I have is a Star. But I think that says more about me than it does about either Star or Colt. I never had a Star .45 (PD?), though. Come to think of it, I've never owned a Combat Commander, a .38 Super or 9mm Commander, and there never was an alloy fully size 1911 for some reason. But over the years, especially around, oh, about 15 years ago, there were all sorts of variations, particularly with the .380's. All gone now. My choice remains the .45 Commander (lightweight)--and I don't have one. __________________ Shoot low, sheriff. They're riding Shetlands! Underneath the starry flag, civilize 'em with a Krag, and return us to our own beloved homes! Buy War Bonds.

January 8, 2009, 08:52 PM	#2
RJay Senior Member Join Date: November 2, 2005 Location: Arizona Posts: 1,936	You read something about it being Spanish , and what's up with that? Simply put, it was made in Spain or are you the only one in the Western World that didn't know " Star" was a Spanish firm?? I owned one, gave good service. Since Star ( Bonifacio Echeverria SA ) is no long among the living , parts of any type are getting harder and harder to find.

January 12, 2009, 11:35 PM	#6
Socrates Junior member Join Date: January 5, 2005 Location: East Bay NorCal, People's Republik of Kalifornia Posts: 5,866	I'm sorry to hear you bought one. YOu should take it apart, ship it to me in Kali in a number of seperate boxes, and, I will examine it for you...

January 13, 2009, 10:21 AM	#8
FALPhil Senior Member Join Date: September 10, 2007 Location: Racoon City Posts: 934	Great little single stack 9mm. I shot mine at a 55 gal drum once at 100 yards. I was able to make hits 50% of the time. It makes a great CCW too.

January 13, 2009, 09:47 PM	#9
boxerrider Member Join Date: April 10, 2006 Location: Texas Posts: 23	I bought myself one a couple years back. I had it for a couple of nice range trips then Dear Sweet Wife started carrying it. Mid 1970's manufacture I think, Spanish police surplus. Paid right a $200 w/ box, manual, cleaning rod/tool and two mags. Guess I'll have to buy myself another one. Are some of them C&R?

January 14, 2009, 12:19 AM	#10
Bill DeShivs Senior Member Join Date: April 7, 2006 Posts: 10,985	Many BMs had an inertial firing pin, many did not. The ones that didn't can easily have the pin shortened to allow for hammer-down carry. The later Firestar utos offered no advantage over the BM. They were basically the same gun, but bigger and heavier. They sold well because the American gun buying public was buying anything new at the time. Had Star kept on plugging along with the PD/BM/BKM guns, they probably would still be in business. __________________ Bill DeShivs, Master Cutler www.billdeshivs.com

January 14, 2009, 10:54 AM	#11
BlueTrain Senior Member Join Date: September 26, 2005 Location: Northern Virginia Posts: 6,141	Maybe they'd still be in business and maybe not. However, Star pistols were not the best Spanish pistols made. That would probably be Astra. I think I broke something on all the Star automatics I ever had. In no case did it ever disable the gun but still, not something that you really want to happen. The ejector came loose in the BKM I had and on a .380 (don't remember the model number), the slide stop/release broke. Again neither prevented the gun from firing. On the other hand, I found that on Colt .380 Government Models, it didn't take much to bend the spring that works the slide stop (no, I haven't looked up the technical term). Star manufactured some very light 9mm pistols. Skeeter Skelton used to praise one called the Starlight, I think it was called. All the Stars that I ever owned or examined were well finished, however, and if you liked Colts, you probably would like Stars. They weren't identical and the Star had a different trigger arrangement and never had a grip safety, I think. I suspect their weakness was the steel they used but Brownings have been accused of having "soft" steel, too. I'd like to see a police or military holster for the BM. __________________ Shoot low, sheriff. They're riding Shetlands! Underneath the starry flag, civilize 'em with a Krag, and return us to our own beloved homes! Buy War Bonds.

January 14, 2009, 09:34 PM	#12
sixgunluv Senior Member Join Date: February 4, 2008 Posts: 200	BM firing pin Bill D, It appears my new Star BM has the longer firing pin, I would like to be able to carry it hammer down....should I buy another firing pin or it it a simple enough job to shorten mine?

July 10, 2009, 10:59 PM	#13
ChancePendergrass Member Join Date: June 26, 2009 Location: La Fayette Georgia Posts: 50	My Uncle Has The Same Gun Never Jams And Decent Accuracy __________________ RUT'N'STRUT

November 2, 2011, 08:59 PM	#14
smd1677 Junior Member Join Date: November 2, 2011 Location: Altamonte Springs, FL Posts: 1	Spanish indeed I have owned a Star BM for more than 20 years and have thoroghly enjoyed it, it has always been accurate and reliable, it has been used by the Spanish "Guardia Civil" as well as the Israeli Army. The only problem is that I did'nt purchase extra mags when they were readily available, if anyone can point me in the right direction to purchse one I would be in your bebt.