Picked Up An Under Rated and Excellent Pistol

mk70ss · March 9, 2024, 01:28 PM

Just picked up this Star 30M 9mm. These were outstanding all steel pistols. This one is near mint condition.

jar · March 9, 2024, 03:09 PM

STAR was a great loss, perhaps the best of the Eibar manufacturers. My UltraStar is still one of the best of my single stack 9mm.

gc70 · March 9, 2024, 04:18 PM

Congratulations! Your pistol is in excellent condition.

I ran across a Star Model 28 in the early '80s but it sold before I made up my mind to buy it. The Model 30 is even nicer. I wish I had bought one and now, 40 years later, I may.

Drm50 · March 9, 2024, 05:19 PM

Never had any new generation Stars but had a bucket of the older models. From 9mm down to 22. Had the old 9 Largo & matching Destroyer carbine. Shot up a storm with them using 38super brass to load Largo. Quality better than a lot of stuff on market today.

Sevens · March 10, 2024, 02:13 PM

If ANYONE knows the dimensions of the dovetail of the rear sight… and/or has a suggestion for a replacement rear sight (even if it is simply a fixed blade), please post it here.

I have the same pistol and my rear sight just shattered while shooting. I need another!

armoredman · March 11, 2024, 04:16 AM

I have ALWAYS wanted one of those, but never found one in good enough shape when I had money. Nice find!

PzGren · March 11, 2024, 06:54 AM

The Star 30 is using the same inverted slide rails that SIG Neuhausen had put on their P210 and that the CZ 75 copied, leading to good accuracy. The aluminium framed Star 28s were prone to have the dustcover crack at the rail, the 30 is the improved version.

Nathan · March 11, 2024, 08:54 AM

Interesting….caliber?

mk70ss · March 11, 2024, 12:06 PM

9MM

bamaranger · March 13, 2024, 09:10 PM

I can't help but comment that the Star really reminds me of the Ruger P-series in appearance.

jar · March 14, 2024, 08:24 AM

My UltraStar, polymer framed 9mm single stack.

It had the swipe down ambidextrous safety, the magazine release was swapable, held 9 + 1 rounds, extremely low bore axis with slide riding inside the frame on steel inserts and actually felt more steel frame-like than polymer. The rear sights were located by a set screw so easily user adjustable.

wild cat mccane · March 14, 2024, 09:54 AM

As mentioned above, looks very much like a P210

veprdude · March 15, 2024, 09:25 PM

I really like Stars too. The Model 28/30 (many different names) are so heavy it catches you off-guard the first time you hold one. I have a 30M. Haven't shot it but I'm guessing with the low bore axis and heft, there's little recoil.

These are 9mm and were in the runnings for the US service pistol in the 80s. Some technical glitches caused them to score poorly. The Ruger P85 suffered similarly.

Mag are a PITA to find. I wonder if you could modify a common mag to work.

gc70 · March 15, 2024, 10:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by veprdude

Mag are a PITA to find. I wonder if you could modify a common mag to work.

Factory S&W 59xx magazines reportedly work in the 28/30/31 series Stars but only if the magazine disconnect is removed.

http://www.star-firearms.com/info/mags.shtml

veprdude · March 20, 2024, 01:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gc70

Factory S&W 59xx magazines reportedly work in the 28/30/31 series Stars but only if the magazine disconnect is removed.

http://www.star-firearms.com/info/mags.shtml

I'll have to try that out.

mk70ss · March 20, 2024, 10:18 AM

I finally got to put some rounds the new Star 30M. Zero malfunctions of any kind after 150 rounds. This gun is more accurate than my Colt Gold Cup Trophy at 20 yards. I was getting well centered, tiny little groups.

March 9, 2024, 01:28 PM	#1
mk70ss Senior Member Join Date: January 12, 2008 Location: Tennessee Posts: 1,599	Picked Up An Under Rated and Excellent Pistol Just picked up this Star 30M 9mm. These were outstanding all steel pistols. This one is near mint condition. __________________ Say when.....

March 9, 2024, 03:09 PM	#2
jar Senior Member Join Date: March 8, 2001 Location: Deep South Texas Posts: 1,670	STAR was a great loss, perhaps the best of the Eibar manufacturers. My UltraStar is still one of the best of my single stack 9mm. __________________ To be vintage it's gotta be older than me!

March 10, 2024, 02:13 PM	#5
Sevens Senior Member Join Date: July 28, 2007 Location: Ohio Posts: 11,756	If ANYONE knows the dimensions of the dovetail of the rear sight… and/or has a suggestion for a replacement rear sight (even if it is simply a fixed blade), please post it here. I have the same pistol and my rear sight just shattered while shooting. I need another! __________________ *Attention Brass rats and other reloaders:* I really need .327 Federal Magnum brass, no lot size too small. Tell me what caliber you need and I'll see what I have to swap. PM me and we'll discuss.

March 11, 2024, 12:06 PM	#9
mk70ss Senior Member Join Date: January 12, 2008 Location: Tennessee Posts: 1,599	9MM __________________ Say when.....

March 13, 2024, 09:10 PM	#10
bamaranger Senior Member Join Date: October 9, 2009 Location: North Alabama Posts: 8,318	likeness I can't help but comment that the Star really reminds me of the Ruger P-series in appearance.

March 9, 2024, 04:18 PM	#3
gc70 Senior Member Join Date: May 24, 2005 Location: North Carolina Posts: 2,903	Congratulations! Your pistol is in excellent condition. I ran across a Star Model 28 in the early '80s but it sold before I made up my mind to buy it. The Model 30 is even nicer. I wish I had bought one and now, 40 years later, I may.

March 9, 2024, 05:19 PM	#4
Drm50 Senior Member Join Date: November 10, 2014 Posts: 1,382	Never had any new generation Stars but had a bucket of the older models. From 9mm down to 22. Had the old 9 Largo & matching Destroyer carbine. Shot up a storm with them using 38super brass to load Largo. Quality better than a lot of stuff on market today.

March 11, 2024, 04:16 AM	#6
armoredman Senior Member Join Date: May 22, 2007 Location: Arizona Posts: 5,299	I have ALWAYS wanted one of those, but never found one in good enough shape when I had money. Nice find!

March 11, 2024, 06:54 AM	#7
PzGren Senior Member Join Date: August 14, 2001 Posts: 1,260	The Star 30 is using the same inverted slide rails that SIG Neuhausen had put on their P210 and that the CZ 75 copied, leading to good accuracy. The aluminium framed Star 28s were prone to have the dustcover crack at the rail, the 30 is the improved version.

March 11, 2024, 08:54 AM	#8
Nathan Senior Member Join Date: July 1, 2001 Posts: 6,336	Interesting….caliber?

March 14, 2024, 08:24 AM	#11
jar Senior Member Join Date: March 8, 2001 Location: Deep South Texas Posts: 1,670	My UltraStar, polymer framed 9mm single stack. It had the swipe down ambidextrous safety, the magazine release was swapable, held 9 + 1 rounds, extremely low bore axis with slide riding inside the frame on steel inserts and actually felt more steel frame-like than polymer. The rear sights were located by a set screw so easily user adjustable. __________________ To be vintage it's gotta be older than me!

March 14, 2024, 09:54 AM	#12
wild cat mccane Senior Member Join Date: May 22, 2011 Posts: 3,629	As mentioned above, looks very much like a P210 __________________ My wife is a pulmonologist (respiratory Dr) and epidemiologist. If you have any questions on COVID, please reach out to me in PM.

March 15, 2024, 09:25 PM	#13
veprdude Senior Member Join Date: March 18, 2019 Location: Texas Posts: 432	I really like Stars too. The Model 28/30 (many different names) are so heavy it catches you off-guard the first time you hold one. I have a 30M. Haven't shot it but I'm guessing with the low bore axis and heft, there's little recoil. These are 9mm and were in the runnings for the US service pistol in the 80s. Some technical glitches caused them to score poorly. The Ruger P85 suffered similarly. Mag are a PITA to find. I wonder if you could modify a common mag to work.

March 20, 2024, 10:18 AM	#16
mk70ss Senior Member Join Date: January 12, 2008 Location: Tennessee Posts: 1,599	I finally got to put some rounds the new Star 30M. Zero malfunctions of any kind after 150 rounds. This gun is more accurate than my Colt Gold Cup Trophy at 20 yards. I was getting well centered, tiny little groups. __________________ Say when.....