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Background: I recently picked up a Star Model B from Aim Surplus (http://www.aimsurplus.com/product.as...ol&groupid=254). It was built in Spain in 1943, sold to Bulgaria while they were part of the Axis Powers, and it was captured and re-blued in the Soviet Union.
Condition: For it being over 70 years old, it was in great condition. The original markings are a bit faded on the frame, but the flaming bomb on the frame, slide, and barrel stand out. The Soviets’ re-bluing is in really good condition but has turned the ejector and barrel linkage purple. Another thing I found remarkable for a re-arsenaled weapon was that all the serial numbers matched (frame, slide, barrel, and scratched into the magazine). After cleaning, I checked for functionality and everything functioned very well. The safety was a little sticky, but all other functions performed well.
I took it out to the SD police gun club outdoor 25 yard range to test it out with Aguila 9mm 124grn FMJ rounds. The magazine is long for Parabellum ammo and gave me a little trouble when I was loading it as it wanted to drift to the front of the magazine. This also caused a few feeding problems when loaded with 8 rounds (full capacity). The Mod B feels and weighs a lot like a 1911, but is a bit thinner. It took a few rounds to find a good spot for my trigger finger to get comfortable. It’s heavy for a 9mm which makes the recoil less than a Sig P250 9MM and the 9mm make it less than a 1911 45. It has a spur hammer but there was no bite from it. The trigger pull was not too heavy and broke cleanly and consistently with a reset similar a Berretta M9 service pistol. After about 30 rounds of warm up shooting for both me and the pistol I was comfortable with the grip, sight picture and recoil. The light recoil aided in the quick target acquisition for controlled rapid fire (one shot a second) and hit all 8 rounds on a standard NRA rapid fire 25 yard target with one round on black. I then shot two more magazines to get the general accuracy of the pistol making all on target with 5 in the black. As mentioned before the only reliability issue was due to the long magazine; speculation online suggest that the magazine was designed to hold 9mm Largo.
I grew up shooting 1911’s and have a thing for surplus weapons. I have shot the Berretta M9, a Glock 17, and Sig P250 and have to say that I prefer the Model B. It functions beautifly and recoil is very easy on the hands. Parts are hard to find but that just gives me an excuse to buy a second one.
Condition: For it being over 70 years old, it was in great condition. The original markings are a bit faded on the frame, but the flaming bomb on the frame, slide, and barrel stand out. The Soviets’ re-bluing is in really good condition but has turned the ejector and barrel linkage purple. Another thing I found remarkable for a re-arsenaled weapon was that all the serial numbers matched (frame, slide, barrel, and scratched into the magazine). After cleaning, I checked for functionality and everything functioned very well. The safety was a little sticky, but all other functions performed well.
I took it out to the SD police gun club outdoor 25 yard range to test it out with Aguila 9mm 124grn FMJ rounds. The magazine is long for Parabellum ammo and gave me a little trouble when I was loading it as it wanted to drift to the front of the magazine. This also caused a few feeding problems when loaded with 8 rounds (full capacity). The Mod B feels and weighs a lot like a 1911, but is a bit thinner. It took a few rounds to find a good spot for my trigger finger to get comfortable. It’s heavy for a 9mm which makes the recoil less than a Sig P250 9MM and the 9mm make it less than a 1911 45. It has a spur hammer but there was no bite from it. The trigger pull was not too heavy and broke cleanly and consistently with a reset similar a Berretta M9 service pistol. After about 30 rounds of warm up shooting for both me and the pistol I was comfortable with the grip, sight picture and recoil. The light recoil aided in the quick target acquisition for controlled rapid fire (one shot a second) and hit all 8 rounds on a standard NRA rapid fire 25 yard target with one round on black. I then shot two more magazines to get the general accuracy of the pistol making all on target with 5 in the black. As mentioned before the only reliability issue was due to the long magazine; speculation online suggest that the magazine was designed to hold 9mm Largo.
I grew up shooting 1911’s and have a thing for surplus weapons. I have shot the Berretta M9, a Glock 17, and Sig P250 and have to say that I prefer the Model B. It functions beautifly and recoil is very easy on the hands. Parts are hard to find but that just gives me an excuse to buy a second one.
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