Jim Taylor
Star Model BM 9MM
Sunday, August 17, 2025, 15:14

217,682 Star BM pistols were made between 1972 and 1992

⦁ single action locked breech swinging link
⦁ 3.77" barrel 1:10 twist
⦁ weight 2:14 pound
⦁ from muzzle to rear of butt 7.25 inches
⦁ slide .84 inch wide
⦁ frame .70 inch
⦁ from bottom of grip to top of rear sight 5.063"
⦁ Magazine disconnect (which is easy to remove)
⦁ Magazine 8 rounds
⦁ Beveled magazine well

Markings

⦁ Left side of slide: 1st Line - STAR B Echeverria
2nd Line - Eibar, Espana -SA (Spanish abbreviation of "INC") CAL 9m/m P
⦁ Running vertically on the front of the left grip frame just under the grip panel is the original factory serial number

⦁ On the rear of left grip frame is the Proof Mark. A box with an X is the Eibar Test Facilities Proofmark. The Y1 is the year of production .. 1979

⦁ On the right side, the two-digit number is the year of manufacture.

⦁ "GC" is found on some guns. This gun had that milled off before it was imported to the US. The GC refers to the "Guardia Civil" which is the Spanish Military Police.

⦁ The stamping forward of the ejection port shows the gun was imported by Century International Arms.

⦁ The serial number stamped forward of the slide stop pin is the serial number assigned by Century International.

⦁ On the butt to the rear of the magazine well is the Model Designation.

The Star BM feels good in the hand. I added the aftermarket Goncolo Alves grips to replace the black plastic the gun came with.

Shooting the Star is comfortable, the sights are easy to see and the trigger pull is good. This is a gun you do not want to dry fire. It will pop the forward end of the firing pin right off. I know. Don't ask. But I do have spares now.

The cartridge has an unsupported area like a lot of autoloaders. Stick with SAAMI reloading data and you are OK. Hotrod it and things can happen. I have not blown a cartridge but I did do this:

It's a good carry gun. It's heavy enough that it is steady in the hand. This day age of plastic lightweight guns I know that weight is not popular. I know the feeling. It's been a long time since I had to wear a full size gun all day every day. I understand how the weight can be a bother if you have not been doing that all the time. For me, I would rather have the bigger gun if I need one. That's me. If you like the 9mm the Star BM ain't a bad choice.