I bought this Star BM a while back and hadn't taken it to a range yet. Chambered in 9mm Luger they were made from 1972-1992 for Spanish military use and are being imported now that they are considered surplus after the military and civilian users upgraded to newer firearms. They look similar to a 1911, but no grip safety and the thumb safety disengages the sear rather than block it. Weighs in at 2lbs 2oz with empty magazine with a 4" barrel. Plastic checkered grips. Magazine disconnect and empty mag catch; my magazine holds 7 rounds. There are two circular grind marks on the slide and frame that I assume were military emblems. Single action only. Weighs in a 2lb. 2oz, with an empty mag. Very solid all steel construction which was the norm for that circa Star manufacturing. It has a magazine disconnect and I don't know if it's normal for the pistol or it's something else, but there's a little hitch when the mag is inserted half way and I had to give it a light palm smack to seat it. Typical iron square notched rear sight and squared front sight. I read that they are used in movies as a substitute for 1911's because they look similar and are more reliable with blanks. I don't know if there's any truth to that but it's an interesting tidbit.
Made a visit to the range to shoot in a .22 rifle with a red dot, so I took this pistol and a new S&W .380 Bodyguard w/ a Crimson Trace laser as well. The Bodyguard laser was way off and I forgot the hex wrench to adjust it, so I only put 4 rounds through it in the silhouette target. You can see the rounds from Bodyguard shots marked in the photo. I was holding the laser on the 10 ring.
I loaded the Star BM with 115 gr FMJ Federal American Eagle and put a couple of magazines down range. The pistol is a little beat up finish wise but is tight. My eye sight is not all that good with iron sights, but I was able to put all the rounds in the head at 7 yards. Trigger is not at all bad. I would have shot it more, but I wanted to sight in my Ruger 10/22 Red Dot. I was also dodging hot casings from the shooter to the left of me. About one in three would fly over the divider into my cubbie.
