S&W CS45 versus Star M45

[Big Shrek]

Well, seeing as how I ended up with one of each,
seemed like I should have a shootout to see which handles the best!

Both have almost the same length slide, but because S&W put the safety/decocker in the slide,
the S&W's barrel is shorter...this did give a slight advantage to the Star.
Star - 3.8" Barrel, 6.7" Overall
S&W - 3.25" Barrel 6.66" Overall

And they share magazines, as Star had a habit of using S&W mags in some of their Last Gen pistols...
all one has to do is mill/file the mag catch hole for the other in each mag...
and they can swap back & forth

As for the rest...well, the pics speak for themselves...
the Star had slightly tighter groups and more manageable recoil.
However, the S&W feels slightly better in my left hand,
so for Gunfighter-style shooting, the Star is on the right, S&W on left.

 

[wildrider666]

I CC Firestar M40 for years. Had 4-5 FTF witin first 50 rounds. I may have contributed to this while getting accustomed to the small grip. No problems cycling after that with HP or RN. Only neg was that the Safety was very stiff to engage (disengagement was smooth). It remained stiff after several thousand rounds. I also prefer the rubber grips, amby safety and steel frame of the Star over the alloy frame of the S&W.

I think the S&W has better sights. The slide serrations are VERY aggressive: great to grip but abrasive to the hip. The plastic/composite grip material that has been used on several models just doesn't feel good. It grips okay but feels cheaper then it looks, think water pistol. I think S&W has a better reputation but I would still take the Star M45 over the CS.

Finding mags for both guns was difficult

 

[Big Shrek]

I got lucky with the mags, next gun show after I got the CS45, found two mags for it

On the Star, also got lucky with its mags...hit up a local shop known for having oddball stuff,
and they had one still in the packaging, and one loose.

Once I found out I could switch mags after adding the proper mag catch hole...
it made even more sense to keep both!

 

[Rapier]

I do not like Glocks, do not own a Glock anymore, but would rather have a Glock than either of them. So I will take: None of the above.
Ed

 

[flyandscuba]

The longer barrel of the Star will provide better accuracy and more velocity/energy over the S&W.

I liked the old Star PD. They were "the" small .45 in the late 70s and early 80s - even before Detonics showed up on the scene. They can still be had for less than $350 at times and are great shooters.

 

[Big Shrek]

The longer barrel of the Star will provide better accuracy and more velocity/energy over the S&W.

I liked the old Star PD. They were "the" small .45 in the late 70s and early 80s - even before Detonics showed up on the scene. They can still be had for less than $350 at times and are great shooters.

SARCO has BM's & BS's at $239, B's at $219

And some son of a gun is dumping his Star collection all over NWFL...
Here's what I've run across so far in various pawn shops over the last year...

A model 30PK with a bad cold blue job in Crestview, its still at Jay's.
(he shoulda Parkerized, if you can boil an egg, you can Parkerize...)
which, normally, I would have gotten, but don't need any more project guns...LOL
same shop had a Firestar Plus 9mm, but it was sold before I got there...
two M205's, one in 9mm, one in .40 S&W,
a model F with factory engraving in Pensacola,
M43 in 9mm, M45 in .45acp, both in Starvel...
a Megastar in .45acp, blued,
and a smattering of Letter Models

About a decade ago the guy at Tradewinds Pawn in Holley
had a full collection of Number Models/Firestars,
but he sold it before I could get the money up to buy it,
so now I'm wondering if the person he sold to fell on hard times...
and is pawning 'em off & loosing 'em...or just selling them off to pawn shops
at far lower than he would get from selling them himself...
Because pawn shops only give around 1/4th of what they are worth, if that.

Whoever he is, wish he'd contact ME, because I'd give him a far better deal than they will.
Especially on a Megastar 10mm

 

[Big Shrek]

I do not like Glocks, do not own a Glock anymore, but would rather have a Glock than either of them. So I will take: None of the above.
Ed

You might want to deeply consider an Ultrastar...the Star Model 205...

View attachment 47489

What's special about these?? Well, the poly frame has a steel skeleton...and a ribbed magwell.
And they soak recoil better than a Glock

 

[Rapier]

I have owned several Stars, all when I was young, stupid and broke. I quit buying Stars when I got out of high school and I am 55 years fresh out of need for a Star anything. I do not own a Glock either, I build them, do not own them.
Ed