Need help with a Star 'S' Model .380 - The Firearms Forum

hackercat13 · 02-11-2011, 12:48 PM

Hey all!
I have an older Star .380 'S' model, and my recoil spring is in sad shape. I have tried all the usual options (Numrich, Hoosier Gun Parts, even Jack First), and had zero luck. I even emailed Bob's gun parts, but he never responded. Can ANYONE help me finding a new (or gently used) recoil spring for this pistol?

Thanks in advance!
Chris

oscarmayer · 02-12-2011, 03:45 PM

check out bobs gun shop ( do a google search ) or check out wolffe springs. you should find one that will match .

hackercat13 · 02-12-2011, 05:56 PM

I emailed Bobs (no response) and his web page says he does not have that spring. Wolffe does not have them either, but said they'd make me one (or match one up I guess) if I can give them some very accurate measurements. That may be my best bet at this point.

Old John · 02-13-2011, 09:45 AM

Well, you didn't mention Midway. I have head they are a good source for "parts".
I haven't needed to try them yet..........They advertise a lot on the Wednesday evening Gun shows on Outdoor Channel.

Here's a Link: http://www.midwayusa.com/

Good Luck!

hackercat13 · 02-13-2011, 11:16 AM

I did try Midway at your suggestion, They don't have any Star parts. I am starting to think that I may need to get some calipers and take the measurements. I hope I can be accurate enough for Wolffe to find me one.

oscarmayer · 02-13-2011, 11:50 AM

lenght and diameter is ll you need and it doesn't have to be perfect. surely there is a in production recoil spring that will be a good match

hackercat13 · 02-13-2011, 11:59 AM

I was asked for length, diameter, wire thickness, colis per inch, and inside diameter. I wouldn't think this was too hard to find, but I want to make sure it's right.

Bill DeShivs · 02-13-2011, 02:59 PM

I have owned and worked on an awful lot of Star pistols, and I have never seen one with a worn-out recoil spring. Unless the spring is rusted, I doubt there is anything wrong with it.
Why is it in "sad shape?"

hackercat13 · 02-13-2011, 07:27 PM

It has a pretty good kink in the middle. I bought it used from an old work aquaintence, so I am not sure how this hapened. If you take the spring off the recoil spring guide, and sit it on a flat surface, it has about a 5-10 degree angle to it. I don't think the slide 'snaps' closed after pressing the slide release as it should either.

Zane71464 · 02-13-2011, 08:27 PM

Sounds like the last person that had it messed it up and put it back in as is/was. Looks like you have tried about all places I would have looked for one...good luck finding one and hope you do soon.

Zane71464 · 02-13-2011, 08:29 PM

...just hit me, have you tried Brownells?

hackercat13 · 02-13-2011, 09:20 PM

Yeah, they don't even list Star as a manufacturer they have any parts for.

Bill DeShivs · 02-14-2011, 12:08 AM

The spring guide will keep the spring from kinking. I doubt it needs to be replaced. Can you post a picture?

hackercat13 · 02-15-2011, 01:44 PM

Here are a couple photos of the spring next to the recoil spring guide. It's a pretty good bend. Wolff couldn't help me, so now I am a bit stumped. Maybe a custom spring manufacturer....but that could get pretty expensive. What I need is a parts gun!
Chris

02-11-2011, 12:48 PM	#1
hackercat13 Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Washington State Posts: 27	Need help with a Star 'S' Model .380 Hey all! I have an older Star .380 'S' model, and my recoil spring is in sad shape. I have tried all the usual options (Numrich, Hoosier Gun Parts, even Jack First), and had zero luck. I even emailed Bob's gun parts, but he never responded. Can ANYONE help me finding a new (or gently used) recoil spring for this pistol? Thanks in advance! Chris __________________ A veteran is someone who once wrote a blank check reading "To the United States for an amount up to, and including my life." -->

02-12-2011, 03:45 PM	#2
oscarmayer Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Contributor Posts: 2,387	Re: Need help with a Star 'S' Model .380 check out bobs gun shop ( do a google search ) or check out wolffe springs. you should find one that will match .

02-12-2011, 05:56 PM	#3
hackercat13 Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Washington State Posts: 27	Re: Need help with a Star 'S' Model .380 I emailed Bobs (no response) and his web page says he does not have that spring. Wolffe does not have them either, but said they'd make me one (or match one up I guess) if I can give them some very accurate measurements. That may be my best bet at this point. __________________ A veteran is someone who once wrote a blank check reading "To the United States for an amount up to, and including my life."

02-13-2011, 09:45 AM	#4
Old John Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Posts: 49	Re: Need help with a Star 'S' Model .380 Well, you didn't mention Midway. I have head they are a good source for "parts". I haven't needed to try them yet..........They advertise a lot on the Wednesday evening Gun shows on Outdoor Channel. Here's a Link: http://www.midwayusa.com/ Good Luck! __________________ 'Til later.... Hang in there,and Hang on! Life is a Journey... Not a Destination! Old John

02-13-2011, 11:16 AM	#5
hackercat13 Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Washington State Posts: 27	Re: Need help with a Star 'S' Model .380 I did try Midway at your suggestion, They don't have any Star parts. I am starting to think that I may need to get some calipers and take the measurements. I hope I can be accurate enough for Wolffe to find me one. __________________ A veteran is someone who once wrote a blank check reading "To the United States for an amount up to, and including my life."

02-13-2011, 11:50 AM	#6
oscarmayer Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Contributor Posts: 2,387	Re: Need help with a Star 'S' Model .380 lenght and diameter is ll you need and it doesn't have to be perfect. surely there is a in production recoil spring that will be a good match

02-13-2011, 11:59 AM	#7
hackercat13 Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Washington State Posts: 27	Re: Need help with a Star 'S' Model .380 I was asked for length, diameter, wire thickness, colis per inch, and inside diameter. I wouldn't think this was too hard to find, but I want to make sure it's right. __________________ A veteran is someone who once wrote a blank check reading "To the United States for an amount up to, and including my life."

02-13-2011, 02:59 PM	#8
Bill DeShivs Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Contributor Posts: 1,469	Re: Need help with a Star 'S' Model .380 I have owned and worked on an awful lot of Star pistols, and I have never seen one with a worn-out recoil spring. Unless the spring is rusted, I doubt there is anything wrong with it. Why is it in "sad shape?" __________________ Bill DeShivs www.billdeshivs.com

02-13-2011, 07:27 PM	#9
hackercat13 Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Washington State Posts: 27	Re: Need help with a Star 'S' Model .380 It has a pretty good kink in the middle. I bought it used from an old work aquaintence, so I am not sure how this hapened. If you take the spring off the recoil spring guide, and sit it on a flat surface, it has about a 5-10 degree angle to it. I don't think the slide 'snaps' closed after pressing the slide release as it should either. __________________ A veteran is someone who once wrote a blank check reading "To the United States for an amount up to, and including my life."

02-13-2011, 08:27 PM	#10
Zane71464 Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Ohio NRA Member Contributor Posts: 5,350	Re: Need help with a Star 'S' Model .380 Sounds like the last person that had it messed it up and put it back in as is/was. Looks like you have tried about all places I would have looked for one...good luck finding one and hope you do soon. __________________ Two Words; "Simple Man", song by Charlie Daniels sums up my thoughts on a "few things"!

02-13-2011, 08:29 PM	#11
Zane71464 Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Ohio NRA Member Contributor Posts: 5,350	Re: Need help with a Star 'S' Model .380 ...just hit me, have you tried Brownells? __________________ Two Words; "Simple Man", song by Charlie Daniels sums up my thoughts on a "few things"!

02-13-2011, 09:20 PM	#12
hackercat13 Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Washington State Posts: 27	Re: Need help with a Star 'S' Model .380 Yeah, they don't even list Star as a manufacturer they have any parts for. __________________ A veteran is someone who once wrote a blank check reading "To the United States for an amount up to, and including my life."

02-14-2011, 12:08 AM	#13
Bill DeShivs Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Contributor Posts: 1,469	Re: Need help with a Star 'S' Model .380 The spring guide will keep the spring from kinking. I doubt it needs to be replaced. Can you post a picture? __________________ Bill DeShivs www.billdeshivs.com

02-15-2011, 01:44 PM	#14
hackercat13 Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Washington State Posts: 27	Re: Need help with a Star 'S' Model .380 Here are a couple photos of the spring next to the recoil spring guide. It's a pretty good bend. Wolff couldn't help me, so now I am a bit stumped. Maybe a custom spring manufacturer....but that could get pretty expensive. What I need is a parts gun! Chris __________________ A veteran is someone who once wrote a blank check reading "To the United States for an amount up to, and including my life."