Four From Spain

     Tam's latest tests had me digging into my mostly-Star collection of Spanish-made handguns to come up with a short-barrelled .45.  If my Star PD didn't need a new buffer, that would have been the best choice, since it's a scaled-down 1911 in appearance (lockwork is quite different, though largely Browning-inspired).  But between that and her decision to add +P loadings to the test, my choice was clear: Star's rugged little "Firestar."

     The entire Firestar series is overbuilt and heavy for their size, by no means a "purse gun" but pleasant to shoot.  Since I had the case out, here's the lineup:

     That's a 9 mm Firestar Plus with a double-stack magazine that creates a boxy and (unusually for Star, who generally had good ergonomics) awkward grip, followed by the much nicer .45  Firestar and the sleek 9 mm version.  For a little balance, an Astra A-75 in .45, a lovely piece of '70s Deco that runs like a champ.  They are my newest Spanish-made guns except for the polymer-frame Ultrastar, a clever Glockier-than-thou design that was supposed to save the company...but, sadly, didn't.