STAR PD - Replacing Buffer and Recoil Spring

[CZ75 Guy]

I have a STAR PD .45 that I have had in the safe for 20+ yrs. I had never shot more than a box thru it.

I have been shooting it more recently and I know that I will have to replace the plastic Buffer in a few weeks. However, I am not sure how to do this.
(I also ordered a heavier recoil spring, so if you have any advice for this also, it would be much appreciated.)


Does anyone have any experiance with this?

[AndyC]

I'm envious - the PD is an awesome little pistol

It's straight-forward - the buffer is just a little rubber/plastic/whatever doohickey on the end of the recoil-spring guide-rod, held in place by the recoil-spring - looks like this:



To get the buffer out, you'll need to field-strip the pistol first.

If you don't have the owner's manual, go to Steve's Pages and search the list for "Star PD" - there's one there about 2/3rds of the way down the page - but basically the procedure (after checking that the pistol is unloaded) is:

1. Retract the slide - and then lock it in that rearward position by engaging the thumb-safety (marked on the pic below as "1") up into the 2nd slot in the slide (marked in the pic as "2"):



2. Push out the slide-stop (marked as "3") from the right side of the pistol to the left.

3. Hold the slide firmly (it's under pressure from the recoil-spring) and release the thumb-safety and ease the slide forward and totally off the frame.

4. Turn the slide upside-down and voila - you should be able to get the recoil-spring guide-rod out with a bit of wiggling and then replace the buffer.

[CZ75 Guy]

I can strip it and get to the rod (1st pic). I am not sure how the buffer comes off the rod. Do I just pull it forward, etc?

[AndyC]

Just sent you a PM - I just remembered that on the earlier PDs, the guide-rod was a weird assembly that was in 2 pieces and threaded - then Locktite'd together and was a pain in the butt to work on - you had to use a heatgun to loosen the Locktite (or just slice through the plastic buffer and cut it off, then replace it with the snap-on style of buffer).

Which type do you have there? Any chance of a pic?

[AndyC]

If you have the older two-piece guide-rod, as I'm starting to suspect, I found a good pic as to how it looks on this thread at gunboards.com

[CZ75 Guy]

I think it is a two piece, now that I see the pic. It looks like mine.

I did not even realize it screwed in. I'll try it when I get home.

Thanks.

[WalterGC]

I have an older model. Found a guy who makes buffers and ordered a couple from him. His buffers are for the newer model and won't fit my older, two-piece guide rod. I fabricated one myself, using a Wilson Shok Buf. Works fine.

[crashoverrideplik]

I have a Star BM and I'm here to tell you that 2 piece guide rod is a PIA to get apart. I put mine in a vice and turned the end off with a wrench after much cursing it gave in. Do your self a favor and run a tap/die on both parts when you finish. The thread finish are not the best. or at least on mine it wasn't.

[WalterGC]

I think I'll see if a Glock guide rod will work!

[CZ75 Guy]

Let me know if the Glock guide works

[crashoverrideplik]

Yea let me know too! I got a few of them in the box.