I'm buying a Buckmark

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Checkman

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Hello everybody. I rarely post on this forum. Mostly the revolver forum which is interesting because I'm a cop and I carry either the Sig 220 or the 245 depending on my mood. I also own a Browning Hi-Power. But I guess revolvers are a hobby while I look at my autoloaders as tools of my trade. I'm competent with my autos and always make sure to put at least fifty rounds through one of the Sigs every time I go to the range (at the end of a shooting session), but I'm not passionate about them.

Well anyway I finally admitted to myself this past summer that even with reloading I'm having a heck of a time keeping up with the appetite of my Sigs. I finally gave it up and admitted to myself that I needed a good 22LR autoloader. If for no other reason then sheer economics. Like alot of shooters I get excited about big caliber guns, but 22's don't tend to be very glamerous. Over the past several months I've found myself growing more excited about the prospect of getting a good little 22 autoloader though.I also started to realize that there was a pretty extensive collection of 22 handguns made by different manufacturers. For the first time in many years I was in a very strange place - I didn't know what make to buy. I felt like a total newbie.

I did my research and talked to many a shooter. I also trolled this forum and read all the threads regarding .22's.I've finally settled on the Buckmark. Yes I did consider the Trailside and the Ruger was leading for awhile, but the Buckmark Camper finally won me over. Tommorrow I'm going to a local gunstore and putting it into layaway. I could get it, but as a cop I can deduct the occassional gun purchase from my taxes (job related). My wife told me to hold off until the new year, but suggested layaway because when I've decided to buy a gun it almost pains me not being able to buy it immediately.

Well there you go. Just thought I would share that with everybody. I'm actually pretty jacked. Reminds me of how I felt 22 years ago when I was buying my first gun (22 Marlin bolt action). I still own that rifle by the way. In a few years I'll be taking my kids to shoot and they'll learn on that Marlin and Buckmark. :)
 
You've made an excellent choice. Range report as soon as possible!!!
 
You got it. Even if it's below zero I'll be out at the department's range. What the heck it might even be a good test.
 
Not much to say but, excellent choice and have fun! I also prefer the Buckmark to the other common .22 autos.
 
Happy shooting once you get it. I bought a Micro Buckmark earlier this year. It has been a terrific .22. Rugers are great guns( got a new .357 Blackhawk 2 weeks ago), but, for me though, the Buckmarks sights, mag release, and grip shape have the MKII's beat hands down.I hope the new year gets here very soon for you.
 
Congratulations. I love my Buckmark Camper. Like vwfool, I like the grip angle and the fact that the mag release is like all of my other auto-loaders. Only problem I have had with mine is that the screws that hold the top-strap (or whatever itis called) have worked ther way loose in the past. I when this happened, I put a bit of locktite on them and have been fine since.

Have fun. Be safe.
 
Browning & Marlin

Hey...great minds think alike...I got a Browning Buckmark that I bought used at my favorite indoor range ( Classic Pistol Southampton, PA ) for $150...came with a nice red dot scope. And I got a Marlin bolt action that dates back to the 60's...It's a Model 80 and shoots 22 short, long, and long rifle out of a detachable 7 round magazine...a real tack driver too. A shootin buddy of mine had a house in the Pocono Mts and took me to a flea market after breakfast before we went to the outdoor range, and I came across it sittin in a rack with a bunch of toy and air rifles...got it for a $100. :evil:
gotta take a better pic of it...which Marlin Bolt do you have ?
 
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Good choice. I like mine to carry in the woods for the close shots on small game or for varmints around the house with those "primer only" loads.
 
Gunnutz 13

I believe my Marlin is a Marlin Model 81. It has a tubular magazine and will shoot both SS shorts, long and long rifle. I say that I believe because my rifle was actually manufactured for Great Western, but I've looked at actual Marlin 81's and I'm 99% certain that's what I have. There's even the place on the rifle butt where Marlin would have placed the company's name, but on my rifle it's blank. I actually had the rifle restocked about fourteen years ago - for sentimental reasons. It dosen't look too bad now and it's still a tack driver.REgardless of the rifles actual origin it's my first and I'm not letting it go. So it resides in my safe along my "big boy" shooters.

I went and put down the money to put my Buckmark into layaway. Talk about timing. It was the last one that they had in the shop. The dealer will be open on Jan 1 so I know where I'll be at 9:00 A.M.
 
Good Choice

Checkman...

Good choice...on both the Buckmark and the keeping of the Model 81. (I've never sold any gun I bought). My Marlin 80 has a kinda bullseye logo implanted into the wood stock. Post some pics if your able...let me know what kind of 22lr's your Bucky likes to launch...I tend to use FMJ, the cheaper lead ones really foul out the gun. :evil:
 
Okiecruffler, is your wife a glutton for punishment? LOL

I have a Buckmark and cleaning it is the only thing I dislike about it.

It seems that you almost have to have gunsmithing skills to do it. :cuss:

But, everyone is right....it's a great lil gun.

Don't know about anyone else's but mine has a factory trigger that my finger pulse nearly sets off. :)
 
Great Choice,

I have a Buckmark Target and it is the best .22 I have ever owned. Accuracy is phenominal and reliability is as well.

Good Luck with your new gun.
 
I think you'll be very happy with the Buckmark

Some years back, I decided that I'd do what I could to supply my sons with firearms for which they'd never need apologize. I am not "well off" financially, but I'd never consider buying shoddy gear, for myself or loved ones.

When Elder Son reached a point where I thought he needed a handgun of his own, I shopped long and hard and decided on a Buckmark .22. His was the 5.5 inch barrel model. I outfitted him with a flap-type field holster and an extra magazine. That pistol has served him well for plinking, small game hunting, training a number of friends, and for home defense. He developed such expertise and speed with this little pistol, . . . Well, no use in a proud daddy boring y'all with stories.

Anyway, that pistol served him - - and others, so well that I developed an affection for it myownself. When the opportunity arose, I picked up a four-inch version for my own use. The short barrel carries well in a GI holster, either the 1916 belt style or the old M3 shoulder rig. My wife became enamored of this pistol and shot a number of rimfire plate matches with it, before undergoing some hand surgery a while back. Come to think of it, she keeps that Buckmark in HER shooting bag, and I haven't seen it in months. :uhoh: Kinda like "my" P32 and Officers ACP . . . .

Best,
Johnny
 
Good choice. I have a short barelled slab-side camper. It's shoots great except it has trouble cycling standard velocity ammo. I just use high velocity and it's flawless.
 
Good stuff. I have a Buck Mark Plus and it's a bitchingly fine little pistol. Excellent accuracy, feels good, handsome lines.

Cleaning is sort of a pain, but (and I don't wish to encourage anyone in bad habits) my experience is that you can go a long time without cleaning 'em and they'll still shoot great. I've been through about 700-800 rounds since my last cleaning, without a glitch. Kim du Toit has written of going thousands of rounds between cleanings.

One other thing: turns out sometimes the stuff you hear about a "200 round break-in period" is true. I had a small number of FTFs and premature slide-locks in my first two or three outings with the Buck Mark. Then that just stopped. Since then I've fired c. 1000 rounds with zero problems.

I use only CCI Mini-Mags in the Buck Mark. I shoot it better at 50 yards than I shoot my centerfire rifle (Marlin 1894C with iron sights).
 
Not So Fast Hombre!

My buddy just got one and his first time shooting it a part of the slide broke clean off.

What's more, take the slide apart and you will see a big cheap piece of plastic. Not rugged as hell GLOCK type plastic but more like 70's cap gun plastic. the spot welds on the slide broke loose sending the reight rear lug flying. Buy a ruger and be done with it.

-bevr
 
Checkman you made a great choice. My Buckmark Micro Plus SE 4" is one of my very favorite pistols.

Bevr,I hate to break it to ya buddy but the only piece of plastic in the top end of a Buckmark is the buffer. It`s soft because it`s a buffer... It`s the reason Buckmarks shoot so soft. I`ve had 2 Buckmarks (my Dad owns my old one now),both have or had 10s of thousands of rounds through them and the buffers look like new yet. Marcus
 
I shot mine and took it apart to clean it enough to finally break off one of the screws holding the topstrap on. I called Browning, and they rushed me some new ones. I honestly can't remember if they charged me for the parts, or sent 'em free, or if they just charged shipping, but I recall being pleased with the service.

My Buckmark is exceedingly accurate, and points very well. I've shot it in a plate match or two, but carry it most in a field holster while bird hunting. When the dove just aren't flying, a box of cheap .22 in my fanny pack and a Buckmark on the belt can still while away a nice afternoon. Or if the squirrels are looking more active, I might switch game.

Back when I was first a poor college student and was considering what I might do for concealed carry when Texas passed the new carry law, I actually gave some thought to putting the 4" barrel on my Buckmark and carrying it. (You have to qualify with a .380 or greater caliber, but can carry what you want.) Sound silly? At about the same size as a Commander, I can draw and empty a 4" Buckmark into a pieplate at 7 yards in about 2 seconds or just a tad over. At 5 yards, I can pick an eyesocket. :) Not the IDEAL carry gun, but a man could do worse, if he's on a budget and needs to get by.
 
(You have to qualify with a .380 or greater caliber, but can
Click to expand...
Ha! If that was the rule here, nobody would carry. I can't count the number of P32's people carry.
 
GC §411.188. HANDGUN PROFICIENCY REQUIREMENT. (a) The
director by rule shall establish minimum standards for handgun proficiency
and shall develop a course to teach handgun proficiency and
examinations to measure handgun proficiency. The course to teach
handgun proficiency must contain training sessions divided into two
parts. One part of the course must be classroom instruction and the
other part must be range instruction and an actual demonstration by
the applicant of the applicant's ability to safely and proficiently use the
category of handgun for which the applicant seeks certification. An
applicant may not be certified unless the applicant demonstrates, at a
minimum, the degree of proficiency that is required to effectively
operate a handgun of.32 caliber or above.
 
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