Browning Buck Mark: First Range Report

[Smaug]

I got the chance today to take my wife's new Buck Mark out to the range today.

Stock image

Before I did that, I cleaned a whole lot of grease out from inside the action. Was not impressed with Browning's failure to instruct the owner how to field strip the gun. They did recommend cleaning off this grease, which is apparently done with magic, since it cannot be reached without field stripping the gun. (or Gun Scrubber/Brake Cleaner) After cleaning off all the grease, I put a drop of CLP on each slide rail.

First off, I finished off a box of Winchester Xpert. This ammo is crap. Only a bit better than Thunderbolt, which has the same reliability problems, and is much dirtier. I had three failures to fire in probably 100 rounds. Looking at them, there was a nice, deep ding in the rim.

After that, I moved onto a fresh bulk box of Federal. More reliable, but it doesn't seem as accurate. That's just my feeling, as I was shooting mostly offhand.

I had probably 5 or 6 failures to feed; it seems one of the new Browning magazines was not pushing the round up far enough, because the bolt wasn't stripping it sometimes in that mag. Maybe this is a break-in issue. I've only got a couple hundred rounds through it. It happened with each type of ammo.

I had a couple failures to extract; the extractor didn't grab onto the rim, which resulted in a couple of double-feeds.

I had probably 4 stovepipe jams.

The fiber optic front sight is very easy to pick up; but these iron sights are not well-suited to precision shooting at longer distances than about 10 yards. A scope or red dot is really called for here. Maybe even just a pointier front sight.

Reloading it was a breeze, especially with the HKS speed loader. This new slide grip design is miles better than the old one. The old one was just OK, in my opinion. Same for the pistol grip. Now, it is the most comfortable stock pistol grip I've ever felt. (better than Ruger's, Beretta's, S&W's)

The shooting feel reminds me of the Colt 22 from the 90s or High Standard from the 60s, but with a more comfy grip.

Before I pass final judgment on this gun for reliability, I will get a few known good ammo types. (Winchester Super-X, CCI Mini Mag, and maybe a couple types of high end target ammo) I wil also wait until it has had another few hundred rounds through it. For now, I cannot trust it to do nightstand duty for my wife, as she had originally planned.

Based on this, compared to what I experienced when I got my Mk. II back in '97, I believe Ruger makes the superior 22. Recoil is a tad sharper, and the trigger is a tad heavier. The grip is not quite as comfy, but it is a more reliable gun. It never had these teething problems that new guns are alleged to have.

 

[TheSigmaEnigma]

Glad to see the range report. That sucks that your already having problems with it. Hopefully its just breaking in. I am also thinking about getting a .22 pistol, and I was unsure(until now) if I should get the Ruger Mark III or the Browning Buck Mark. The Buck Mark is nice, but I think I'll just go with the Ruger. Good luck!

 

[Smaug]

I wouldn't consider this a big black mark against the Buck Mark. (yet)

The feeding issue is probably from a bad magazine. Everything else is probably ammo or break-in related.

I still felt I should mention that I had none of these issues with the Ruger.

I think you'll be happy with yours. Get one with adjustable sights and at least a 5.5" barrel.

22/45 vs. Mark x --> Personal preference. They use the same action.

If you need to save a couple bucks, get blued, but don't skimp on the sights.

Be sure to post up when you get something.

 

[TheSigmaEnigma]

Okay will do. I appreciate the advice! I like the Stainless Mark III w/ a bull barrel but ouch, $400!? I think I'll get the Mark III blued w/ bull barrel. Thanks again!

 

[OcelotZ3]

I had a similar set of problems with my Buckmark. I also cleaned it up really good the first time but apparently not. I didn't use brake cleaner like you did...

I found that I needed to take it down again and REALLY clean things up good. Lubed with a reasonable amount of oil.

The next time out it ran perfectly with nearly every type of ammunition I threw at it.

Oh, the tightness of the rear sight screw can really make a difference to the operation. Make sure it's tight & use a drop of non-permanent loctite on it.

Good luck!

 

[788Ham]

Get a small bottle of Gun Butter, apply to the rails, slide areas, and pull the magazine button to the bottom of the mag, put a couple drops of GB into the slide area and work it several times, it just needs some lube being new. You'll like the pistol.

 

[Pilot]

It just may need to break in a little. Use CCI Minimags for the first few hundred rounds and then try some of the cheaper stuff like Federal 550.

 

[Johnny Lightning]

I have a Buckmark w/ the bull barrel, fiber front sight, and adjustable rear and would have to say it is one of my favorate handguns. I also was having some feeding/ejection problems when I first got mine until a guy at the range who also has a Buckmark told me about using only 40grain .22's in it. As soon a I switched the problems went away. I have probably put close to 1000 rounds through mine so far so I am sure that also helps w/ the reliability/breakin. I agree in that the buckmark has a FANTASTIC grip!

 

[Shipwreck]

I bought a Buckmark camper a few years ago. Mine wouldn't work 100% either. I hated paying over nights hipping to send back a $250-$260 gun, but finally did it. When it came back, it worked 100%

 

[KodiakBeer]

All .22 pistols are running on the ragged edge of reliability because there isn't much steam in a .22 cartridge to drive that slide back. Once they get worn in a bit, that becomes a non-issue.

One thing you can do with a new .22 (of any make) is to buy only 40 grain high velocity cartridges. If you look at the box, most .22 slugs are 36 or 38 grain. Every little bit helps.

Also, like with any auto, you can degrease it and just manually run the slide back and forth a few hundred times, then clean and re-oil.

After a while a Buckmark will shoot just about anything you put in it, even standard velocity rounds which it isn't warranted for.

I have the same model you have and had similar issues at first - stovepipes - until I degreased and wore the slide and springs in. I found the firesight distracting, so I painted it black, but mine is mainly for target shooting. Any tin can within 50 yards is DRT.

Also, and this isn't something you'd want to do since yours is a bedside gun, you can cut the trigger pull in half for target shooting by doing something called the Heggis flip". Google that term for more info.

 

[Hanzo581]

This is strange, every time someone bashes my P22 they bring up the Buckmark, it was my understanding they were 100% reliable.

 

[KodiakBeer]

I have both a P22 and a Buckmark. The Buckmark is far more reliable and infinitely more accurate than the P22.

I don't expect 100% reliability out of the box with any .22, simply because of the wimpy recoil impulse of the .22 round. You can either shoot them until they break in, or as described above, de-oil and manually work them in. Or, you might get lucky and have them work 100% from the git-go...

I had problems with the Buckmark on the first range trip. Like, maybe every couple of magazines I'd get a stove-pipe. After working the slide it now runs 100%.

I like the P22, but if I stand a beer can out at 50 yards I'll have to throw a number of shots at it before I hit it. With the Buckmark, it's first shot every time.

I also like to toss out spent shotgun hulls and walk them away from me until I miss a shot. With the Buckmark, that's fun because I can easily keep popping them until they are in the neighborhood of 25 yards before I miss. With the P22, it's an exercise in frustration even at 10 yards or so.

If you stuck the pistols in a vice, I'm sure the P22 would show up as pretty accurate. But, with that heavy and mushy trigger, you just can't shoot them well.
The Buckmark has a good trigger out of the box. And if you do the Heggis flip (takes 5 minutes), you've got a target grade trigger.

Try a Buckmark and see for yourself.

 

[Pilot]

I beg to differ on .22 LR reliability. I have no trouble with my Ruger MK II's with Federal 500 Bulk pack, Federal Auto Match and of course anything CCI. I get 100% function with these rounds with my three MK II's and a MK II era 22/45. I am sure many others have the same experience.