Browning Buck Mark pistols - Good, Bad, Ugly?
- Thread starter Abe
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38snapcaps
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- Jan 16, 2003
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I've owned a Plus for a little over three years now and have run about 7500 rnds thru it.
It has proven to be very accurate and dependable. I've tried several other .22's owned by relatives and friends and definitely would not trade. Last year I even bought a 22/45 just to have something different and sold it in six months due to misfeeds and inferior accuracy.
The gun is real solid feeling, feels steady and comfortable in the hands. Its easy to clean, especially when compared to the battle of field stripping a Ruger.
Its my favorite gun and has seen a few "flings" come and go. The Browning is still with me.
It has proven to be very accurate and dependable. I've tried several other .22's owned by relatives and friends and definitely would not trade. Last year I even bought a 22/45 just to have something different and sold it in six months due to misfeeds and inferior accuracy.
The gun is real solid feeling, feels steady and comfortable in the hands. Its easy to clean, especially when compared to the battle of field stripping a Ruger.
Its my favorite gun and has seen a few "flings" come and go. The Browning is still with me.
Longbow
Member
I love mine!
I used to own a Ruger target model it was accurate and all, but the grip angle (I, being a 1911 shooter) is just not right for me. So, I traded it for a Browning buckmark. The grip angle and controls are very similar to 1911 and its easier to put together or take apart. Good luck!
I used to own a Ruger target model it was accurate and all, but the grip angle (I, being a 1911 shooter) is just not right for me. So, I traded it for a Browning buckmark. The grip angle and controls are very similar to 1911 and its easier to put together or take apart. Good luck!
I've got a Bullseye. A beautiful looking gun in stock form (the grips make the gun, unfortunately, a costly upgrade). Very comfortable and great shooter. Also have a standard model that does the job. I did, however encounter a small problem with it recently (have had it less than a year). While practicing one handed, the firingpin hits were getting farther out of the rim causing misfires. Not looking at it closely, I packed it up and went on to another gun as I was at an indoor range and time=$. Upon closer examination at home during cleaning, it was found that the top sight rib, which connects the barrel to the rear of the receiver and which the bolt slides back and forth under, had come loose. This caused the bolt to ride a bit high when fully forward allowing the firingpin to strike farther out of the rim. A simple problem. Just tighten down the screws with a little locktight.
Performance wise, the Bullseye was a little bit more accurate. I think the barrel length had a big part in that. The Bullseye certainly felt better in the hand but that's IMO. There is a trigger adjustment for the Bullseye but, like my Unlimited, the changes allowed to the trigger are not that great.
Performance wise, the Bullseye was a little bit more accurate. I think the barrel length had a big part in that. The Bullseye certainly felt better in the hand but that's IMO. There is a trigger adjustment for the Bullseye but, like my Unlimited, the changes allowed to the trigger are not that great.
Omaha-BeenGlockin
Member
Browning Buckmark=BAD AND UGLY.
Had 2 of the worthless @#$%&^$@!#$%---NEVER AGAIN!!!!!!!!
Even gave them a second chance.
Screw me once.........Screw me twice.................etc
Had 2 of the worthless @#$%&^$@!#$%---NEVER AGAIN!!!!!!!!
Even gave them a second chance.
Screw me once.........Screw me twice.................etc
Longbow
Member
Oh my....sorry to hear about that!
I guess some guys just have all the luck!
I guess some guys just have all the luck!
cslinger
Member
I am a Ruger .22 kind of guy but in my humble opinion I would say the Buckmarks are excellent pistols. Every one I have ever shot has been a dream.
My only complaint is they tend to be kind of pricy for both gun and magazines. That is my nitpick anyway.
Chris
My only complaint is they tend to be kind of pricy for both gun and magazines. That is my nitpick anyway.
Chris
Thumbs down from me. I served as the Armorer for the Purdue Rifle & Pistol club for a year... The Buckmark's sight rail (which conveniently holds the entire gun together) has a tendency to loosen. It wasn't an isolated gun, it was with every single Buckmark we had in the armory!
I try not to buy guns that literally fall apart with use. But if this is just going to be an occasional plinker or hunter, I would maybe get one...but I doubt it. On the plus side the Browning triggers are much better than the Ruger Mk II. But the Ruger beats it out in every other category IMHO.
I try not to buy guns that literally fall apart with use. But if this is just going to be an occasional plinker or hunter, I would maybe get one...but I doubt it. On the plus side the Browning triggers are much better than the Ruger Mk II. But the Ruger beats it out in every other category IMHO.
Longbow
Member
Mine never falls apart. It has over 4 years of heavy range use, usually every other weekend (500+ rds/range trip).
Al Thompson
Moderator Emeritus
Extensive experiance with two. One's mine, one's a friends. No problems in over 10k of ammo through mine, not sure of his round count, but no problems either.
I agree that the Ruger is more durable.
Accuracy seems to be better with the Buckmark.
I agree that the Ruger is more durable.
Accuracy seems to be better with the Buckmark.
10-Ring
Member
The Buckmarks are really nice pistols. Usually when you see comparisons between 22lr pistols, it's between the Ruger Mk II & the Buckmark. I've had a Ruger forever & I'm totally satisfied. I'm petty sure if I had a Buckmark, I'd be typing the same thing about it
M1911- If St. Browning intended for handguns to fall apart with use, I'm sure he would have designed them that way. Call me a stickler but I don't want to include "putting the gun back together" in my routine maintenance. Nor do I want to essentially glue the thing together to make it work.
I'm glad that people here have Buckmarks that are just fine. It's a bummer spending cash and getting a real dog...especially when you get a whole pack of them.
Call me a stickler but I don't want to include "putting the gun back together" in my routine maintenance. Nor do I want to essentially glue the thing together to make it work. I'm glad that people here have Buckmarks that are just fine. It's a bummer spending cash and getting a real dog...especially when you get a whole pack of them.
I have 3 Buckmarks and love them all. To get my 3rd Buckmark I traded a S&W 41 that was a piece of junk. I had nothing but problems with the S&W 41, misfires, jams, and not as accurate as my Buckmarks, and I know that alot of shooters will find that hard to believe.
DonP
Member
Camper model here
I love mine.
I did a lot of research between the Ruger and Buckmark before I bought one. For target or plinking they are both great guns and each has its rabid supporters ... or attackers it seems.
Both are available on the used market for a good price too.
I did some digging about all the "problems" people had with both guns and found that in most cases the problems were caused by "do it yourself gunsmiths" trying to fine tune triggers and actions on the kitchen table. When they were through tinkering it didn't work right for some strange reason.
Any individual gun can be a lemon, but the Buckmark is pretty straightforward and basic. Make sure you get a couple of extra magazines too.
Both the Ruger and Buckmark can be a pain in the rear to break down and clean, but that's not a problem until you have a few thousand rounds through them. Until then a little shot of gun scrubber does the trick. The Browning can be a little more finely tuned trigger wise, or so I've been told.
It is not designed to be broken down after every session, like a 1911 is. Just accept that fact and you won't have sleepless nights wondering just where that spring and roll pin over by the salt and pepper shaker came from?
I put a Weigand rail on mine ($24.95 Brownell's) and a nice little red dot. As with any accessory, use some Blue Loctite on the threads and check them from time to time. Everything on mine has stayed put for about 5,000 rounds so far. But I keep the allen wrench handy, just in case.
The biggest problem is getting it back from the wife and kids and buying enough bricks of Blazer .22 for it. But that's the fun of a .22 you can shoot all day for pennies.
Find one at a good price used and you'll never regret it.
Don P.
I love mine.
I did a lot of research between the Ruger and Buckmark before I bought one. For target or plinking they are both great guns and each has its rabid supporters ... or attackers it seems.
Both are available on the used market for a good price too.
I did some digging about all the "problems" people had with both guns and found that in most cases the problems were caused by "do it yourself gunsmiths" trying to fine tune triggers and actions on the kitchen table. When they were through tinkering it didn't work right for some strange reason.
Any individual gun can be a lemon, but the Buckmark is pretty straightforward and basic. Make sure you get a couple of extra magazines too.
Both the Ruger and Buckmark can be a pain in the rear to break down and clean, but that's not a problem until you have a few thousand rounds through them. Until then a little shot of gun scrubber does the trick. The Browning can be a little more finely tuned trigger wise, or so I've been told.
It is not designed to be broken down after every session, like a 1911 is. Just accept that fact and you won't have sleepless nights wondering just where that spring and roll pin over by the salt and pepper shaker came from?
I put a Weigand rail on mine ($24.95 Brownell's) and a nice little red dot. As with any accessory, use some Blue Loctite on the threads and check them from time to time. Everything on mine has stayed put for about 5,000 rounds so far. But I keep the allen wrench handy, just in case.
The biggest problem is getting it back from the wife and kids and buying enough bricks of Blazer .22 for it. But that's the fun of a .22 you can shoot all day for pennies.
Find one at a good price used and you'll never regret it.
Don P.
gryphon
Member
I love mine. It's a nice little practice pistol. Very accurate with a light trigger. It disassembles pretty easy, but there are some small parts that can get lost if you are not careful.
The only complaint I might have is that the rear sight rail hass a tendency to work loose after an extended session at the range. This can be overcome with some loc-tite.
The only complaint I might have is that the rear sight rail hass a tendency to work loose after an extended session at the range. This can be overcome with some loc-tite.
Peter Gun
Member
Love my Buckmark. I have the 4" bbl which makes it more realistic using it as a trainer for my sig. It's still crazy accurate. I like the fact that the sight rail is easy to remove so I can switch it for my weigand weaver rail w/ the red dot. Btw, if you get a weaver mount, get the weigand. Its cheaper than the B-square and better made.
The alternative to loc tite for keeping the sight rail on is star washers, which i think they were supposed to come with (mine did). The adj sights are very nice too.
As to Ugly, I've never understood why others here even consider appearance a factor for a gun thats not a safe queen. I havent seen to many .22 autopistols I would call pretty.
The alternative to loc tite for keeping the sight rail on is star washers, which i think they were supposed to come with (mine did). The adj sights are very nice too.
As to Ugly, I've never understood why others here even consider appearance a factor for a gun thats not a safe queen. I havent seen to many .22 autopistols I would call pretty.
Stevie-Ray
Member
I find that the Ruger is more accurate also, not just more durable. A friend and I took our 22s to the range every week for years during the warm months. Cheap fun after the centerfires were exhausted. I found that I could shoot my KMK-512 much better than his long-barreled Buck. Turned out he could too.
Here we go again....if you can`t find something bad to say,take something that`s virtually meaningless and make a big issue out of it. Buckmarks come with lockwashers for the topstrap,if you use them it will not come loose. If you`re dumb enough to loose them and not replace them loctite will do just fine also. If you`re too cheap or dense to use Loctite,just tighten the screws up every five or six hundred rounds with the supplied wrench. If you can`t even do that, then in IMO you have no business handling or shooting a firearm of any kind.
That said,I have both a Ruger Mk512 and a Browning Buckmark Micro Plus nickle SE. I also had a Buckmark standard for many years. The Ruger is a fine gun (or was..it`s a long story,not it`s fault) but the Buckmark is much more ergonomic, has a much better trigger and is more accurate despite having a shorter barrel. Further the Browning has controls exactly like a 1911,HP or CZ and the same grip angle so it`s an ideal crosstrainer. I have countless thousands of rounds through mine,it`s the only gun I own that I shoot every single time I go to the range. As an added little bonus I have factory hi caps (11rd. ) for the Browning. Sure it`s only one more shot but it`s enough to PO the liberals. Summary,the Ruger is very good but the Browning is better. Marcus
Buckmarks come with lockwashers for the topstrap,if you use them it will not come loose. If you`re dumb enough to loose them and not replace them loctite will do just fine also. If you`re too cheap or dense to use Loctite,just tighten the screws up every five or six hundred rounds with the supplied wrench. If you can`t even do that, then in IMO you have no business handling or shooting a firearm of any kind.That said,I have both a Ruger Mk512 and a Browning Buckmark Micro Plus nickle SE. I also had a Buckmark standard for many years. The Ruger is a fine gun (or was..it`s a long story,not it`s fault) but the Buckmark is much more ergonomic, has a much better trigger and is more accurate despite having a shorter barrel. Further the Browning has controls exactly like a 1911,HP or CZ and the same grip angle so it`s an ideal crosstrainer. I have countless thousands of rounds through mine,it`s the only gun I own that I shoot every single time I go to the range. As an added little bonus I have factory hi caps (11rd.
) for the Browning. Sure it`s only one more shot but it`s enough to PO the liberals. Summary,the Ruger is very good but the Browning is better. MarcusAnd
The lockwashers didn't work.
Marcus-
There is no need to be insulting. I never said I didn't put Loctite on them. I said that I don't like the idea of having a gun that requires being glued together to function reliably. Also, I don't like the idea that I would have to screw a firearm back together while shooting it to make it stay together in the absence of gluing it together. You have countless of thousands of rounds through them? We have probably about 30K through our Buckmarks so I guess you can look forward to gluing your gun back together in a few years.
And please leave the ad hominem attacks at the door, nobody ever accused me of being cheap nor dense.
Thanks for all the responses. Looks like I'll have to get another gun. I hate that when that happens!!
The hard parts going to be coming up with a good story to get it past my wife. I saw a good one elsewhere on THR. Something like "...but honey, it's always been in the safe, just way in the back..."
- Abe
The hard parts going to be coming up with a good story to get it past my wife. I saw a good one elsewhere on THR. Something like "...but honey, it's always been in the safe, just way in the back..."
- Abe
Flotsam
Member
I've lost count of the rounds through my Buckmark standard, but it has never let me down. It is easily much more accurate than I am, has never given me any trouble that I didn't cause (skipped cleaning a few times lead to extraction trouble).
As to the top strap coming loose - has never happened w/ mine.
Comparison to MkII - I felt the buckmark was more comfortable in the hand & better balanced for the same barrel length. I was more accurate w/ the buckmark, and the buckmark's trigger was much better. Side by side comparison at the time favored the buckmark.
I would buy another one
Sam
As to the top strap coming loose - has never happened w/ mine.
Comparison to MkII - I felt the buckmark was more comfortable in the hand & better balanced for the same barrel length. I was more accurate w/ the buckmark, and the buckmark's trigger was much better. Side by side comparison at the time favored the buckmark.
I would buy another one
Sam
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