Browning Buck Mark vs Ruger 22

[RidgwayCO]

As another suggestion, you might try to locate a Beretta 86 in .380 Auto. They're not in production any longer, but can be found on GunsAmerica and GunGroker from time to time.

The Beretta 86 doesn't require you to rack the slide, as it has a "tip up" barrel. You load your magazine full (8 rounds) and insert it into the magazine well. Then you rotate a small lever that allows the barrel to "tip up." Now just load a round directly into the chamber, lower the barrel and move the lever to the locked position. You're now ready to fire. Ingenious. I've got one that I don't use very much, as I'm saving it for when my arthritis gets too bad. Just another thing to consider...

 

[DammitBoy]

I'd say her best bet would be a revolver in 38 for home defense. My wife and daughter have stolen both my Ruger SP101's with the original small factory rubber grip. It's a 357 - but it can still be used with 38's.

 

[wrench]

happygrandparent, are you going to carry the pistol, or is it just for home defense?
If for the house only, maybe consider a long gun instead of a pistol. A 20g shotgun, or a 9mm carbine would have considerably more power than a pistol, yet still be relatively easy to shoot with your stated limitations.
Just a thought, good luck in your quest.

 

[22-rimfire]

I don't think I have ever had a 22 semi-auto pistol that didn't jam occasionally. I do like the Ruger Mark II with the 5.5" bull barrel. But if you are used to the Buckmark, you would probably like the Ruger 45/22 better, but at least look at the 5" heavy barrel version. Nothing at all wrong with Browning Buckmarks. I just don't own one.

If simply getting a gun for home defense, if I were you I would consider something along the lines of a Ruger GP-100 or SP-101 and shoot 38spl's out of either. Recoil won't be significant and will be less with the GP-100 as it is a heavier revolver. I do like the Smith 642/442 38's but recoil they do even in 38spl. One of the reasons I like them is that they force me to shoot them double action. I need to shoot more in double action in general.

Good luck with your hunt.

 

[HAPPYGRANDPARENT]

I know absolutely nothing wabout a Walther PK 380 (will search about it) & no one's suggested it. I have no problem loading the BM, but the two 9mm's I tried I had to turn it sideways & push with my gun hand. But it worked OK just wasn't what I'm use to.

 

[HAPPYGRANDPARENT]

Since I will buy only from a gunsmith I'm not sure if I'd be able to take advantage of Ruger SP101. Thanks for the suggestion

 

[HAPPYGRANDPARENT]

Oil in BM slide - done that - didn't help. I think maybe the person that suggested changing the spring may have been correct. Everyone I did talk to I tried doing what they suggeted & nothing worked.

 

[Smaug]

First off, sorry to hear about the loss of your husband.

Second, sorry to hear about the loss of your Buck Mark.

We have both the Buck Mark and a Ruger Mk. II. She picked the Buck Mark for herself, better grip. (the new one with the finger groove grips) I have to say that it is not as reliable as the Ruger. The Ruger is not ammo sensitive. Sometimes, the Buck Mark doesn't feed a round, but there's no sigh of it until you pull the trigger and get a *click*. Rack the bolt, and no round comes out.

But to be fair, it is brand new. Probably only has a couple hundred rounds through it.

Even so, I'd get a Ruger Mk. II used, or a Ruger Mk. III.

Lots of people clean them without taking them apart, with Birchwood-Casey Gun Scrubber. (which is exactly the same thing is automotive brake cleaner, but at about 10X the price, by the way) If you could handle that and running a solvent-soaked patch down the barrel, you'd be OK for a good while.

I also like how the barrel and receiver are one integral piece, and the circular receiver is elegant too.

The grip in the Buck Mark Contour is a little nicer. The trigger is a tad better too, and there's a bit less recoil as well.

But it sounds like you'll be ready to stake your life on this gun, so I'd go with the Ruger and some Remington Viper ammo. That's the hyper velocity flat point ammo.

By the way, my wife has a Browning Hi-Power in 9mm. Since it is a full size gun, it doesn't kick much for a 9 mm. Still 3X as much as a .22, but not bad at all. She decided, like you, that she is just so much more comfortable with a .22, she had to get one and would depend on that instead. She may make her way back to the Hi-Power eventually, but if not, she's got her Buck Mark.

I bet if you post your location, some nice person here would take you under his wing; maybe even someone with both guns, and you could try them back to back!

 

[22-rimfire]

Since I will buy only from a gunsmith

You mean "gunshop" right? The Ruger SP-101 and the GP-100 are currently manufactured and sold retail. The Ruger SP-101 in 22LR was discontinued. If you would consider a 22 revolver as a possible choice, look at the Smith & Wesson 3" Model 63 which is an 8-shot. If for some reason you have a misfire, you simply pull the trigger again.

 

[WhiteT]

if you end up with the ruger or browning you might take a look at one of these.............it makes loading the magazines much easier


http://www.mcfaden.com/cliploader.html

 

[GLOOB]

I have the Ruger, so I'm biased. The Browning looks to have the better grip and is said to have a better trigger. So if practical accuracy is your thing, then give it a whirl. That said, I have no practical use for a .22 LR. So the Ruger won me over with its Star Wars looks and solid-block-o-steel indestructibility. I have to say the grip is a little too round and short, front-to-back, for my liking. But then I've never needed it to hit anything more important than a tin can.

+1 on the McFadden. It efficiently turns bulk value boxes of ammo into fun.

 

[HGM22]

I know you don't have the BM anymore, but the jams could have been magazine related, not the gun's fault. If you get a magazine-fed weapon in the future, make sure to pay attention to the magazines and if any is just not working.

That being said, I think you should go with a revolver if you struggle at all pulling back the slide. Additionally, these weapons are very simple to use. I would get a few speed loaders so that you can reload the weapon quickly.

You'd probably be best with a .357 Magnum revolver loaded with .38 Special, a .38 Special revolver, or possibly a .327 Federal revolver (I'd consider the .357 or .38 first). I'm not sure if you are aware, but .38 Special ammo can be used in a .357 Mag revolver; this is helpful not only because of versatility, but because the .357 revolver will be heavier built, and thus will have less recoil shooting .38 than a .38 revolver would shooting the same ammo. Just be sure to clean chambers of the .357 regularly to avoid build up of a lead "ring" when using .38s.

If you want to conceal carry I'd recommend something like the Ruger LCR or Smith and Wesson 442 (blued) or 642 (stainless steel). These are revolvers where the hammer is inside the gun and can't be caught or snagged on clothing. In fact, you could even fire the weapon while its still in your pocket.

That being said, if you still want to go with a .22 (I would not unless nothing bigger works i.e. can't fire accurately) then I'd again suggest a revolver over an auto like the Browning BM or Ruger. This is because .22 rimfire ammo, like all rimfire ammo, is not as reliable as centerfire ammo. This being the case, you are more likely to have an auto fail to function. A revolver on the other hand, you just squeeze the trigger again. I should remind you here that if you do get a round that seems very weak on either platform that you should check the barrel with a cleaning rod/dowel to make sure it is not lodged in the barrel (making sure the weapon is safe before you do so).

Oh, and if you'd like get both a .22 and something bigger; use the .22 for cheap practice/target shooting and the bigger gun for defense. If you get similar platforms your practice with the .22 will carry over to the larger caliber weapon, though you should still practice with both.

 

[Pilot]

With quality .22 LR rimfire ammo, I think the reliablility is fine for home defense. My FOUR Ruger MK II's feed, fucntion and shoot almost all .22 LR's fine. CCI Minimags have never failed for me. They only ammo they have problems with are cheap Remington Thunderbolts. If you stick to CCI Minimags a .22LR like a Ruger MK II will work. MY wife keeps a Ruger 22/45 (MK II generation) as her HD gun. She practices withit and can hit where she aims. Its just what she is comfortable with and will shoot, period.

I also would recommend a .22LR revolver like a Smith and Wesson 617.

 

[btg3]

2. Racking the slide. ... . Hold gun in your strong hand (right, left, whichever), then grab the slide with your other hand over the top (the palm of your hand is on top of the slide, and your thumb and fingers are on the side), then "push" the slide back. You will have much better leverage and it will be a lot easier to rack.

If you wrap your hand over the top of the slide, do not cover the ejection port. Typically, this means your thumb should be behind the slide, rather than on the slide. Photos and further explanation in this link, along with anlternate techniques, from a woman's perspective.
http://www.corneredcat.com/RunGun/rack.aspx

 

[HAPPYGRANDPARENT]

Anyone in Jackson, TN that wants to help would be appreciated. Would meet you at the Great Outdoor store's target range.

 

[HAPPYGRANDPARENT]

Bought 3 extra magazines & gun still jamed

 

[btg3]

The magazine may be the cause, and pehaps was the quickest thing to investigate. But now that you've ruled that out, something else needs to be considered.

I suggest re-reading the comments on springs and determining a course of action to get that base covered. If you intend to shoot heavy and standard loads, you might want to get more than one spring. To get back to square-one, I would start with a new standard spring and standard load ammo. If that checks out, then see whether you can change springs to suit the heavier load ammo, if desired.

 

[osteodoc08]

First of all, welcome to the site. Sorry to hear about the death of your husband and the loss of your buckmark and the sentimental loss as well.

To answer your question, it seems that you are very comfortable with the buckmark and are familiar with it. If one must pick a 22lr for home defense, a buckmark should do just fine. Personally I would try to steer you towards something with a little more oomph behind it....9mm would suffice. There is nothing wrong with the Glock you were looking at, but it does sound like something that you would need to practice with. Also, not sure how well a buckmark would be at concealed carry since you mentioned you had your CC permit.

 

[wally]

We've got five Ruger .22 pistols and only the old MKI can match our Buckmark in reliability with cheap bulk pack ammo. The 22/45, MkII & MK III Rugers average one stovepipe about every 250-300 rounds, the Buckmark maybe one per 1000, if that. And the Ruger stovepies are usually much harder to clear requiring the mag be removed because they wedge between the guide rod and the partially fed round.

The Buckmark is by far my Wife's favorite, although she does almost as well with the Ruger's if she doesn't get frustrated with the stovepipes.


I don't think any .22lr pistol should be considered for CCW, but as night stand gun, hits with a .22 are way better than misses with a .45, especially since you've got to worry where the misses end up. Unlike the police, you are very unlikely to need your CCW with bystanders in the area.

 

[ZeSpectre]

Comments on a Ruger MK III vs Browning Buckmark

I have decided to condense my comments into one post because the topic of choosing a Ruger vs a Browning comes up repeatedly.

I have owned both Ruger and Browning .22 pistols and consider them both to be fine firearms but they definitely have some differences.

Accuracy – It’s a wash. I’ve shot several (stock) models of both types and all were pretty much equal in accuracy. The design of the Browning lets you swap out to a different grade barrel whereas the Ruger barrel/chamber is swapped out as one piece but either is a simple process so I consider that a wash as well.

Reliability – Ruger does it’s typical overengineering (built like a tank) while Browning has what appear to be some lighter duty parts. In practical use I haven’t seen any difference as all of the models I’ve ever used, of either brand, functioned well so this is a draw.

Cleaning – Ruger and Browning are at opposite ends of the spectrum here. The Ruger is definitely designed to be “field stripped” for regular cleaning (though I consider the process a royal pain) whereas the Browning has no “field strip” but has an “open” chamber that is easily scrubbed down with a toothbrush and then a quick swab down the bore. In my opinion this makes the regular post range-trip cleaning easier on the Browning, however it does make things quite a bit more complicated if the Browning does need a serious cleaning because then you have to actually disassemble (not just “field strip”) the Browning.

In practical terms I still vote for the Browning because my experience has been that, due to the overall design, I almost never have to actually go so far as to disassemble the gun though I will say that if you do have to disassemble there are a lot of loose parts and it’s a real hassle.

Trigger and general design - Here’s where we get into the serious design commentary. Out of the box most Ruger 22 pistols have an “okay” trigger. If you put a Volquartsen trigger kit into it you will have an AWESOME trigger, but then you are also adding another $110.00 to the cost of the gun. Nearly every Browning I have owned has a trigger –at least- as good as the Volquartsen right out of the box.

Another problem I have with the Ruger design is that it actually seems to funnel crap from the chamber right down into the trigger assembly whereas the Buckmark design separates the trigger mechanisms from the chamber crud so it stays clean and crisp far longer between cleanings.

Additionally, I hate the Ruger's slide lock with a purple passion but that's because I'm a lefty and that slide release lever is in the worst place for me (not to mention that you can’t just “slingshot” a Ruger.

Accessories – Another wash. There are so many accessories and mods for either gun you can pretty much build anything you can imagine.

Don’t misunderstand me, the Ruger is a fine pistol and buying one would not be a mistake, but overall I’ll take the Browning.

Also see this post: http://thefiringline.com/forums/showpost.php?p=3647117&postcount=16

 

[RH45]

As far as handguns go, what works for one person, may not work well for the next. People have different size hands, strength, ect..:banghead:

If you post where your located, I'm sure that if someone here is nearby, they'd help you out by letting you try their guns.

 

[BLB68]

She posted her location, in post number 40. =)

Another gun worth checking out (if you decide to go with a slightly larger caliber) is the Bersa Thunder 380. These are reportedly very mild in recoil. They have an excellent reputation for reliability and the Walther PP series design is inherently accurate. If you have a chance to shoot one via rental or loan, you might want to give it a try. Bersa also makes a .22 LR with the same design. The .22 is often found sold under the Firestorm name, well, when it's found. The 22s tend to be hard to come by.

As to the Buckmark, have you tried calling Browning about the issue? They may have some ideas of things you can check out, or they may be able to service it.

 

[RH45]

I missed that. If she was anywhere close, I'd help, but, I'm up in central Wisconsin.

 

[Squidward]

I don't mean to complicate matters but have you considered a .22 revolver?
It loads easy. I think round count runs from 6 to 10 rounds depending upon mfgr. Easy to clean. And if there is a failure to fire, pull the trigger again. And good luck..

 

[exavid]

I used to have a MkII and now have a Buckmark, the low priced one with the round black barrel and rubber grip. Mine also has the fiber optic front sight. I really like this little pistol and have fired at least 2500 rounds through it in the past three months. The trigger is excellent, and the pistol accurate. On a 50' slow fire target it's not hard to keep all the holes in the black. I've had almost perfect reliability and very few failures to function at all. My MkII was about the same but not as accurate to shoot as the Browning. To each his own, I like the grip and the grip angle of the Browning better and the balance feels better than my old Ruger. Mostly due to the heavier barrel compared to the thin lighter barrel of the Ruger. Either .22 is a great pistol I don't see how one could go wrong either way.