Browning Buckmark: Which One?

[Legionnaire]

I currently have a nice Browning Buckmark that I have had since the early 90s. I think it's the Plus model; it has a 5.5" slab-side barrel and beautiful wood-laminate grips. It's bone stock and very accurate. It's one of my favorite .22s.

So now I'm interested in buying another. Browning's web site shows twenty-four variations on the Buckmark pistol, with MSRP ranging from $300 to $655. Other than sights, are there any substantivel differences between all these models that are likely to affect accuracy? My hypothesis is that most of the differences are cosmetic. Maybe the barrel length would have some effect, but my guess is mostly due to shorter sight radius rather than inherent accuracy of the pistol itself.

I'd be interested in your thoughts/experiences. I would guess that shot from a Ransom rest, there is no reason to expect that a 5.5" Target model would be inherently more accurate than a 5.5" Camper. Thoughts?

 

[Headless]

My thoughts are that you are dead on in your guesses. I've got a slab sided 5.5" buckmark myself - love it to death. I've fired a couple other buckmarks - triggers felt the same, balance was different due to longer and shorter barrels but accuracy was comparable when you used a red dot scope so the site distances were out of the picture.

 

[Shipwreck]

I bought a Buckmark camper for $248 and just added the front fiber optic sight. The differences are variable enough to where ya mainly just gotta decide what appeals to U.

I wanted a Buckmark, but didn't want tp pay more than $225-$250 for it. So, I just got the camper model.

 

[Legionnaire]

Okay. Looks like I'll settle on the Camper for this go 'round.

 

[Fburgtx]

This has been discussed before, but the camper has a plastic rear sight base which is known to crack. You'll spend about $25-$30 converting one over to the metal base that is on the standard Buckmark and other models. Other than that, I think they're all very similar, and I certainly don't think any of them justify a price of over about $400 when the cheaper ones function just as well for $250-$275.

 

[Headless]

Damn, I apparently got a killer deal on my buckmark - metal rear sight, slab sided 5.5" for 196 out the door from sports authority. Rock on. Look around; they rawk

 

[Shipwreck]

This has been discussed before, but the camper has a plastic rear sight base which is known to crack. You'll spend about $25-$30 converting one over to the metal base that is on the standard Buckmark and other models.

If U don't over tighten the screws that hold the base on, they won't crack. If U put it on that tight and then the slide moves underneath - that is how they crack.

 

[220_Swift]

I've been drooling over the hunter model for a while now. That's the one that appeals to me the most. YMMV

 

[dispatch]

Whatever- you're gonna love it! Buckmark rocks.

 

[tegemu]

They have a new one out, the UDX. It is featured on page 80 of the latest, August 2007, issue of Guns & Ammo.

 

[Legionnaire]

Didn't know the Camper had a plastic rear sight base ... but that doesn't matter to me. Per the question in my original post, I am most interested in the accuracy of the pistol itself. My plan was to install a Millett red dot on a Weigand base. Here's a pic of the package all put together. Now need to get to the range this week.