Browning Medalist Questions

[SwampWolf]

Today, I attended the Ohio Gun Collectors Association's gun show in Willmington, Ohio and bought a Browning Medalist .22 target pistol in "very good" condition (scratches on the woodwork but bluing just fine). The pistol came with the three barrel weights and red velvet-lined case but only one magazine and no manual. Anybody know where I can find an owner's manual (doesn't have to be "original"; I'm not a collector per se), and spare magazines (I'm under the impression that Browning Nomad and Challenger mags will work)?

As an interesting aside. Donald Trump's son visited the show and spent a couple of hours or more conversing with dealers and attendees.

 

[bannockburn]

SwampWolf

A beautifully made target pistol from a bygone era, I always admired the classic styling and quality crraftsmanship that went into these guns. A quick Google look for both items turned up a number of online sources for the Medalist manual. The magazines are a bit more elusive (especially factory original), though I think Triple K still carries them for the Medalist, Challenger, and Nomad pistols. I also read somewhere that Beretta Neos magazines can be converted to work in the Medalist though I have no first knowledge of what modifications are necessary for such a conversion. I can say that Beretta Neos magazines are very well made and can be found online at Bud's Gun Shop for $18.81.

 

[SwampWolf]

Thanks, bannocockburn. Do you have any web site info on the online sources you found? The owner's manual doesn't have to be original.

Other questions: there are four recesses in the velvet-lined case, barrel weights occupy three of them. Any idea what was supposed to fit in the fourth recess, now apparently missing?

There is a blued, steel "rod", about a sixteenth-inch in diameter, protruding about an inch higher from a hole in the grip panel on the right side of the pistol, that looks like it was made this way (i.e., factory "stock"). Anybody know what this is and its purpose?

The pistol has a "dry-fire" feature. Anyone know how it's done?

 

[bannockburn]

SwampWolf

All I did was google Browning Medalist and any number of manuals, some in pdf format, were available. Found this in the manual as to your question on dry firing:

The operation of the Medalist is identical to the Challenger except that the Medalist can be dry fired without the Firing Pin being struck by the Hammer. This accomplished by a hook on the rear end of the Safety catching a pin that protrudes from the side of the Hammer. To operate in this mode, the Safety is pushed forward in it's elongated Retaining Pin hole. The Hammer can then be recocked by rotating the rear end of the Safety downward.

I believe you might be missing the barrel weight holder and/or the adjustment tool. Take a look at some of the Medalists that are up for sale on some of auction websites and you will see what a complete Medalist cased set looks like in terms of what it came with originally.

 

[win71]

Browning

Here is what should be in the case. Sorry for the extra clutter. I'm out of town and most photos are on another computer.

 

[SwampWolf]

Thanks guys. In addition to the manual it seems that I'm missing the factory "screwdriver" tool. Also, at RimfireCentral I learned the the metal rod I mentioned earlier is a shell deflector. It's held in place by friction and a lot of folks remove it because it can cause malfs by knocking the case back toward the open chamber.

 

[HighExpert]

The rod was installed as a deflector for brass. You engage the dry fire by unloading, pushing the safety forward which sets the trigger. It does not engage the firing pin at all and can be used over and over without moving the slide. I had one, sold it, and have missed it. The screwdriver was a flat affair that folded up.

 

[Saleen322]

Manual

Here is another link for a manual if you still need one. This is a field service manual so it has a little more detail.

http://users.telenet.be/vanbeeumen/Guns/manuals/Nomad-Medalist-Manual.pdf

 

[SwampWolf]

Again, thanks all.