Buckmark slide not locking back

[ilmonster]

I have a Browning Buckmark .22 pistol that I've had for many years. Slowly, the slide has begun to not lock back at the end of a magazine. As this has slowly been getting worse, I have not been too bothered by it.

Any ideas as to why the slide of a Buckmark won't lock back after the last round is fired? It is clean and I only use the original Browning magazine.

 

[hirundo82]

My first guess would be that, with use, the spring in the magazine has gotten weak enough that it can't engage the slide stop.

Buckmark magazines are only about $25. It's probably worth it to buy another mag and see if that solves the problem; even if it doesn't, you can never have too many magazines.

 

[ilmonster]

Good idea. I will give the new magazine a try. Thanks and Merry Christmas!

 

[ilmonster]

Took off the left side grip, and looked at the slide lock when I put the mag. all the way in and indeed it did not have enough spring pressure to push the lock up. Ordered a new mag. spring from Brownells. Hopefully that will fix it.
p.s. I looked at the receipt, and I bought it back in '96. Guess a new spring every 13 years isn't asking too much!

 

[Steve C]

Its just as likely the mag is dirty after all that time. If you disassemble the magazine and clean it the follower will have enough oomph to push up the slide lock.

Mags are fairly easy to disassemble. Pull the follower down with the side button and insert a stick or screw driver in the slot above the follower to prevent it from escaping and to aid in holding it down, I like to use a Popsicle stick. Pull the follower dpwm so the button on the side is lined up with the round opening on the bottom its slot. Hold things in place with the stick you inserted into the mag and press out the button from the other side with a nail or other small pointed object and then pull it from the mag. Relieve pressure on the follower and remove the stick, be carefull to catch the follower and spring as it leaves the top of the magazine. Clean up the mag tube and parts. Reeassemble in reverse order.

 

[RainDodger]

Here's 2 things to try first. When you clean the magazine, stretch the spring out a ways before putting it back in. Another alternative is to buy NEW springs - Midway has them. I know because I just bought about 4 of them for my Buck Mark magazines.

Browning had problems with the Buck Mark mags and they routinely replaced springs and rotated magazines around until they found one that would work with a given pistol, when they were sent back to the Browning facility in Arnold, MO.

 

[Drail]

It always cracks me up when guys post about their gun not locking back. OMG!!! If it feeds fires and ejects every round in the magazine and lets you chew the center out of a target what possible advantage is a gun the locks open on empty? Especially a rimfire target pistol?

 

[ilmonster]

Drail, I want it to lock back because I don't always count how many of the 10 rounds I've shot, hence after the last round the slide goes into battery and I'll pull the trigger - can't be good for the firing pin on a rimfire.

Nevertheless, I got my new spring from Brownells today and installed it in the magazine, and boy does that slide lock back with gusto! The new spring was a good 1" longer than the old one I took out - wow!