Buckmark vs. Trailside? Which to buy?

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Sylvilagus Aquaticus

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I've decided that I need a modern .22lr semiauto.

I HAVE run searches on each here, and I have heard the downsides on the Beretta NEOS and the Walther P22. I have handled all 4 and so far, without shooting them, yet, the Buckmark and Trailside have made the short list. I'm considering either the standard Trailside or Buckmark Bullseye.

The Ruger didn't make the cut. It's more of a 'just me' thing, really.

Probably tomorrow, maybe later this week I'll drop in at one of my local indoor ranges and arrange a shooting test on them both.

My intended use, aside from plinking, is likely going to be a nice squirrel pistol and maybe I'll entertain the idea of trying to get competitive again.

Now, from the guys who have owned Buckmarks or Trailsides- if you were trying to sell me either- what would you tell me about them? Or should I just chuck that idea and get a Ciener .22lr kit for my BHP and call it done?

Regards,
Rabbit.
 
Buckmark.

I never warmed up to kits for a guns to shoot rimfire. I'd rather spend the money and have a whole gun. I can shoot the Rimfire, let it cool, shoot the centerfire, let it cool...just me. What if one chooses to sell the gun and kit, he has no rimfire...just me.

There are some really really nice well made older guns out there. I probably should keep my mouth shut so these classics don't get bought up.

S&W model 41
Colt Woodsman
High Standard
 
Thanks for the response, Steve.

My favorite shop has some splendid representiatives of the Colt, HS and Smith you mentioned. My focus has been primarily toward new manufacture, but perhaps tomorrow I'll revisit these and have him drag them out of his case for me to examine. I do know his HS is very nice. The Woodsman he has on display does need a little work, but that really isn't a problem as far as his quality smithing abilities.

Regards,
Rabbit.
 
The Trailside has plastic magazines that often don't last long.

The High Standard was America's premier .22 caliber semi-automatic pistol. If you get a good one, you'll never be entirely happy with anything else. One frequently encountered problem: the frame may be cracked on the right side. Remove the barrel. Remove the slide. Remove the right grip panel—while taking great care not to lose the microscopic spring in a very small hole on the slide release lever. Remove the slide release lever. The relieved area beneath that lever is where High Standard frames crack if the pistols are shot with anything other than standard speed ammunition.
 
Great Info Standing Wolf, thanks!

I have my favorites on another 'puter. Do a search under Colt Woodsman and Art Eatman. In there is a link to some really good info on the Woodsman, provided by another member - I forget whom - but good info.

I tell you the High Standard I had more fun with , and really surprised me for accuracy - The Duramatic. One of the most funnest, accurate, plinkers I ever had. My ex has it [darn] but it took squirrels with its 4" bbl.
 
I have a Buckmark Standard that I have shot for 15 years without mercy, 2 bricks a week minimum for a couple years in there. A very conservative estimate is 85K rounds through it though it is probably closer to 135K. I have never replaced a part, never had problems, and always been impressed by the reliability and accuracy of it. It has only ever had a half dozen or so at most honest cleanings, it has only had the grips removed and detail strip cleaning only ONE time and that was here just a few weeks ago. It gets a shot of oil on the rails when I load up to go out, and it gets put in the case hot and dirty until next time. Poor treatment for sure, but it runs like a swiss watch.

With the dot scope on it, no old jokes allowed, it shot a 1" 20 shot group last time out at 25 yards with elbows rested, ammo was Federal bulk pack '550 pack' cheap stuff you get at walmart. Can't argue with that.

The one downside to the Buckmark if you get one of the lower models is the trigger. It isn't very good until you get a few thousand through it. Dry-firing rimfires is generally frowned on, so you need to get out and shoot it. By the time the trigger smoothes out you know the gun and it hits for you very well. Win win.

Never shot a trailside but I have had a few Rugers, boy am I glad to be rid of them.
 
I was thinking about getting a Bereta NEOS, but I have decided that I want to get a CZ Kadet. You can either get the conversion kit for a CZ-75 (or any CZ-75 variation, even compacts) or you can buy the CZ Kadet by itself (basically on a CZ-75 frame).

The reason I love this gun is that it IS a full-size, regular looking and feeling pistol. I hate how all .22lr pistols look like space guns and don't lend themselves to improving your shooting skills on conventional pistols. With the Kadet, you can practice all day long with .22 and then convert it to 9mm in just a minute and practice on the same size pistol. I'm sure it will greatly improve my shooting to shoot both in the same exact pistol. Not only that, but it just looks incredible.

CZ75KAD.jpg
 
Thanks, hartzpad.

I've considered the Kadett, but if I were to get the Kadett as a unit, there is no way for me to obtain (easily, anyway) a spare slide and barrel for it. It would be easier and more practical to obtain a CZ75 and then purchase the Kadett kit as an accessory, not that a CZ isn't in my future anyway.

I'm rapidly abandoning the idea of getting a Ciener conversion for my BHP as the only path, as it makes more sense to me to have a dedicated .22 pistol. I will still consider the BHP conversion, however, as I have a weakness for gadgetry and widgets. Besides, have you ever tried to scope a BHP? Ugh.

I have looked at the NEOS quite a bit, but I think the propensity for problems still exists there; besides, SWMBO thinks it's 'not pretty'.

Hey, maybe I should consider getting a NEOS just for that reason to keep her from trying to take it for her own...nah....

Regards,
Rabbit.
 
I own a Buckmark Bullseye and find it nice to shoot. It has been reliable and very accurate. I have also owned a Kadet. While I like the ergonomics of the gun I had problems with it. The gun would stove pipe and wasn't as reliable. Which surprises me since all my other CZs have been very reliable. I don't think that you could go wrong with a Buckmark. You can find more information about both guns on www.rimfirecentral.com
 
The High Standard was America's premier .22 caliber semi-automatic pistol. If you get a good one, you'll never be entirely happy with anything else.
Click to expand...

Wolf I took that 4 inch Victor that you and I talked about to the range ....

:)
Thats all I can say

I think I got my father convinced to donate his Superamatic Trophy to me...

WildontopicgethteBrowningAlaska
 
My Buckmark has one of the best triggers on a gun I handled, so another vote for Browning.
I read the stories about the top strap coming loose, but never had that problem. Fieldstrips easy, even if it does need a screwdriver.
Eats everything.
 
I've not shot either but I am basically considering between the same two models. I like the look and feel of the Buckmark Bullseye quite a bit. I also have heard many raves about the quality of the trigger. The Target model with the wooden grips is really handsome I think. I saw one used recently (thing looked like it hadn't even been touched!) going for $180. Unfortunately, I didn't have my NJ purchase permit yet and just let it go.
 
The Trailside is fantastic but overpriced.
It will shoot a quarter-sized group at 25yds with cheap ammo and has a great factory trigger.
If you found a good deal on one (say, ~$350 for an adj. sight model) I'd snap it up. Otherwise one of the usual suspects - Browning, Ruger, etc. - should do fine.
 
I have a Buckmark Micro and a Trailside (Standard), both purchased new within the last 12 months for range and plinking (non-competition) use. The Trailside cost me $340, and the Buckmark cost me $260.

The Buckmark has much better grips (soft rubber) and feels MUCH more substantive due to its extensive use of steel. It is also a LOT heavier than the Trailside. The Trailside makes much more use of plastic components than the Browning, altho they're largely not objectionable and help keep the Trailside well balanced and easy to hold/carry for extended periods of time. The Trailside grips are plastic and I feel are the most sub-standard component of the pistol. Support in the aftermarket for Trailside grips just isn't there unless you're looking for true target grips, by the way....

The sights on both are comparable, altho the Trailside has a built-in optic mounting rail on the barrel that the Browning does not. The Trailside has a better trigger out of the box, but it resets much further out (requiring a complete release of the trigger between shots). Basic takedown of either of the two units is not difficult, altho I give the nod to the Trailside.

My Trailside is MUCH less sensitive to ammo types and dirt/lube than is my Buckmark. Handheld, I cannot detect a noticable difference in accuracy, altho the supplied target that I received with my Trailside would indicate that it's capable of 3/4" groups at 25 yards.

If I had to choose between the two - the Trailside wins by virtue of its better balance and vastly superior reliability under all sorts of conditions. All it needs is a decent set of (normal, non-target-oriented) grips and it'd be (IMO) the perfect all-around 22LR pistol.
 
I have a Buckmark that has held up great. For general plinking, it's a great gun. I don't shoot it as much as I used to, but will hang onto it for my kids.

I do carry it when I'm pheasant hunting for the occasional rabbit.
 
I have owned three Buckmarks. They all worked perfectly and were not at all finicky about ammo. I love SIG pistols, so I bought one of the first Trailsides that came out. It was a complete dog. Wouldn't work at all. I sent it back to SIG and they replaced the entire pistol. The second Trailside was better, but it still jammed a lot. I was so fed up by that time that I dumped it. Later Trailsides may have had the bugs worked out, but both of mine were crap. The problem with the second one probably was the plastic magazines, but I'm not certain of that. I do not hesitate in recommending a Buckmark. Watch-Six
 
Run Away!

Run Away!

"I think I've soiled my armour."

You know what I use, but the wife has been researching this issue for a couple of weeks, and she wants a Buckmark. Unfortunately she wants one of those gold finished pimp buckmarks. Maybe I can talk her into a nice pretty Mitchell Victor I've had my eye on.
 
Maybe I can talk her into a nice pretty Mitchell Victor I've had my eye on.
Click to expand...
That's about as close to rolling the dice and hoping for the best as you can go. Mitchell's have always had that spotty reputation and some don't even qualify as a good paperweight. Find an original High Standard and you will be greatly pleased.
 
Everyone dogs Mitchells

And yet I've had 2 of them that have been absolutely flawless. Wish I could say the same about about the Texas HS I had. I would never suggest that my Mitchells were the equal of a true Conn. HS, but they have been superior to every Ruger or Browning I've layed my hands on. I've also never spoken with any one who's actually owned one and been unhappy with it. But maybe I'm just lucky.
 
I've also never spoken with any one who's actually owned one and been unhappy with it.
Click to expand...
I got 3 buddies that bought them back in the early 90's. Two of them choked on just about every brand of ammo. One of the two was notorious for misfires. They were cussed on a dailey basis.
The third one did run consistantly, but the trigger was creepy. Once you got used to the trigger it would shoot just fine.
I've talk to more people dissatisfied with theirs than the ones who were pleased.
 
If you do decide on a Buckmark the first thing I think I would do after taking it apart, cleaning and lubing it is to put some blue locktite (I think it's the blue that isn't permanent) on the two top screws that hold that top plate in place. We have three Buckmark Bullseyes at the Purdue rifle/pistol club and those top screws are forever coming loose. When the rear one gets loose enough the gun stops functioning until you tighten it. Other than that problem they are very accurate guns. Comfortable to shoot to. I would not hesitate to get one. With that little bit of preventive maintenance you shouldn't have any problems.
 
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