Problems w/ my Buckmark .22 after cleaning

[Peter Gun]

I hope someone can figure this out for me, I feel deprived w/out my favorite toy.
My Browning Buckmark micro was getting a lot of use and starting to have failures to feed and extract so I stripped it and cleaned it. It was pretty filthy. Everything seemed to go back together just fine except that if I tightened the sight rail down to its usual tension (finger tite w/ the short end of the allen wrench) the slide wont move. Its firmly sandwiched between the sight rail and the frame. If I loosen the sight rail screws it will move freely, but only w/ the screws loose enough that there's a little play at the back end. I tried shooting it like this and it failed to feed and then failed to eject again.
What's up? I don't think I forgot any peices. I tried it w/ very lite lube at first, and then added a little more oil, but still same function, or lack thereof.
I've removed the site rail frequently as I also have a Weigand weaver rail for it as well. I've never had a malfunction when switching rails. This is the first time I've stripped it in about a year. usually I just clean it w/out dissasembly.
Any advice is appreciated.

 

[flinch]

The "head " of the recoil spring guide rod has a black triangular shape. Try removing it and see if a different side of the triangle fits deeper into the bolt slot made for it. Of the 3 sides of the triangle only 1 side is made to correctly fit into it's bolt slot. If it is not in deep enough it will drag on the sight rail. I hope this makes sense, and I hope it works.

 

[Peter Gun]

I was thinking that was it, but the "pointy" side goes up, right? Maybe I'll try spinning it around and see. I'll let you know tomorrow.

 

[38Mike]

Did you leave out the little washers/lock washer thingies that go with the screws?

 

[Peter Gun]

Ok, I had the plastic thingy at the front of the recoil guide rod backwards. Now it fits down a little farther a frees up the slide. I shot 40 rnds this morning. It functioned OK at first, but after 5 rnds it had a FTF. Then it FTF for 3 more rnds. Next mags had about the same performance. Repeated FTF. It ejects the shell, but then the slide just runs right over the next cartridge w/out picking it up. Sounds like bad magazine springs, but I'm surprised they are both failing at once. I think the gun is pretty old as the magazines have the narrower floor plate on them which I think is an older design. Whaddya think?

 

[Standing Wolf]

I'm unfamiliar with your pistol, but have a hunch it's more likely the magazine(s) than the pistol. Every time I shoot a semi-automatic pistol, I clean the magazine or magazines I used, and that includes holding down the follower and using a long cotton swab inside the magazine. Some people swear by never oiling magazines. Some swear by oiling them. Personally, I oil them, but expect the oil to attract and hold dirt.

 

[hksw]

The last time I had shot my base model Buckmark (a few weeks ago), I had run through the first 50 round box without any problems. About the middle of the second box, the gun started to misfire. I had noticed that the strikes were getting farther and farther out of rim of the cartridge causing the misfires. Not knowing exactly what was going on, I though it might have been a chipped front of the striker. I packed the gun up to look at it more closely during cleaning and moved on to another gun.

Upon closer inspection, it was found that the actual problem was the rear sight base coming loose at both ends, but mostly at the barrel attachment point. My solution was to Loctite® it in and bent every other tooth of the conical spur washers inward a little with a pair of pliers. Haven't shot it yet since then though.

Have you examined your sight base since the failures?

 

[edefonzo]

Buck mark FTF's

I have an older Buck Mark, a 5 1/2" slabside Standard, with the original mags that fit into the grip, as well as a few newer mags. I purchased it used. When I disassembled it for the first time it was filthy inside.

I experienced all of the above. Loose screws, FTF's , replaced the recoil spring guide upside down, slide passing over rounds, and had stovepipes with every magazine. This is what I did, more than a thousand rounds ago, and have never had a failure of any kind since. I'm still using the original magazine, which works as well as the new ones with the outside base plate.

1) I changed my ammo to CCI Velocitors. Higher energy cycles the slide much better, and the ammo never fails to fire.

2) I use Tetra Gun Grease on the slide and any area that shows wear.

3) I use Loctite during reassembly.

4) Disassembly and cleaning is performed every time I shoot it. That includes swabbing and lightly oiling the mag.

That's it. The Buck Mark works every time. The accuracy and reliability makes the effort worthwhile. I love the Buck Mark so much that I'm going to buy a second one next week, with a nickel finish and 7 1/2" barrel.

 

[Peter Gun]

Thanks everyone.
The screws were tight on the sight rail, and I do have the lockwashers in place.
Ed-I actually have some CCI velocitors (BTW great round in any .22), and they do function w/out failure in my buckmark. I havent tried them since i reassembled. I'll see whats up. I'll try the gun grease, too.
I tried some newer magazines and they wouldn't fit in the well far enough to lock in. The floor plate stops it. Do I need to modify these? My mags are bone dry, too. Maybe I'll lube them a little.
Maybe I just need to pick my ammo more carefully, too. I've always noticed that it feeds round nose bullets better than those w/ a shoulder. -Peter

 

[HSMITH]

I have a Buckmark Standard that I bought in '92 if I remember right. I clean it every 5-8 bricks whether it needs it or not, and have never had a hitch if I put a drop of oil on the slide surfaces of the bolt before shooting, and every 1000 rounds after that. I have never shot it more than 5500 rounds without taking it down and cleaning it though. The gun is nearing 100K rounds total through it and it is better than the day I bought it with an outstanding tigger and the same accuracy. I have sold a truck load of Buckmarks by being generous with mine, the finest 22 pistol on the market IMO. With others you either pay too much or get too little.

 

[mcole]

the rear sight screw would loosen up after a couple magazines. it would take me while to figure out why i would shoot to a different place on the target. anyhow, what i hit on and it is a lot easier to work with than loctitie is clear nail polish. when i put in the rear sight screw, i just lightly run the clear nail polish brush down the screw one time. put it in. to take it out, just get a sharp crisp turn, the first time. never loosens up. mcole

 

[Ledbetter]

I once cleaned every surface of my Buck Mark, put it back together and shot it for hundreds and hundreds of rounds without cleaning just to see how long it would shoot. I finally got tired of the test after six months or so and cleaned it.

Mag springs wear out. The insides of the mags must be clean to operate correctly. Use dry lube only in mag bodies.

 

[Peter Gun]

Ok, apparently the problem was ammo (once I got it back together correctly). I tried another box of cci velociters and the gun functioned flawlessly. I borrowed two magazines of winchester target velocity (t-22?) rounds- no problems. Tried another mag of the crappy stuff- jamomatic. Tried the crappy stuff in my ruger 77/22- jamomatic! I dont understand how these rounds account for the failure of the slide to pick up cartridges, but no arguing w/ results.
And the offensive ammo is: Winchester "Xpert .22" bulk pack 500 rnd box. Seemed like a good deal at $10.99/500, but it really doesnt function well at all. I would avoid this product, its no bargain. Thanks for all the help, everyone.

 

[Ledbetter]

Another waste of money

Remington Golden Bullets.