Question about cleaning a Browning Buckmark.

[md5114a]

Yesterday I bought my first gun, a Buckmark Camper. I gave it a bit of a cleaning based off what the manual said, but I feel like I didn't do a very good job. Do I need to field strip it every time I clean it? Also, I am a little nervous about cleaning from the bore instead of the breach. I haven't had the chance to shoot it yet, and hope to properly clean it before I do. Thanks for the help.

 

[Madcap_Magician]

To be honest, I don't think you should clean it all that often.

 

[md5114a]

Why not? And when I do clean it should I field strip it? Thanks for the response.

 

[jhansman]

I remove the barrel from my Buckmark about every 20 firings or so. Doing so allows you to clean and lube the slide and its parts as well.

 

[rondog]

I have one I bought used for $200. Great pistol, but it was filthy and some parts were worn out. Runs great now, but my point is I wouldn't recommend tearing it all apart unless it really needs it, or you're good at putting guns back together. It's not horrible, but I'd recommend a manual. There's several small parts.

For general cleaning, I'd suggest just locking it open and spraying it out with CLP, then run a few patches through the barrel. Maybe blow it out with compressed air too. Most guns don't really need to be dismantled and scrubbed every time you use them.

 

[wbwanzer]

The Buck Mark can get a little tricky if you're not careful. The first time I took mine apart I had springs flying across the room and 'c' clips flying into neverland. I fould the spring but had to wait for a 'c' clip from Browning. I believe the newer ones do not give directions for field stripping in the owner's manual. Browning probably got too many pnone calls like mine ordering nickel and dime parts.

How far does your manual tell you to take it apart? If they tell you how to field strip it, just be careful. Or better yet, do it with the gun and your hands inside of a box so flying parts will be contained.

 

[Wishoot]

Putting the grips back on a Buckmark can be an interesting and frustrating challenge.

 

[triplebike]

This is about as far as you want to take it down unless you're having problems. The tool is pretty cool & works like a champ (no more bent guide rods or flying c-clips).

http://www.rimfirecentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=306229
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5U-PYQ-M4PQ

I have probably over 10 thousand rds fired through my Buckmark, can't remember the last time it had a FTF or FTE. As accurate as the day I 1st fired it. Truly excellent firearm.

I give it very minimal cleanings

 

[Frozen North]

I put in excess of 5000 rounds through mine before cleaning it. It got pretty bad, it was gunky and gross. It never had a malfunction and the accuracy never dropped off.

I would not recommend stripping it unless you get it wet. A little CLP and an air blower take care of the gunk.

 

[md5114a]

Thanks to everyone for their responses! It's nice to know I don't need to strip it every time I clean it. Looking forward to taking it to the range tommorow.

 

[darkwaterkid]

I agree with the suggestions above, but wanted to add a couple things...

Cleaning the magazines periodically will help avoid failures-to-feed; after about 15K rounds spread among 10 mags mine made a rapid transition from perfectly reliable to just terrible, and to get back on track I had to remove the followers and springs and give them a thorough cleaning.

It's also not a bad idea to keep the chamber reasonably clean, or you'll eventually have failed or slow extractions. I also try to spray solvent into the firing pin channel now and then to help avoid light strikes. Other than that, I mainly just wipe down the rails and ramp and run a bore snake thru every other range trip or so.

The Buckmarks seem to be quite reliable without overly invasive procedures. Less is best.

 

[Magoo]

I agree with the others and rarely field strip my Buckmarks. I don't even clean the barrels of my rimfires very often. If/when you do need to field strip it, here is a really good set of intructions with pics: http://chim.embarqspace.com/#/dissecting/4529714459

If you have any hint of mechanical aptitude, it's really easy to get a sweet trigger out of the Browning parts. Google "Heggis flip". Mine breaks at a crisp, consistent 2 lbs.

 

[Frozen North]

I have noticed that the bolt face can get awful dirty with certain ammo, you can get a tooth brush in there quite easily.

 

[jbr]

I just bought a new Buckmark a month ago. The manual does not give instructions on field stripping. It also states that you should clean the barrel and firing pin and mag and lightly oil - that's about it. It stated to send it back or employ a gunsmith if it needed further service. For what ever that's worth - that's bacically what it says. I clean mine well after shooting -Brush the barrell-swap- use a nylon brush around the firing pin and blow it out - 800 rounds and counting- not a single failure. Really fun to shoot

 

[ralph2]

My Buckmark manual didn't not give field strip instructions but I downloaded a manual in .PDF form that does I think I got it from Browings website.

 

[38Mike]

For cleaning the bore, get yourself a bore snake; just lock open the slide, ease the metal end into chamber and down the barrel, pull the rest through, easy....

 

[ET]

Field stripping the Buckmark isn't a hard task once you've done it a time or two. I usually field strip all guns I buy before I fire them the first time just in case someone took it apart & didn't get it back together correctly. Hey even the factory makes mistakes. I field strip my wife's Buckmark every 1000 rounds or so. It takes roughly the same amount of time as my Glocks, S&Ws, Taurus guns, etc.

 

[Zaydok Allen]

Buckmarks are great pistols. Mine is accurate as all get out. One thing to note though. Watch those top screws. Mine tend to back out every 100 rounds or so, and get real loose. I'm going to put a little blue Locktite on them since, as the others have stated, you really don't need to completely strip a Buckmark. Just get some small brushes, Q-tips, and a boresnake.

Have fun with your new gun!

 

[md5114a]

Thanks for all of the advice everyone. I took it to the range tonight. I fired 300 rounds and had 3 FTF with Remington Thunderbolt. I know there is a bit of a breaking in period, but I think I will try different ammunition next time.

 

[Zaydok Allen]

You know I find when I shoot Remington or Winchester .22's I usually end up with 20-50 duds. I know that isn't a FTF issue, but I don't buy those brands of .22 ammo because of it. I always stick with Federal 36 grain high velocity copper HP's. They are great and the Buckmarks seem to love them.

 

[hirundo82]

I take a toothbrush with some Hoppes to the bolt face and run a boresnake down the bore then add some CLP to lube after every time I shoot mine. I only strip it and give it a good cleaning after every few thousand rounds. It took me a while to get used to this too; I field strip and clean my centerfire handguns religiously after every range trip.

Also make sure the Allen screws on the sight rail are good and tight--I have had problems with them working loose during long range sessions (I'll often put half a brick or more through my Buckmark in a single range trip). This seems to especially be a problem with the plastic rail on the Buckmark Camper--I put blue LocTite on mine; otherwise just take the Allen wrench with you to the range.