Thoughts on Browning Buck Mark

[vinny_land]

So I stopped by my local mom and pop style gunshop (Valley Gun in Bakersfield) and noticed they had a Browning Buck Mark for ~$375 before tax and DROS. Really looking to get a .22lr pistol to add to my slowly growing collection. What are you're thoughts about the Buck Mark? Is the price good for a brand new gun?

Thanks,
Vincent

[b.faust]

I have a buckmark camper and it's one of my favorite pistols to shoot.
I generally "warm" up with a couple hundred rounds before switching over to it's bigger brothers, and sometimes, I'm having so much fun with it, I just stick with it the whole night (gotta love the economy of cheap .22lr)

It's very easy to disassemble and clean, there are some great aftermarket mods (barrels, compensators, etc), and has been extremely trouble free even after 1000's of rounds.
The only thing that's gone wrong on mine is the finish on the left side of the slide has worn away some, but the gun gets a lot of use, so it's par for the course.

I grew up shooting the Ruger Mk II, and was partial to that for years, but now I recommend the buckmark to everyone looking to get a .22lr pistol.

Also, I don't want this to sound like a Ruger vs. Buckmark remark. I think they're both great pistols, I just currently have a personal preference to the Buckmark.

B.

(P.S. I just read lowracer's remark, and have heard of this happening in some of the pistols, but didn't have this happen in mine. The screws on my particular pistol seem to stay very tight without loctite)

[pennys dad]

I have a Buck Mark, I love the gun. Now it is ammo picky, it doesnt like low velocity ammo but cheapo bulk federal works perfect. I am thinking of getting a 2nd for my wife.

[vinny_land]

Did a search on the Buck Mark and got good reviews about it. As for it being ammo picky, is it really a big issue compared to other 22lr guns? I know some 22 guns only like one brand or is made to fire only one brand of ammo.

[c good]

Buckmarks are sweet. Go for it.

[theseacow]

buckmarks are good. you can get a ruger for the same price and in my opinion they are built a little better, so that is another option you may want to look at.

[vinny_land]

But for the price of the Buck Mark...~$375 (before Tax and DROS) at my local gunshop, is that high for this new pistol? I understand the whole thing about supporting local businesses and I have no problem doing it if the price is right compared to buying online and doing the transfer fees and shipping.

[pennys dad]

mine didnt like wolf match ammo but likes everything else especially the bargin ammo i find at yard sales. i would say buy and enjoy with confidence

[inkedshooter]

My fiancee loves her buckmark. It's picky on ammo though. Her's tends to like CCI Mini Mags.

[trashman]

I recently bought one of the Buck Mark Contour Lite pistols -- and I frickin' love it -- it's like a damn laser...and it has eaten everything I've fed it (although that's been jacketed ammo, so YMMV).

I owned two Ruger Mk II's in the past -- sold 'em because I got bored with them. The downside the the Ruger is that the barrel *is* the serially-numbered receiver - so aftermarket barrels require an FFL transfer.

The Buck Marks - heck it's just another part. Downside for the Browning is that the trigger doesn't have any drop-in aftermarket (i.e, Volquartsen) options, and there isn't a whole lot you can do to drastically improve pull.

Having said all that -- I absolutely love my Brownin. Paid ~$461 from Budsgunshop.com.

--Neill

[vinny_land]

Yeah I hear CCI Mini Mags are the ticket when running the Buck Mark. I just watched this video about this gun and he too likes the CCI Mini Mags.


I think I have the Buck Mark on my list now for "pistols to buy next".

[b.faust]

Mine will eat anything as well, even dirty, nasty centurion.
I usually put Goldens or Vipers through it.

[Purple K]

I've got a Buck Mark with the factory 7" railed barrel. It's like the 10/22 of 22lr pistols.

[Gunhacker]

That $379 sounds reasonable to me... also if you haven't tried to buy something online lately from an out of state source since that DOJ shipping authorization law took effect..it adds an additional challenge in finding someone that will sell to California. Also, don't be surprised if you're charged an additional fee from the selling FFL for having to go through the extra effort to get that DOJ authorization to ship.

For the feeding problems... on mine, which is almost 15 years old now, most of the failure to feed problems I initially experienced was the bullet nose catching and or shoulder hanging up on the lower edge of barrel as it enters the chamber. I put a slight chamfer on that area (and polished it) to break that edge, like what is done on 1911 barrels to improve feeding, and the feeding problems disappeared, it now digests everything I've put in it.

Mine is the Bullseye Target with the fluted bull barrel and it is stupidly accurate, second only to my S&W model 41.

[mif_slim]

I have had mines for over 10 years and it's seen at least 10k thru it if not more. Still going strong and doesn't have any trouble eating any type of ammo. Only issue it will have is when the ammo is faulty. Great gun and accurate. Highly recommended.
here is my puuurdee. Hehe