Author Topic: ????? Mark 3 vs. Buckmark vs. Neos???? (Read 4843 times)

czvz · « **on:** May 07, 2010, 12:45:41 PM »

Thinking of getting one of these, first handgun, application would be to learn to shoot a handgun then possibly hunting small game... so accuracy is important. Can you give me pros and cons of the Ruger, Browning, and Berreta? Would like to hear especially from those that have experience with 1or more of my list. I understand there are various flavors with each... Im leaning towards longer barreled versions for hunting accuracy and the ability to scope it or at least adjustable sights.
Thanx!

Empty Quiver · « **Reply #1 on:** May 07, 2010, 01:06:57 PM »

I have a Neos. Other than the rear sight, I have no complaint. Shortly after I got it I attached a Trophy Red Dot sight. At some point the rear sight rattled apart. I wasn't too pleased with it as it wouldn't stay put anyway, and as I wanted the red dot on it I carried on. For some reason I think that was common and it was addressed but I'm not sure.

I'm satisfied that either of the other choices are probably better, but honestly I've not shot them. Mine is plenty accurate, the trigger could have been better, but after untold hundreds of rounds it's used to me or I'm used to it.

The Ruger and Buckmark seem to have holster options, the Neos, not so much. It would be handy to walk the woods with a holster I think, but with the Red Dot it wouldn't fit anyway. For the money I have invested in it, and what I use it for, I'd do it again. Actually I'd save for a Single Six, but thats not what you asked.

mechanic · « **Reply #2 on:** May 07, 2010, 07:08:43 PM »

I used a Buckmark for quite a while until it was stolen..plan to buy another. Never a minute's trouble or a complaint on my part. I'll have to let someone else tell you about the Ruger, as I've only fired a friend's a few time.

Ben

chim · « **Reply #3 on:** May 08, 2010, 02:43:52 AM »

After spending the last 15 or so years buying, using (and selling some) various .22 pistols in bullseye matches, here's what worked for me. Older Brownings made in Belguim are my first choice. They weren't on your list. The factory mags are scarce and expensive. Replacement parts are difficult to find. These may be what some feel are good reasons to avoid them but they are made exceptionally well and shoot great. Several variations of Buck Marks, MKII's, a Texas Hi Standard, Sig/Hammerli Trailside, Walther GSP Expert and others have come/gone/stayed.

From your list the Browning Buck Marks were the ones I kept coming back to. The Rugers are fine, and I still have a couple. My experience with Rugers include only MKI's and MKII's. One thing I don't care for with the Rugers is the grip angle on the steel-framed models. The is a little odd because the Belgian Brownings have a similar angle. I have a 22/45 that feels better than my MKII Government Target but had to do a little customizing of the plastic grip to make it feel better.

I've shot the Neos, Beretta 87, a couple versions of Benelli, S&W 41, S&W .22 and others. Of these, the only one I've even been tempted to buy is the S&W 41.

jpred1 · « **Reply #4 on:** May 08, 2010, 02:49:04 AM »

Ive had my scoped out buckmark for years and have a shoulder hoster for it. Its been one of the best guns Ive ever owned,

Sweetwater · « **Reply #5 on:** May 08, 2010, 04:14:03 PM »

I've had the Ruger MkI and MkII - had - MkI went to a favorite cousin a long time ago and MkII went to my oldest daughter last summer. No issues with either and dynomite shooters. My old boss bought a MkIII and he liked it fine after it came back from Ruger, but he likes his Taurus 44mag also.

I'd give the Buckmark a go unless I found an awful good deal on a Ruger MkII. I'm a bit shy of the MkIII.

My pal has a S&W 22 - it don't hold a candle to a S&W 41. JMHO

dks7895 · « **Reply #6 on:** May 10, 2010, 09:05:49 AM »

I have a Browning Buckmark Camper. It is quite accurate and handles well. I have never had any issues with it, and it chews thru Federal bulk ammo without a problem.

tt4617 · « **Reply #7 on:** May 28, 2010, 05:22:09 AM »

I have a Ruger MarkIII. I will say, it won't shoot the cheap Remington ammo. Everything else I have fed it has been fine. I have put over 2000 rounds of cheap Fedral through it in the last month without jamming. I am pretty happy with it. Accuracy is good. All I have done is clean it occasionally. I have not shot the Browning, but there seems to be a 50-50 divide on what people prefer between the Browning and Ruger. The Neos seems to have less support, but what I have read seems to give it pretty good reliability. So, I guess I am saying, for a little more money than the Beretta, you can have either of the two guns that seem to be the most popular. Hold each one and see which fits you best and go with it.

Daman · « **Reply #8 on:** May 28, 2010, 05:43:56 AM »

I had a Buckmark for a little while, but it was to heel heavy for me. My next will be a Ruger MKIII. The Beretta just does not fit my hand right.

mcwoodduck · « **Reply #9 on:** May 28, 2010, 12:26:42 PM »

I have three Buck Marks.
Was given my first when I was in High school in 1986 and have been shooting it ever since.
Have upgraded it a little, purchased a Varmint model, and found a 2nd one almost identical to it cause my friends ended up wanting to shoot mine and bought it as a range gun / loaner. (no you can not borrow it - meet me at the range and you can shoot it).
A the time I tried the Beretta 76S, the Ruger MkII and the Browning and the Buck Mark had the best trigger and price of the three.

Sweetwater · « **Reply #10 on:** May 28, 2010, 01:37:37 PM »

Gun Digest did a review on these three models and "they" like the MkIII the best and the Neos the least - but I don't always agree with what they find fault with.

I just bought a Buckmark from a GBO member so will let you know in a few weeks. After it comes in and I get a chance to wring it out.

Buckhammer74 · « **Reply #11 on:** May 28, 2010, 02:36:48 PM »

I asked about this a while back and got alot of thumbs up for the Buckmark. I got a SS camper w/urx grips and couldnt be more pleased. Slapped a cheap Sightmark holo sight on her and she shots anything darn good!

If you get a Bmark and have questions about it. Chim is an authority on them. He can tell you anything you want to know about customization, trigger work, and especially disassembly. Checkout rimfirecentral.com under the browning forum.

haus · « **Reply #12 on:** June 24, 2010, 03:58:15 PM »

Only had experience with Rugers I and II. Many were fun to plink with. I do have a 10" target in SS and added the target wood grips. Shoots great. Favorite 22 is not on your list. Sig Saur Hamerline Trailside with Essex grips and red dot scope.

Sweetwater · « **Reply #13 on:** June 25, 2010, 02:58:19 PM »

Got my Buckmark, but haven't fired it yet. It's a dandy for me! Blue and Walnut - Tradition!

So far, I'm very pleased with the Browning - I like Tradition.

weber · « **Reply #14 on:** July 12, 2010, 02:14:41 PM »

Handle them all and try to pick one that feels right . I have a MK3 hunter model with a bushnell trophy red dot . This gun is a blast to shoot . Super accurate . No feed and eject problems at all . I use WalMart bulk ammo to shoot and cci mini mags to kill critters . That being said I still prefer the BuckMark camper for toting around . Also very accurate . Good Price . And way easier to clean than the MK3 . The Mk3 is a pain in the a!! to clean . You have to put the clip in , take it out , put it back in , whack it with a hammer . And I can never seem to put it back right the first time no matter how many times Ive done it . The MK1,2 do not have all the features built into them so alot less work in cleaning . Never shot nor do I know anything about a neos . If you go with the Ruger or Browning you have to have the auto clip loader , this thing will save your fingers .

teddy12b · « **Reply #15 on:** July 13, 2010, 05:34:48 AM »

I had a Browning buck mark and the top part kept coming loose. It was a good shooter though other than that. Currently I have a ruger mark III target and I had some issues with the gun when I first got it with some gunk getting things bound up, but after I cleaned it and put a few hundred rounds through it it's been totally reliable. I'd buy another ruger mark III before ever buying another browning.

mdi · « **Reply #16 on:** July 13, 2010, 09:52:16 AM »

As a new shooter, I would not recommend a semi-auto handgun. Just for safety's sake. I know, you're a grown-up and can handle a little .22 auto, but it's very easy to have a small brain glitch and fire a round when not meant to, especially if you haven't had the safety rules drilled into your head! A single action Ruger, the Single Six, is a very reliable, and accurate handgun, which many use for small game. Of course, the Smith and Wesson Model 63 and 617 are excellent guns. As an aside, revolvers will fire just about any ammo where an auto may have difficulty feeding certain ammo (my ruger MkII doesn't like some HV hollowpoints). But, if your mind is made up, you can't go wrong with a Ruger MkII or MkIII. I have a six inch MkII that is way more accurate than I can shoot, with standard velocity 40 grain solids.

Go hang out at Rimfirecentral http://www.rimfirecentral.com/forums/index.php and you can gain a lot of info and insight about .22 handguns.

smong2000 · « **Reply #17 on:** July 13, 2010, 02:22:40 PM »

I've tried all 3 and currently own 2 Ruger MkII targets. One 10" SS and the other a Competition Slabside. I browsed through lots of target forums and the Rugers appear to win the competitions about 10:1. Mine are amazingly accurate and have nice triggers with no mods. Never had a problem with anything I've put through (except remington and that's a given). Very entertaining pistols and as accurate as most rifles. Brownings seem very nice and are great plinkers but they don't have the same level of accuracy...at least those few I've seen and shot.

Brett · « **Reply #18 on:** July 26, 2010, 02:56:33 AM »

The basic Ruger and Buckmark designs have been around forever and are well proven. I know little about the NEOS. If it were me looking for a new .22 auto I would handle and shoot as many variants of the Ruger and Buckmark as I could get my hands on and go with the one that felt the best in my hands.

As an aside I have heard that Rugers customer service is top notch... I really have not heard anything good or bad about Browning's or Beretta's CS so that might be something to look into as well.

stalkingbear · « **Reply #19 on:** August 28, 2010, 01:13:07 PM »

I have a Ruger mk2 comp target slabside that'll put a 5 shot group into just over 1" at 50 yards from a solid rest. It's topped with a 2.5x-8x EER scope and has aftermarket hammer/sear/trigger in it. I honestly don't see how you can do better than a mk2 comp target with a scope.

cybin · « **Reply #20 on:** August 28, 2010, 06:51:48 PM »

I own 2 rugers and one buck mark camper model, all are good guns. The buck mark has a better trigger pull, but the rugers are almost as good. I'd recommend the 6 inch barreled ruger over the buck mark only becouse extra clips are easier to come by and a bit cheaper, and in my opinion easier to load. The shorter barreled ruger is good, but for a beginner the longer sighting plane will be easier to shoot accurately.

2 years ago I took all 3 to the shooting range with my nephew who was looking for a .22 pistol. After shooting all of them quit a bit, he ended up buying a mark 3 with a 6 inch barrel, and has no regrets so far.

cybin

Old Fart · « **Reply #21 on:** August 30, 2010, 05:00:06 AM »

I think I've owned them all at one time or another.
Those listed in your post and a bunch more.

Take the time to go hold them all and find one that fits your grip well.
After that I don't think you could go wrong with any of those listed.

After you get one buy several different type of ammo and see which one it like best.
With a little luck it will like federal bulk pack.
I've had a few that seemed to digest the Rem bulk, but mostly I think the QC guy at Remington is on permanent coffee break.

teddy12b · « **Reply #22 on:** August 30, 2010, 05:49:05 AM »

Also make sure you spend $20 and buy an ultimate clip loader. Fills up a mag so quick and easy that it's a must have. It's made for the rugers, but it kinda works for the other brands as well.