Browning Buckmark Challenge

[Questor]

I'm looking at the Browning Buckmark Challenge as a gun for my kids to learn handgun shooting with.  Do you have any good or bad experiences with that particular model?

What about the buckmark in general?  Are there any quirks to be aware of? Was your gun's trigger good from the factory or did it need work?

[KN]

I have a Buckmark Varment model that is a very nice pistol. As far as the trigger, I would say better than most. I havn't had to do anything to it.   KN

[daddywpb]

I think any of the Buckmark variants, and there are many, would make a good first gun. The trigger on mine was good right from the box, and it shoots great with just about any brand of ammo. I mounted a scope on mine for hunting, and then took it back off. I like the iron sights better.

[Hcliff]

I love my Buckmark.  I have thousands and thousands of rounds through mine.  The only think I don't like is to take it apart needs a screwdriver and my screws get loose after so many years of taken apart.  (now ?I loctite them)  This would be the screws holding on the top strap.  

The guns never jams on me and the trigger is nice.  Sights are a great sight picture, better than lots of my other guns.

It is a good choice

Hcliff

[tripper]

I guess I will have to be the odd one here. I have a buckmark that if I plan on shooting more then a box of shells at a time I better have a can of gun scrub with me.  For some reason mine gets fould and starts jaming very fast. If you are going to put a scope on it locktite the rail screws . If you don't the rail will shake lose quick. Personaly I am trading mine for somthing different.

[ftstinyc]

I have the Buckmark plus. It is very accurate and I never had a jam of
any kind. I have a scope on mine and I just coat the underside of the
screw heads not the threads with clear nail polish. The screws stay put
but are still easy to take out. My Buckmark is almost as accurate as my
Smith 41. Great value IMO. The trigger was good out of the box and is
getting better with use.

[daddywpb]

Tripper,
Maybe you should try another brand of ammo. Some are more dirty than others. I have had similar problems with some of the cheapo Winchester and Federal ammo. Or, maybe take it to a gunsmith and have it completely stripped and cleaned - unless you can do it yourself. There may be some crud hiding in there thats causing the problem. There could be a buildup in a critical area that you can't see with the gun field stripped that needs to be cleaned out. Let a drop of oil run down the slide rails before you go shooting - that might help too.

[Jim n Iowa]

I think this would be a great starter pistol. I started out with a sa in 22, with notched sights. Not very accurate at the local dump shooting rats. My friend had a Ruger auto that cost $40 , half of what I paid for the colt, and twice as accurate. You can not imagine the trials and what ever you will go thru taking down a Ruger mk 1 or newer. I trade this off for the Buck it it wern't for the accessories. It is a shooter.
Jim

[tripper]

daddywpb, Thanks for the suggestions but I have tried everything you mention except the gunsmith. Before firing I tore it down and cleaned with gun scrub, blew it out with air and put just enough oil back on to say it was there and that is pretty much the way I have cleaned ever since. Over all I like the gun, thats why it is still around, it is just madening to have to carry the gun scrub when my brother can go through a brick of the same ammo with his ruger and only have an occasional misfeed.

[Graybeard]

I'd be real tempted to let Browning have a shot at it and see if they can't fix it before spending more time or money on it. You might end up with a new one at no cost.

GB

[willis5]

Will take a while to get back from browning though.

[Trapdoor33]

Sorry about this but I bought a Browning Buckmark Camper and was wondering if somebody had an extra owners manual.
Thanks Trapdoor

[mes]

Mine would not shoot certain lots of Blazer and would get dirty and stop working with anything after 150 rounds.  Screws on the sight rail would come loose and would get light hits on the rim.  Traded it back to the gunshop I purchased it from.

[mechanic]

I shot  thousands of rounds through mine, with at best an annual tear down.  It got wiped down with an oily cloth, and stored in a silicone sock.  Grandkids shot it until it was too hot to hold, never a gun related failure.
 
Ben

[Flynmoose]

I have a Buckmark Challenge, bought it from a friend. It has a smaller grip so my wife can handle it easily. I put a cheap 2X scope on it and it shoots very well. If I were to need another 22LR semi auto, it would be another Buckmark.
FM

[mcwoodduck]

I have three Buck marks.
One from 1985 and has over 10K rounds through it.
If you take care of them keep them clean and use the propper tools to take them apart and put them back together again and lubed they will run and run.
If you are looking for a 10 round auto the Browning is hard to beat.
The other cool thing is there are many after market parts to change the gun if you want to.  From barrels, stocks, scope mounts, and magazines are not overly expensive.  many companies make leather for it and the 5.5" barrel fits in most of the colt 1911 nylon holsters.