Author Topic: Brand new Browning Buckmark BROKE! (Read 3994 times)

AtlLaw · « **on:** October 06, 2010, 08:09:13 AM »

After deciding between Browning and Ruger, Kathie and I picked up her new Buckmark Sunday. I ordered it from Bud's and they sent it to my FFL. The first thing I noticed was that the slide was very hard to pull back with the hammer down but not real bad if the pistol was already cocked. I told Kathie the parts would work themselves in after she had shot it a few thousand times.

Last night she told me she couldn't pull the slide back. She's small and has rhumatoid Artheritis so was practicing working the slide.

When I tried it the slide would NOT BUDGE A BIT!

locked up tighter then a virgin's knees!

The safety feels a little strange also, like it's not really engaging or disengaging.

I called Browning this morning and they said to sent it back. $:-\$ I hate to do that if it is something simple.

Does any body have any idea on what may be causing this?

Savage · « **Reply #1 on:** October 06, 2010, 08:50:24 AM »

Wish I could help, but I'm not familiar with the Buckmark's internals. Could be the pistol is not assembled correctly. If it were mine, I'd send it back to Browning and let them fix it. It may need some parts replaced to make it right. Tough break AtlLaw!!
Savage

SHOOTALL · « **Reply #2 on:** October 06, 2010, 10:20:31 AM »

Good luck they had my O/U tied up for about a year.

Keith L · « **Reply #3 on:** October 06, 2010, 01:30:32 PM »

My son's Buckmark had a bad barrel and they turned it around in a week.

JPShelton · « **Reply #4 on:** October 06, 2010, 09:22:38 PM »

AtLaw...

At the moment, about the only thing I can think of that might cause the slide to be difficult to retract is improper installation of the recoil spring /guide rod / buffer assembly and / or rear sight base. If I remember correctly, the recoil spring / guide rod / buffer assembly has to go in to the bolt "just so" or it can cause binding. The hex-head screws that hold the sight base to the frame need to be firmly and evenly torqued, too, or bolt manipulation can be funky -again, if I recall correctly.

JP

zoner · « **Reply #5 on:** October 07, 2010, 02:57:05 AM »

if it's new send it back....make em make it right....and good luck

AtlLaw · « **Reply #6 on:** October 07, 2010, 05:23:04 AM »

Quote from: zoner on October 07, 2010, 02:57:05 AM

if it's new send it back....make em make it right....and good luck

I guess I will.

To bad. I expected more out of Browning... $:-\$
I'm going to call them again today and ask them to send me a shipping label. A test of their good will so to speak...

SHOOTALL · « **Reply #7 on:** October 08, 2010, 04:03:15 AM »

Know how ya feel . I paid over $1500.00 for an O/U and it would not reset the triggers . Not one time . Sent it back and 9 mos later it comes back with a cracked stock ( most likely from slamming on floor to make it reset) . I did not take it home from the shop as the crack was noticed when dealer opened the box. Browning salesman wanted to see it ( he suggested how it got a broken stock) anyway it went back for several more mos. When it came back it still would only set triggers ever so often. A local gunsmith fixed it. Like I said good luck. Had a similar problem with a winchester rifle both in time and cracked stock ( shipping this time cracked the stock because the repair shop lost the shipping box and shipped the rifle in a plain box with no dividers to secure the rifle). Guess what Winchester and Browning are fixed in the same %#@&^%$ repair place. I could not bring myself to call it a shop .

Dee · « **Reply #8 on:** October 09, 2010, 06:21:18 AM »

Richard I too would send it back BUT! You might call the folks that you bought it from first and see if they would replace it. They should. As far as Browning quality, my Uncle bought a NEW Kimber Tactical II, and the thumb safety was cut wrong. A swiss file, and about 3 minutes I had it up and running. We live in a mass construction world, and no one is perfect all the time.
Dan,

jcn59 · « **Reply #9 on:** October 10, 2010, 04:04:42 PM »

If it was mine I would remove the top sight strap & see if that made the slide run freely, and proceed from there to correct the problem.

As if I knew what I was doing?

team101 · « **Reply #10 on:** November 23, 2010, 05:41:09 PM »

If it is going to be a simple fix, it will stick out like a sore thumb when you pull the topstrap and slide off. It will only take a few minutes to take a look. I cannot remember what Browning calls it, but the recoil rod and spring fit into a plastic plate that usually cracks in short order. The recoil spring is captured and retained by a small c-clip that could have come off as well. You might consider looking at the internals before sending it back.

AtlLaw · « **Reply #11 on:** November 24, 2010, 04:40:04 AM »

Well... um... er... I, ah ... I was kinda hopeing this thread would be gone and forgotten.

Mostly because I hate it when I make myself look like a dummy...

After my last post I was looking at a schematic of the Buckmark and thinking about the problem, running through my attempts to rack the slide in detail. In so doing I remembered getting the impression the safety didn't feel exactly right when I pushed it down to disengage it.

So, when I got home I tried again. Sure enough, the safety hadn't been completely disengaging!

A few flicks on and off and it now smoothly cycles.

Of course the pistol functions fine now...

Go ahead. Y'all take your best shot... I deserve it.

Ron 1 · « **Reply #12 on:** November 24, 2010, 04:51:50 AM »

it happens to some of us more often

at least you cought it and didnt have to send it in.

rw

SHOOTALL · « **Reply #13 on:** November 24, 2010, 05:18:21 AM »

I would take a shot but the last time i tried walking on water my asre got wet !

jcn59 · « **Reply #14 on:** November 24, 2010, 05:55:50 AM »

Is that your grampa in the avatar?

AtlLaw · « **Reply #15 on:** November 24, 2010, 09:01:46 AM »

Quote from: jcn59 on November 24, 2010, 05:55:50 AM

Is that your grampa in the avatar?

Only if I fit the circumstance discribed in that grand old song "I'm my own Grandpa!"

Have patience. All that hair should be gone around Valentine's Day...

Keith L · « **Reply #16 on:** November 24, 2010, 12:05:22 PM »

Quote from: team101 on November 23, 2010, 05:41:09 PM

If it is going to be a simple fix, it will stick out like a sore thumb when you pull the topstrap and slide off. It will only take a few minutes to take a look. I cannot remember what Browning calls it, but the recoil rod and spring fit into a plastic plate that usually cracks in short order. The recoil spring is captured and retained by a small c-clip that could have come off as well. You might consider looking at the internals before sending it back.

I know a bunch of folks with Buckmarks, and I have one also with thousands of rounds through it. I have never heard of this failure, so to say it "usually cracks in short order" may be a little strong and misleading.

chim · « **Reply #17 on:** November 25, 2010, 05:14:34 AM »

I've been shooting Buck Marks for over 15 years and have run more CCI SV through them than most shooters would. Only on a couple of Buck Marks that were bought used, the recoil buffer needed replaced. Pistols purchashed new or used in good shape never had this problem. I did replace a couple that looked banged up after many thousands of rounds.

I really believe the failuer is due to the previous owner's "cleaning" technique of being too lazy or incompetent to disassemble the pistol and clean it properly. It isn't hard to believe that hosing the pistol down assembled and then shaking or blowing the excess out would deteriorate the plastic.

I personally know of two of the C or E clips flying off the end of the guide rod. Could have been defective clips, insufficient groove depth on the rod or "pilot error". It was never a widespread problem.

This should give you a perspective on how much my Browings get shot. Here's a picture from October of 2006. It was all used by last Spring, most of it through Buck Marks. Until someone has a great price on CCI SV I'm only getting 5 cases at a time now. Can't find it for $130/case these days

Buckskin · « **Reply #18 on:** December 11, 2010, 02:44:01 AM »

Chim - Man your fingers must be tougher than nails loading all those mags... I just bought a Buck Mark Camper yesterday (don't have it yet) and was wondering about ammo for it. The salesman said that it loved CCI. How much are you paying for a case of that stuff??

chim · « **Reply #19 on:** December 11, 2010, 03:57:19 PM »

It took almost 4 years to go through that stash, so there was plenty of time for the fingers to recover between sessions. Most of the ammo in that stack was $130/case. Last chance I had to buy it was at nearly $200/case. Since then it really spiked. I need to start watching for deals pretty soon.

Old Griz · « **Reply #20 on:** January 10, 2011, 06:57:38 PM »

Hey Buckskin, the CCI might work great in his Buck Mark, and not so hot in yours. Two that came off the line next to each other may not shoot the same ammo well. That's life with .22 autos. Trial and error. I have a S&W 2206 that shoots everything except Remington. My Ruger Mk. II jammed with everything except CCI Blazer. You just never know. But it sure is fun finding out.

gcrank1 · « **Reply #21 on:** January 14, 2011, 03:01:26 PM »

Glad you got it 'fixed Richard.
Maybe you should consider editing the Topic Line since it really wasnt 'broke'? You even got me thinkin' about one again!

1marty · « **Reply #22 on:** January 14, 2011, 03:28:51 PM »

I bought a new hi power. The first day at the range the gun wouldn't cycle and I was getting terrible hammer bite. Sent it to Browning they had it back to me in a little over 2 weeks. The paper said minor adjustment. That was 7 years ago-never had another jam and the hammer bite was eliminated. I also have a browning buckmark and the gun is great.

jcn59 · « **Reply #23 on:** January 14, 2011, 05:51:02 PM »

I have a Buckmark, bought used, always been happy with it.

Can't forget that Browning doesn't make guns anymore. It's just a name they put on guns, mostly Japanese. Kinda like "Charles Daley".

Dee · « **Reply #24 on:** January 15, 2011, 02:16:51 AM »

Before the Japanese made them the Belgians made them.

jcn59 · « **Reply #25 on:** January 15, 2011, 07:00:39 AM »

And they sent some to Portugal for "assembly".

His lordship. · « **Reply #26 on:** January 15, 2011, 09:57:55 AM »

And for awhile in the 40's, the Germans had them made in Belgium by FN. Saw a guy at the range shooting his high power made in Belgium during WW 2, shot fine. Risky though as some of these were sabotaged by the angry Belgians.