Browning BuckMark Micro Bull Upgrades

[Skylerbone]

Having been inspired recently by @Mr.Revolverguy I set out to improve my already great little Browning. Having had a few feed problems due to weak magazine springs, I gave Tandemkross the nod and ordered replacement Green Springs. Not wanting to quit too soon I also ordered the Gearbox sear spring housing and Victory trigger.

Haven’t had it back to the range yet but dry firing (with spent case chambered) shows a drastic reduction in trigger pull weight with zero over travel. More a rolling break than crisp snap but very livable with a nicely serrated wide shoe.

For just a tick over $500 all-in (pistol/optic/parts) I am well satisfied! Im looking forward to range time on Saturday for sure!

 

[danez71]

I've considered getting a 4" micro bull barrel for my Buckmark..... have you had any cycling issue with the cheap bulk pack stuff.

Nice gun. Yours must be newer than mine... mine doesn't have the ears on the slide.

Eta: Did you ever try the heiggis (sp?)spring flip?

 

[Skylerbone]

I've considered getting a 4" micro bull barrel for my Buckmark..... have you had any cycling issue with the cheap bulk pack stuff.

Nice gun. Yours must be newer than mine... mine doesn't have the ears on the slide.

Eta: Did you ever try the heiggis (sp?)spring flip?

I did have some feed issues, mainly beyond 100 rounds, which I suspected was caused by wax build-up from cheap bulk pack. There would be a ring around the chamber and my hand was getting spattered with wax. I also realized my magazines were not racing cartridges to the feed lips as I loaded which left the pistol on an empty chamber from time to time.

I read about the flip but for the price of the Gear Box I figured on it being a very simple and permanent solution. I think I bought this one about 2 years ago, UFX frame and reasonably accurate even with the cheap stuff.

 

[Speedo66]

I did the flip, simple and it works well.

No permanent changes, easy to restore to original if not to your liking.

 

[Skylerbone]

The Gear box is a simple replacement that’s easily removed by simply using a pick to push the spring to the side of the housing. From there it simply drops out. I was tempted to simply flip it or build a replacement from lighter wire but I do love my gadgets.

 

[LoonWulf]

Curious how you like the trigger, i find my Buckmarks stock to have too much curve for my bent trigger finger.

 

[Skylerbone]

Curious how you like the trigger, i find my Buckmarks stock to have too much curve for my bent trigger finger.

So far I really like the geometry, with my only other (and limited) flat trigger experience being with a Jard AR unit on my daughter’s rifle.


I shot this group last week at 15 yards, 40 rounds with the original set up. I’m still recovering from Covid and that day was toting an oxygen bottle and pulse ox meter which showed my heart rate consistently in the 120s. Still, the pistol definitely has potential. Holes outside the Shoot-N-See were from plinking with other pistols that day, everything landed on target. Optic is a Vortex Venom 3MOA dot. Ammo was Federal AutoMatch bulk.

 

[Mike J]

Thanks for sharing what you changed. I bought a Buckmark Camper last year with the 5 1/2" bull barrel. I have been happy with the stock configuration but it is nice to know what options are out there. I need to shoot it at paper & see how well I can group with it. Most of the shooting I have done with it was just plinking reactive targets at about 20 yards in my buddy's back yard.

 

[Skylerbone]

Was feeling better today and stretched things out to 25 yards. I’m still fighting an occasional feed issue which I believe is the new extractor (Volquartsen). Its thickness created an interference fit with the slot in my slide and while I stoned it slightly, I noticed today the extractor is hanging up from time to time, unable to pivot back into position.

All in all I’m very pleased with the Browning and the upgrades. As light as any trigger might feel at the workbench inevitably doubles in weight at the range bench. Still, it surprised me often despite my deliberate concentration.


Shot an 11th round while adjusting RDS from 15 to 25 yds POI.


Where I ended up.

 

[SGW Gunsmith]

Some pretty dang good shootin'! I'm more of a Ruger Mark pistol "fan-boy" but a few years ago, I found I really liked the looks of the Browning Buckmark Contour, so naturally, the only way to know if it will "jerk my bobber" is to get one and do things with it:

I pretty much like it except for the gold anodized trigger and the "sporadic" extraction that I was having. I did smooth the magazines, but the only thing that helped my "finickyness" was to replace the trigger and the extractor. Some Buckmarks don't seen to appreciate the "Hageous Flip" (sp?) of the spring so I got what Wolff Gun Springs offers.
The replacement "steel" triggers are no longer available. I bought all that Volquartsen Custom had in stock and have no more left. All have been sold. I started using the "hard" plastic over-travel screws many years ago after seeing how those un-tipped screws, installed as is, were digging into the polymer frame trigger guards and then affecting the the amount of travel, so I started using screws with a much harder Durameter reading. I see the one in your trigger is starting to wear at a bit of an angle. The softer plastic that is used on those TK triggers they buy from some outfit that actually MAKES those triggers seems to be a bit more softer and soon conform to the area they come up against. The harder plastic tipped USA made screws won't do that:

My plan has always been to clamp my Buckmark, a couple of Ruger Mark pistols, The Mark II Government and Competition Target and then, the Volquartsen LLV, all having pretty much the same barrel lengths, if only to see which of those four pistols shoot the best with the same .22 Long Rifle ammunition. Just gotta take the time to do those things.

 

[Skylerbone]

The overtravel screw tip is definitely soft, I considered removing it and perhaps mixing up a small bit of Devcon. If I should ever need to remove the screw I could always Dremel the tip off with a cutting wheel. It still has a small amount of pretravel that might benefit from a touch of plastic steel as well, but might be splitting hairs.

Next step is testing different ammo once I’ve got my strength back and heart rate down to normal levels; AutoMatch is hardly match grade.

Definitely looking forward to finding a Mark IV configuration in stock to play with next.

 

[earplug]

Consider getting the Tandem Cross Halo. Its makes a great gun easier to use. Especially when using a dot or scope or less then perfect fingers.

 

[Skylerbone]

Consider getting the Tandem Cross Halo. Its makes a great gun easier to use. Especially when using a dot or scope or less then perfect fingers.

I’ve been ordering parts as funds allow, got some medical expenses from several weeks in the hospital, but the Halo is on the to-do list.

 

[Mr.Revolverguy]

This is like an awesome thread Skyler thanks for sharing.

SGW a couple of questions. When you say clamp your pistols are you talking ransom rest?

Also where would one get the American made screw with harder plastic and do we know if threads match?

 

[Cemetery21]

Got my set screw triggers from Browning, as well as spare sear springs and a 4" barrel.
I don't think the screw has a poly tip.

 

[Mr.Revolverguy]

Thank you for posting this Cemetery21 to make sure are these the parts you ordered?

72 * B5152898 TRIGGER, ADJUSTABLE 10.50 72 * B5152698 TRIGGER 7.00 NS * B5152897 TRIGGER LIMIT SCREW 1.25

 

[Cemetery21]

It's been a few years, but pretty sure item 72 B5152898 TRIGGER, ADJUSTABLE 10.50 is the trigger I ordered. Got two since I have consecutive serial number Buckmarks. Getting the pin in/out was a little tricky, but I just followed something I found online, maybe on rimfire central.
Triggers came with the screws.

 

[Skylerbone]

I’m wondering if the set-screw style trigger is only for the Silhouette version? Stuck at work now but looking through listings for grub screws to fit the Victory and finding both brass and plastic tip screws. I’m considering brass with a little time rounding off the contact patch, just need to confirm the size and decode the strange metric measurements.

These are wrong size and bulk, ignore pricing.

 

[Cemetery21]

Okay, looking for the receipt, I found the packets from Browning:
2898 is the adj. trigger. I guess you could cheap out and just get the screws then drill/tap yourself.

 

[Cemetery21]

Yes, the Browning set screw triggers are for an upgraded version, but they fit the standard Buckmarks.
Note on the parts diagram that they also sell an adjustable sear spring and screw. You would have to drill/tap the rear of the frame to install the screw. I didn't go that way since flipping the spring got me a trigger that was almost too light.

 

[Mr.Revolverguy]

Again awesome thread. Because I like my Buckmark as is I didn't do TK but I will look to get one of these adjustable ones thank you for the assist much appreciated.

 

[SGW Gunsmith]

This is like an awesome thread Skyler thanks for sharing.

SGW a couple of questions. When you say clamp your pistols are you talking ransom rest?

Also where would one get the American made screw with harder plastic and do we know if threads match?

Yes! It's one of thee best investments I've ever made. Takes away all of my involvement, except for pulling the lever that's pulling the trigger:

The only gun that doesn't understand how to behave is this one. Once the trigger is pulled, it just goes NUTS!:


Thread pitch and size has everything to do with the screws, so that would need to be known.

 

[SGW Gunsmith]

I’m wondering if the set-screw style trigger is only for the Silhouette version? Stuck at work now but looking through listings for grub screws to fit the Victory and finding both brass and plastic tip screws. I’m considering brass with a little time rounding off the contact patch, just need to confirm the size and decode the strange metric measurements.

These are wrong size and bulk, ignore pricing.
View attachment 1035604

Seriously???? Are those prices for REAL! I know that's bulk pricing, but for how many, a bazillion? The brass tipped work much better, even on the polymer frames.

 

[SGW Gunsmith]

Got my set screw triggers from Browning, as well as spare sear springs and a 4" barrel.
I don't think the screw has a poly tip.

View attachment 1035575

Didn't know Browning offered those. Thanks, that's good to know. Do you think that they are "metric"?

 

[Cemetery21]

Let me pull one of the screws and check the threads.
Note the price list is from 2013 - Browning could have changed prices or even discontinued selling parts since then.