Browning Buckmark Misfires

[elprofeloco]

I'm looking at a used Browning Buckmark .22; slab-side, 5.5 inch barrel. It was manufactured in1990, so internally there may be some differences from current Buckmarks. This one looks like it has mild use (the bore was pristine).

I took it to range for a test fire. I quickly got 2 no-fires on the first magazine of 10 rounds; then 2 out of the next mag.; fired about 2 more mags with no problems, then had 1 more no-fire; then no problems with last two mags. Net result: 5 no-fires out of 80 rounds.

The Buckmark fed ammo into chamber fine; appeared to be in battery on misfires, then trigger click and no-fire; mags were seated. After racking slide to eject unfired rounds, and inspecting the unfired rounds, there was no firing pin mark on the unfired ejected round. The rounds that did fire appeard to have an OK if slightly light firing pin mark on the ejected casings. No other problems, rounds that did fire ejected fine.

I used Remington .22LR; "Thunderbolt" on first 5 mags, then (Gold box) High Velocity on last 4 mags. (Both were solid tip, round nose with identical velocity/energy specs - difference seemed that Thunderbolt was unplated lead, while the other was plated). Ammo did seem "dirty", but I understand .22 ammo often is; this is my first .22.

I'm reluctant to do much disassembly as I'm evaluating the pistol and don't own it yet. I'll clean it today (not sure when owner last did a field strip and clean, but the bore was spotless) and try some Federal and CCI ammo for comparison.

Any comments or likely causes/fixes? The price is good, and I otherwise liked the pistol quite a bit; but I am not interested in sinking to much money into it.

 

[Technosavant]

I have found bulk Remington .22 ammo to be pretty unreliable stuff. 5 failures in 80 rounds sounds about right- on the higher end of what I get, but well within what I usually see in my Ruger 22/45.

I'd try another ammo type. Remington .22 ammo is nice and cheap, but it seems to have a fair amount of variation from round to round- some feel hotter than others (in the same box), and some just don't fire at all. Fine for plinking, but that's about it.

 

[eastwood44mag]

Could be dirty, maybe a bad firing pin (I dunno). Mine goes bang with every pull, even with Remington bulk.

Cleaning and changing ammo are probably the best steps for now.

 

[elprofeloco]

p.s.

Update:

I removed the metal top cover (two slot-head screws) from the slide and the exposed spring/firing pin seemed relatively clean; I cleaned firing pin/rod w. Breakfree CLP (sparingly).

I noticed the rear screw of slide cover was a bit loose upon disassembly. So I snugged both screws when I reinstalled the cover plate - then the slide would not move/rack. So I ever so slightly loosed both screws a bit until slide moved smoothly.

(I thought this was odd?? also there were no lock washers for the cover plate screws - hmmmm, if screws are snug but not tight, they will probably loosen with repeated firing. maybe a bit of Loctite?)

I just ordered some replacement parts from Browning (good prices; great service); top sight/slide cover washers & screws, buffer, firing pin & spring, recoil spring.

This is a 1990 Buckmark and therefore there are some differences with Buckmarks made after 1992, and a lot of differences with Buckmarks made after 2000.

 

[runninmike]

I too, have had many misfires with the Remington thunderbolt stuff in my Buckmark. I now use federal and winchester ammo as it solved my problems.

 

[ZeSpectre]

Yup, I also have a pretty high percentage of no-fires using Remington Thunderbolt in my Ruger MK III. (I'd say at least one per box of 50). CCI Blazer has given me no trouble in over 400 rounds. Shot a little Federal stuff, no issues there either.

Still have a LOT of the Remington Thunderbolt to burn up though and my rifle likes it just fine.

 

[elprofeloco]

No firing pin marks

thanks for above replies. The sight/slide cover plate lack of washers and initial looseness of cover plate screw is definitely suspect; firing pin (wear? bent? spring?) is also somewhat suspect.

At this point I can't really blame the ammo, since there was no firing pin mark on the case/primer of the no-fire rounds....and the no-fire rounds appeared to chamber fine, and the trigger "clicked" (but no bang). Slightly light/shallow firing pin marks on casings that did fire may be another indicator.

So I suspect a problem with the pistol - maybe firing pin/spring related, or something that randomly prevents the firing pin from striking the chambered round.

 

[Steve C]

Take a tooth brush and clean the bolt face and the chamber face with some bore solvent, make sure you get in behind the extractor. Powder residue and buildup can cushion the rim enough so it isn't hit solidly by the firing pin.

I noticed the rear screw of slide cover was a bit loose upon disassembly. So I snugged both screws when I reinstalled the cover plate - then the slide would not move/rack. So I ever so slightly loosed both screws a bit until slide moved smoothly.

There should be a lock ring washer for each of these screws, if its missing the slide cover can be tightened too much like you describe. If the top cover screws get loose the slide can ride up and the firing pin can fail to hit the cartridge rim full enough.

On my old standard Buckmark I'd started getting failure to fire and light firing pin strikes after many thousands of rounds that where not remedied by cleaning. The gun smith stretched the firing pin a bit and the problem went away.

 

[res1b3uq]

buckmark

I had a '93 Standard for a while. Reliable and accurate. Trigger was Great. Those washers are important. I never had mine bind the slide, nor did I use loctite. I did carry the Allen wrench to the range with me, and checked the screws quite often . They would loosen up on every outing.

 

[choochboost]

I removed the metal top cover (two slot-head screws) from the slide...I noticed the rear screw of slide cover was a bit loose upon disassembly.

That was the culprit when I was having misfires as you describe. I tightened up the screws leaving the gun dirty (on purpose) and that solved the problem.

 

[Ala Dan]

Mine runs like a champ, even with the Remington bulk ammo~!

 

[Mainsail]

Check that the barrel is tight to the frame. Believe it or not, the barrel sometimes gets loose and causes all sorts of misery.

 

[viking499]

I have a new buckmark and have had better luck with Remington that any other. Maybe I just got a good batch......