Browning Buckmark

[Takem406]

I need another Browning and I also need a 22 pistol for shooting gophers with from the pickup and snake protection during bow season on the Montana prairie.

I'd like the option for a red dot.

I shot my buddies Buckmark and it seemed to do fine with cheap ammo and was accurate with a good trigger.

Any suggestions on what barrel length to get? I'd like to be able to reasonably holster it but would like to be accurate to 25-30 yards with the red dot.
I have 22 ammo left over from a couple years ago...

How hard are they to clean? I heard the Rugers are a pain.

Plus I'd like a 22 to help the wife with her pistol skills and handling.

 

[CWL]

I'd suggest a longer barrel, at least the 7.5"... You did say gophers and snakes out to 25-30 yards? If you can't carry a rifle, you should at least get as long of a pistol barrel to compensate for the short sight picture. Red dot will help, but the red dot may completely cover the target at the ranges you say you want to reach out to.

Cleaning? Haven't cleaned my 5.5" slabside in 12+ years at this point. I just shoot it with break cleaner and run some oil on it from time to time. Hasn't failed me yet, but mine is only a plinking gun.

 

[km101]

My 4" barrel Buckmark is accurate at 25 yards, and is much easier to carry and holster than the longer barrel models. The longer sight radius may improve accuracy slightly, but the gun in any barrel length is more accurate than most shooters anyway. I like the carrying and handling characteristics of the shorter barrel. And unless you get a fairly expensive red dot sight, CWL is right, the red dot will cover the target at that range, making accuracy problematic.

Other than normal cleaning and oiling, it has not required any maintenance. I have put over 5K rounds through it with very few malfunctions, and those were ammo related.
It's a great little gun! JMO

 

[SFreed]

I have the 7.25" Buckmark Hunter (as well as the Ruger 6 7/8 Fluted) and have no problems bouncing golf balls at 50 yards. I prefer the Ruger, but wouldn't sell either of them. Cleaning isn't too bad, but I don't think cleaning the Ruger is that difficult either. Different, but not horrible.

 

[loose noose]

I've got both the Ruger and a much newer Browning Buckmark Hunter with the 5" bull barrel which is by far the most accurate. Cleaning to me is a breeze with either, as I'm a clean freak.

As far as accuracy goes the Buckmark will definitely hit a coiled rattler at 35 yards, however I've never seen a rattler coiled at that distance, usually 2-3 yards, usually at 35 yards I leave them well enough alone if I did see them. The Buckmark or the Ruger can be easily carried in a belt holster or a shoulder holster with no problem. Me I prefer the Buckmark as it has the better trigger.

 

[jfrey]

I shot both and bought the Buck Mark. Never looked back. I clean mine every 1500 to 2000 rounds and isn't bad at all. I have an Ultradot on mine and once sighted in it is unbelievablely accurate. There is a lot of information over on rimfirecentral.com. Check it out.

 

[Nighthawk0083]

Yeah I hear those snakes are carrying these days. Hahaha

 

[SDGlock23]

I've got a 5" Buckmark Camper I bought back in the late '90's and it's eaten a LOT of ammo over the years. Very accurate too, although I did put a tactical solutions lightweight barrel on it. So really you can change the barrel to any length you want, but if you're going to pack it around, I wouldn't get anything longer than a 5" barrel. Cleaning it is a breeze, and taking it apart just takes loosening a few screws.