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jmohme
Member
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- Feb 17, 2014
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- 469
I have owned several Rugers. Mark I, II, and III. All have been stellar. Very accurate and lots of fun to shoot
Buckmarks are great pistols too and I would not hesitate to buy one if I came across a deal on one.
I think that the deciding factors between those two platforms are simply personal preference. Both are great rimfires.
I have not handled any Mark IV's yet. I am sure they are good guns. I am curious about the hinged frame to upper and if that system will loosen up with time, especially on the 22/45s.
I know nothing about the Victory.
Buckmarks are great pistols too and I would not hesitate to buy one if I came across a deal on one.
I think that the deciding factors between those two platforms are simply personal preference. Both are great rimfires.
I have not handled any Mark IV's yet. I am sure they are good guns. I am curious about the hinged frame to upper and if that system will loosen up with time, especially on the 22/45s.
I know nothing about the Victory.
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Targa
Member
Hard to go wrong with any of them but the takedown of the Mark IV makes it my #1 choice.
greyling22
Member
I love the mkii, but I find the safety in the mk4 gets in my way and is uncomfortable. I grew up with the mk series, and I think it tolerates being dirty better than a buckmark, but ruger's pricing has gotten out of hand. These days I recommend a buckmark over a mk4, though personally I'd rather have a mkii over either. I cannot get excited over the victory. I haven't shot it, but the ergos aren't for me, and neither is the styling. But you will notice most of what I said is personal preference.
Mosin Bubba
Member
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- Jul 5, 2012
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- 1,936
Got a Buckmark and a Ruger Mark II. Picking a favorite between them feels like picking a favorite child. Both immediately make me look like a 10x better shooter and are among my very favorites.
cdb1
Member
Owned a Mark III 22/45 and liked it just fine. It was stolen by a junkie who moonlights as a family member.
I replaced it with a Buckmark and I don’t remember why. The Buckmark is more accurate, actually it may not be but I do shoot it more accurately than I did the Ruger. It may be simply because the Buckmark trigger feels better and the intrinsic accuracy of both is the same.
So if I ever purchase another it will be a Buckmark. Never handled or shot a Victory.
I replaced it with a Buckmark and I don’t remember why. The Buckmark is more accurate, actually it may not be but I do shoot it more accurately than I did the Ruger. It may be simply because the Buckmark trigger feels better and the intrinsic accuracy of both is the same.
So if I ever purchase another it will be a Buckmark. Never handled or shot a Victory.
Ive shot a few mk2s and a mk4, but never owned one.
Ive owned a buckmark since highschool, and its been a fantastic pistol. The only things thats broken in 100s of thousands of rounds is the firing pin (which on mine is the old style, and requires a slide replacement if you cant find spares).
the feature that I really like is the quick barrel swap. I usually take the 5.5 slab side to the range, along with the 10" varmint. It takes less that 2 mins to swap between the two.
Ive owned a buckmark since highschool, and its been a fantastic pistol. The only things thats broken in 100s of thousands of rounds is the firing pin (which on mine is the old style, and requires a slide replacement if you cant find spares).
the feature that I really like is the quick barrel swap. I usually take the 5.5 slab side to the range, along with the 10" varmint. It takes less that 2 mins to swap between the two.
ColtPythonElite
Member
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- Jan 8, 2011
- Messages
- 10,473
I have several MK IIs. I prefer them. I think the fit and finish is better than the III's, plus I don't want the added "safety features". I don't need the easy take down of the IV.
CraigC
Sixgun Nut
I never got along with the grip angle of the Ruger standard MK-series and always preferred Buckmarks until the MKIII 22/45. Now I prefer both and have multiples of each. My Brownings have been professionally tuned and my Rugers have Volquartsen trigger kits. The magazine disconnects went away. I have fillers for the LCI's but never installed them. Also been eyeballing some of the MKIV's.
Last year I finally picked up the 10" I always wanted.
Had this one since 1989.
The Bullseye is one of the most accurate handguns I own.
The first Ruger .22 auto I could live with. It's been a really good one.
This one has seen more use than any of them, once I got into suppressors.
Last year I finally picked up the 10" I always wanted.
Had this one since 1989.
The Bullseye is one of the most accurate handguns I own.
The first Ruger .22 auto I could live with. It's been a really good one.
This one has seen more use than any of them, once I got into suppressors.
MySuomi
Member
I have both the Ruger Mark III, Ruger Mark IV, and the Browning Buckmark. I enjoy shooting all of them. I bought the Browning since it had a threaded barrel and I have the NFA paperwork outstanding on a suppressor. I am always surprised at how well these pistols shoot from 50+ yards. I did put optics on the Buckmark. As previous poster mentioned, it is a tough choice. The Rugers are more expensive since I chose the hunter model.
Here are pics:
Here are pics:
cc-hangfire
Member
- Joined
- Apr 28, 2014
- Messages
- 589
I have 3 Rugers (Standard, Mark II, Mark III 22/45), the S&W Victory 22, and had a Buckmark. All good, like Ford, Dodge, & Chevy pickups. They’ll fit your hand differently, and you’ll have your own personal preference.
My grown son loves the Ruger Mark II. I prefer the S&W Victory. Those and the others are reliable even with bulk .22lr.
(PS: I have a worn out S&W 22A. I got it used and somewhat abused, so it is a project gun. It has proved to be a jam-o-matic. Not every name brand .22 is a good gun.)
My grown son loves the Ruger Mark II. I prefer the S&W Victory. Those and the others are reliable even with bulk .22lr.
(PS: I have a worn out S&W 22A. I got it used and somewhat abused, so it is a project gun. It has proved to be a jam-o-matic. Not every name brand .22 is a good gun.)
Tallball
Member
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- Oct 2, 2014
- Messages
- 7,805
I have a 4" Ruger Standard from 1982-83 with fixed sights.
My Buck Mark is from the "oughts", IIRC. It has a 5.5" barrel and adjustable sights.
I can shoot the Buck Mark slightly better. It has bigger sights, and and longer barrel. Its trigger is slightly better.
However, they are both excellent. I would expect that if their sights, barrel lengths, and year of manufacture were similar, I wouldn't be able to choose between them.
I've never shot a Victory, but my friend who has one likes it a lot.
My Buck Mark is from the "oughts", IIRC. It has a 5.5" barrel and adjustable sights.
I can shoot the Buck Mark slightly better. It has bigger sights, and and longer barrel. Its trigger is slightly better.
However, they are both excellent. I would expect that if their sights, barrel lengths, and year of manufacture were similar, I wouldn't be able to choose between them.
I've never shot a Victory, but my friend who has one likes it a lot.
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.455_Hunter
Member
I think "modern" (later than 1980) .22 autoloader perfection was acheived with the Ruger MKII.
bassjam
Member
I don't believe any of the 3 are better than the others. Ruger has the better aftermarket support if that's your thing. I've got a Buckmark and MKI, and I love them both equally. I may pick up a Victory for the kids just because it seems like the grip size is a little smaller.
doubleh
Member
Make mine a Ruger. I learned to shoot a semi-auto handgun using my dad's High Standard HD-M. It took me a while to figuer out the grip angle. Now I have no problem with either the standard MK or the 22/45 version and own both.
You’ll be happy with any of those three. I have a Mark II 22.45 as well as a S&W Victory. I don’t have a Buckmark, but several buddies do and they like them.
I like the Mark II to shoot, but cleaning it is a real pain. Yes, I know the “trick” to get it back together, but it is still a pain to do and more painful if you get it wrong. The Victory shoots as well at the Mark II, but it’s easy to clean. The end results is that I rarely shoot my 22/45 anymore and the S&W gets shot most weeks.
I like the Mark II to shoot, but cleaning it is a real pain. Yes, I know the “trick” to get it back together, but it is still a pain to do and more painful if you get it wrong. The Victory shoots as well at the Mark II, but it’s easy to clean. The end results is that I rarely shoot my 22/45 anymore and the S&W gets shot most weeks.
I've had versions of both the Ruger and Browning. I think I like the Browning a little better, but my brother has the Smith and I've shot it some. I went to a gun shop yesterday to buy one of the Smiths. They were out, but had a Glock 44 at a good price and it came home with me. I haven't shot it yet, but if it shoots well enough I may pass on, or at least delay buying the S&W Victory.
sparkyv
Member
I've shot them all, you won't go wrong with any of them. I own and shoot a beautiful MKIV which is chock full of Volquartsen goodies and a homely Victory with a few minor upgrades. Sadly, the nearly stock Victory outshoots the MKIV hands down. And the winner is...S&W Victory.
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I have owned all 3, still own the S&W and Ruger Mark 4 (22/45), I have liked all 3, but the Ruger Mark 4 overall a little more than the other 2. Mark 4 has easiest takedown, and better aftermarket support, and feels a little more solid than the other 2. S&W has felt a little more cheaply made than Buckmark or Ruger, and the S&W seems to need cleaning a little more often, also had a couple minor issues with the S&W, where I've had none with Buckmark or Ruger.
Dudemeister
Member
I still have a Buckmark I bought in the 80's (gold trigger, slab barrel), and a Ruger Mark I with bull barrel. Sometime ago I bought a Ruger MK III with the funky fluted barrel. I never did care for it and unloaded it.
I think I have 10K rounds through the Buck, and I still prefer it over the Ruger. Both of these are probably the best target plinkers ever made, and can't go wrong with either.
Here are mine:
I think I have 10K rounds through the Buck, and I still prefer it over the Ruger. Both of these are probably the best target plinkers ever made, and can't go wrong with either.
Here are mine:
Riomouse911
Member
I have three Ruger Mk pistols; a flood-damage rescue 4” Standard model, a Government Target 6.5” Mk II and a new 10” Mk IV.
There is just something about the way these guns fit my hand that makes them very comfortable to hold and accurate to shoot.
Yeah, the takedown and reassembly process in the first two are a bit of a pain, but these things are a lot of fun for me to shoot.
Stay safe.
There is just something about the way these guns fit my hand that makes them very comfortable to hold and accurate to shoot.
Yeah, the takedown and reassembly process in the first two are a bit of a pain, but these things are a lot of fun for me to shoot.
Stay safe.
I would only own the Ruger out of those. I have a Mark III and like it the best overall out of a bunch of autos that I owned. I had a Buckmark and did not care for it and I don't care for the looks of the Victory. I think my next 22 pistol will have to be a Volquartsen.
Answer your question is harder than have 2 loving girls.
Accuracy all of them will shine.
The Ruger Mark IV just me I found them a li'l heavy, the tapered model will work but the sights are just for very informal plinking.
On the other hand the Mark III are well balanced.
Buckmarks, great all around in all diverse models the only caveat is the safety just hit my finger when I do high grip, accuracy great too as well.
Victory sound like they fixed all the initial kirks, great accuracy, tons of new gadgets to make it at you please, very easy to disassembly, well balanced.
Ruger polymer frame, Bersa, Taurus, Glocks and Walter I will put them in other category, since you don't ask I won't comment.
Accuracy all of them will shine.
The Ruger Mark IV just me I found them a li'l heavy, the tapered model will work but the sights are just for very informal plinking.
On the other hand the Mark III are well balanced.
Buckmarks, great all around in all diverse models the only caveat is the safety just hit my finger when I do high grip, accuracy great too as well.
Victory sound like they fixed all the initial kirks, great accuracy, tons of new gadgets to make it at you please, very easy to disassembly, well balanced.
Ruger polymer frame, Bersa, Taurus, Glocks and Walter I will put them in other category, since you don't ask I won't comment.
Hangingrock
Member
My personal preference is the S&W Victory because of the modular design and trigger that borders on simply superb.
Ed Ames
Member
I think between Ruger and Browning there are something like 55+ different models in current production that range from fairly traditional looking to gaudy colors and deliberate weirdness. S&W meanwhile has about 5 models.
Within that collection of 60 or so pistols, there are a handful that have feature combinations I want or like. two or three Rugers, two or three Buckmarks, and I think one S&W. I’d be happy to own any of them.
Well...I don’t actually like how any of the S&Ws look, so maybe not that one. But if I don’t need to look at them I’m OK with any of them.
Within that collection of 60 or so pistols, there are a handful that have feature combinations I want or like. two or three Rugers, two or three Buckmarks, and I think one S&W. I’d be happy to own any of them.
Well...I don’t actually like how any of the S&Ws look, so maybe not that one. But if I don’t need to look at them I’m OK with any of them.
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