Talk me out of a Buckmark

[hksw]

I noticed on my first Buckmark that the firing pin does touch the chamber very slightly. To verify, when I took out the slide assemble and extended the firing pin, it dies go past the breechface a tiny bit. I've always used a snap cap or spent case since then.

I dry fire my MkIIs all the time.

 

[New_geezer]

I've heard it both ways on dry firing the Buckmark though I agree dry firing rimfires in general is a bad habit to get into. But regards the Buckmark, the simplest way to test if your firing pin is hitting the chamber. Cock your BM, insert a small piece of paper in front of the slide and then dry fire. If the firing pin leaves a mark on the paper then it's hitting the barrel when dry fired. So don't do it.

Regards the sight base screws - I noticed what Mad Man noticed, 100 rounds or so and the BM was fine. At about 250-300 rounds the screws were loose and had to be re-tightened. Personally I don't have an issue with using locktite on the screws. Also, while I clean the bore and chamber area after each use, I don't take the sight base off and clean the whole gun but every 1-1.5K rounds.

While I agree, R&R'ing the sight base could change the POA, it doesn't seem to in my experience but then I don't shoot my BM competitively either. The alloy and Tactical Solutions sight base fit pretty tight so I don't think normal R&R for cleaning is going to have a big impact.

 

[Ala Dan]

Dry firing a Browning Buckmark can cause a divot in the rear of the
breech face; and eventually could damage the firing pin.

 

[steveracer]

I had the Browning BM....

...And sold it. I hated having a gun that I needed tools to field strip. I really found cleaning it to be a chore, because the spring and guide removal are kind of "challenging" to get out and back in once clean. (I'm also a clean freak when it comes to guns, so this meant EVERY time I shot it.)
I bought a taurus M94 revolver (9shot) and it shoots just as well, and is infinitely easier to maintain.
BTW: If you don't really care about takedown and cleaning, it's wonderful to shoot.