Browning buckmark, are they as good as the rugers?

Can't beat a Ruger, this is my MKIII Competition.

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I had a Buckmark Camper...good gun but traded it for a guitar...missed the .22LR semi so got a Browning 1911-22 ..much more reliable.
 
I believe this one is called the camper URX
The URX being those super comfy grips

what he said...great little gun. Get the tacsol top end and a couple of extra mags and you are good to go. Oil it well.
 
Out of the box I'd say that the Browning is the better gun. Nicer trigger and a nicer grip angle than the Mk I, II or III. And compared to the plastic framed 22/45 style it's got a better balance.

But the aftermarket for Ruger is strong. For some additional cost you can turn a Ruger into anything you want. And when you do then it climbs well above the "six of one, half a dozen of the other" comparison between the Ruger and the Browning. But then the cost comparison gets flushed down the toilet since you're adding to the final cost.
 
The Browning Buckmark Camper is the entry level Browning .22 pistol and is reasonably priced. I own a Browning Buckmark Bullseye and have owned a stainless Ruger Mark 11 Target and Mark111 Hunter and the Ruger is an all around better pistol.
 
I have 4 Ruger 22/45's and 2 Browning Buckmarks (a Hunter and a Challenge). I love the 22/45's - they field strip and reassemble very easily once you get the hang of it, and I like that you can do it without tools. The only think I don't like is the cheap feel of plastic frame and integral grips. The Lite model I have with the plastic frame and replaceable grip panels feels much better. Ruger doesn't sell that grip with a stainless target barrel though, so I mix and match grips and barrels a bit. I think the metal frame and grips of the regular Mark I/II/III models would feel much more solid, but I wanted to use these to train for my 1911's. It did take me a while to get used to letting go of the bolt like a sling shot, instead of easing it down and getting my fingers pinched. I do like to tinker with my guns though, and have one of them down to a 1.5 pound trigger pull.

I love shooting my 2 Buckmarks as well. They feel much more solid, and are just as accurate. The big bull barrel of the Hunter model barely moves under recoil. The only negatives is the need to use an allan key to field strip them. It does seems to hold zero fairly well on the red dot I have mounted. The other thing I have noticed is that my left thumb gets pretty dirty with the exhaust gasses from blowback of the bulk 22 ammo I use, and occasionally I have felt odd bits of hot debris hit my thumb.

So net is, I don't find any difference in accuracy between the Ruger and the Buckmark, and each has their benefits and foibles. If I had to do it all again, I'd get a Volquartsen 22/45 metal frame and slap a target bull bull barrel on top of that. Or just get a complete 22/45 setup from Volquartsen if they would ship that up here.
 
I have an old Challenger, all steel, great pistol. I've had a Ruger Mk1 T512, all steel, great gun. I gave my son a Ruger Mk2 target, all steel, great gun. Browning Buckmark, not all steel. I have seen photos of one that blew the top strap apart due to some kind of out of battery discharge. Buckmark, not so good, just ok.
 
I have a Buckmark UDX. Nice gun, was very unreliable in the beginning (several stovepipes and many, many light strikes). It went back for warranty and it came back perfect. Haven't cleaned it in forever, scared of messing with its reliable groove lol. Insanely accurate, easy to shoot.
 
Here's my usual reminder not to overlook the Ruger Mk.1. Only 2 drawbacks: the mag release is on the heel of the grip (hardly a big deal), and the bolt doesn't stay open on an empty mag. That can lead to dry fires if you're not counting your shots, but there's a fix for that- a taller mag follower.
Anyway, they're usually a bit cheaper than the Mk. 2's and 3's.
 
I love my Buckmark UDX. It is a good looking gun ( wood grips). Used to stovepipe on me a lot. Seems the rear Allan bolt used to come loose. Now I use pink locktite and havent had a problem since. I clean after every use. Much easier to clean than my old Mk 1.
Jmo
 
Do a quick search on the internet, guys, you will find accounts of out of battery discharges causing bending or breaking the top strap or blowing out extractors. No, not every one, probably not that often, but you won't find one similar story about a Ruger. Here's a typical story, just using it because of the photo: http://www.dayattherange.com/?p=2779
 
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