Settling the big handgun debate between the Browning Buckmark and the Ruger Mark Series. Posted on 09/26/2018 5:19:13 AM PDT by w1n1
Settling the big handgun debate between the Browning Buckmark and the Ruger Mark Series.
Are you into plinking? Then, you may have heard of or own one of these guns – the Browning Buckmark and the Ruger Mark series pistols.
Both of these 22LR pistols are top quality for plinking or just shooting at small varmints.
Many plinkers debate on which is the better of the two.
Here are some quick observation on both pistols.
They both are one of the most accurate pistol on the market.
Both are design specifically for accuracy.
Both design features are similar but there are still differences in other ways. The pricing on both are similar.
Browning Buckmark is made from T6 aluminium alloy.
Ruger Mark Series is made from steel/polymer depending on the series. Both pistols comes with adjustable sights and ten-round magazines. Read the rest of this Browning Buckmark vs Ruger Mark.
I’d love to try a Browning Buckmark. I like my Ruger Mark II but it can be a pain to disassemble, clean and reassemble.
So what is the verdict? I like pic related and would get one except for the fact that I STILL don’t buy Ruger products.
American Handgunner ran an article on a Ruger Mark 2 with a Volquartsen barrel conversion. They loved it, and it was a tack driver.
Scroll down
https://volquartsen.com/departments/mkii_mkiii_parts
The Buck is no breeze either. The new Ruger Mk4 seems like a keeper. My problem with the Buckmark was having to re-zero after cleaning.
Try the newer MK IV, they disassemble with the push of a single button.. Easiest pistol to disassemble and reassemble ever made. This is what makes Rugers better, they make improvements by introducing newer models. How many Buckmark models are there? And don’t try and say they have no room for improvement, they are far from perfect.
I have owned a bunch of various Rugers, all of them basically perfect performers. A single Browning and it was the same.
I guess one could say the full size .22 auto has been perfected by several companies.
I learned to shoot competitively in high school using an original Ruger Mark I. In recent years transitioned to two Mark III and have taught my twin boys same. We shoot these competitively very successfully. The only complaint is disassembly and reassembly. These are only guns I’ve ever had to more than once take to a gunsmith and ask for help. I hear the Mark IV have finally fixed this but I’m not in a rush to trade them out. We’ve also got two Ruger New Model Single Six with same sights. These are slower to shoot but as or more accurate, easier to hold, incredibly easier to clean.
We've got seven Ruger in all. Aside from assembly issues, happy with them. I have used Volquartsen triggers on our Ruger 10/22 as that makes them easier for the boys when they were younger. All of our Ruger are incredibly accurate.
What a even more accurate rifle? CZ 455 Ultra Lux. That extra barrel length is big plus.
“For the long of time before the Ruger Mark IV, it was horrendous to assemble the pistol back together.”
If Ruger would offer a trade-in program, I’d upgrade my MK III to the MK IV. Until then, I’m “stuck” with the MK III...but, that’s OK.
Yes, that would be a winning trade-in program.
What's your issue with Ruger? I've been satisfied with every Ruger I have owned.
I have a Ruger Mark I. It’s very accurate and as long as you use CCI minimags, has no stove piping issues. One thing I’ve learned though: NEVER disassemble it. That thing was so impossible to put back together, I had to take it to a gunsmith to reassemble. They got it done but even they bitched about how difficult it was when I picked it up. After trying for three days and tearing my hands up, I knew exactly what they were talking about.
Phew! I’m glad that’s settled. Now he should tackle the “9mm vs .45 ACP” debate.
For the sarcastically challenged, that was sarcasm. There is no definitive answer on this one. As most things in the gun world, it comes down to personal preference. I’ve only rented Buckmarks and Ruger MK pistols, don’t own either one. I come down on the Buckmark side for the ergonomics and a glorious trigger. All the Ruger MKs I’ve shot have been nice, accurate guns, just not as good a fit for me.
There was one Ruger that wasn’t a rental. I borrowed a friend’s during an Alaska trip about 35 years ago. It was old even then, must have been a MKI. We were shooting outside and decided to play “kick the can”.
We’d form a firing line and shoot sequentially at a can with .22’s. Since I didn’t bring my own, I got the pistol. It was a jamamatic, but you could feed single shots fast enough to keep up with your turn. We’d move that can back until you couldn’t see it anymore. That Ruger was super-accurate and didn’t give anything up to the rifle guys.
Once upon a time, the founder, Bill Ruger cozied up to WJC and the AWB. A lot of people are still sore in their nether regions over that.
Since Bill has passed, however, I find that Ruger has been eager to please the more enthusiastic sporting community. I like how they’ve made their new 9mm carbine accept Glock magazines. That’s a rare thing for a big manufacturer to do.
As to the pistols, I love my Mk2, but since I bought a .22 single 10, I’ve found it even more enjoyable. There’s just something extra satisfying about deliberately pulling the hammer back for every shot.
What I learned to shoot with in 1957.
My first high quality pistol was a Colt Woodsman. It was used and I traded in an H&R on it at Jimmy’s Pawn in Ft. Walton Beach.
It was the gun which taught me just how accurate a pistol can be. It was just as accurate as most .22 rifles.
Absolutely true. There are a lot of factors that go into an evaluation. People weight the factors differently. Some of the factors are totally subjective. Some of the factors are idiosyncratic such as how the pistol feels in the person's hand. If people don't like my preference in pistols, fine, they don't have to shoot it.
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