Browning Buckmark Review

This is how my Browning Buckmark Plus UDX looked with the original adjustable Truglow sights. It really is a sleek and attractive handgun that shoots as well as it looks.

The Browning Buckmark 22 is one of the highest quality pistols you can buy. I have had more fun shooting my Browning Buckmark Plus than any other pistol of any caliber. It is a stainless steel pistol with stainless slab side barrel. It comes with adjustable rear and front TruGlow fiber optic sights. It is a beautiful little handgun that is a pleasure to behold and equally pleasurable to shoot.

I got interested in the BuckMark after watching a Youtube video. Previously I used a Beretta Neos for .22 plinking. But then I saw the video detailing  what I thought was a beautiful gun. The pistol reviewed in the video was nickel plated with rosewood grips. I fell in love with the look of the pistol and then tried to locate one to buy. I discovered that the nickel model had been discontinued but my search led me to discover the Buckmark plus stainless model.

The Buckmark is available in 15 different variations of which the Plus is but one. The variations include different frame grip types, the UDX, with scalloped frame front strap, the URX, with straight frame but scalloped front strap, and the plain with straight front and back straps.

Barrels are available as round, round with flutes, and slab side. Further barrel options include blued, and stainless and in lengths of 4″, 5.5″, and 7.25″,

Some models have a rail running the full length of the pistol, others like my Plus have sights with no rail.

Buckmark prices, you can buy a Buckmark for as little as $365.00 from Buds Gun Shop online. Mine is  Buckmark Plus stainless steel with Hi Viz sights. I found one on Gunbroker.com for $459.00. I purchased that gun and have been a proud Buckmark owner ever since. I just checked Gunbroker.com and now my Buckmark lists for $539.00. That’s almost $100 increase in about a year.

The fit and finish is outstanding, and the dark wood grips provide a nice contrast to the stainless steel barrel and frame. What I especially like about the Browning Buckmark is the trigger. It is gold and stands out from the rest of the gun, but that isn’t what I like about it. The trigger is so smooth and light. It is an exceptional trigger right out of the box and I think it enhances my accuracy with the gun.

 

My Browning Buckmark Plus with the picatinny rail added, and Ultra Dot reflex sight. The red dot makes the Buckmark hyper accurate.

And speaking of Buckmark accuracy. The TruGlow sights are easy to see even for my tired eyes. I have since added a red dot reflex sight to my Buckmark. The accuracy of the pistol with red dot sight is devastating. The little .22 caliber round goes right where that red dot is. Shooting the Buckmark with reflex sight is almost a non event because it is so accurate. I’m talking a ragged one hole 5 round group at 15 yards. Of course that depends on the ammunition. The .22 caliber pistols and rifles can be very finicky about their Ammo.

To add the Browning Buckmark Holographic Sight The rear sights must be replaced with a picatinny rail. The rail is available from MidwayUSA and from Brownells for about $29.99. Adding the reflex sight does diminish the beauty of the pistol but for me, the increased accuracy was worth it, and I can always switch back, and reinstall the adjustable sights.

Something to keep in mind if you decide to add the rail to your Plus model, the rail has to be removed to clean the gun. This is why I chose the reflex sight. The Ultra Dot, TruGlow, and Browning Buckmark Holographic sights are short enough to fit between the  rail mounting screws. This way, the disassembly for cleaning is no different than if the original sights were on the pistol.

Another point about the reflex sights. At first I had a $68.00 TruGlow reflex sight on my gun. The TruGlow has red and green reticules and seemed to work just fine. I got carried away, as I often do, and decided to upgrade to the $160.00 Ultra Dot sight that you see on the gun in the picture. When the Ultra Dot arrived I was shocked to see that the two sights are virtually identical. The Truglow is made in China, the Ultra Dot is made in Japan and is touted as being better quality. I honestly believe that the TruGlow Sight is excellent quality, and if I knew then what I know now I would just buy the TruGlow and save the $80.00.

The accuracy of the Buckmark makes me think that using high power Ammo. like Remington Hyper Velocity Yellow Jacket .22 caliber could make the Browning Buckmark into a formidable home defense weapon. The problem with a light caliber is that shot placement becomes much more critical than when using a larger caliber. Even more problematic is the adrenaline pumping fear factor that causes even experienced professionals to forget the basics and spill their rounds everywhere but on target. In theory, a highly accurate shot placement could easily take out a threat but in reality, a combat situation is anything but theoretical. When your life hangs in the balance huge knock down power should be the plan of the day.

Browning Buckmark Plus Specs

• Frame – Aluminum Alloy · blued Matte finish with finger grooves
• Barrel – 5 1/2″ length, Stainless Matte finish slabside barrel
• Action – Blowback
• Single-action trigger
• Grips – Black laminated ambidextrous Ultragrip DX
• Adjustable rear sight
• Truglo fiber-optic front sight

Shooting 22 caliber ammunition is inexpensive and allows you to concentrate on basic technique.