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Gun Review: Browning Buck Mark .22 Rimfire
Categories:: Gun Reviews • Shooting
M.D. Johnson | Jun 13, 2011 | Comments 0
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The Buck Mark Plus UDX offers a distinctive slab-sided barrel, fiber optic sights and grooved walnut grips. It is a very good-looking pistol.
Technically Speaking
In terms of technical operation – in fact, in terms of general overall appearance and operation – both the Buck Mark pistols and rifles are quite similar. Both cycle rounds via a reliable blowback action. Both short and long versions position a slide lock (stop open latch) and a manual sear block safety on the left side of the receiver directly above and slightly behind the top of the left grip.
The magazine release, again on both, is a checkered push-button located behind and integral to the trigger guard, on the left side. Both use a 10-round coil-spring magazine; a spring assist helps drive the cartridge supply out of the magazine well with no hesitation.
During my time with the pistols, I had the opportunity to work with the Buck Mark Plus UDX (Ultragrip Deluxe wood, ambidextrous), as well as the slightly less expensive – $469 versus $509 – but heavier by four ounces, Hunter model.
Visually, the UDX, with her squared “Slabside” barrel, grooved walnut grips, gold trigger, and green fiber optic front sight is quite the looker – Old School, but not ancient. The Hunter model, on the other hand, with her matte finish rounded bull barrel, integral scope mount, and silky smooth laminate grips, appears, at least to me, a bit more of a Speed Gun.
As for the Buck Mark rifle, the most eye-catching characteristic was the skeletonized stock structure, which attaches a high-comb walnut short stock directly to the pistol frame.
Technically, everything about the rifle mirrors the pistol; gone, however, is the Hunter’s 7-1/4-inch barrel, replaced with an 18-inch flat matte finish heavy target tube, complete with recessed crown. All that’s missing here are the weight-reducing barrel flutes, but I’m certain those are just a matter of time.
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About the Author: M.D. Johnson is an outdoors writer who has published articles at numerous publications as one half of M&J Outdoors. He's authored several books about the outdoors, including "Successful Duck Hunting" and "Guide to Pheasant Hunting."
