BROWNING BUCKMARK

My very first firearm!!  My Nephew and I purchased this gun used around 1999.  I had just gotten into shooting and was looking to get a little something.  As it turned out, his friend's Dad had this Buckmark that he was willing to part with.

It's a Buckmark plus model, which gave you wood grips and a 5.5 inch slab sided bull barrel.  For those unfamiliar with these pistols, they are a further development of the challenger series of target pistols that Browning had been making for many years.  They are a single action, blow back operated, semi automatic using a hammer that is hidden inside the gun.  The magazine holds 10 rounds of .22 long rifle.

The frame is aluminum alloy, which is very light, but the bull barrel weighs as much as the rest of the gun.  This heft up front keeps the pistol on target and stops the shooter from swaying around too much.  These guns are a pleasure to shoot.  The trigger is ultra light.  Mine breaks at just over 2 pounds.  The sights are large in comparison to rifle sights but are easy to acquire.  The front is fixed and the rear is adjustable for windage and elevation.  My gun is an early 1990s example.  Most newer buckmarks are equipped with fiber optic sights.  I think I will replace mine with the williams fire sights at some point in the future.



The strange thing about the Buckmark is the arrangement of the slide under a cover that also serves as a mount for the rear sight.  It is uncommon and seems an odd way to design a pistol.  My Dad hates racking the slide on it because he invariably grabs the cover along with the slide.  Browning has since added a couple of blocks to give you something to grab.





This gun's accuracy is simply amazing.  The heavy barrel and ultra light trigger combine to make a target pistol that hits targets well.  I have amazed myself so many times with this gun.  Shooting golf balls standing one handed at 30 yards is so satisfying.  I used to shoot wires strung off of logs or between buildings when I had the chance.  The gun is like a helping hand, encouraging you to go for it.

It has been remarkably durable despite the thousands and thousands of rounds that have gone down the barrel.  I replaced the original recoil spring assembly with a new one from Brownells. I've also replaced the buffer that sits at the back of the frame. And this past fall I purchased 2 new magazines because the original mag had started to cause jambs, due to the spring just plain wearing out.  The new mags have an extended floor plate that make it easier to load them into the gun.

I love this gun!  If I had to replace it, I would consider a Ruger.  I've shot them and I like them.  But, the Buckmark has done me well.  Why mess with success?

An amazing engraving done by Baron Engraving

.25 ACP Revisited

John Browning designed the .25 as a semi rimmed case to aid in extraction

As you may have figured out, I'm a defender of the defenseless.  When it comes to pistol cartridges, the most hated of all is the .25 acp.  People love to hate on it because of its lack of stopping power and the fact that most guns chambered for it are tiny.  Anti gunners hate it because it it used in a fair amount of illegal activities.  Well, they hate anything.

Truth be known, there are lots of guns chambered for it.  Some of them are cheep and some are just the opposite.  Throughout the 20th century there were a plethora of very cheep automatic pistols manufactured.  Some of these "Saturday night specials" found their way into the hands of criminals.  Why?  I guess because they were cheap.  It's certainly not because they were going to blow anyone's head off.  If that's the reason to buy a gun, these thugs should carry a 500 s&w.

That's not to say that every .25 ever made was a pot metal p.o.s. My Bauer is a fine gun.  Certainly Walther, FN, and Colt never made any junk.  Unfortunately, the .25 will never shake the reputation of the poor criminal with his $50 Raven, shooting up the slums.  Not that everyone with a Raven is a criminal.  I've always felt that everyone should be able to defend themselves, regardless of how much they can spend on a gun.

I've considered hand loading for the .25 acp.  A box of 50 Remington fmj rounds is $20-$25.  Not bad for the occasional outing with the Bauer, but if I were to acquire more arms in this round, I would start loading for it.  A mere 1.6 grains of unique will push a 49 grain bullet over 800 fps.  Sounds like an economy round to me.

GUN LUST PART ONE - WINCHESTER 1907

We all have those guns that keep coming back to us in our dreams.  You know, the ones that you just can't get out of your head?  I have quite a few of these guns rattling around my skull.  One of the ones that I just can't let go of is the Winchester 1907.  I first fell for the 1907 when I saw Jim Green disassemble one on his you tube channel.  I thought, wow, what a nice handy little rifle.



I love the fact that it is an auto-loader designed and built in the age of bolt and lever guns.  Like many of Winchesters offerings back then, the 07 was never really intended to chamber a 30-06 or any other super high power cartridges.  It was the quintessential carbine.  With a box magazine and a handy charging rod up in front of the forearm, the 07 just looks like it would be quick and easy to handle.  Truth be known, I've never even seen one of these things in person, but I just love the idea of a short, quick handling carbine with decent fire power.

It was designed by Thomas Crossley Johnson, who was responsible for several other Winchester designs.  Most notably in my book, the Model 12 shotgun.  It fires the .351 Winchester Self-Loading cartridge, which is not overpowered for large game, but I suspect many a deer fell to it through the years.  The blow back design certainly does have its limitations, but the .351 is no slouch.   Police agencies were one of its fans.  As were some military customers in WWI.  I would have welcomed the chance to field one of these as opposed to a 5 round bolt gun.  Sure, it won't reach out 800 yards like an 03 Springfield, but closer in I'd imagine it would do fine.  And it's quick handling and semi auto action would have been a major plus to me over a 6 foot bayoneted pig sticker.

And its a take down.  Ya gotta love Winchester!  So if anyone has one of these they want to sell me for a song, Ahhhhh dreams.

To LOAD or not to LOAD

A great resurgence in the art of hand loading, aka reloading, is upon us.  Ammo shortages have driven folks who otherwise would never have considered loading their own ammo into one of the countless horde standing in line for the last pound of powder at the gun store.

For those who have yet to take the plunge, you may have questions.  So lets go through the basics.

Why reload?  

#1  Cost

Do the math and you will quickly realize that loading your own ammo is more cost effective.  Some high volume rounds such as 9mm Luger can be bought in bulk for reasonable prices as new ammo.  So the cost savings may be somewhat minimal.  In fact you might say that it just isn't worth the investment.

However, for most rifle rounds, as well as many less common pistol rounds the savings can be substantial.  So, look at what you plan to load, and decide.  Is it worth the investment in equipment and time for me to do this?  If your only reason to consider re loading is cost and you only shoot common calibers every once in a while, no it's not worth it to re load.  But, if you are an avid shooter that runs through tons of ammo, even the common calibers can be cost effective to load for.

#2 Control

Having control over your ammo has always been one of the big draws to hand loading.  For example, I was loading a 125 grain hollow point bullet for my Mauser 98.  It was a great round.  Low recoil and a heck of a lot of fun.  You simply cannot walk into any store and buy that ammo.  It is not made with that bullet weight.  But I could make it and save money over factory ammo at the same time.  There are just way more bullet choices out there for the re loader that aren't available as loaded ammo.  Having options is always nice.  Want a light load for new shooters?  No problem.  Want
accuracy and consistency?  Hand load. 

#3 Obsolete and odd calibers

Ever seen 38-40 ammo on the shelf.  What you say?  Sure, you can order a box for nearly $100 and shoot your Winchester.  No thanks!  Or, you could have your rifle re-chambered to some popular caliber and ruin the collector value.  Again, not a good option.  So, gather up some brass and load your own.  The 38-40 takes a 40 caliber bullet and pistol powder, so it's really no big deal once you have your brass located.  It's a way of having your rifle and shooting it too.



Going back to the Mauser that I loaded for.  7.92x57 (8mm Mauser) brass is not exactly laying all over the range, But you can always find someone with a supply of 30-06 brass that they will practically give you.  Run the 06 brass through the Mauser die and trim the excess and now you have Mauser brass.  Not so hard right?

Why on earth would you pay astronomical prices for factory loaded ammo when you can make your own for so much less?  The big ammo makers have setup and tooling time to recoup.  That's why they charge so much for low volume calibers.  You don't have to worry about all that.  Cha Ching!!

So, it's up to you.  Do you value the control factor that hand loading affords?  Is the cost savings of loading your own worth the investment?  Are you tired of paying through the nose for those odd calibers?  Answer yes to any of those questions and you are in the re loading game.  Enjoy!