Ok Im looking at getting a .22 pistol and I cant decide between the Ruger mark 3 22/45 or a Browning Buckmark. Lets get everyones oppinion.

Ruger

i have a buckmark with laminated grip nickel finish and fiber optic. great gun use for squirrels and have got quite a few nice shooter--some shells jam but using winchester waxed .22 and no more jams. love the gun

Ruger 22/45, only thing I'd improve is to give it a fatter grip.

ruger anytime

I have tired several BuckMark, S&W 41, Beretta, Sig, & of course Ruger. JMHO the Best for the money The Ruger 6 7/8 GTM my MKII GTM would do .5" @ 50 yds (Bone Stock) and the MKIII would do .75 @ 50 (Bone Stock) That is 10 shots. If you get a MKIII throw that stupid loaded indicator away it is junk. I would look for an old Blue GTM MKII w/ a scope mount. Then buy one of the Ruger steel mounts that used to be on the old Comp MKII and add a 2X scope. You will have a tack driver. The 41 I had was as good but 3x the money the Sig was so so and 2X the money and the Beretta was awsome but 4X the money. The only outlier might be a an old High Standard if you could find one it would be an open sight only deal.

Ruger!

Hello,this is my first post. Ive owned both guns and both were good shooters but given a preference I would go the Ruger.

Ruger MKII flat sided barrel target model. I use mine for rabbits, squirrels and such. I shoot IHMSA standing out to 100 yards and have posted scores in the high 20's...thats good for an auto!!

Bill in OR

I have literally shot the rifleing out of my MKII competition slab barrel target model. The first picture in my post above. I am going to have to send it back to Ruger!

I have had both. They are both accurate. I traded my Ruger for ??? now I have a Buckmark. I think it is pictured in my pics on the bragging board. The buckmark is way easier to take apart for cleaning, but the Ruger is easier on the wallet ... go to your favorite gun shop and handle them both. See which one feels better in your hand.

They are both great guns! You will be happy with either one!

LOL, I hear you on the Ruger disassembly! Dont attempt without a owners manuel !

My vote would also be for the Ruger. I have had quite a few different Ruger MK series of .22 LR Semi Auto Handguns over the years.

This past winter I picked up a Ruger MKIII 22/45 4" Bull Barrel. I wanted an open sighted holster gun. It just so happens that this little Ruger fits quite nicely in my Uncle Mikes Kydex Paddle Holster I have for my 1911 (with minor adjustment of the tension screws).

While I knew I wanted to the Ruger MKIII 22/45, I also knew up front that I would be doing some MODIFICATIONS to it.



The very first thing I did was visit my local Gunsmith. Roger ground off the molded in raised portion of the grip, installed 1911 Grip Screw Bushings and I then added a set of Hogue Rubber Finger Groove Wrap Around 1911 Grip Panels with a set of 1911 Grip Screws.

Next up I installed a HiViz Fiber Optic Front Sight, and a Ruger V Notch Rear Sight Blade was installed in the Ruger Adjustable Rear Sight.

I then tore into the innards, and made a set of washers to eliminate the Magazine Disconnector Safety (now my magazines drop free when I push the mag release). This modification also helped out with a little better trigger feel.

Still not satisfied I installed a Volquartsen Target Sear, and polished the engagement notch on the Ruger Hammer Slightly. Now I was getting some place and had a nice and crisp 1 1/2 pound trigger pull.

My factory Ruger Trigger had a little side to side play, so I purchased a Clark Custom Guns Steel Ruger Trigger. These triggers come oversized in width so you have to fit them to the individual frame to a tighter fit. Once all done it really changed the feel on the trigger on my finger, the mushiness was gone.

All in all I added about $100.00 to the cost of my little Ruger and ended up with exactly what I wanted in the end. The Grip modification made a world of difference in the feel of this little Ruger. I just so happens it ended up feeling in the hand a lot like my Kimber 1911 Model BP Ten II .45 ACP and is almost the same weight.

I have been a Range Officer and on the Board of Directors at a local Indoor Shooting Range for .22 LR Handguns & Rifles since 1990. In all those years I have seen a lot of different .22 LR Handguns (besides owning my share). The first couple of years everyone was buying Rugers. As Optical Sights became more popular at our club guys and gals were trading off their Rugers for lighter weight Brownings as the Steel Framed Rugers got a little heavier than they wanted for One Handed Target Shooting when they added optics.

It didn't take long and a lot of these same shooters were trading off their Brownings for Rugers once again after they started having troubles. In those years that everyone was buying Brownings I remember about a dozen or so getting sent back to Browning for replacement barrels as they just wouldn't shoot, and Browning replaced every single barrel free of charge so obviously there wa a problem (remember that was 15 years ago or so).

Today I think if you want a box stock gun, and will be happy with it as it comes out of the box, either will be a good choice. As for me, I can't seem to leave anything alone and for that the Ruger is KING as there is a host of aftermarket parts available so the owner can customize their Ruger to suit their individual wants and needs.

Larry

You can't go wrong with the Ruger...very accurate...Mine has spit out hundreds of thousands of rounds...only malfunctions were caused by ammo...kral

This is true, but you'll only have to do it a couple of times in your lifetime, maybe. The Ruger will run forever without having to take it down. Occasionally, just spray it down with an aerosol cleaner and blow it out. Some fellers just feel the need to strip things down all the time, even so, after you do it a couple of times it becomes old hat.

RUGER!! I have 2 MKII's and they are both tack drivers and function flawlessly.

I have a friend that has a Buckmark, nice gun but it does have a tendancy to jam.

I have a Ruger .22 (Charger) and I think it is a very well-made piece. Can't go wrong with either.

I like the Ruger. However I have to admit my first 22 auto and still my all time favorite is a vintage (OLD) Browning challenger.

Safe shooting
Doug

I have to add a vote for the Mk III. I have the SS hunter model and love it. I put 3 bricks of Federal through it the first weekend i had it with out any problems. I had a Simmons red dot on it for a while. But it didn't seem as fun to shoot. Off sand bags it will shoot a 10 shot group i can cover with a quarter. 325 NIB was all i gave for it. the buckmark runs a little more than that.