Henry Rifle Forums

Bought this Buckmark Camper a couple years ago from a local pawn and gun shop. It's in pretty good condition and shoots well, but haven't gotten around to giving it really good scrubbing since I bought it. A couple days ago I decided to do that - the user manual is useless, btw. Anyway it went pretty well until I started to remove the recoil spring. OOPS! No retaining ring, and the spring goes flying across the room bouncing off a couple walls! Ok, so no problem I'll just order ring from Browning. Nope, not for $5 + $8 shipping. Off to my well stocked local hardware store to find something I could use in place of the Browning part. 75cents for a half dozen of 3 different sized E-Clips. Back home and can't get any of them to fit on the rod and capture the spring. These are tiny, almost microscopic clips, which didn't make things any easier (off camera cussing a lot) . Alright get a grip. Posted a want ad on our local MS gun forum and got an answer from a member who had some Browning spares and he's mailing me one no charge! YES!

Now all that said, the absence of said retaining ring does not interfere with function. It just makes disassembly, and especially reassembly, much easier. So it should be here in a couple days and I can put the gun back together. Whew! I really like this little plinker but was not looking forward to future maintenance until now.

Old pic prior to this problem.

I have heard that these are a very nice little .22 shooter.
I hope your part arrives soon and you are back in business.

Nice one Gene, I have a friend who has one of the Slabsides, and a longer barrel. Blued and wood grips.
He said he was very accurate, and he would never get rid of it.
Like Dave said hope it arrives soon and you are back to shooting.

RP

Nice looking pistol, I looked the Buckmarks over a while back. Wound up with a S&W Victory.
I fully understand the first time breaking down a new unfamiliar gun. I have launched couple of springs over the years.

The green and black on your pistol contrast nicely.

RetiredSeabee wrote: ↑

Thu Nov 30, 2023 6:55 pm

I have launched couple of springs over the years.

You mean that's not supposed to happen?

A tip for anyone who has a Buckmark or might buy one. A aftermarket guide rod is available that does away with the 'C' clip. If I keep this pistol I'll probably order one just to avoid a repeat of this adventure. It would be worth the $22.

https://www.tandemkross.com/Eliminator- ... p_517.html

Good information, thanks. I have a few Buckmarks including a very early one and I will definitely consider the aftermarket guide rod.

I am a glutton for punishment and still want to pick up a Ruger Mark one and two. Just because I don’t currently own a pistol that makes simple breakdown and assembly more fun than I deserve.

Ernie wrote: ↑

Fri Dec 01, 2023 11:46 am

Good information, thanks. I have a few Buckmarks including a very early one and I will definitely consider the aftermarket guide rod.

Got the new rod today and installed it. You may have to grind or file off a tiny amount of the forward (flat ) end due to minor differences in different pistols. Not a big deal - just a couple minutes with a dremel. I had to take off about 1/64" on mine.
If you have to do this, be sure to slightly bevel the edge or it will stick in the block when you try to install it. Comes with a small pamphlet that explains this.

Thanks for the info. The Buckmark is one of the few autoloader 22s I've never owned or shot. Hard to believe, I know.

On the other hand, I could take apart a Ruger Mark I or II or III in my sleep and put it back together again. Learned to do this on my own, back in the early 70s with my first Ruger Mark, just using the instruction manual. Take note of that Seabee. Be glad to help if you ever get one.

North Country Gal wrote: ↑

Sat Dec 09, 2023 11:55 am

Thanks for the info. The Buckmark is one of the few autoloader 22s I've never owned or shot. Hard to believe, I know.

On the other hand, I could take apart a Ruger Mark I or II or III in my sleep and put it back together again. Learned to do this on my own, back in the early 70s with my first Ruger Mark, just using the instruction manual. Take note of that Seabee. Be glad to help if you ever get one.

You're welcome. Now you'll have to get one just so you can do a head to head comparison.