I’m looking at getting another .22 auto pistol . I’m looking for an accurate pistol with a threaded barrel with an optic rail.
Ruger IV lite or Browning Buckmark ? What say you and why ?

Only reason I say Buckmark is because they fit my hands better.

I bought the Ruger MK IV Lite and my Daughter bought the Browning Buckmark lite.

I personally like my Ruger better. It fits my hands better.

Still in the "wringing out" mode with both of these.

Virgil B.

We sold off the wife's Buckmark because the slide tension was too hard for her to chamber a new round. They might be different now, but rack the slide on an uncocked empty chamber on both of them before you buy. With the trigger locks on all the firearms in some stores lately, it might be difficult to find one that isn't already cocked on an empty chamber.

I have a mkiii 22/45. Best friend the buckmark. I think they are both awesome. Can’t tell any accuracy difference. I prefer the mkiii in hand and he prefers the buckmark. Which is why I say whatever feels best to you in hand. Huntsman’s buck Mark is superb for sure

I still need to add a ff3 to mine. Super quiet suppressed! May change grips as well

I have 2 of the MK IV's one Lite one target. Trigger sucked on both of them but after swapping the sears to Volquartsen they are nice pistols. Shoot any ammo reliably and most stuff with good accuracy.

Many more options out there to accessorize Rugers. Volquartsen, Tandemkross plus many others.

Depends on your priorities. Both are good guns. I have owned both, and sold the Buckmark in favor of the Ruger Mark IV. With the Mark IV, Ruger got several things right, notably the ease of maintenance and ambidextrous 1911 style safety. I much prefer the Ruger recoil spring assembly over the Buckmark's with the tiny C clip and plastic housing. When I needed parts for the Buckmark there was a backorder of several weeks. I got a set of drop in captured recoil springs for the Ruger, very nice, can't remember the vendor. A major advantage of the Ruger over the Buckmark is the slide. My Buckmark was an earlier version, and the uncocked slide was the toughest of any I have ever handled. The Ruger is much easier to operate.

To be fair, the Ruger needed some aftermarket items to suit me, which added to the cost. Volquartsen trigger kit, Hogue grips, and Williams fiber optic sights. So, in terms of cost the point advantage might go to the Buckmark. However, if bang for the buck is a priority, the S&W Victory is probably the best value in this class of pistol. Pretty much good to go out of the box.

Paul

Dpd: Just yesterday on a lengthy trip over east of me I added my 25th (twenty fifth!) Ruger MK series pistol to my current collection - NONE of them are of the "Lite" variety/configuration.
I also currently own 6 (six) Browning BuckMarks - again NONE of them are of the "Lite" variety/configuration.
Reason being - I shoot the heavier pistols better (more accurately) under virtually every condition/situation.
The "Lite" pistols I have shot in the past, that belong to my shooting partners, the first thing I think of is - I wish they had more mass/weight and/or longer barrels!
My "thought" is for you to consider the heavy barrel versions of either the Ruger MK's or the Browning BuckMarks.
By the way the pistol I bought yesterday was a Ruger MK-II stainless heavy 6 1/2" barrel (slab sided) "Competition Target Model". It is new unfired in the box with all accoutrement's (rings, bases, fired cartrdige, paperwork) - manufactured 2,001.
Best of luck to you with whichever you choose.
Hold into the wind
VarmintGuy

No experience with the Browning.

Got two of the Ruger Mark 4's. The factory trigger is one of the worst rimfire pistol triggers I've ever had, Takes a hundred plus Volquartsen trigger kit to remedy. With the VQ trigger kit installed mine are just over two pounds and superb.

A bonus with the Mark 4 is that you can easily swap uppers if desired.

Takedown is a snap.

Jerry

Reason for the lite is I have a suppressor I want to use on it and don’t want it to be too heavy or off balance

Dpd: I see - I have never owned a suppressor of my own but over the last two decades I have been shooting all kinds of pistols and Rifles with suppressors that belong to my Hunting and shooting companions.
I like'em.
Again best of luck to you with whichever brand/model you choose (try first?).
Hold into the wind
VarmintGuy

I have the 22/45 lite that I only shoot suppressed. It it a fun gun to shoot after you put the vq trigger kit in. The balance is great and a pleasure to shoot.

Recently bought a buckmark. Alloy barrel with sleeve, threaded and a rail. Good shooter, like the trigger. One reason i picked it over the Ruger was the fact that the chamber is more accessible w/o disassembling due to the fact the slide is open on both sides, bettet access for misfeeds. Although I believe the newer Rugers will takedown without any tools.

And i didn't own a Browning ...!

Thinking about a Buckmark 5.5 contour.
Anybody using one?

I've had a 22/45 Lite MK III, not the IV, for a few years, so other than the easier takedown, haven't kept up with what else changed. On mine, I added some Volquartson trigger stuff, Kanewolf slingshot conversion, and swapped out the LCI. Didn't think it was particularly accurate, just a hoot to shoot.. that is until last year when I bought a suppressor & a scope and shot my first group off of sandbags. 10 shots into .83" at 25 yards!

A few months ago, I bought a Buckmark Camper stainless- used, and swapped out the factory barrel for a Tac-Sol fluted, threaded one. I thought the gun was a little too heavy before, but the Tac-Sol barrel shaved off 7.3 ounces and made a huge difference in the feel. I also swapped out a few other factory parts for things like the Gearbox sear spring, and Eliminator recoil guide rod, and an integral scope/ rail mount.

The modded Buckmark now has a 3.5 lb trigger, the Ruger, sub 2 lb. One functions just as reliably as the other. If I had to choose, I think I'd go with the Ruger because I like the feel of the 22/45's grip better than the bigger Browning UFX grip, and the Ruger is slightly shorter & lighter than the Browning. In my opinion, the difference comes down to a matter of personal preference.

Hookeye said,

The stainless Contour is my favorite looking Buckmark model in the current lineup. Only negative on them is that they do feel pretty heavy to me. I'm having trouble deciding on whether I want the probably more practical 5 1/2", or the really cool-looking 7 1/4" model. In fact, the reason I bought my stainless Camper was to get this grip frame and mate it with the slide/ barrel of the Contour eventually. Since I'd like to mount a scope, I'm leaning towards the 7 1/4" for the "wow" factor plus it would probably keep the muzzle blast a little further away from the objective lens.

5.5 UFX lite is pretty nice, just right with a muffler on it

Pops had the 5.5, plus 10 and 14 inch silhouette models.
I always wanted the no sight 10 inch varmint.

Had a couple 8" rugers and think the contour 5.5 is the one for me. The 7 inch is cool, but begs a scope.

If i get a 5.5 it will proly get mini rds or reflex

I like the Buckmark. They probably have the best factory trigger of any rimfire pistol.

BUT..........The ambidextrous safety on the Ruger is the big selling point for me. No other manufacturer offers an ambidextrous safety nor are there any aftermarket parts available.

As someone pointed out, there are tons of aftermarket parts and sources to fix perceived flaws of Rugers.

Buckmark here. The green lite 5.5 version.
Love the trigger, grips and controls.
I put a rail on her and a red reflex site, very much like Huntsmans rig.... but w/o suppressor.

Pick your poison by handling them. Shoot a friends if you can a see which one talks you.
Neither are what I call trail guns.....put em on your hip and go places. My SR22 does that.
These are more dedicated arms for target and hunting.