Contour Lite

Hakaman · Post by **Hakaman** » Wed Feb 18, 2009 4:32 pm

I have been considering a backup .22lr pistol. What is your impression of this Buck Mark:
Buck Mark Contour Lite 7.25 URX
http://www.onlinegundeals.com/ItemDetai ... AL_NEW.htm

Is that a "weaver" style scope base?
ty, hm

Post by **Bullseye** » Wed Feb 18, 2009 4:54 pm

A lot of folks swear by the Buckmark. I'm not a huge fan of them, but I've never had a real problem with them, or from working on them. My dislike was with the controls and the relatively small gripping surface on the slide. Browning has addressed this over the years by adding a set of small bolt type wings to the slide. They are durable guns and shoot pretty well. The rail on the pistol in question appears to be a full length Weaver style rail.

R,
Bullseye

Hakaman · Post by **Hakaman** » Wed Feb 25, 2009 4:24 pm

Well, I ordered a Browning Contour Lite the other day, not sure how long it will take to get, 2-3 weeks they said. It will be nice to have a back up to my Ruger, and compare the two guns to see which one I like the best. I am thinking this one will be a nice shooter, like my Ruger. It has a "weaver" style scope mount to match my Ruger. I would like to know if anybody has any experience with this gun, or a Browning .22 pistol.
thanks, haka

greener · Post by **greener** » Wed Feb 25, 2009 6:26 pm

I don't have a Contour Lite, but I bought a Standard about 15 months ago.

Pros: Well made, durable, accurate (meaning precise/consistent results), doesn't seem to be picky with ammo. Pretty good grip feel. The trigger is crisp but a tad heavy compared with a Ruger w/vq sear. Supposedly, you can lighten the trigger by a bit of bending and reversing the legs of the trigger spring (called Heggis flip). If you like Pac-lite barrels, it is relatively easy to change the barrels.

Cons: Comes with one magazine. An extra mag is about $30. Mine didn't come with a site rail like yours, so to be equal to the Ruger Target models you would have to add an additional $30-$40 to the cost. If you add the site base, you must remove the rear sites. Buck Marks tend to cost more than a comparable Ruger. Field stripping and assembly are supposedly easier than Rugers, but you need an allen wrench and you have to be careful not to lose the screws and washers that hold the site base in place. I also have to watch the site base because it has a tendency to come loose.

Overall: The Buck Mark is an excellent pistol and I can see why a lot of the folks who own them really like them. I think I would have liked the BM Target model better than the Standard but couldn't see the front sight as well, which killed my interest in a pistol that was ~$200 more. I think will enjoy the Contour and find it to be very accurate and enjoyable pistol.

My downside with the Buck Mark is that for some reason I don't shoot it as much as I do my other rimfire handguns. I'm not sure why, but I just prefer shooting the Rugers and 22A.

Hakaman · Post by **Hakaman** » Wed Feb 25, 2009 9:16 pm

Comes with one magazine. An extra mag is about $30

I didn't even realize, I just figured it came with two. I have heard a lot of good things about them, but I just wanted another 22lr pistol because that will be the bulk of my shooting. It's hard to beat the economics of a 22. I also wanted the lite version to have something a little different. It will be interesting to compare the two. Thanks
hm

greener · Post by **greener** » Wed Feb 25, 2009 9:54 pm

I think you will enjoy it. I don't notice the one-mag thing. I've gotten to the point that even if I take two mags for other pistols I only use one.

From my experience and what I've read in various fora, the Ruger and Buck Mark shoot with about the same accuracy. Their reliability is about the same. You can argue which has the better ergonomics. I think you will enjoy the pistol.

Keep us posted.

KAZ · Post by **KAZ** » Thu Feb 26, 2009 9:35 am

These are great pistols, and I'm glad that you didn't wait to snap that one up as they are very hard to find. I actually gave up and bought a standard model to which I added a TacSol light weight (threaded because I shoot them suppressed) barrel and a TacSol scope rail which includes the rear sight. By the way you can add the TacSol integrated sight rail to any BM so that you have the rail and still have the rear sight. Of course, you don't have to add anything to yours as you have the rail/rear sight. The grips are unique to the URX and are one piece. No aftermarket grip are available yet,but that is not a problem as they are the best feeling grips I've ever used. Be very careful if you ever take the grip off as they hold important bits in place. Mine will give my Smith 41s a run for the money for all purposes. Watch for Midway to put the mags ($22) on sale. As usual greener knows his beans, and everything he said is right on. You will be very pleased. Regards

Hakaman · Post by **Hakaman** » Thu Feb 26, 2009 3:59 pm

Watch for Midway to put the mags ($22) on sale

I see that Midway has them on order, for $21.99 as I write. I just found out that the gun I ordered is on back order, for what could be up to 90 days or more.

They said I could cancel the order if I want to. I told them I would think about it cause I'm not in a hurry, I already have my trusty Ruger.

44 deg's, some sun

bearandoldman · Post by **bearandoldman** » Thu Feb 26, 2009 4:25 pm

Hakaman wrote:
Watch for Midway to put the mags ($22) on sale
I see that Midway has them on order, for $21.99 as I write. I just found out that the gun I ordered is on back order, for what could be up to 90 days or more. They said I could cancel the order if I want to. I told them I would think about it cause I'm not in a hurry, I already have my trusty Ruger.

44 deg's, some sun

I see you moved back to the same world as the rest of us Michiganders live, about the same here.

Hakaman · Post by **Hakaman** » Thu Feb 26, 2009 9:51 pm

I think I going back into my fantasy world, it's warmer there.

bearandoldman · Post by **bearandoldman** » Fri Feb 27, 2009 7:48 am

Hakaman wrote: I think I going back into my fantasy world, it's warmer there.

Don't blame you at all. it is a lot nicer there, the palm trees in my fantasy world are just beautiful. Just let Bear out for morning peepee and it smew on us, oh rodent refuse. Spring will get here yet Hak but we may have to wait until August or so.

greener · Post by **greener** » Fri Feb 27, 2009 8:10 pm

Only 69 here. But the weekend is supposed to be better, rain and cold drifting into some snow.

bearandoldman · Post by **bearandoldman** » Fri Feb 27, 2009 8:18 pm

greener wrote:Only 69 here. But the weekend is supposed to be better, rain and cold drifting into some snow.

You know Rob, I think if you put a little effort into it you could be perfectly ROTTEN.

greener · Post by **greener** » Sat Feb 28, 2009 12:10 am

bearandoldman wrote:
greener wrote:Only 69 here. But the weekend is supposed to be better, rain and cold drifting into some snow.
You know Rob, I think if you put a little effort into it you could be perfectly ROTTEN.

SWMBO says I'm nearing perfection.

bearandoldman · Post by **bearandoldman** » Sat Feb 28, 2009 8:05 am

greener wrote:
bearandoldman wrote:
greener wrote:Only 69 here. But the weekend is supposed to be better, rain and cold drifting into some snow.
You know Rob, I think if you put a little effort into it you could be perfectly ROTTEN.
SWMBO says I'm nearing perfection.

That lady shows a lot of intelligence and experience, probably the only thing inlife that she ia not sure about is marrying you. Have fun at the range you educated donkey.