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About every 2-3 rounds, the mag will come loose. What do you think?

Sounds like your magazine latch is not locking the mag in place. The spring could be weak or improperly positioned. Underneath the right grip panel is the spring check to ensure it hasn't come loose.

R,
Bullseye

Bullseye wrote:Sounds like your magazine latch is not locking the mag in place. The spring could be weak or improperly positioned. Underneath the right grip panel is the spring check to ensure it hasn't come loose.

R,
Bullseye

I looked at the spring and it felt like it did not have enough tension on it. I bent it a little and it feels like the mag locked in better. I will try it out and get back. THANKS!!!

Bullseye, I bought the Buckmark because I already have a 22/45 target with a red dot and I wanted something different. He had 2 of the ruger 22/45s,older. Should I have gotten one them instead? I just wanted a .22 with out the dot sight and I liked the grip on the Buckmart.

Nothing wrong with your choice, the Buckmark's grip is very pleasing to the hand. That particular pistol just has a week mag latch spring. No big deal if it won't hold pick up a new spring. I'm sure you have a fine shooter.

R,
Bullseye

If you could pick between the 22/45 and the Buckmark, would you get the Ruger?

That answer depends more on the two individual pistols. I don't currently own any Buckmarks but I have many Ruger models in my personal collection. However, I have shot many Buckmarks and they all feel very nice with the exception of the controls for moving the slide. Browning has recently corrected this by adding extra metal wings to the slide area immediately behind the gripping cuts to aid the operator in ease of cycling the slide. There are not as many aftermarket parts/accessories for the Buckmark as is for the Rugers. I have also repaired many of each model and find that they both are relatively easy to maintain. Both have their quirks but neither pistol would turn me away for design issues.

R,
Bullseye

My gut tells me to trade it in for a Ruger!

I will second Bullseye's opinion, though I have no knowledge of the Buckmark internals. The only thing I will add to what Bullseye said is that, in my experience, stock Buckmarks have better trigger pulls than Rugers.

I would rank Buckmarks right up there with Rugers. I would only say that Rugers are the clear winner if you enjoyed tinkering a lot (due to the large amount of aftermarket Ruger parts).

Z400ACDC wrote:If you could pick between the 22/45 and the Buckmark, would you get the Ruger?

You'll have to decide for yourself based on ergonomics and the rest of the factors jumbled into the bag-o-compromises that handguns all are.
I'd take a Ruger with the traditional frame and a button release, that means a mkIII and I get to tinker to get everything just right for me. Given a choice between a mkIII 22/45 and a stock Buckmark, I'd probably take the 22/45, mostly because I'm set up for working on it already by owning Rugers.

If I were starting from scratch again, I'd consider the Buckmark and the Buckmark carbine as a set, the one failing of the Ruger auto-loading .22 pistol is a lack of a carbine companion that shares mags and parts.

I like the brownings but do not own one either.... I guess i just have not found the right deal. Tinker with it a bit and look up the Heggis flip trigger mod to improve the trigger pull... The guys on Rimfirecentral.com are quite knowledgeable on the buckmark (sorry Bullseye I hate refrencing other forms here) and are good at troubleshooting and answering questions too.

No apologies necessary about posting other forum's names here. I post over there at RFC from time to time, less lately than I used to. Plus, I know that folks post links to this website over there all the time and they don't seem to mind. I guess we all have a common purpose - to help all shooters with their firearms.

R,
Bullseye

Well, I went back to my fatherinlaws today to exchange the buckmark for a 22/45. He pulled out 2 of the out of the safe. And they looked new. I got to looking in the safe and pulled out a new mkii 512 GCL target, with a rail and wood grips. I said whats this! He said, I forgot I had that. I cost me $25 more but, I love it. It has a better trigger than my 22/45 before the sear change.

Well, you should be happy with that find!

R,
Bullseye

Sounds like your father in law has a "magic safe" we could all use! I think you did all right!