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Browning BPS Review

Another tough contender in our pump action comparison is the Browning BPS. The BPS is essentially a direct knockoff of the Remington 870 Wingmaster; however, Browning made a few stylistic and feature changes like: a thumb-operated grip safety on top of the tang, choices of matte black, camo or blued finishes, bottom ejection and loading of shells and some grip textures other than checkering.

We liked shooting this gun and would have loved to hunt with it alongside a Wingmaster for a great shot-by-shot comparison, but the stars didn’t line up for us in that account. Our range tests proved this gun to be very comfortable to shoot. We also found the Browning BPS to be just as reliable and accurate as the Remington Wingmaster by comparison, the only items we found lacking was the added weight of this shotgun and a slightly less durable feel in the synthetic stocks as opposed to the available walnut stocks. The BPS is available in 12 gauge, 20 gauge and .410 models.

The bottom ejection is a nice feature and the fact that the safety is thumb operated makes this an ambidextrous gun that is intuitive and really keeps the customer in mind. The “back bored technology” is also interesting; the bore diameter has been increased and is stated to give overall better shot patterns regardless of the choke tubes you use.

BPS magazine capacity varies with different shell lengths. 2 3/4” shells allow four in the magazine and one in the chamber. 3” and 3.5” shells both allow three in the magazine and one in the chamber. Full, modified and improved cylinder choke tubes all come standard.

How does it shoot? Well, a whole heckuva lot like the Remington 870, which is to be expected considering it was modeled after it. An exceptionally well build pump-action shotgun that will get the job done, but unfortunately also includes a price tag that usually comes along with the Browning name as well.

Ranked #3 of 7 in our Best Pump Shotgun Comparison

Browning Hi Power Review

Browning Hi PowerUnder development at the time of his death, many people claim that the Hi Power was John Moses Browning’s ultimate handgun design. While Browning’s name is most often associated with the 1911 pistol, the Hi Power was an evolution beyond that gun.

Browning died in 1926, but Belgian manufacturer Fabrique Nationale (FN) continued the development of the gun. In 1935, the Hi Power went into production and is still being made today. The guns are available in the United States, from the Browning Company, but they are imported from FN.

The Hi Power is believed by many to be unmatched in design and quality. By some counts, the Hi Power has been in the military service of more than 50 countries. It has seen action around the world and has been used in the past by elite military and law enforcement units such as the FBI Hostage Rescue Team and Israeli Yamam.

Ergonomics and Recoil
You will find the ergonomics of the Hi Power are some of the best of any full-size, metal-framed pistol. Even though the gun uses a double stack magazine, the grip is surprisingly thin. This allows shooters of all hand sizes to obtain a good grip on the device. The gun is also exceptionally well balanced.

The traditional caliber for the Hi Power is 9mm. With this cartridge, recoil is easy and only the most recoil-sensitive shooter will be bothered by it. Modern Hi Power pistols are also chambered in .40 Smith & Wesson. You will find these guns have a bit more recoil but are still very pleasant to shoot.

Trigger and Accuracy
The Browning Hi Power has a single action trigger that is light and crisp. The trigger pull helps to enhance accuracy, which is excellent in this pistol. The Hi Power has long been praised for precise shooting. Current models are worthy of the same respect.

Reloading and Disassembly
Shooters will soon realize that reloading the Hi Power is typical:  press the magazine release button and the magazine will drop free.

Disassembly is not difficult, but it is more complicated than some other pistol designs. The shooter locks the slide to the rear using the safety, not the slide stop. Then the user pushes the slide stop up while pressing the pin from the right side of the pistol. Once loose, the operator can pull the slide stop free and pull the slide assembly off of the pistol.

The recoil spring is not captive, so you have to be careful when reassembling in order to get the spring and guide rod back in the correct alignment.

Reliability and Durability
The durability of the Hi Power is exceptional. Many of the original guns are still being shot today without any loss in accuracy or reliability.

Final Verdict
It really seems Browning got this pistol design right. It is a great balance of power, accuracy and reliability. Add in the pistol’s great lines, and it is a winner by anyone’s definition.

Ranked #5 of 10 in our Best Metal Handgun Comparison

Browning Buckmark Review

Product Image of a Browning BuckmarkWhile the multitude of .22 pistol options available on the market today flood magazines and online advertising with copycat style and look to their higher caliber counterparts, few pistols have a distinct enough look to compare with the Browning Buckmark. A distinct enough look makes the gun (or series of guns) instantly recognizable – as most Browning guns are – but few have the meat to back up the look of a distinct pistol with the features that truly make a plinking pistol a great one.

Ripping open the box and getting our paws on the grips of the Buckmark, we can’t help but feel that the synthetic grips (standard) were injection molded to our hands. Lightweight, balanced, full-fitted, tactile purchase and overall comfort are all things that come to mind when handling the Buckmark. In cold weather it does not get so cold that it is uncomfortable to hold and shoot – one of the great blessings of a synthetic grip. In hot weather the grip contours also prevent slippage if you are prone to sweaty palms.

When it comes to shooting the Buckmark, you will first notice the lovely trigger action that the pistol has – an unfortunate rarity in .22 pistols – and the transitional ease that you will have when switching from controlled, patient shooting to the giggle-inducing rapid-fire that empties a magazine all too quickly. Almost no creep and just the tiniest bit of overtravel makes this one of the best out-of-the-box triggers that we’ve ever had the chance to shoot. A crisp break with every shot and a tactile “click” when the sear resets will spoil you quickly.

Easily shooting 1” groups at 25 feet, ammo is not a huge concern unless you are planning on using the Buckmark for serious competition. Lead of slightly higher quality will make your overall experience a little neater, nicer and tighter, but for plinking anything will work. We recommend using the Federal bulk pack (cheap and on the dirty side) and CCI blazer (almost as cheap and a little less dirty). CCI “standard” through this gun is like premium gas in your high-end car.

So far the Buckmark seems like the perfect gun. So perfect in fact that you’d think we had stock in the company. But, we must point out the closeted skeleton of the Buckmark. Disassembly and cleaning.

The whole process of takedown and cleaning of the Buckmark Standard, while not involving an inordinate amount of parts, is still akin to self-dental surgery. Once the screws and lock-washers are out and placed somewhere safe, the mainspring carefully removed and set aside, the plastic buffer mounted in the slide removed and placed with the safety of the screws, the slide removed and, if necessary, the barrel removed, then you can finally start cleaning.

The blowback design of where the slide meets the frame is best described as “flat metal surface against flat metal surface”. This means that both flat metal surfaces are going to have hot gunk smashed in between them again and again, every time the gun fires. The problem? Hot gunk gets everywhere and gets hard. You will need some serious solvent and good cleaning technique to get this baby spic and span. A good set of plastic or metal pics is a good investment for this pistol. There are lots of nooks and crannies to get gooped up. Oh, and be sure to clean all the parts you took off as well. Don’t drop them on the floor where the cat can swat them under the heating unit. Then you can try to put it all back together.

The same design that makes the Buckmark a good shooter and a bad cleaner is also responsible for the one other tiny flaw we found in this slugthrower, and that is a question of reliability. You see, because of the inherent dirtiness of .22 ammo, the aforementioned goop will get all over the action in the pistol. The extractor and ejector can have some issues when you have “forgotten” to clean this pistol a few hundred rounds ago. Misfeeds, stovepipes, non-ejections and erectile dysfunction can all occur due to unsanitary habits with the Buckmark. So, make sure you keep the gun clean if you want to be a happy shooter.

That all being said, let’s get back to the good stuff, why don’t we? Durability! Can this pistol take a pounding? Yes and no.

This gun is a Browning. Aside from being exceptionally well built, it is not a “cheap” gun and replacement parts can be just shy of a mortgage payment if you really want to put things to the grinding wheel. Our advice? While it probably can take a fall or two (hopefully not loaded though), why take the chance. Like with any pistol, a delicate touch dictates the difference between years of good service and months of good service.

As far as accessories go, you’ve got way more than you could ever fit on a dozen guns. A few simple internet searches will show you things that can make your gun completely unrecognizable to you.

The big, final and most important question – Is it a fun gun for plinking? Yes! Especially for the money you will spend, the unmodified Browning Buckmark is definitely a fun, reliable and versatile .22 pistol that is great for beginners, gun nuts, young shooters, early competition shooters or old crabby men. You ladies–yeah, there are pink grips for it too. Trust us, you’ll love this gun.

Ranked #1 of 7 in our Best 22 Pistol Comparison


Browning X-Bolt Review

Browning_X-BoltThe term cult following gets thrown around a lot, but in the case of Browning it’s nearing the truth (It has been pointed out to me that a block of wood bearing a Buckmark logo could be a good seller). Some people even go so far as to have Browning’s very recognizable logo tattooed somewhere on their body. Much of this brand loyalty comes from Browning’s continued production of their classic firearms like the A-5 shotgun, but a great deal of it is the result of satisfaction with Browning’s modern designs. The A-Bolt and it’s currently produced evolution, the X-Bolt, have owners who are quite adamant about their quality and accuracy.

The X-Bolt is a push feed action with three lugs, an enclosed bolt face and a relatively large rotating extractor. The bolt lift is shorter thanks to the three-lug design and bolt guides are machined into the lugs making for a very smooth action. The X-Bolt is also equipped with a button on top of the bolt handle that allows the bolt to be opened while the safety is engaged. This button allows the rifle to have a two-position safety mounted on the tang while offering a safe option for unloading.

The X-Bolt is an attractive looking rifle for many shooters. All sharp angles and rough edges are smoothed out with the X-bolt. The X-bolt also makes use of a few features that are a bit odd in the current market but that will find favor with many shooters. The X-Bolt uses a rotary magazine that tends to smooth out the kinks of feeding the new short magnums on the market. Stumpy, thick cartridges generally don’t like to feed very well, but the X-bolt feeds them better than most. The X-Bolt also has a small chunk of spring steel, almost silly in its simplicity, which pushes down on the rotary magazine, making it handier to remove quickly without sticking in the gun. The X-Bolt is a design with a lot of little things to appreciate.

The X-Bolt lost a point in the Trigger category because while the X-Bolt has an adjustable trigger the trigger guard of the rifle must be removed to get at the adjustment screw, which might prove aggravating at the range or in the field. A point was also deducted for Feeding/Extraction because the X-Bolt’s extractor does occasionally slip over case heads if not properly fit. One point was deducted in the Scope Mounting category due to Browning’s use of a proprietary eight screw/two piece base system that will probably be difficult to find a good selection of at any given sporting goods store. A point was deducted in the Accuracy category due to the fact that the X-Bolt usually delivers pretty good accuracy, but these specimens do not crop up more than we would like. One point was deducted in the Reliability category due to the tendency of the X-Bolt, just like the A-Bolt before it, to be susceptible to icing in extreme weather conditions varying between wet and freezing cold. If doused and then frozen the X-Bolt can lock up good and hard to the point the bolt cannot be opened without the use of a boot or wood block. This does not happen often and is even kind of hard to duplicate in testing, but it can happen and the buyer should keep it in mind. One last point was deducted from the X-Bolt in the Versatility category because the design does not lend itself very well to conversion or certain cartridges.

Ranked #7 of 7 in our Best Bolt Action Rifle Comparison


Browning Buckmark Review

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While the multitude of .22 pistol options available on the market today flood magazines and online advertising with copycat style and look to their higher caliber counterparts, few pistols have a distinct enough look to compare with the Browning Buckmark. A distinct enough look makes the gun (or series of guns) instantly recognizable – as most Browning guns are – but few have the meat to back up the look of a distinct pistol with the features that truly make a plinking pistol a great one.

Ripping open the box and getting our paws on the grips of the Buckmark, we can’t help but feel that the synthetic grips (standard) were injection molded to our hands. Lightweight, balanced, full-fitted, tactile purchase and overall comfort are all things that come to mind when handling the Buckmark. In cold weather it does not get so cold that it is uncomfortable to hold and shoot – one of the great blessings of a synthetic grip. In hot weather the grip contours also prevent slippage if you are prone to sweaty palms.

When it comes to shooting the Buckmark, you will first notice the lovely trigger action that the pistol has – an unfortunate rarity in .22 pistols – and the transitional ease that you will have when switching from controlled, patient shooting to the giggle-inducing rapid-fire that empties a magazine all too quickly. Almost no creep and just the tiniest bit of overtravel makes this one of the best out-of-the-box triggers that we’ve ever had the chance to shoot. A crisp break with every shot and a tactile “click” when the sear resets will spoil you quickly.

Easily shooting 1” groups at 25 feet, ammo is not a huge concern unless you are planning on using the Buckmark for serious competition. Lead of slightly higher quality will make your overall experience a little neater, nicer and tighter, but for plinking anything will work. We recommend using the Federal bulk pack (cheap and on the dirty side) and CCI blazer (almost as cheap and a little less dirty). CCI “standard” through this gun is like premium gas in your high-end car.

So far the Buckmark seems like the perfect gun. So perfect in fact that you’d think we had stock in the company. But, we must point out the closeted skeleton of the Buckmark. Disassembly and cleaning.

The whole process of takedown and cleaning of the Buckmark Standard, while not involving an inordinate amount of parts, is still akin to self-dental surgery. Once the screws and lock-washers are out and placed somewhere safe, the mainspring carefully removed and set aside, the plastic buffer mounted in the slide removed and placed with the safety of the screws, the slide removed and, if necessary, the barrel removed, then you can finally start cleaning.

The blowback design of where the slide meets the frame is best described as “flat metal surface against flat metal surface”. This means that both flat metal surfaces are going to have hot gunk smashed in between them again and again, every time the gun fires. The problem? Hot gunk gets everywhere and gets hard. You will need some serious solvent and good cleaning technique to get this baby spic and span. A good set of plastic or metal pics is a good investment for this pistol. There are lots of nooks and crannies to get gooped up. Oh, and be sure to clean all the parts you took off as well. Don’t drop them on the floor where the cat can swat them under the heating unit. Then you can try to put it all back together.

The same design that makes the Buckmark a good shooter and a bad cleaner is also responsible for the one other tiny flaw we found in this slugthrower, and that is a question of reliability. You see, because of the inherent dirtiness of .22 ammo, the aforementioned goop will get all over the action in the pistol. The extractor and ejector can have some issues when you have “forgotten” to clean this pistol a few hundred rounds ago. Misfeeds, stovepipes, non-ejections and erectile dysfunction can all occur due to unsanitary habits with the Buckmark. So, make sure you keep the gun clean if you want to be a happy shooter.

That all being said, let’s get back to the good stuff, why don’t we? Durability! Can this pistol take a pounding? Yes and no.

This gun is a Browning. Aside from being exceptionally well built, it is not a “cheap” gun and replacement parts can be just shy of a mortgage payment if you really want to put things to the grinding wheel. Our advice? While it probably can take a fall or two (hopefully not loaded though), why take the chance. Like with any pistol, a delicate touch dictates the difference between years of good service and months of good service.

As far as accessories go, you’ve got way more than you could ever fit on a dozen guns. A few simple internet searches will show you things that can make your gun completely unrecognizable to you.

The big, final and most important question – Is it a fun gun for plinking? Yes! Especially for the money you will spend, the unmodified Browning Buckmark is definitely a fun, reliable and versatile .22 pistol that is great for beginners, gun nuts, young shooters, early competition shooters or old crabby men. You ladies–yeah, there are pink grips for it too. Trust us, you’ll love this gun.

Ranked #1 of 10 in our Best 22 Pistol Comparison