Browning Buck Mark Magnum

For those unfamiliar with the brand, Umarex is a huge German manufacturer that produces arguably the largest selection of replica-style airguns, based on famous firearms. It does this under licence from the featured companies, and this bold approach has earned the company an army of fans along the way.

Self-contained
Loosely based on the Browning Buck Mark rimfire pistol, this model is actually a fully mechanical spring piston-powered air pistol, and for many that will come as a breath of fresh air, since there is no reliance on charging gear or CO2 capsules. Yes, there’s a little more effort involved, but the self-contained power plant is quite liberating and the way to go for many.

First impressions
Open the box, and the first impressions here are pretty favourable, as the Buck Mark Magnum looks and feels solid and well put together. Umarex is famed for its attention to detail and quality overall, and that definitely comes across here. Admittedly, there is copious use of ABS and synthetics, but with an all-steel rifled barrel, spring, piston, and cylinder, pushing the weight to a healthy 3 lbs, this is no lightweight.
The boxy barrel shroud (dummy silencer) up front, gives this model a bold profile, and to the touch, it soon becomes obvious that the moulding is solid and fairly dense. It not only really helps the visuals, but it’s also super-practical too, offering the perfect handle for the cocking stroke. More on that in a moment. The Browning branding is quite subtle, with the famous logo laser etched into the left side of the breech block, and the model name is similarly etched on the cylinder. The grips are all part of the one-piece ABS chassis, including the trigger guard, and the subtle contours feel good in the hand.
Finish-wise, the metalwork (breech block and cylinder) gets treated to traditional chemical bluing, and this, as you would imagine from Umarex, is carried out to a high standard.

Sighting up
Look at the cylinder and you can see where some of the weight comes from, as Umarex has gone for a chunky specification – some 32mm diameter. This allows for a greater swept volume of air, to up the energy levels. There are no dovetail rails, but given we have fully adjustable open sights, and this pistol is more in the ‘general to fun’ category, I don’t see that as a major negative. I suppose being able to bolt on a small red dot sight would have been nice, but hey. As it stands, the foresight post (all part of the front shroud assembly) is static, but the small rear sight is adjustable for both windage and elevation. There are no markings, and the elevation requires a small screwdriver to raise and lower the spring-loaded ramp. Windage adjustment is via the small wheel on the right, again with no markings, yet setting the sights proved easy and took just a few minutes. Thereafter, you shouldn’t need to touch them in any case.

Operation
As for the break-barrel mechanism, cocking the action takes significant effort, as the barrel moves back through 115º before the trigger sets and locks the piston. As usual, get momentum on your side, in one quick sweeping motion, and it’s no big deal. However, some youngsters may need a helping hand here. A great feature is the anti-bear trap mechanism, which prevents the barrel from flying back under great pressure whilst the action is cocked, as the trigger is blocked until the barrel is locked back up. Chamber a pellet nice and flush, then let the solid ball detente do its job and lock the breech back in position. The small cross-bolt-style safety is a neat design and shows a red indicator from the left side. The safety is manual, can be reset, and is fairly easy to apply with the thumb from the left.
OK, it’s time to gauge performance over my 10-yard range. The sight picture created by the front post and the two small green fibre optic elements at the rear is excellent, with just the right amount of gap around the post to sight precisely. The 2-stage trigger is a little spongy but squeeze through the creepy stage and the final release is fairly predictable, helped in no small part by the well-shaped trigger blade. The trigger is non-adjustable but again, that doesn’t take away from performance. What does impress is the shot cycle, being more of a quick snap, with no noticeable spring resonance. There is a fair bit of recoil, and the Buck Mark Magnum kicks up at the front slightly on firing, but this ‘firearm sensation’ will appeal to many, I’m sure.

Stat attack
The sizeable compression cylinder, as mentioned, helps generate energy, and this Browning hit 5 ft/lbs on occasions with certain ammo, which is motoring for a pistol. Using Weihrauch FT Exact pellets (JSB made), consistency over 10 shots was within a total spread of 17 fps, which is very acceptable. As for accuracy on test, I achieved fairly consistent groups of around 1.5” from a gentle rest, over the 10 yards. This is plenty of performance to send tin cans flying and spinners crazy then.

Verdict
So, wrapping up, it’s fair to say the Browning Buck Mark Magnum has character and more. I wouldn’t get too excited about the ‘replica’ credentials with this one, as the profile is a very loose interpretation. However, leaving that aspect to one side, what we have here is a well-made, sturdy springer that packs a punch. Plus, it offers plenty of usable accuracy for informal fun shooting, all in a self-contained format. Nice one!

Thanks to Range & Country Shooting Supplies in Sleaford, Lincs., for the kind loan of this airgun.