1973 Browning Challenger

jsfricks · #1 10-20-2017, 02:08 PM

I purchased this one a few years ago from my son-in-law. He was selling a couple of his deceased dads guns so he could buy a newer pistol for home defense. I wanted to keep them in the family and pass them on to my grandson one day so I purchased both. The other one is a Python. This one is a 1973 Browning Challenger in 99% condition. It has a screw above the backstrap to adjust trigger pull. Unfortunately I still haven't gotten around to shooting this one. Your welcome to post your 22 target pistols.

daddio202 · #2 10-20-2017, 03:10 PM

Very nice challenger! I have always especially lusted after the medalist, just beautiful wood on them. Here are my 2 target 22's first just a regular old Ruger Mark ll it's reliable and accurate. My favorite 22 is my 1923 Colt pre-woodsman King super target. Without a doubt most accurate gun i own. I can put an entire clip through one ragged hole at 25 yards with it. I think it was reblued at some point as half the prancing horse logo is very faint. Need to get it lettered through Colt to see if was shipped directly to King or not. Unfortunately from what i know Colt usually did not record guns that came back for work as the blue job is so nice (and old now) I think it was sent back to them a long time ago for the refinish.

Walter Rego · #3 10-20-2017, 08:30 PM

Beautiful gun jsfricks and it was good that you kept the guns in the family to pass down.
Here is my Challenger, also a 1973 model. These guns were designed by Bruce Browning, grandson of J.M. and son of Val Browning. He took the Colt Woodsman design and improved it with an easily switched barrel and better trigger with weight and over travel adjustment. I wish that the rear sight had click adjustments, although once it has been zeroed for an ammunition that it likes it is trouble free and offers a good sight picture. The Browning Challengers can still be found at reasonable prices compared to the 2nd or 3rd Series Colt Woodsmans and are beautifully made pieces of blue steel and walnut.

27 Man · #4 10-20-2017, 08:51 PM

Beautiful Brownings.

jsfricks · #5 10-20-2017, 09:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Walter Rego

Beautiful gun jsfricks and it was good that you kept the guns in the family to pass down.
Here is my Challenger, also a 1973 model. These guns were designed by Bruce Browning, grandson of J.M. and son of Val Browning. He took the Colt Woodsman design and improved it with an easily switched barrel and better trigger with weight and over travel adjustment. I wish that the rear sight had click adjustments, although once it has been zeroed for an ammunition that it likes it is trouble free and offers a good sight picture. The Browning Challengers can still be found at reasonable prices compared to the 2nd or 3rd Series Colt Woodsmans and are beautifully made pieces of blue steel and walnut.

Some good history there, thanks for that!

Drm50 · #6 10-20-2017, 10:10 PM

I've got the same pistol. Very accurate and dependable. A lot
more gun than Buckmark series. Shoots anything you put in
it. It's one to keep.

emptypockets · #7 10-20-2017, 10:56 PM

1966 Browning Challenger. I can set clays on the berm at 50 yards and from the bench shoot them into small pieces. Very accurate pistol with arguably the best trigger on any gun I own. They are very easy on the eyes as well.

The Colt Woodsman is my riding through and knocking around the forest gun. It's hell on rattlesnakes as several can attest to that.

Fuddster · #8 10-20-2017, 11:40 PM

I'll be picking up one just like OP's tomorrow. Bought from an estate. Have another, and also one with a long barrel I bought in 1972. $98.00 including tax, still have the receipt. Still looks and shoots like new.

Drm50 · #9 10-20-2017, 11:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fuddster

I'll be picking up one just like OP's tomorrow. Bought from an estate. Have another, and also one with a long barrel I bought in 1972. $98.00 including tax, still have the receipt. Still looks and shoots like new.

$98 bucks is just about what a series 70, 1911 cost at that time.
I bought a new Browning Medalist in 72, I think it was $200+.
Those prices seem cheap but a dollar bought more back them,
we were still into .35 gal gas back then.

Stevens · #10 10-21-2017, 08:30 AM

Here is my Challenger II, I bought it around 1980.

824tsv · #11 10-21-2017, 08:37 AM

Browning made some fantastic .22's
Here is my International Medalist (type1). Made in Belgium in 1968. These didn't appear in the U.S. until 1970.

g8rb8 · #12 10-21-2017, 10:16 AM

Here's a couple I like to shoot.

The Browning Medalist was a gift from my dad in the early 1970's. I've enjoyed it for years and my son now enjoys it.

jack the toad · #13 10-21-2017, 10:04 PM

Bought my 2 kids Buckmarks years ago ($150) and are still good shooters.
Pic is of FIL’s Challenger from ???
He enjoyed hounds and coon hunting. No telling how many miles and coons it’s covered and still a good shooter.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Valmet · #14 10-22-2017, 12:35 PM

A friend of mine has a Challenger and I've always thought they were cool old .22s, thanks for sharing