Browning Challenger

[Jack Wagon]

1962 model was the first year offered. Here's mine.


Jack Wagon

 

[M29since14]

Very nice. Thanks for the picture. I remember my Grandpa buying one of those at Sears in the mid-sixties some time. He and I went over to the next town to pick it up on a summer Friday evening after he got off work. He was very proud of it.

We shot it a bit. Owing to its trigger and the rather lightweight barrel, it was a bit of a challenge for me, compared to my Dad's K22, but I have fond memories of shooting it with him.

 

[Jack Wagon]

Very nice. Thanks for the picture. I remember my Grandpa buying one of those at Sears in the mid-sixties some time. He and I went over to the next town to pick it up on a summer Friday evening after he got off work. He was very proud of it.

We shot it a bit. Owing to its trigger and the rather lightweight barrel, it was a bit of a challenge for me, compared to my Dad's K22, but I have fond memories of shooting it with him.

I have been looking for a nice .22 pistol to shoot for awhile now. Not sure if I want to use it much because it's in such good condition. May have to look for something else to plink around with.

 

[alwslate]

Very nice, the design is very similar to the current Buckmark. I had the
economy model Nomad back in the late 60s. Can't remember why I
traded it off but with hindsight I wish I still had it.

 

[Rod-Man-frog]

I have a 1982 Challenger II and love it,looking for a challenger now as I have a mag for one.

 

[skeezix]

Me, too.

I also have one of the first generation Challengers. Mine was manufactured in 1968 (in Belgium, of course). Front sight and stock checking is a bit different than the 1962 model. It came with only one magazine, and the last one I saw for sale was at a gun show in 1995 for $65.



Gold plating on the trigger is flaking, but I don't shoot it anymore. Have a cheap Buckmark for that.

 

[M29since14]

...Not sure if I want to use it much because it's in such good condition. May have to look for something else to plink around with.

Well, if your gun is like my Grandpa's, the trigger would either need improvement or it will not be much fun to shoot. If the gun were mine, I would set it aside for sentimental reasons (I was not able to get control of my Grandpa's Challenger, unfortunately) but I would select a .22 with a better trigger action for actual shooting. In a pistol, I really don't know what to suggest. In a .22 in general, it is awfully hard to beat a K22/Model 17 for the casual marksman who wants to hit what he is aiming at.

 

[Jack Wagon]

Well, if your gun is like my Grandpa's, the trigger would either need improvement or it will not be much fun to shoot. If the gun were mine, I would set it aside for sentimental reasons (I was not able to get control of my Grandpa's Challenger, unfortunately) but I would select a .22 with a better trigger action for actual shooting. In a pistol, I really don't know what to suggest. In a .22 in general, it is awfully hard to beat a K22/Model 17 for the casual marksman who wants to hit what he is aiming at.

My 13 yr old son has been talking about wanting a revolver. That K22 may be a good choice. What is a fair price for a nice used one?

 

[Jack Wagon]

I also have one of the first generation Challengers. Mine was manufactured in 1968 (in Belgium, of course). Front sight and stock checking is a bit different than the 1962 model. It came with only one magazine, and the last one I saw for sale was at a gun show in 1995 for $65.



Gold plating on the trigger is flaking, but I don't shoot it anymore. Have a cheap Buckmark for that.

Nice looking pair you have there.

 

[jazzsax8]

belgium challenger trigger

Having owned two of the Belgium Challengers I wanted to comment on my experience with their triggers. Both broke clean and crisp with a measured 2#4oz. The over-travel could be set right at perfect with the screw that could be accessed after removing the barrel. Its trigger is comparable to my A series S&W 41 also creep/over-travel free at 2.25#'s.

I have smaller hands and the grip frame on the Challenger using the narrower Nomad grips helps me reach the trigger better than the 41. The result is the Challenger wins hands down in offhand shooting. The easy to scope 41 is an absolute tack driver from a stable rest.

Having owned several model 17's and an 18, none had a single action trigger even close to the Challenger.

Use that Challenger and if the trigger feels at all bad, somethin needs fixin!

Marshall

 

[Jack Wagon]

Having owned two of the Belgium Challengers I wanted to comment on my experience with their triggers. Both broke clean and crisp with a measured 2#4oz. The over-travel could be set right at perfect with the screw that could be accessed after removing the barrel. Its trigger is comparable to my A series S&W 41 also creep/over-travel free at 2.25#'s.

I have smaller hands and the grip frame on the Challenger using the narrower Nomad grips helps me reach the trigger better than the 41. The result is the Challenger wins hands down in offhand shooting. The easy to scope 41 is an absolute tack driver from a stable rest.

Having owned several model 17's and an 18, none had a single action trigger even close to the Challenger.

Use that Challenger and if the trigger feels at all bad, somethin needs fixin!

Marshall

Marshall,

Thank you for your post. I had heard that the Challenger was a nice shooter from several different people. I can't wait until I can actually send some lead down range. I have read that the screw on the frame just below the rear sight will adjust the trigger. Are you familiar with this?

 

[Joe A.]

I have a Challenger that I bought around 1966. There's a lot of stories I could tell about shooting it. It's been rode hard and put up wet but still have a lot of life in it. Often I would shoot up to 3 bricks thru it in one day. Had a Medalist barrel for it but I preferred the Challenger barrel because the Medalist's rear sight notch had too much daylight for me. Great pistol.

 

[jazzsax8]

trigger adjustment

Jack

The rear trigger adjustment is pretty straightforward. Based on your picture it is probably out about as far as you want to go. Although I took mine out a little further and put an O-ring under the screw to keep it from moving out under recoil. If you have not messed with the over-travel screw yet, you might google the issue or search rimfire central under Browning to get some help. The worst you could do is turn it too far where the sear would not release.

Even though I own a S&W model 18 and a 41 with 4 barrels, I am really excited about finding my Browning just over a year ago. If you have small hands the Nomad grips of black plastic are not near as aesthetically pleasing to look at, but provide the best reach for a nice straight back trigger pull. You can also with a little patience, find the "other" barrel for under $100. Simple take down screw to switch barrels with no sight adjustment required after doing so.

While its a little difficult to put a red dot or scope on these it is possible and I have a nice Burris FFIII on my short 4 1/2" barrel. Using CCI SV I have yet to shoot a 5 shot group that measures more than .800 inch at 25 yards with this set-up.

Super excited to have found mine,
Marshall

 

[Jack Wagon]

Marshall,

Do you own a Nomad or Medalist as well? I'm thinking this Challenger won't be my last Belgium made Browning pistol. I've already been searching the web for other models.

My father owned 2 Belgium made rifles (270 & 30.06) that reside at my brother's home. I always had a soft spot for Browning since I was a kid.

JW

 

[zonker5]

I have a Challenger III and love it. Great trigger and shoots better than I can hold it.

They seem to be reasonably priced at the local shows when you can find them, everyone is looking for a Ruger or a Buckmark.

 

[J. R. WEEMS]

Very nice!! Had two, gave one to my youngest son for his 12th BD, sold the other. The pouch shown is of course not original. Nice guns. Never had a problem with the trigger on either one of mine.

 

[jazzsax8]

owned

JW

I owned a Medalist 20 years ago when I was in a High Standard Victor phase. Super nice pistol in every respect but not being a competition shooter elected to go minimal.

I did own the Nomad about a year ago which was my recent exposure to these pistols. I could shoot it very well but after looking over the Challengers that have the adjustable trigger including over travel and the hold open on the last shot that the Nomad does not have, well I just had to have one. After scoring a nice one on GB I sold the Nomad. I just hate to own two of anything that does the same job. I did pick up a 6 3/4" barrel that I shoot open sights with as my Challenger came with the 4 1/2" that I put the red dot on. There is some extensive information regarding all aspects of these pistols over on rimfirecentral.com under the Browning tab.

Having owned most all .22 revolvers and pistols except the highest end target models over $1K, these Belgium models beat EVERYTHING I have shot to date for quality and bang for the buck. Get it out of the safe and shoot it.

Marshall