Used M41 or New Buck-Mark?

[RayGT3]

I'm contimplating the purchase of a new Buck-Mark or a used M41. I've gone back and forth on this a dozen times and thought a 3rd party opinion might be helpful. The Browning is roughly $350 and a M41 about $650, I guess what I'm agonizing over is if the M41 is worth the $300 premium. I can understand both viewpoints but am finding it hard to make a decision resulting in the exchange of money. I don't plan on any competitive shooting but do appreciate the finer equipment. Your comments would be most appreciated.

Additional question, is there a prefered M41 bbl length 5 1/2 or the 7" ?

Tnks,
Ray

 

[RayGT3]

I'm contimplating the purchase of a new Buck-Mark or a used M41. I've gone back and forth on this a dozen times and thought a 3rd party opinion might be helpful. The Browning is roughly $350 and a M41 about $650, I guess what I'm agonizing over is if the M41 is worth the $300 premium. I can understand both viewpoints but am finding it hard to make a decision resulting in the exchange of money. I don't plan on any competitive shooting but do appreciate the finer equipment. Your comments would be most appreciated.

Additional question, is there a prefered M41 bbl length 5 1/2 or the 7" ?

Tnks,
Ray

 

[44wheelman]

I bought a used Buckmark 6 or 7 years ago for $175; acceptable accuracy, mediocre trigger, just didn't do it for me anymore. It was the reason I bought a 41. Sometimes good enough is neither. I don't regret buying the Buckmark, it made appreciate the S&W when I finally got it.

 

[WaterburyBob]

The 41; it's one of the best .22's there is.
IMO, the difference in quality makes it worth the additional $300.
You will like the Buckmark, but you will love the 41 and be proud to own it.

 

[victorylarry]

I'd look for a used Buckmark. You should be able to get into one for under $300. I bought mine 15 years ago and it still shoot great and it will eat most varieties of 22 ammo. I took it out a week ago and plincked away on the 50 yard range with open sights from the bench and it shot incredibly well.

41's are really nice and they are the cream of the crop when it comes to 22's, but I understand they may be a little pickier when it comes to types of ammo used. Can't go wrong with the 41, but twice the money. Not to throw another choice into the mix, but check out a used High Standard Model HD. Sometimes you can find these in the $300 to $400 range(they stopped making them years ago). They have an external hammer and are incredibly well made and a great value for a used 22 auto.
Go for the buckmark and you can always upgrade. Good luck!

 

[cheetah]

s&w 41 all the way. No comparison. It's the trigger & balance that make the gun IMO. You won't regret it.

 

[rollback88]

41.

And that's all I have to say about that.

--jcd

 

[smousefam5]

41...best gun I ever owned...greatest regret in selling it...

 

[Revoman]

If you can afford the 41 you won't have buyers remorse.

Next year you won't be wondering if you should have bought the 41.

 

[Gunhacker]

The real question that needs to be answered is what are you going to use it for mostly??

I own both, but I started out with the Buckmark because it was what I could afford, I liked it better than a Ruger MKIII, in looks and construction... and at the time I had no idea that the M41 even existed.

My Buckmark is a target model with the 7 1/2" fluted bull barrel. I've had it for about 8 years and it is superbly accurate, the trigger pull on it is very crisp, and it's more forgiving on the ammo you feed it.

I've used it for all around shooting, which included both formal (fun matches, not bullseye) and informal target shooting, pesky household squirrel eradications and a field gun. I can't say I would or could put the 41 into that role, as it's pretty much a premium target pistol.

I bought my M41 on an impluse when it showed up here in the classified section at a price I couldn't ignore. It has the 7" barrel, I bought a 5.5 heavy barrel for it too... not sure how I feel about the 5.5 barrel yet, it adds a lot of heft (or at least the feeling of it) to the gun, I kind of prefer the feel of the original 7".

The Buckmark was never meant to be a high end target pistol like the M41 is. S&W surveyed the top target shooters of the day asking what they would want to see in a .22 target pistol, and the M41 was born.

So making a comparison between the two, in my opinion, is like making the proverbial apples & oranges comparison.

The Buckmark is of high quality, it doesn't have the refinements or prestige of the M41, but it is a very capable all around .22 pistol.

The M41 does rank higher on the "Oh WOW!!" scale, and if that is more of what you're after, go for it. You'll not have any trouble selling it, if you so desire, and get what you paid for it. .

 

[KAZ]

I own both and I like them for different reasons. The Buck Mark with a light 4" TacSol threaded barrel is a perfect suppressor host. They are ultra reliable, and I don't mind sticking it in a pocket or let it bounce around on the seat of my truck. The 41 is the Grail of 22rf pistols,my only regret is that I waited so long to discover them. When I go to the range the BM gets exercised, but I spend my real time with the 41's. Yes, I now have an "A" series 5.5" and a 7". They both like CCI SV,Rem Target,Fed Automatch, and are flawless with any of those three. So, the only danger here is that once you acquire a 41 you will lust for another. Regards

 

[hikerbum]

Gunhacker has given you one of the most lucid and fair response to just about any forum I have particpated on.

spot on..... both great guns, just filling different roles.
I own several buckmarks. Totally happy. I have drooled over some model 41's, but for my applications, the buckmarks work fine.

IMHO

 

[keppelj]

I have two of each and continue to shoot all of them. The Buckmark is not a gun to love, but it's a wonderful tool and it will never frustrate you by failing to fire this round or that and it is very accurate. I shoot it every bit as well as the 41s. The 41s are beautiful guns, great triggers, easy to strip, a bit cranky when it comes to bullet choice, obviously accurate. In air travel I prefer to take a Buckmark because it wouldn't be quite the loss if it's stolen which is always a possibility. If you do go for the BM get one of the models with the rail on top, the field or contour models, so you can use a red dot if desired. Weight-wise the BM is a little better with a tube type red dot (for me) since they are lighter than the 41s. Overall the field is my fav because it also has the bull barrel for a bit more heft.

 

[NCTexan]

The model 41 will never give you buyer's remorse.

The other may or may not... it depends on what floats your boat.

I know that in most decisions that are important to me... if I ever knowingly make a compromise decision, I always end up wanting the 'real deal' later on.

(Of course, I always make a decision that I can afford... that means, sometimes I wait a little longer.)

 

[golflender]

had my 41 for about 2 mos,,best gun I ever owned. you will never reget it get the 41,,

 

[Karl in NY]

Post the same question on a Browning forum, and get completely different answers...what do you expect to get for responses here? Duh...

I have a M41 and a Buckmark Field...both are perfect...that said, many people have problems getting M41s to function with their first choice of ammo, whereas the Buckmarks digest everything.

The Buckmark Targets and Fields have pretty much excellent triggers.

My solution: buy both.

 

[wproct]

The fact that you are pondering the decision indicates that you can afford the S&W 41 if you so desire. Absolutely without question, buy the 41. You will never regret it! If you still can't get over wanting the Buckmark, wait a year or two and buy it also.

 

[CraigJ]

Igot a Ruger stainless to go with my M41. The Ruger is for everything but PPC. The M41 shines there-with CCI ammo!!
CraigJ

 

[oldRoger]

=1 for the M41. As to the barrel length, I have both lengths as well as the 7 w/brake. I use both. The longer barrel may be better with iron sights. But I like the 5 1/2 with red dot.
I have a Clark Custom barrel w/Dockter sight that IMO is super.

 

[cgv69]

Is a M41 worth $300 more then a Buckmark? Well I'll go against the grain and say depends? An M41 is a much better built pistol then a Buckmark and from a pure quality standpoint, yes the M41 is worth twice what a Buckmark cost. That said, the Buckmark, while not in the same league (quality wise) as an M41, it is still a very good .22LR pistol.

But the real question (IMO) is; is an M41 worth twice as much for you and your needs? That depends on you and what you plan to do with the pistol? If you are someone who really appreciates a finely made firearm and are looking for a true target grade pistol that is made in the old school way (all steel and wood), great trigger, nice "blued" finish, dead accurate and just a joy to shoot and own, then yes M41 may be the right pistol for you and worth the extra $300.

If you are just looking for a good quality .22LR pistol to use for informal shooting, practice and plinking or a sidearm for the woods\camping then the Buckmark might actually be your better bet. Buckmarks are good firearms and if your needs, tastes and budget are more practical in nature, I would have a really hard time telling you to spend $300 more for the M41. It should also be noted that aftermarket parts and accessories are easier to find for the Buckmark and the Buckmark is also easier to add a sound suppressor to if those are things that interest you?