I have put this post off for about as long as I possibly can. Mostly because I have not been comfortable writing gun comparisons or reviews, and admittedly, I’ve been a wee bit lazy as of late. I will also forewarn you that this is not a comparison of the Ruger 22/45 Lite, Mark III and Browning Buck Mark Camper UFX in the strictest sense. Other than both being .22 LR semi-automatic pistols, one could make the case they are not all that similar in the first place. Plus, it also doesn’t help that I modified the Ruger a little to make it mine and to address some issues I thought it had.

I am a BIG fan of .22s, both rifles and pistols. I have shot .22 long rifle (LR) since I was a kid. I started out shooting a .22 rifle with my dad and granddad somewhere between the age of 8 or 9; and I shot .22s rifles at Boy Scout camp as well as various Summer camps growing up.

As an early teen, my first ‘real’ gun was a basic Ruger 10/22 Carbine that my dad bought me for Christmas one year. I still have that rifle; and it still shoots great, like it always has.

Twenty-two is a fantastic round to shoot because you can shoot and train with it very easily due to its low recoil impulse and low cost. A .22 pistol can also be a great option whether you are just starting out with firearms or you enjoy economic plinking at the range.

Preparation

In preparation for this post, I took both the Ruger and the Browning to the range, not just once, but a few times. I wanted to get a good sense of how they were similar and different while putting a few hundred rounds through them.

I can tell you that I walked away with my favorite still being my favorite. Can you guess which one that might be?

Why I Purchased 

Ruger 22/45 Lite, Mark III

I purchased the Ruger 22/45 Lite a number of years ago. I have always been a big fan of Ruger and their 10/22 rifles, so I thought I wanted one of their .22 pistols. I never had fired one prior to owning this one.

The anodized blue color of the 22/25 Lite, I was considering at the time, stood out to me along with the ‘gills’ cut into the sides of the barrel shroud. Plus, the aluminum makes it pretty light in hand. I also knew that with it being a Ruger the quality would be there. 

Browning Buck Mark Camper UFX

It has been within this last year that I decided to jump on the Buck Mark bandwagon. Like the Ruger, I had not had any opportunity to shoot one prior to deciding to make the purchase, so why did I buy one?

Simply put, this was a gun missing from the stable. I decided to get this particular variant of the Buck Mark because it was what was available at the time; and I knew I would likely not be able to touch one again for the song and dance I picked it up for. The real reason is it has always seemed to me, when the topic of .22 pistols are discussed, that it cannot be done without someone, somewhere bringing up a Browning Buck Mark. As much as I have heard about them over the years, it seems they are a quintessential .22 pistol to have. So, I jumped on a deal that was simply too good to pass up, and, at the same time, filled a gap that I felt like I needed to fill.

Purpose of This Review

I want to provide enough of an overview for each pistol, along with some personal anecdotes for each, to give our readers enough information to help them decide if they were ever considering one or both of the pistols mentioned here.

Specifications

Ruger 22/45 Lite, Mark III

• Action: Internal cylindrical bolt construction
• Capacity: 10
• Weight (Unloaded): 23 oz
• Overall Length: 8.5”
• Barrel Length: 4.4” threaded
• Width: 1.00”
• Optic-Ready?: Yes, Weaver®-style rail
• Magazines included: 2
• Controls: Bolt stop, magazine release, and safety on left side only
• Sights: Adjustable rear sight with fixed, black front sight
• Upper Receiver: Aerospace-grade aluminum
• Frame: Zytel® polymer
• Grip: Replaceable, molded rubber panels
• MSRP: $515

Browning Buck Mark Camper UFX

• Action: Blowback 
• Capacity: 10
• Weight (Unloaded): 36 oz
• Overall Length: 10”
• Barrel Length: 6” tapered, threaded bull barrel
• Optic-Ready: Yes, Picatinny rail
• Magazines included: 1 (A bit stingy, if you ask me.)
• Controls: Bolt stop, magazine release, and safety on left side only
• Sights: Adjustable, Pro-Target rear sight with TRUGLO®/Marble Arms® fiber-optic front sight
• Upper Receiver: Aluminum alloy
• Grip: Ultragrip FX ambidextrous, textured grip panels
• MSRP: $649.99

Observed Issues

Ruger 22/45 Lite, Mark III

Complexity of breakdown – This was the #1 issue with this pistol; and it cannot be avoided as your 22s need to be cleaned. No firearm should be this complicated in breaking it down for routine cleaning and maintenance. The breakdown process was made easier by the steel hammer bushing mentioned above.

Not shooting unless a magazine is inserted – While I had and have no plans to use this firearm as a self-defense tool, I did not like the fact that if I had to change out magazines to reload, I could not fire any remaining round in the chamber without a magazine being inserted. This is not how my carry weapons operate, so I am not used to this function. However, I also fixed this with the steel hammer bushing modification mentioned above.

No lead ammo – You do not want to shoot non-jacketed (copper) ammo. In other words, shoot only copper-jacketed 22 ammo with this pistol. If you shoot lead 22, you will gum up the barrel with solidified lead in 50 shots or less. It’s no fun to clean out either. Ask me how I know.

Back of the bolt – The serrations on the back of the bolt can leave micro slices in your thumb and index finger tips, similar to that of paper cuts. These edges, which I’m sure are meant for gripping the bolt in order to rack it (chamber a round) can be a bit sharp. This is why I opted to put on the Challenger charging handle, as mentioned above.

NOTE: Always consult your owner’s manual for details on features and functionality.

Browning Buck Mark Camper UFX

Ammo – My Browning does not like Winchester Super X 22 ammo. I experienced multiple failures to feed with this ammo. I wonder what other ammo it will not eat? Switching over to CCI Mini-Mags seems to have fixed the issue, as it usually does.

Trigger looseness – It’s the way I can best describe the trigger’s play in this pistol. While comfortable, it is loose. The gun shoots fine over all; but there is some slop with the trigger that the Ruger simply does not have. The Ruger’s trigger is super crisp by comparison and performs very well consistently.

Grip – Some have complained about the comfort of the stock Ultragrip FX ambidextrous, textured grip panels on the Browning. However, this is not a point of contention for me, at least not enough to mention. With that said, I’m sure TANDOMKROSS or someone else in the marketplace has some more comfy grips for your consideration.

Weight – The Browning is 13 ounces heavier as compared to the Ruger. Is this an issue? As compared to the lighter, aluminum based 22/45 Lite, it could be. However, more weight can actually make for an even smoother shooter by reducing overall felt recoil.

NOTE: Always consult your owner’s manual for details on features and functionality.

Modifications

Ruger 22/45 Lite, Mark III

TANDEMKROSS:

Victory trigger, steel hammer bushing, rubber (wrap-around) grip, loaded chamber indicator eliminator, Game Changer compensator, Fire Starter titanium firing pin, Eagle’s Talon extractor, Challenger charging handle.

Why the modifications?

I wanted to eliminate the notion that the Ruger could not fire unless a magazine was inserted. I also wanted to make takedown a bit easier. Both were accomplished by the steel hammer bushing for a whole $10. Life made easier.

I also got rid of the loaded chamber indicator as, at the time, it was cited for potentially causing some misfeeds.

All of the remaining mods were my choosing based upon what they brought to the table and what I thought I wanted to get out of the firearm.

I also put a red dot on the Ruger, which helps a lot with accuracy and speed of follow up shots. Red dots are the way to go.

Browning Buck Mark Camper UFX

None to date. It’s not that I could not make some. It’s that I have not, at least not yet. Give me some time.

Accuracy

Both pistols are very accurate. I have no complaints about their capabilities. Did I shoot 25+ yards with them? No; but for most distances at indoor ranges or otherwise, you will be able to do what you like with time and practice, like any other firearm. And if you throw a red dot of some sort on top of either, dare I say, you may be even more accurate and faster on target in time.

Ergonomics

The Ruger, for me, is maybe a bit more comfortable with the non-stock grip I put on it. I think the grips on both work and will allow you to shoot well. Again, the after-market may have options that work even better for you.

Sights

While both have adjustable rear sights, the fiber optic front sight on the Browning excels. You can see it, with light, over the blacked out front sight on the Ruger. I would still recommend a red dot on top of either; and you don’t have to spend a lot on them for a 22 either.

Alternatively, you may consider putting a bit of bright orange paint on the front sight of the Ruger to make it easier to pick up.

Trigger

The Ruger wins here, hands-down. The take-up is straight-forward. There is a solid wall, the break is super crisp, and the reset is short and sweet. The trigger operation goes to the Ruger, no doubt!

As I mentioned previously, the Browning’s trigger is a bit loose or sloppy by comparison.

Conclusion

You may have guessed already, but my Ruger 22/45 Lite is my favorite between the two. The trigger is fantastic in it and the other modifications helped improve it that much more. It’s a solid, fun little pistol to shoot. And, if I’m being honest, I am partial to a Ruger anyway, if it wasn’t obvious.

While I’m not convinced the Browning is anywhere near the Ruger overall, I will say that it is a solid shooter and a lot of fun.

If you are budget conscious, then I would say that the Ruger is again the clear winner. However, if you are curious or just ‘need’ a Buck Mark in your stable, then the Camper UFX is a more basic option of Buck Marks available from Browning for your consideration.

No matter your choice, having a 22 pistol in the mix is never a bad thing. Hopefully, this .22 pistol comparison gave you some food for thought.

NOTE: We have no affiliation or relationship with TANDOMKROSS. They just make some solid after-market parts that you may like to consider for your Ruger or Browning.

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