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The Buckmark mags can be modified relatively easily to give you 12+1 capacity. Even if you don't have the extra mag capacity, as long as your gun is reliable and you shoot fast and straight enough, it won't put you at a huge disadvantage IMO.

If you're not getting results with the 1911, I don't think you can buy them by getting a Buckmark instead. I have both a 1911 and a Buckmark, and shoot both competitively, and there really isn't much to choose between them once you're shooting standing unsupported. The benefit of the 1911 is the sheer volume of aftermarket parts that are available. As for the VQ from Stockade, in my opinion it's a league above all the other LBPs available. The trigger is fantastic and you can strip and clean it fully without losing your zero. Not something that can be said of the Buckmark in my experience. The balance on the VQ is also superb.

JSC wrote:The Buckmark mags can be modified relatively easily to give you 12+1 capacity. Even if you don't have the extra mag capacity, as long as your gun is reliable and you shoot fast and straight enough, it won't put you at a huge disadvantage IMO.

12 +1 ???
Do tell.....

I recently had the opportunity to have a good go with a Buckmark and must say left with very mixed feelings. Back in the olden days I used to shoot a Browning Match 150 pistol. A beautifully engineered and accurate pistol. When I picked up the magazine for the Buckmark it felt like a familiar old friend, even the Buckmark it's self felt very familiar with the same action and rake of the butt etc.

However this thing felt like the mere shadow of my old pistol - almost like an "Airsoft" version of a proper firearm. Yes, it shot ok, reasonably accurate and seemed reliable, but felt like a really cheap Chinese copy. - Disappointed sums it up.

JSC wrote:The Buckmark mags can be modified relatively easily to give you 12+1 capacity. Even if you don't have the extra mag capacity, as long as your gun is reliable and you shoot fast and straight enough, it won't put you at a huge disadvantage IMO.

I'd love to find out more about this please matey, I've just purchased o e and this would be useful to know?

Thank you in advance.

Sorry, just saw Saddler also asked this a while back but I hadn't seen the post.

I'll try and get some photos online in the next few days to show you both what needs doing. Essentially, you will need to modify the mag follower and mag itself and also make a small modification to the frame. It's not that difficult as long as you're handy with a file and/or Dremel.

Here's how to increase your Buckmark's magazine capacity from 10 to 12. Thanks go to Steve Smoothy, who told me about these mods originally. Just cut away material a little at a time and test functionality until you're happy it all works reliably.

Start by taking a magazine apart (depress follower until the button lines up with the hole near the base of the mag and then pull out the button being careful the follower and spring don't end up on the other side of the room, or in your eye.

The plastic follower should then be shortened, as shown in the one below here:


Just follow the profile of the original one so it's the same angle and shape as the original.

Next, extend the slot near the base of the mag. It's not critical how much you extend it, but 10mm is about right.


If you've taken the right amount off the follower, you should now be able to get 12 rounds in the magazine.
But the design of the standard frame will prevent the last round from being fed now you've shortened the follower, so you'll need to file a slot in the frame as shown below, to allow the magazine button up further and feed the last round reliably.
In these photos, the slide lock latch has been removed. I've left it off, as it would need modification so it doesn't foul the mag button. You could probably modify it if you need to have a functioning slide stop open.

How to mod the frame:


Magazine inserted showing button can extend further:


That's it. You should now have 12+1 capacity.

You may also be interested in fitting extended base pads to your magazines to make mag changes easier. I recently found the TANDEMKROSS pads are being imported by http://pantersofoxford.co.uk/buckmark-shop, so I ordered a few and if you don't want to make your own, you might want to check them out.



There are different types of Buckmark magazines and these pads only fit the later type, apparently. I thought I had the right type but when fitted to my mags, these pads didn't allow the release latch to fully engage with the slot in the magazine, so they wouldn't stay in the gun.
I filed the slot out slightly as shown below and now they work fine.

Shown here is a modified mag on top of a standard mag. The slot is slightly extended towards the top to allow the latch to engage when TANDEMKROSS pads are fitted.


Hope I've explained everything clearly enough. The main thing is not to cut the followers down too much, or the final round in the mag may not feed reliably. If you do mess the followers up, they're only $4 in the U.S. so it's not the end of the world.

Bye for now

Wow!! You must need a dump truck for your nuts matey, fair play to you :-)

Don't think I'm brave enough to attempt this just yet.

Thank you so much for taking the time to source these so quickly though... I've saved this thread and will build up the confidence slowly.

Thanks for the "how to" post, JSC.