Browning Challenger III question

[Mad Man]

A friend of mine was looking at a used Browning Challenger III today in a local gunshop, and is thinking about buying it. Ever since he has shot my Browning Buckmark, he has been planning to buy a Browning .22 pistol.

However, I noticed that the magazine is of the European heel-release style, and there is a small notch in the bottom of the magazine to accommodate the latch. The Buckmark has a push-button magazine release behind the trigger, on the left-side of the frame (the style familiar to all of us Americans).

The only reservation I would have about him buying the Challenger III is availability of magazines.

Does anyone know if current production Buckmark magazines will fit in the Challenger?

And, what is the history of the Challenger? It looks pretty much like a Buckmark, except for the magazine release, and feels heavier.

Thanks for your help.

 

[Russ]

I have had a Challenger III since 1981 or 1982. I don't think the III was in production very long because shortly thereafter the Buckmarks came out. I always thought they were pretty much identical except they cheaped out on the grips on the Buckmarks. My III came with walnut grips from the factory. That's probably another $50.

Prior to that you had the Challenger II. It had a tapered barrel unlike the III which has the slab side bull barrel.

Mine has been great. Never a problem with it. I was able to order extra mags about a year ago from www.cheaperthandirt.com
I am 99% sure they were called Buckmark mags in the catalog. They were listed under a heading called "scarce magazines".

Don't know if they still stock them. They ran about $14 each. If the price is right, I would get the gun. They are nice.