1985 Buck Mark 22 pistol

I have an old Buck Mark target pistol that I've owned since '86.   It has been a terrific gun.  However, I've started shooting it more now that I am working to get started in Bullseye and I've started having issue where it will not feed correctly.   Sometimes the issue is a misfeed, but other times it is just a fail to feed (as in slide open and shell ejected, but bullets still in the magazine).    Can someone help me out on the likely culprit.   It has all of the original parts, so I'm sure it is time for a little refresh - I am just not sure where to start to address the issue.    Thanks for your help!

The first thing I'd check is to make sure that your thumb isn't riding the slide, and/or slide release lever.

Clean it good too and be careful as many parts aren't available for the early Buckmarks.
- Dave

Another thing to check is the magazine. Springs just might be getting old and not presenting the bullet to the slide fast enough. The recoil spring starts getting weak and the slide comes back faster, the magazine spring gets weak and the bullet moves up slower. Timing gets off. Just my .02

LenV wrote:Another thing to check is the magazine. Springs just might be getting old and not presenting the bullet to the slide fast enough. The recoil spring starts getting weak and the slide comes back faster, the magazine spring gets weak and the bullet moves up slower. Timing gets off. Just my .02

+1 Good point don't forget to clean the mags they get really gummy too.
- Dave

My S&W 41 is partial to CCI SV mostly because of the wax coating on the bullet. I can use Federal Autoloader if I put some reloading die wax on the bullet. I use an old tin of Imperial. A little on my fingers as I load the magazine and no loading or ejection problems.

Entire forum over on rimfire central on the Buckmarks. 
1) sounds like magazine related as others have said.  See the sticky thread on cleaning the magazines. If failure to feed is always last round, then magazine spring needs replacement.   If you are using a modern magazine, go back to the OEM version, they are slightly different in how they sit in the gun
2) chamber has to be clean or the round drags on the built up crud
3) return spring might be tired which would cause the slide to returm slower into battery
4) if you haven't had it apart, the recoil buffer has likely fallen apart and that might be robbing a bit on the slide return velocity 
5) the rear sight bridge screw can come loose and cause exactly your problems

Thanks!