Browning CHALLENGER II 22 AUTOMATIC PISTOL User Manual

BROWNING ARCHERY EQUIPMENT

Browning compound bows give you select
hardwood handle riser, limbs of hard rock
maple and fiberglass laminations and
eccentric cams mounted in limb notches
rather than on bulky metal hangers for a
faster, harder-hittinq arrow. In addition to
high performance hunting models, there
are special light draw weight models for
junior and lady archers.

-

BROWNING BOOTS

are knoun for
Thel're bulk from the f nest leathers. w~th
features I~keVibramsoles. Goodyear storm
welts. Norwegian reverse welts, full glove
leather linings and soft cushion insoles.

BROWNING GOLF EQUIPMENT-Whe-

ther you shoot double bogey or par, Brown­ing's line of low profile clubs, distinctive
bags, and tireless Bag Boy Golf Carts will
make your game more enjoyable.

Browning Model
Serial Number

Purchase Price
Purchased From
Date of Purchase

-

the~r comfort and long wear.

Brown~ng Boots

Please fill out and mail the Market Survey Card

at the back of the booklet.

We are proud that you have chosen

manufacture, we have endeavored to incorporate the very
finest in materials and craftsmanship; and with just rea­sonable care, this gun should provide you with many
years of

pleasuw and dependable service. If, you have any
observations to make regarding its performance or ap­pearance, we hope you will write us immediately.

We would also like to know more about you

as a Browning owner and would be grateful if

you could take but a moment to complete and
return the market survey card found on the
inside back cover.

Thank you.

Route

D~stributed

5350

#I. Morgan,

in

Canada

by:

Ferr~er Street. Montreal. Que.

Browning

Utah

Canada

a

Browning.

84050

Spolts

H4P

LtdILtee

IL9

In its

YOU

FOR

Browning Challenger

ARE

RESPONSIBLE

FIREARMS

11

22

Automatic Pistol

SAFEI"Y

Please let us remind you that, as a gun owner, you
accept a set of responsibilities of the most demand­ing nature. How seriously you carry out these respon­sibilities can be the difference between life and death.
Mistakes made with guns are final and cannot be
paid for with money or regret.

PLEASE

READ

AND
UNDERSTAND THE PROPER HANDLING AND
INSTRUCTION PROCEDURES OUTLINED IN
THIS BOOKLET BEFORE USING YOUR NEW
FIREARM.

The cardinal rule of safe gun handling is: Always

keep the muzzle of your gun pointed in

a

safe direc­tion, even though you feel certain your gun is un­loaded and "on safe." Be extremely alert and aware
of all persons and property within the range of your
ammunition. At all times handle your gun with in­tense respect for its force and power.

Never, under any circumstances, carry or handle
your gun with a round in the chamber unless shoot­ing is imminent. Never trust any gun's "safety." The

is

word, "safety,"
block mechanism, hammer block mechanism,

used to describe a gun's trigger

fir-

Challenger

11

22

Automatic Pistol Challenger

11

22

Automatic Pistol

ing pin block mechanism or sear block mechanism.
These are all mechanical devices used to place your
gun in a
that the gun will not fire even

"on safe" position.

Like any mechanical device they can sometimes

fail; they can sometimes be jarred or inadvertently

manipulated into an unsafe condition. These me-

chanical "safeties" merely aid safe gun handling and

are no excuse for pointing your

direction.

Your responsibilities do not end when your gun is

unattended. Never keep a loaded gun unattended.

Store guns and ammunition in separate, locked

areas. Whenever possible, store this pistol with the

slide locked back and the magazine removed. (This

does not harm the recoil spring in any way.) Take

all safeguards to insure your gun does not become

available to untrained, inexperienced or unwelcome

hands.

There
of any firearm. At all times handle your gun with in-

tense respect for its force and power.

safer

status. No guarantee can be made

if

the "safety"

muzzle in an unsafe

is

no excuse for careless or abusive handling

is

in the

Please read and practice the following cautions:

CAUTION

ALWAYS KEEP THE MUZZLE OF YOUR

1

.

PISTOL POINTED

even though you are certain the pistol
loaded and "on safe." Never point your pistol
at anything you do not intend to shoot. Be
extremely alert and aware of all persons and
property within range of your ammunition.

NEVER TRUST YOUR PISTOL'S MECHAN-

2

.

ICAL "SAFETY" DEVICES.

ty," describes a gun's trigger block mechan-

ism, sear block mechanism, hammer block

mechanism or firing pin block mechanism.
These are mechanical devices that place your
gun in a SAFER status. No guarantee can

made that the gun will not fire even

"safety"

Like any mechanical device a safety can
sometimes fail; it can be jarred or inadver­tently manipulated into an unsafe condition.
Mechanical "safeties" merely aid safe gun
handling and are no excuse for pointing your
pistol's muzzle in an unsafe direction.

is

in the "on safe" position.

IN A SAFE DIRECTION

is

The word, "safe-

if

un-

be

the

Challenger

3

.

4.

5.

I1

22

Automatic Pistol

is

While it
mechanical "safeties" periodically for proper
function, NEVER test them with a loaded pis­tol or point the muzzle in an unsafe direction.

Safe gun handling does not stop with your
gun's mechanical "safety" devices. It

there. Always treat this pistol with the respect

due a loaded, ready-to-fire pistol.

ALWAYS REMOVE THE MAGAZINE, LOCK
THE SLIDE OPEN AND VISUALLY CHECK
THE CHAMBER OF YOUR PISTOL WHEN
YOU

vertently contain any ammunition.

WHENEVER YOU HAND YOUR PISTOL TO
ANOTHER PERSON

magazine, lock the slide open and be sure

the chamber

also points in a safe direction when handing

the pistol to another person.

BEWARE OF BARREL OBSTRUCTIONS.

Before the first firing of your pistol clean the
bore using a cleaning rod and patch. Wipe
away any anti-rust compounds present in the
action-chamber areas. Before you load your
pistol, remove the magazine, lock open the
slide, BE SURE THE CHAMBER

a good idea to "test" your pistol's

PICK IT UP

to be sure it does not inad-

always remove the

is

empty. Be sure the muzzle

IS

EMPTY-

starts

Challenger

then glance through the barrel to be sure it
clear of any obstruction.

DO NOT SNAP THE HAMMER ON AN

6.

mn

NOT BE

respect due a loaded gun-even though you

are certain the gun

KEEP YOUR FINGER AWAY FROM THE

7.

TRIGGER

moving the magazine.

BE SURE OF YOUR BACKSTOP.

8.

range of your ammunition and be certain
there
Never shoot at water or hard objects. Handle
your pistol at all times with deep respect and
alert consideration to all within its range.

DO NOT CARRY YOUR PISTOL WITH

9.

ROUND IN THE CHAMBER.

you do not chamber a round until immedi­ately before the pistol is to be fired.

10.

ALWAYS UNLOAD YOUR PISTOL WHEN
NOT IN USE.

zine and be sure the chamber
your pistol and ammunition separately-be­yond the reach of children. Whenever

CHAMBER-THE

EMPTY!

while unloading the pistol or re-

is

no chance of damage or accident.

Remove and unload the maga-

11

22

CHAMBER

Treat every gun with the

is

unloaded.

We recommend

is

Automatic Pistol

5

is

MAY

Know the

A

empty. Store

possi-

i

i

!

Challenger

11

22

Automatic Pistol

Challenger

11

22

Automatic Pistol

ble store this pistol with the slide locked back
and the magazine removed. (This will not
harm the recoil spring in any way.) Take all
safeguards to keep your gun away from un-

trained, inexperienced, or unwelcome hands.

1 1

ALWAYS UNLOAD
AND MAGAZINE BEFORE CROSSING
FENCE, CLIMBING A TREE, JUMPING A
DITCH

lean a lbaded gun against a fence, tree, car
or other similar object.

BE SURE OF YOUR TARGET.

12

persons, livestock, buildings or other objects
are behind or near your target. Be absolutely
sure of your target particularly during low
light periods.

1

3

FOR

ommend that you always wear shooting
glasses and hearing protection when shooting.

14.

IN

HAND SHOULD BE IN A POSITION

WHERE

REARWARD MOVEMENT OF
You should also avoid unorthodox sighting
methods where the pistol might be held close

to

or negotiating other obstacles. Never

EYE

AND

GRIPPING

IT

COULD BE HIT WRING

the

eve.

ANY

EAR

PROTECnON

THE

PISTOL,

GUN'S CHAMBER

Be sure no

we rec-

NEITHER

THE

THE

SLIDE.

A

15

IF YOUR PISTOL FAILS TO FIRE DUE TO

A

MALFUNCTION OF EITHER PISTOL OR

AMMUNITION

safe direction and hold this position for a
minimum of
slide and remove the cartridge.

indented, it should be disposed of in a way

that can not cause harm.

indented, your pistol should be examined by
a qualified gunsmith and the cause of the
malfunction should be corrected before
further use.

16.

BE DEFENSIVE. BE ON GUARD AGAINST
UNSAFE GUN HANDLING

others. Don't be timid when it comes to gun
safety.
the above safety precautions, politely suggest
safer handling practices.

1

7

EDUCATE AND SUPERVISE.

safety to all members of your family, espe­cially to children and non-shooters. Closely
supervise newcomers to the shooting sports.
Encourage enrollment in hunting-shooting
safety courses.

If

keep the muzzle pointed in a

30

seconds. Carefully open the

If

around you and

you observe other shooters violating

Stress firearms

If

the rim

the rim

is

is

not

Challenger

11

22

Automatic Pistol

CHALLENGER I1

22

AUTOMATIC PISTOL

NOMENCLATURE

In conventional gun terminology the position and
movement of pistol parts are described as they occur
with the pistol horizontal and in normal firing position;
i.e. the muzzle
rearward or rear; the trigger is downward or under­neath; the sights are upward or on top.

is

forward or front; the pistol grip is

AMMUNITION

Your pistol must be used

Cartridges. The barrel and action of this pistol have
been made with substantial safety margins over the
pressures developed by established commercial
loads. Nevertheless, Browning can assume no re­sponsibility for incidents which occur through use of

cartridges of
oping pressures in excess of
standards.

'Sporting Arms and Ammunition Manufacturing Institute

nonstandard dimension or those devel-

only

with

22

SAAMI' established

Long Rifle

Challenger

11

22

Automatic Pistol

GENERAL OPERATION

Your new Browning

matic pistol. With the chamber and magazine loaded
and the safety* in the off safe or fire position, the
pistol will fire a single round with each successive

pull of the trigger until the magazine and chamber

are empty. The slide of the pistol

open after the last cartridge has been fired.

is

a recoil operated, semi-auto-

is

designed to stay

DESIGN FEATURES

The Challenger

block "safety*." To put the mechanism on safe the

slide must be fully forward. The thumb safety lever

is

then pressed upward into the recess provided for
it in the slide. (Note: This may require firm pressure.
Be sure the lever travels its maximum upward move­ment and

though the sear

such as a sharp blow could still dislodge the hammer
or otherwise cause the firing pin to move forward and
discharge a cartridge.

When the slide

can be raised to lock the slide in its open position.
With a magazine in the frame, this latch is automa­tically actuated to lock the slide open after the last

'See handling precautions at the beginning of this booklet.

II

incorporates a thumb operated sear

is

completely engaged in the recess.) Al-

is

now blocked, abusive handling

is

drawn rearward a Stop Open Latch

Challenger

shot
(Fig.

It
chamber can be fired after the magazine has been
removed so always check the chamber to be certain
as to the pistol's firing status.

Figure

11

22

Automatic Pistol

is

fired. This

is

a signal the gun

is

empty

1).

is

important to remember that a cartridge in the

1

11

22

Challenger

LOADING

At all times while loading, be certain the muzzle is
pointed in a safe direction. With the slide locked to
the rear and the magazine out of the gun, inspect
the chamber to be sure it is empty. Close the slide

and place the manual thumb "safety*" in the "on
safe" position.

Depress the magazine's follower button
page

10)

with the thumb of one hand, while inserting
the cartridges with the other hand. Insert the loaded
magazine into the pistol, being certain that the mag­azine is pressed completely in and is being retained
by the magazine latch.

To load the chamber, move the manual thumb

"safety*" lever down into the off safe position and
pull the slide completely back. Release the slide. It
will move forward under spring pressure and feed
the first cartridge from the magazine into the cham­ber.

THE

PISTOL

After pulling the trigger and thus firing the cartridge,
the pistol automatically ejects the fired cartridge and
feeds a fresh cartridge from the magazine into the

chamber ready for a second shot. Thus the shooter

may fire the pistol until the magazine is empty merely

by pulling the trigger for each shot. After the last

*See handling precautions at

AND

IS

NOW

the

READY

beginning

Automatic Pistol

FIRING

(See

Fig.

FOR

FIRING.

of

this booklet.

5,

'

Challenger

Schematic
and should not be used as a guide to assemble guns.

is

provided for parts identification only

11

22

Automatic Pistol