Almost bought a Camp Carbine

Status
Not open for further replies.
I have one in my safe now with no plans to sell it. Easy to mount a scope or red dot if you want. I replaced my buffer with a Blackjack buffer and replaced the 11 pound recoil spring with a 17lb spring and also bought the recommended 21lb spring but haven't tried it. We like to shot at a 3.5" pole on the back side of my buds pond at 100 yards away. The record so far is 8 out of 10 hits off hand. I can hit a railroad tie plate at 200 yards off hand most shots.

If they have a down side its the plastic mag well/trigger guard that can be damaged by solvents and break. Mine didn't have that issue because the guy that owned it before me never cleaned the dern thing. It was filthy. But it ran perfectly. Matter of fact I have never had a feed or ejection issue with the two I have owned. My buds son killed his first deer with one of them. I have mags from 12 to 22 rounds for mine. Great little rifle that is just so much fun to shoot.

http://www.blackjackbuffers.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=87&products_id=196
 
I've always wanted a Camp45 carbine, but those are even harder to find in reasonable shape than a Camp9... and then there is the parts issue.

amd6547 said:
I came very close to buying a Ruger PCC recently, but went for a used Auto Ordnance M1 Carbine, instead.
Click to expand...

I was down at Cabela's a few weeks ago... they had a used 9mm M1 Carbine! I think it was a Citadel, if memory serves. It was also $500... but I passed on it because I know nothing about them.
 
<*(((>< said:
He's probably standing at the counter filling out the paperwork as we speak.
Click to expand...
Nope. I'm at work. I don't think I will buy it. It would be a nice little carbine to have, but there are some other things I want more.
If anyone would like to buy it, I know the shop owner and he will ship to your FFL for shipping plus $10 if you buy the gun.
 
rbernie said:
A decade ago, I had to have one in 9mm and one in 45ACP - I wanted a PCC, and I had tons of 59 and 1911 magazines sitting around. After I finally got my wish and had them in my possession, I found that they really didn't scratch any real itch for me; ergonomics were meh, sights were basic, and they didn't take alternative sights well at all. The big kicker for me was that they were prone to breaking the plastic magwell (had one fall over from a rack with an empty magazine in it, and that was that), and that's when I discovered that parts were problematic at best.

The good news was that I could sell them for more than I paid (minus the cost of repair!) and move on.
Click to expand...

Interesting tale, I had mine fall off the bench, some clown walked past it with it hanging off the bench, (really one of those concrete shooting tables that so many clubs have) land on the concrete floor and it hit right on the magazine....zero damage.

This is one of those bs stories that gets blabbed all over the internet....sorry callin bs
 
someguy2800 said:
The one thing the marlin has over everything else is looks. It’s the only attractive 9mm carbine in existence. I don’t have any experience to say if they are good or bad mechanically. I almost bought one last year but I went home and did some reading on them and decided against it just because I read of the difficulty in replacing things like magwells, trigger guards, and stocks. My intended use for it would be the same as I use my AR9 pistol for, plinking steel and bungee cording it to the metal rack of my 4 wheeler. The AR’s finish is tolerant of that, but I’d just feel wrong doing that to a camp 9.
Click to expand...

Yup you pays your monies and make your choices, and so much BS floats around about the plastic hanging out the bottom....and odd that no other plastic gun gets the same treatment.....really odd. Guess those Nylon 66's are just fragile as anything don't look at it crosways or it is going to bust in half on you....same with every modern plastic fantastic pistol....just don't drop it.

And yes I know the materials are different, but this ongoing myth that the thing is fragile and will bust if it falls over is pure garbage.

Some just can't stay off a dog pile....guess it makes them feel like they are a member of a club or something.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
fpgt72 said:
Interesting tale, I had mine fall off the bench, some clown walked past it with it hanging off the bench, (really one of those concrete shooting tables that so many clubs have) land on the concrete floor and it hit right on the magazine....zero damage.

This is one of those bs stories that gets blabbed all over the internet....sorry callin bs
Click to expand...
This isn't actually the first time that you've decided to call somebody on the forum a liar. Thanks, and well done.
 
rbernie said:
This isn't actually the first time that you've decided to call somebody on the forum a liar. Thanks, and well done.
Click to expand...

Call it like I see it......I just say it and I doubt I am the only one that thinks it.

The story of them falling over and busting is pure bunk, and anyone that has been around them knows it.

Do you really think that a major company would put out a product that delicate.....really....a gun....just think on it for a minute.

pure dog pile wannabe that is it.

But thanks.
 
fpgt72 said:
Yup you pays your monies and make your choices, and so much BS floats around about the plastic hanging out the bottom....and odd that no other plastic gun gets the same treatment.....really odd. Guess those Nylon 66's are just fragile as anything don't look at it crosways or it is going to bust in half on you....same with every modern plastic fantastic pistol....just don't drop it.

And yes I know the materials are different, but this ongoing myth that the thing is fragile and will bust if it falls over is pure garbage.

Some just can't stay off a dog pile....guess it makes them feel like they are a member of a club or something.

Small minds.
Click to expand...

Please don't respond to my posts in the future and I will do the same. If we were in person I'd have a few other things to say but this is the high road.
 
The story on the plastic is that some gun cleaners will attack it and weaken it. Do I thinks its a big problem? No I don't. I have seen one that sold on GB with a piece broke out of the mag well. But it still held the magazine and sold cheap. But there have been warnings before about cleaners that can affect plastics and not just this gun. The problem may be that some are using brake cleaner or other harsh chemicals and blasting the gun clean instead of taking it apart and cleaning it properly.

And if abused any gun can be damaged. How many old BP rifles have you seen that were broken at the wrist? How many times have you heard about a horse rolling on a rifle in the scabbard and breaking the stock or scope? I don't think the camp carbine is fragile or something that is going to break on you in normal use.

But if you guys keep bickering back and forth this thread will be closed. And that would be shame. These are nice little rifles that can be scoped or just shot with the open sights and with ammo they like they are accurate. Like 3" groups at 100 yards. I have seen that with my own eyes.
 
One of the things Marlin got really right on both of the Camp Carbines was the balance. They balance and mount very much like an M1 Carbine--light nand handy.

And, I'll submit that is the very thing that puts people off of them, too. They just feel "too light," "too nimble" to be "real." Many have been under-impressed by the accuracy, 2-3" at a 100 yards is pretty common. However, many have a 9mm or .45 pistol that shoots 2-3" at 25 yards, which is probably a better comparison. Maybe. Perhaps. Sorta. Your Mileage May Vary.

The Blackjack buffer is just about a must-have for these (and dirt easy to install).

Buy a stick of Picatinny to mount to the predrilled tapped holes on top and poke a HolosunS503 up there, and a tip-out magnifier to make your life easier. Pretty slick combo. My only complaint with my Camp45 is that it leaves poweder residue all over the inside of the action.
 
I like mine, but I did have to replace the hammer strut bridge when I let the buffer go bad before I replaced it. I made one with files and a drill press from a piece of scrap steel. Mine is in a Ram Line folding stock and has a Williams aperture sight. Makes for a nice, light (but ugly) package.

I bought a 9mm AR to save wear on it, but the AR is an ungainly mess compared to it. Now that I have a Ruger I really need to sell the AR.
 
I have a Camp 45 that I really like to shoot, for the brief time I had a cheap scope on it that didn't last but the gun would shoot clover leaf group at 50 yds with 185gr Nosler JHP under 7.5gr of Unique.
The original recoil buffer on the carbine disintegrated and the hammer strut bridge broke. I installed a new black jack buffer and a 16.5 lbs wolff recoil spring, and made my own hammer strut bridge.
This gun has been going strong at 500+ rounds with no issues.
The Camp carbine is a real mouse trap to take a part much like a Glenfield mod. 60 I had as a kid, I like the idea of the Ruger PC carbine and wish they would offer one in 45 acp.
What I really like about the the camp 45 is it takes 1911 magazines :D
 
Last edited:
If I come across a camp 45 for a good price odds are I won't be able to resist. I've looked at the ruger pcc and I'm not crazy about it, but I think if they made a birch stock version that would be a nice looking gun that would sell well.
 
The problem that I have is that it can't look cool or NY will just ban it. I am not sure that anyone would ever call the Camp 9 cool. I would consider the Ruger, no issues there, but it wasn't yet available when I got the 9. For 9 MM carbine fans, there are many to pick from. In NY that list becomes oh so short. The Federal Assault Weapon Ban was the beginning of the end for the Marlin. But based on prices, demand is still there. And isn't that one thing we want from our firearms? To appreciate in value? Yet we complain about elevated prices. Sometimes you just have to pay the price of doing business. Gunny's offer to help with a sale made me really think about it.

Wouldn't it be nice to have a spare? Still thinking, hmmmm, "Can I have a another rifle mommy dearest?".
 
The one I have doesn’t like aluminum cased ammunition at all. Luckily I learned that when parts were still available for them.
 
Blue Brick said:
I skipped the Ruger (I am Ruger fan) and Marlin. I bought a Hi Point. Accurate and reliable. Plus lifetime warranty and parts availability.
Click to expand...

Those hipoint little guys get nothing but good reviews, I don't have one but the only thing I have seen anyone say bad about them is they are a bit of a pain to take down. Past that no one says a bad word on them.

IMHO they do look interesting, I call them a planet of the apes gun....the original ones....it looks like something that should be in that movie, and i bet it would have been if it had been out in the 1960's....I just think they are cool looking.
 
FL-NC said:
They are cool, but too pricey for what they are to me.
Click to expand...

Shame is most cool stuff is anymore. Anything that seems to fall into the "traditional" category is anymore....same with the mini's the wood stocked flavors seem to go for so much more then the plastic....I guess because there is a market for the wood and steel....also with 357 lever guns, when you find one they are usually....well I ain't gonna pay that for that....back 15 years ago I could have had one for $300 and it was perfect....it is not 15 years ago anymore is the only thing I can say....and when I finally swallowed that pill I finally did buy my lever, the camp, and a model 8 and 81. I look at it this way I doubt that I will lose money if I ever feel the need to sell something....there is always that silver lining.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Similar threads

M
  • Locked
Got a "new" Marlin .45 Camp Carbine today...
Replies
19
Views
2K
beerslurpy
B
M
  • Locked
Changing Camp Carbine stock
Replies
1
Views
362
Dave Markowitz
Dave Markowitz
S
  • Locked
Why Marlin discontinue the 9mm and .45ACP camp carbine ?
2 3
Replies
71
Views
47K
Gaucho Gringo
G
M
  • Locked
Marlin Camp v. Beretta CX4
Replies
11
Views
2K
Navy_Guns
N
S
  • Locked
Tell me about your Marlin Camp 9
2
Replies
41
Views
5K
Elkins45
Elkins45
Back
Top