Got a Marlin Camp .45 Today

[Dave Markowitz]

I took a ride out to Seneca Arms in Green Lane, PA this afternoon and wouldn't you know it, but he had one of the guns on my "to buy" list. It's a Marlin Camp .45 Carbine. Asking price was $379, which is quite reasonable for the .45 Camp Carbines. So, I swapped off a .357 Blackhawk that I never warmed up to, plus some boot.

The overall condition is excellent and the bore looks new. The stock has a few dings but nothing major. It's missing the front sight hood, which I may replace.

After doing a little research I field stripped and cleaned it. The barrel needed only one pass with a BoreSnake, while the action needed to be cleaned as it had a fair amount of carbon in it. I just used a brush with FP-10 and some paper shop towels, although I did take the bolt outside and hose it down with CRC Brakleen. Dissassembly was pretty straightforward, although you need a flat screwdriver to remove the two takedown screws. I didn't take apart the trigger group and after reading a few posts here, I don't plan to.

I added a British L1A1 sling (like a Lee-Enfield sling, but made of green nylon) to it after I got home. The Marlin came equipped with sling swivel studs but not swivels, so I used black cable ties for swivels. They may look cheap but they work and they don't rattle.

The Marlin is light and handles very well. The stock feels like Marlin assumed that owners would be scoping it, since it's fairly high. The trigger pull is on the heavy, creepy side but for short-range use it should be ok. I love the Garand-style safety and the fact that it can share mags with my Springfield M1911. Assuming the gun runs well and is reasonable accurate, I'm thinking I'll add a red dot sight to it.

It's too bad Marlin dropped the Camp Carbines, especially the .45, since there is a dearth of .45 ACP carbines on the market.

I'll file a range report after I get it out next weekend.

 

[iamkris]

Good on ya...and that's a good price. I can't seem to find them sout of $425.

I think it's a great little carbine as well. Would like to get one some day.

 

[P95Carry]

Good one to snap up Dave and they don't come cheap it seems now ... I seem to remember Anapex managed to find himself one not too long ago.

I would like one ... must admit ... liking so much as I do my Camp 9mm ... not the prettiest gun but shooting wise ... just great.

Guess it still is on my list if truth known! Look forward to a pic and your impressions later.

 

[rbernie]

Good on ya - I'm jealous as hell. I've been looking for one for ages, and the only ones I can find are usually over the $500 mark.

 

[M2 Carbine]

Dave, take a good look at the buffer to. Mine fell apart after a few years.

Marlin had them so I got two.

It's a fun rifle.

 

[anapex]

Fun little rifle, I lucked upon mine too at a local shop a couple months ago. A real nice soft shooting rifle, to me it almost feels like a .22 rifle when firing. The wife even warmed up to it a little so you know they must be nice carbines

 

[nipprdog]

Good on ya - I'm jealous as hell. I've been looking for one for ages, and the only ones I can find are usually over the $500 mark.

http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?s=&threadid=81323

 

[Dave Markowitz]

M2,

Thanks, I did check it out and it looks like it's in good shape. I'll pick up a spare or two, though, along with a 16# recoil spring from Wolff.

BTW, do you know if it uses the same scope mount as Marlin's leverguns? I'd like to put a Weaver base on it so I can mount a red dot.

Thanks.

 

[nipprdog]

Dave, I got my weaver scope mount at wal mart. don't have the package anymore, but remember that it did fit other marlin rifles.

 

[Dave Markowitz]

Thanks nipprdog!

 

[Dave Markowitz]

Look forward to a pic and your impressions later.

Poof! Here's a pic, shooting impression will unfortunately have to wait.

I put my Underwood M1 Carbine in there to keep it company.

 

[M2 Carbine]

Dave, I just checked my rifle.
It will take a Weaver number 63 A or B base.
The same base as the Marlin lever actions I believe.

The A is longer, about half way to the rear sight.

I've got a 63B on mine now and it's plenty long.


Also if you find your magazines are hanging up it's probably the magazine safety.
I wound up taking mine out.
I'm not a fan of magazine safeties anyhow.


That looks like a 63A base on MaterDei's rifle, below.

 

[MaterDei]

Congrats Dave,

I bought one myself in March and am having a lot of fun with it. I paid about $50 bucks more for mine than you did (but mine came with a scope). I had the buffer replaced and had a gunsmith do a good thorough once over on it and I definitely think she is a keeper. The only problem I have is that it tends to drop the mag early from time to time. I think I just need to replace or tighten up the mag release spring. I plan on replacing the scope with a red dot.

Mine came with the non-checkered stock so it was not as purdy as yours to begin with. Nevertheless, I bought a Ram-Line folding stock for it and now it is absolutely hideously ugly. Just the way it should be...

Here is a picture of it with a magazine sharing sister.

I look forward to the range report.

Michael

 

[anapex]

Ok finally got off my butt and took some pictures of my Marlin Camp .45 and 1911 combo. Also threw in a classic Buck folder for the heck of it. And since I know my photographic skills are horrible I have to make everone jealous by letting you know I only paid $325 for the Marlin .

 

[P95Carry]

anapex - you do yourself down .. a most creditable pic if I may say. For purely personal taste I might desaturate a tad, ease out a smidgeon of red and overall lighten a bit .. but that could just be me being a pedantic ol' phart! I like it!

Having a Camp 9mm and seeing these .45's .... maybe I should keep an eye open for one myself ... rather appeals to me!

 

[anapex]

I didn't play with the colors or contrast any with it, that's straight from the digital camera. I had to use the long exposure option on it for low light cause now matter how I adjusted the lighting I had available it would come out too dark.

I say if you can find one Chris snatch it up, I've enjoyed mine every time I've had it out. Had to put the red dot on it cause I couldn't keep the rear sight from being crooked for some reason.

 

[P95Carry]

Hey - I have a red dot on the Camp 9mm ... and wouldn't be without it. My use of iron sights is diminished thru old eyes but even so .. I think these carbines are a hoot to shoot when a red dot is on. Glad you are enjoying yours.

Here .. just for fun .. threw your pic into image mangler for about 60 seconds and lifted and tweaked a bit. Could do better but - this was what I had in mind, more or less.

Best

 

[Domino]

I wish they still made those (sigh) it would be a great combo for my 1911. They seem like a truly great concept with the lack of .45 carbines out there. What is the velocity of .45 ACP out of that 16.5" barrel? My guess is that with 230 grain FMJ you will get around 1100 or so. Man, that would be sweet. Anyone know if any company is making a lever carbine in 500 S&W Magnum or .50 AE? Ammo would be a rediculous but man what a deadly weapon they could be.

 

[P95Carry]

Anyone know if any company is making a lever carbine in 500 S&W Magnum

Domino .... Wild Alaska has this as a footer on his emails .. maybe get in contact ......

WILD WEST GUNS, Inc. 7521 Old Seward Highway Anchorage, Alaska 99518 (907)344-4500 1-800-992-4570 Please visit our Web Site at www.wildwestguns.com for pricing and information about our products, our full line E-Store, new and used firearms and loading data. We are proud to announce the WWG Model 04 Lever Action rifle in 500 S&W and 454 Casull. Details on our website.

 

[Domino]

Whoa

Holy crap that things gotta kick like a mule, I was thinking it might be a little bigger but I guess thats the nature of lever guns. I know when I shoot my Rossi 92 in 45 colt with Magnum loads it has quite a bit of an uncomfortable pinch on my shoulder. That things scary, I would probably be better of with a single shot because I would shoot it once and then sell it. Just kiddin. Thanks for the info.