Marlin 9mm Camp for $300 ("as-is" with common problems)

[wrs840]

I hope I'm not committing a serious infraction here by re-asking something that I originally posted in a discussion in the Buy/Sell/Trade forum... But (1) that probably wasn't the proper place for it, and (2) I need to make a purchase decision quickly. Explanation:

There's a Marlin 9mm Camp Carbine in a local Pawn Shop that I do a fair amount of business with. It has (what I take to be) a fairly common problem of broken internals... (Thanks to TehK1w1 for the following "heads-up" on what to check for):

...they are good guns but suffer from a design flaw. The factory recoil spring is too weak on both the 9mm and 45ACP version(wolff makes upgrades) The weak spring causes the factory recoil buffer to break down and eventually A) Crack the stock and/or B) Break the bridge that connects the hammer spring to the receiver (the "hammer strut bridge"). Check for both of these problems before buying a camp 9 or 45. You can see if the bridge is broken by removing the stock and looking at the back of the reciever. The bridge straddles the gap between 2 plates and is at the very back-if it's broken, it will be gone, or will fall out when you remove the stock.

These issues can be fixed or prevented by installing a heavier recoil spring and a new recoil buffer.

I went back to the store today, and based on my inquiry about the design flaw, one of the store employees (that I know and trust) took the stock off, and the "Hammer Strut Bridge" i.e. the flat rectangular plate with a little nub on each short side, fell out because one of the nubs is now gone (sound right?). I didn't see a recoil buffer at all, but I'm not sure I know where to look for it.

The spring (I think) had started to pound a divett into the internal routing of the stock, but it's not very deep and the stock is not cracked. The shop owner took it off the retail rack to put it in the back for repair (he's a good guy and not going to sell something with hidden flaws), but said if I want it "as is" I can have it for $300. Sounds fair to me... but I'm no gunsmith... So...


My questions:

1. Is Numrich the place to buy a replacement "hammer strut bridge" and recoil buffer?

2. Numrich offers "a" strut spring, but how do I identify/spec what would be a "better" or "correct" Wolff replacement spring?

3. The "Magazine, 9mm, 20 round, Factory Original New* (item 31), seems like a good thing to order a few extras of . Anywhere else I should look for these?

4. Any other parts I should inspect for likely damage, or replace as a good preventative-maintenance measure while I'm at it?


Thanks for the help! THR is a truly incredible resource for non-expert enthusiasts like me!

Les

 

[SimpleIsGood229]

I wish I could give you information, but all I can give you is a free bump (since you need info quickly).

 

[Kman]

Numrich for the strut bridge, wolf for the recoil spring, and there are various places that sell the buffer, the gun uses S&W 59 series mags, usually about $25, don't bother with any hi-cap mag that isn't S&W.

 

[wrs840]

Thanks for the bump, SIG, and for the input Kman.

Les

 

[mgkdrgn]

or get yourself a brand new Hipoint 9mm carbine for $100 less and skip all the problems.

 

[wrs840]

Who's got them?

Les