Marlin Camp Carbine Experts Needed!

[Shootfire]

I recently bought a NIB Marlin Camp Carbine in .45 ACP. After reading advice on this and other forums I bought and installed a Blackjack Buffer and a 21 lb Wolff recoil spring. I took the gun to the range yesterday and had some malfunctions. Once in a while, the bolt came forward and hit a cartridge as it was going into the chamber, gouging the side of the casing. It did it with the original Marlin magazine as well as others. I'm wondering if I should try the 16 lb spring.

Any thoughts?

 

[rbernie]

Remove the buffer, leave the spring.

See how that works. The spring is far more important than the buffer, and chances are that the buffer is reducing rearward travel of the bolt to the point that it's causing you problem.

 

[rcmodel]

Thoughts?

I thought you should put the factory parts back in just like it came NIB.

Then see if it works or not.

Swapping out parts before you even tried the gun and mags to see if they worked is not a good way to get started out.

Once it is working again with all the magazines, you can start replacing springs & buffers one thing at a time, and know if that is going to cause problems or not.

rcmodel

 

[stiab]

Remove the buffer

Don't do that!!

This gun was designed and built to be used WITH A BUFFER, don't shoot it without one. If your gun was NIB, then it did not need either a new buffer or spring, but would within a couple thousand rounds. I'd put it back to stock and try it. I installed the Wolf spring and a new buffer on one of my two, but only after a lot of use.

 

[R.W.Dale]

Remove the buffer, leave the spring.

See how that works. The spring is far more important than the buffer, and chances are that the buffer is reducing rearward travel of the bolt to the point that it's causing you problem.

Unless you want a broken and or cracked stock DO not remove the buffer from a camp carbine EVER. The Marlin camp rifles rely far more heavily on bolt mass and the recoil buffer than they do that tiny lil return spring

If your gun was NIB, then it did not need either a new buffer or spring, but would within a couple thousand rounds.

The factory buffers amongst other parts in these rifles are notoriously sub standard and would harden and disintegrate from age alone without firing a shot. I wouldn't even shoot a camp rifle unless I saw the buffer replaced beforehand

 

[rcmodel]

Still think it is a bad idea to start replacing parts before you even find out if a new gun works or not.

rcmodel

 

[stiab]

Still think it is a bad idea to start replacing parts before you even find out if a new gun works or not.

+1 on that, but it has to have a buffer in it, either the original one that came in it or the replacement.

 

[rbernie]

Using the OEM spring and buffer will crack the stock. Using the Wolff 21lb spring and stock buffer will work fine.

My presumption was that the new buffer was put in ALONG with the OEM buffer - not as a replacement. Seen that done.

Sorry if I was unclear.

 

[Shootfire]

The stock buffer was removed before the replacement was installed. The buffer has a projection that fits tightly in a hole at the back of the receiver. I can't imagine how two buffers could be installed at once.

I was wondering about reducing the thickness of the replacement buffer, giving the bolt more space to work in.

 

[stiab]

My presumption was that the new buffer was put in ALONG with the OEM buffer - not as a replacement.

That certainly would not have worked on mine. Space for one buffer only.

 

[ThomasT]

Make sure your magazine spring is good and strong also. If the spring is weak or lifts the rounds too slowley the bolt will hit the side and not the rim of the cartridge. I read this in a gun mag once so I can't take credit for the info.

45 ACP rounds are heavy.

This is more important with the heavier recoil spring that cycles the bolt faster.

 

[Shootfire]

I'm stoked! I figured out how to make this Marlin run! I put a 16.5 lb Wolff spring in it, used round nose bullets, used the stock Marlin Magazine and a Blackjack buffer - ran like a clock!

This thing is a blast to shoot! Low recoil and very quiet!

Love this rifle now!

 

[Trebor]

I put a 16.5 lb Wolff spring in it, used round nose bullets

Was the problem caused by the bullet profile on the previous ammo you tried or the overall bullet length?

Just wondering if the switch to the new ammo made things work because the new bullets are round nosed or because the new bullets are longer (or shorter) then the previous bullets.

 

[alemonkey]

Very cool, I used to want one of these so bad when I was a kid. Too bad they're discontinued, but I'm guessing they're not tacticool enough to sell these days.

 

[Shootfire]

Trebor, since I changed more than one thing, I can't say for sure what made the difference, though I'm leaning towrds the 16.5 pound spring versus the 21pound spring. I'll try some hollowpoints next time I go to the range to see if they will work now! I'll probably try some other 1911 magazines at that time, also.

 

[BillyBA]

take it to a professional gun smith so he (or she) can examine it and make the call for you and perhaps even get it right for you - without you trying numerous trail and errors yourself ?? i used to own a marlin camp 9mm a long time ago ( my very first fire arm ) and gave it to a friend at work because the barell got a little rust from it sitting in my trunk for so long - young and dumb , wish i still had it now ?

 

[Plinkeriffic]

Might I ask?

Was wondering how you found it and what it was worth to you. No worries if I'm being nosey (just trying to find one like it or something similar). Thanks!

-Plink