Marlin Camp Gun or old Ruger Mini-14?

[Win_SX-1]

We are at our family cabin "up north" here in Minnesota and I just stepped into the LGS to buy some ammunition. The owner was busy with another customer but was gracious enough to ring up the sale for the ammo.

On my way out, I saw that he had a Marlin Camp Gun in 9mm and an old Ruger Mini-14 - both were on sale for $300 and both had wooden stocks. They were obviously used but did not look abused ... at least not in the display cabinet. I'm guessing the Marlin was from the mid-80s and the Ruger from the early 90s. Since my family was waiting, I did not have time to wait for the owner to finish with the other customer. The shop is closed for the rest of the weekend so I plan on going in next Saturday to have another look.

What are the things that I need to look out for? Are these fair prices if they are (say) 75% condition - remember I did not have time to inspect them. I can only afford to buy one and not both of these. I like the idea that the Marlin is in the same caliber as my P99 so I do not have to stock yet another set of ammo, but I'm worried about getting magazines, parts etc. The Ruger is still being made so I know I can upgrade if I want to.

I would only use it for plinking. We do have wildlife around the cabin including deer, coyotes, foxes and bears. And a couple of winters ago we saw what we thought were wolf tracks but didn't see any. If they become a nuisance I do have a pump shotgun and my father-in-law's Garand, but they have always kept to themselves and never bothered us.

I would appreciate any advice on the Marlin and the Ruger, especially what to look out for when I go back ... assuming they haven't been sold by then

Thanks

 

[spence]

Good prices on both of them. Ihave had both, and think the ruger is much more practical for a cabin situation ( or any other situation for that matter ).I would not wait till sat . those are fast selling items. good luck .

 

[DesertFox]

At $300/ea, I'd grab both, shoot 'em, pass one on if you prefer one over the other.

Camp 9 may require replacement springs and buffer.

Here's good info on it campgun9.

 

[danez71]

Around my area... I can buy used mini 14 all day long at $300. Last time I was at one particular LGS thay had 5 @ $300 to choose from. A couple were scoped.


However (around here), I cant find a Marlin Camp 9 or Ruger PC9 for the life of me. LGS guy said he rarely sees them and he thinks the last one went for 'round 5-6 hundred'. Gunbroker has them sometime for that range.

 

[rjrivero]

Camp 9 may require replacement springs and buffer.

Here's good info on it campgun9.

If the stock isn't cracked already, a buffer and springs will "save it" from doing so.

The Carbine 9 is in higher demand re-sale wise than the Mini 14, IMVHO.

 

[Old judge creek]

The God's Honest Truth is that I'd not want either one for a camp gun although I will admit that the Mini 14 offers more two legged varmint stopping power than does the 9mm.

What's the biggest wild critter in your woods? Arm yourself to protect against that. My camp rifle in my neck of the woods varies from a Trapper length rifle to match my selected handgun (none of which are chambered in 9mm) or my Marlin Guide Gun in 45-70 which may be overkill in the desert but'll stop anything in North America should the need be.

 

[Swami]

I agree with the above posters: The .223 round of the Mini 14 would seem more practical as a camp gun, but the Camp 9 at $300 might be the better bargain in general.

 

[Redlg155]

The older Mini 14s don't have a stellar reputation for accuracy.

I believe the 9mm may be a bit more practical for camp use. A variety of loads are available for defense and general purpose use, including snake shot for snakes and small vermin. The sound signature is quite a bit quieter than the. 223, allowing for more discreet use at night. You never know when a. coyote might show up.

 

[Swing]

Great prices on both.

I haven't seen a Camp-9 that low in ages. In fact, I've seem them on some auctions for twice that. I wouldn't worry too much about parts and mags for said as they still can be found. I seem to recall they use Smith & Wesson Model 59 mags, though originals and aftermarket ones are widely available.

So, I'd have to agree with the above. The Mini-14 would make more sense for a practical standpoint, but the Camp-9 is a better deal.

Good luck.

 

[Furncliff]

I bought a Camp 9 recently for ~$400 it looked practically new. The camp 9 is a blow back design, with the ammo it prefers and good magazines it's reliable and accurate for short range plinking which is what you said the mission was. I've tried several different optics for it, but I think in the end I'll wind up with peep sights. You may need to try various brands to get the accuracy and reliability you want from it. Mine will not function Blazer aluminum but does fine with the inexpensive Wolf Silver Bear. 9mm ammo. Any feed issues, suspect the magazine.

Don't fire it until you check the recoil buffer The factory buffer was white and they degraded with time. And if they are in pieces as mine was they can batter the rifle and cause the stock to split. The blue buffers are aftermarket and are reported to last. Here's a link for buffers and recoils springs, order and replace both and your all set. They are not expensive.
http://www.blackjackbuffers.com/index.php?main_page=product_combo_info&products_id=874&zenid=37def1b4f3d31cd915340c833cce76cd

The trigger on mine was just awful. I sent the trigger group to a smith and he worked over, it's acceptable now (~$50). This rifle was designed to use Smith & Wesson series 5900 magazines. They are available in 10, 15, 17, 20 round sizes. I ordered a 15 round McGar for mine and it's flawless. The Marlin mag was probably made by S&W ??? it functions OK. The Pro-Mag that came with my rifle is not recommended. Here's one place to buy the MC Gar.
http://www.topgunsupply.com/magazines-smith-wesson/

Midway has them also.

Search Camp 9 on Youtube, there's a few videos there.

Shooting 9mm is just about the cheapest CF ammo out there and a $300 carbine. Sounds like the tin cans around your cabin better roll to cover

 

[Win_SX-1]

Thanks for all the replies.

Since I have other rifles for animal control (should I need to), I really am only looking for a fun gun. Unfortunately, money is tight and I cannot afford both right now.

From the replies it seems like the Marlin is an extremely good price provided there's nothing seriously wrong with it. And parts and magazine should be easy to find.

The guns shop is closed for the rest of the Memorial Weekend and I have to go back to the four-letter word (work) on Tuesday. The next time I'll be back at the cabin is Friday night and I'll be at the gun shop door at opening time next Saturday hoping he hasn't sold them already.

I keep you all updated either way - thanks

 

[SHR970]

I have both and wouldn't hesitate to say Mini-14 hands down.

The downside to the older mini's is they are usually 3-4 MOA guns with 55 gr. ammo; they generally go 2 MOA with 62 gr fodder. 181 series were originally 1:10, then the 185 series went 1:7 around 1989. In 1994 with the 580 series (ranch rifle) they went 1:9. If you get a 1:7 twist rifle, don't expect good accuracy with 55 gr. bullets. As the barrels heat up, the zero tends to wander (string) especially pre 580 series. Just my experience with the ones I've handled.

The Marlin's downsides are, the bolt buffer (previously mentioned), ammo sensitivity (don't use +P or +P+), stock cracking (perviously mentioned) and mediocre at best triggers. To compound the issues, the trigger housing is made from ABS plastic. If you get Acetone on it you WILL melt it. That means avoid Ed's Red or any other formulation that contains Acetone or Paint Thinner. The trigger mechanism is a close copy of the Marlin Model 60. If you take it apart you will need 4 hands and 5 slave pins to put it back together. If you melt one you will get a crash course in frustration.

The Marlin is a 50-100 yard gun, the Mini is better for farther out.

 

[Carl N. Brown]

A pistol caliber carbine like the Marlin Camp Carbine 9mm may be a better choice for home defense (if you have to shoot a Mini14 indoors the muzzle blast is deafening). For general utility use around a cabin, mostly outdoors, the Mini14 is more verstile.

 

[shiftyer1]

I haven't seen a mini 14 much under 500 in years, haven't seen many camp guns ever. I think their both good choices financially, you can probably do more with the 223.

If it was me i'd try really hard to swing both