Marlin Camp .45

[eveled]

I’ve been wanting a carbine in .45 acp for a long time. Preferably one that takes 1911 magazines. Not many options and none are currently made. Finally found a nice Marlin Camp .45. Ordering a buffer and 21lb spring before I shoot it. No cracks In the stock or magazine well.

Made in 97, I gave $900 for it.

 

[GasGuzzler]

Oh dear, those are pricey. That always bothered me because they didn't go up like everything else. Guess that means they're worth $900 now. They were $900 when a vintage Marlin 336 was $300 but I guess they were overpriced back then. 45s are generally worth more than 9s. And stainless are very hard to come by. Find a stainless 45. I passed on a 45 at Bowie Trade Days about 15 years ago at $750 because I did not have $750. Did have the 22WMR version for a short time. Wish I had that back.

 

[XUSNORDIE]

I had both the 45 and 9 camp guns. Lost them in the divorce almost 30 yrs ago. I still have four of the extended 11 round magazines I bought for it. Other Marlins I lost were a Papoose, Midget Magnum, 30AS, and a 444. Back in the 80's they were not considered anything special.....now they are ridiculously priced for used guns in my opinion.

Of all of them, I'd really love to have the Camp 45 and 444 back. But I'm not paying 5 times the price I paid back in the 80s.....when life was normal and far better in the gun world...and most everything else.

 

[Watertender]

I can remember seeing both the 9mm and 45ACP versions in Walmart and the prices weren't bad. However more pressing issues like eating and keeping a place to live were more important so I didn't get either one.

Dan you lost your stuff in a divorce. My stuff was stolen by my scumbag brother. Both ways suck...

 

[DGW1949]

I had both the 45 and 9 camp guns. Lost them in the divorce almost 30 yrs ago. I still have four of the extended 11 round magazines I bought for it. Other Marlins I lost were a Papoose, Midget Magnum, 30AS, and a 444. Back in the 80's they were not considered anything special.....now they are ridiculously priced for used guns in my opinion.

Of all of them, I'd really love to have the Camp 45 and 444 back. But I'm not paying 5 times the price I paid back in the 80s.....when life was normal and far better in the gun world...and most everything else.

The Marlin Camp ,45 was introduced in 1985 and sold for Aprox $310 ..... According to the two online inflation calculators that I checked, $310 in 1985=$933.81 today, which means that you'd have to pay over 3 times the 1985 price for like-new example today before you was actually "paying too much".....I will agree though, that being's how the "5 times the price" which you mentioned would equate to over $1,500 today.....yeah, that would be way more than I'd pay too.

DGW

 

[PRichardson87]

Very nice! Glad you understand about the buffer situation. I've seen a few people destroy a good stock.

 

[cellar701]

Very nice! I don’t shoot mine because it’s so easy to crack that factory stock. You’ve got me thinking I need to get a replacement stock (they seem to be more available now, even a folding stock…) and get to having fun with it again.

 

[GasGuzzler]

A stainless 45 will set you back $1500 I bet.

 

[PRichardson87]

Very nice! I don’t shoot mine because it’s so easy to crack that factory stock. You’ve got me thinking I need to get a replacement stock (they seem to be more available now, even a folding stock…) and get to having fun with it again.

If you have an original recoil buffer replace it immediately. They are only $10 and good for several thousand rounds.

 

[eveled]

Good advice to replace the buffer, also the consensus is the recoil springs are too light. They recommend 16lbs for 9mm and 21lbs for .45acp. Midway has them in stock.

Originals were 10lbs for both 9mm and .45acp!

These are blow back guns. So a good spring and buffer are necessary.

 

[cellar701]

Yes, I understand and have acted on the recoil buffer issue- the original factory one was pretty ugly when I changed it out; probably not very effective. And mine was very lightly used when I got it.

 

[cellar701]

I don’t recall replacing the spring - I’ll need to check on that. Thanks!!

 

[eveled]

They are cheap. I ordered replacements for mine without even looking inside. The buffer would be obvious, but the spring?

This way I will know for sure,

 

[GasGuzzler]

Buy an aftermarket "soft" buffer.

 

[Rat76]

Good advice to replace the buffer, also the consensus is the recoil springs are too light. They recommend 16lbs for 9mm and 21lbs for .45acp. Midway has them in stock.

Originals were 10lbs for both 9mm and .45acp!

These are blow back guns. So a good spring and buffer are necessary.

Thanks for bringing this up. I hadn't even thought about recoil springs. I just ordered one of each & a spare buffer from Midway for my Camp 9. I picked it up at one of the big shows in Tulsa, Metcalf or Wannamaker, 20 years ago for $350.

I have 3 9mm carbines, Camp 9, KT SUB9 Canadian (not Sub2000) & a PC9. The Marlin is the best looking & handling of the three as well as least intimidating. The PC9 is built like a tank and matches my P85. The KT is unusual, all-metal except for the furniture & kinda of scary looking. It's also the least pleasant to shoot.

 

[moparclan]

Enjoy
Have a nickel 9mm and blue 45 both still NIB. Have another blue 9mm that gets shot often, sold a nickel 9mm awhile back for $900, and two like new stocks for $400 each.
New buffers and 16.5 pound spring for the 9mm and 21 pound for the 45.
Smith and Wesson 12 round mags work great in the 9mm.

Nickel 9mm

 

[GasGuzzler]

I misspoke. They're nickel not stainless and they're scarce nonetheless.

 

[eveled]

I knew what you meant. A lot of people think they are stainless Yes they are scarce. I’ve never seen one.

I was surprised to learn they were nickel plated. You don’t see that often anymore. Especially rifles.

 

[southernbuck101]

Locust Fork has a 9mm on Gunbroker right this minute that's "silver".
They claim stainless.
It's past $1400.00 last time I looked.

 

[GasGuzzler]

A stainless 45 will set you back $1500 I bet.

Locust Fork has a 9mm on Gunbroker right this minute that's "silver".
They claim stainless. It's past $1400.00 last time I looked.

 

[Hawk-in-Wi]

https://www.gunbroker.com/item/1150544919

$1,451.00

Included are; Spare Parts, in Bags with labels, many hi cap and extended mags, Factory Papers, 3 trigger/mag housings, and some other items---See Pix.

and closed at that price

 

[PRichardson87]

https://www.gunbroker.com/item/1150544919

$1,451.00

Included are; Spare Parts, in Bags with labels, many hi cap and extended mags, Factory Papers, 3 trigger/mag housings, and some other items---See Pix.

That's actually a great deal

 

[black1970]

Yes you will need spare parts if you shoot them very much. They are pure junk on the inside. And the side plates that wear out where the pins go wallow the holes out. Only one side plate was available years ago and that one probably is no longer available. Much better deal is a Colt AR 9 mm if you like to shoot pistol ammo. BTW the Marlins look like Tinker toys on the inside. Plus buffers wear out fast. In before the haters. I love my Marlin levers.

 

[Star43]

Enjoy
Have a nickel 9mm and blue 45 both still NIB. Have another blue 9mm that gets shot often, sold a nickel 9mm awhile back for $900, and two like new stocks for $400 each.
New buffers and 16.5 pound spring for the 9mm and 21 pound for the 45.
Smith and Wesson 12 round mags work great in the 9mm.
View attachment 93595

I have the 9MM blued still new in the box with the papers and obviously never been shot. It's been kept in a nice cool and dry climate since I bought it back in the 90's. Just yesterday even before seeing this thread, I was thinking of shooting it and the thought of the buffer problem came to my mind. I was kind of thinking of trying it and see how it shot and just be very watchful of the buffer. In the past I have seen on line that some guys have had problems with the buffer and some didn't ?? I am thinking of how a gun like this was stored or the climate it was in would have a lot to do with that. What do you guys think about that ??

 

[eveled]

Buffers are cheap. The old ones crumble and turn to dust. Just replace it.

Time is the enemy of plastic, even if it isn’t disintegrating it isn’t as pliable as it was. The lube is probably turned to shellac too. It’s 30plus years old!

Also the consensus is the factory spring was too weak from the start. Replacing it with a 16lb one (for 9mm) is recommended.

Your gun do what you want. If it were mine, I would strip it clean it, re lubricate it replace buffer and spring. Both are available from Midway.

I’m waiting for a new spring and buffer before I shoot mine.

 

[Rat76]

I got mine 20 years ago, the original buffer was crumbled at that time.

 

[Star43]

I understand what you guys are saying. It's just hard for me think the buffer has "crumbled" , well mine anyway, as I know how it's been stored. The gun itself has been taken out and wiped down and such a few times over the years and then I put it back in the box and put back on the shelf, all in a good temperature and climate.

 

[eveled]

The buffer is $9 the spring is $7. Why take the chance?

 

[GasGuzzler]

I bet the buffer is toast. Time kills them just as much as use.

 

[the_leper_colony]

I can remember seeing both the 9mm and 45ACP versions in Walmart and the prices weren't bad...

I bought one of the 9mm Marlins at K-Mart, about 35 years ago: it was their 'display' carbine, so it had a few dings & scratches, but it was priced right (less than $250 IIRC). I didn't keep it very long, because it wouldn't function if there was any upward pressure on the bottom of the magazine, and for some reason that really bothered me.

Always wanted one of the Ruger PC9s to go with my P85, but never could afford one. I did manage to trade into one of the newer Ruger 9mm PCC's back during the China virus, and like it a lot, so I don't miss the Marlin!