Marlin Camp 9

larry408 · November 29, 2001, 06:13 PM

I bought a Marlin Model 9 at the last Astrohall gun show. I bought it to go with my
9mm pistols. What is the opinion of this carbine?

ohen cepel · November 29, 2001, 10:42 PM

Good fast handling and firing rifle. Fun to shoot.

Ledbetter · November 29, 2001, 11:15 PM

Great gun. I put a Trijicon Reflex sight on mine and it's my house carbine. Too bad they don't make them anymore.

Enjoy.

provalov · November 30, 2001, 01:44 AM

NOW you're talking! That's my current favorite shootin' arm. Bought it for the same reason you did -- it takes the same pre-ban hi-cap mags my HS2000 pistol uses. (You may know this already, but the Camp 9 will take S&W 59 Series Hi-cap mags.)

If you don't mind my asking, what did you pay?

longship · November 30, 2001, 11:58 AM

Can anyone tell me how the camp 9 functions compared to a Ruger PC9? I'm not just talking about reliability, ease of cleaning, but also technically how it functions. Ruger's version is a blowback design I hear. Anyway, your input would be most appreciated.

Bruce

Chad Young · November 30, 2001, 12:55 PM

The Marlin Camp Carbine is a conventional blowback design rated for standard (not +P, +P+, or NATO) level ammunition. It is very accurate and can be mounted with sights easily (use sight bases for the Marlin 336 rifle). As you noted, it takes S&W 5900 series mags. I have also used 6900 series mags. The rifle was never a great seller, which is why production ceased on these rifles.

The Ruger PC9 is also blowback, but does have a heavier mass-delay action. This allows you to use +P, +P+, and NATO ammo in a PC9. The PC9 also takes Ruger P85/89/95 series mags, which are cheap and plentiful in their standard-capacity form.

From personal experience, I can give you a comparison of each.

1. Both are a pain in the a$$ to strip and clean, with the Ruger being slightly easier to clean.
2. Both have decent, not great, triggers. I would give Ruger a lsight edge in this department.
3. The Ruger has integral grooves for Ruger's own scope bases. The Camp Carbine has none, but can accept Marlin 336 scope mounts.
4. Marlin has a Micro Groove barrel in it, so shooting lead is a messy proposition. It is VERY accurate, though! The Ruger PC9 is conventionally rifled.
5. The Ruger is heavy, due to the mass of its heavier blowback mechanism (it is almost as large as the slide on a P-series pistol!). The Marlin is significantly lighter due to its lighter blowback mechanism (looks more like the breechblock of a .22). Both are handy and compact.

Summary:
Ruger - heavier, costs more, but is more rugged and can shoot hot ammo. Still in production.
Marlin - lighter, cheaper- when you can find them; cannot shoot +P ammo.

I have shot and liked both. For plinking, a used Camp Carbine is a good deal. If I needed something more rugged for serious use, I'd go for the PC9.

Ledbetter · November 30, 2001, 01:04 PM

This gun is the same design as the Model 9 and they fit in the same stock. An aftermarket folding stock by Choate is available, but not legal for post ban guns.

The model 45 takes standard 1911 magazines. It's straight blowback operated bolt weighs a whopping 15 ounces. I have found that the micro groove rifling takes a little extra time to clean thoroughly, but the gun is far more accurate than you'd expect out to 75 yards or so. Bullet drop at 100 yards is about 6-8 inches.

They like to be kept clean. Here's a website

http://members.aol.com/fourn6/camp9.html

Regards.

provalov · November 30, 2001, 03:35 PM

Although I have heard from several folks that +p is not acceptable for the Camp 9, when I took the time to check the owner's manual, it only warned against +p+, not +p.

Para Bellum · November 16, 2005, 05:56 PM

I know this thread is rather old, but: Is the Camp 9 or a smiliar rifle still in production (maybe by another company)?

All I found is this Ruger PC9GR

Omaha-BeenGlockin · November 17, 2005, 07:10 PM

The Ruger runs cleaner too----back in the 80's---a buddy of mine had a Camp 9---that thing would be cruddy and gummed up after a box or so -----while a PC9 won't hardly show any signs that its even been shot.

Dave Markowitz · November 17, 2005, 07:22 PM

PB,

The Marlin went out of production several years ago. The gun most similar to it that's still newly made is the Ruger PC-9.

Ledbetter · November 17, 2005, 07:55 PM

But there are more choices now than just the Ruger and the Marlin. Kel-Tec and some others, including European guns. Good luck.

November 29, 2001, 06:13 PM	#1
larry408 Member Join Date: October 16, 1999 Location: NW Arkansas Posts: 40	Marlin Camp 9 I bought a Marlin Model 9 at the last Astrohall gun show. I bought it to go with my 9mm pistols. What is the opinion of this carbine?

November 29, 2001, 10:42 PM	#2
ohen cepel Senior Member Join Date: November 20, 1999 Location: Where they send me Posts: 1,013	Good fast handling and firing rifle. Fun to shoot. __________________ He who dares wins. NRA Life Benefactor Member

November 29, 2001, 11:15 PM	#3
Ledbetter Senior Member Join Date: February 23, 2000 Location: California USA Posts: 4,533	Got one in .45 Great gun. I put a Trijicon Reflex sight on mine and it's my house carbine. Too bad they don't make them anymore. Enjoy.

November 30, 2001, 01:44 AM	#4
provalov Member Join Date: August 21, 2001 Location: Lexington, SC Posts: 31	NOW you're talking! That's my current favorite shootin' arm. Bought it for the same reason you did -- it takes the same pre-ban hi-cap mags my HS2000 pistol uses. (You may know this already, but the Camp 9 will take S&W 59 Series Hi-cap mags.) If you don't mind my asking, what did you pay? __________________ Provalov

November 30, 2001, 12:55 PM	#6
Chad Young Senior Member Join Date: September 20, 1999 Location: Gainesville, FL Posts: 601	The Marlin Camp Carbine is a conventional blowback design rated for standard (not +P, +P+, or NATO) level ammunition. It is very accurate and can be mounted with sights easily (use sight bases for the Marlin 336 rifle). As you noted, it takes S&W 5900 series mags. I have also used 6900 series mags. The rifle was never a great seller, which is why production ceased on these rifles. The Ruger PC9 is also blowback, but does have a heavier mass-delay action. This allows you to use +P, +P+, and NATO ammo in a PC9. The PC9 also takes Ruger P85/89/95 series mags, which are cheap and plentiful in their standard-capacity form. From personal experience, I can give you a comparison of each. 1. Both are a pain in the a$$ to strip and clean, with the Ruger being slightly easier to clean. 2. Both have decent, not great, triggers. I would give Ruger a lsight edge in this department. 3. The Ruger has integral grooves for Ruger's own scope bases. The Camp Carbine has none, but can accept Marlin 336 scope mounts. 4. Marlin has a Micro Groove barrel in it, so shooting lead is a messy proposition. It is VERY accurate, though! The Ruger PC9 is conventionally rifled. 5. The Ruger is heavy, due to the mass of its heavier blowback mechanism (it is almost as large as the slide on a P-series pistol!). The Marlin is significantly lighter due to its lighter blowback mechanism (looks more like the breechblock of a .22). Both are handy and compact. Summary: Ruger - heavier, costs more, but is more rugged and can shoot hot ammo. Still in production. Marlin - lighter, cheaper- when you can find them; cannot shoot +P ammo. I have shot and liked both. For plinking, a used Camp Carbine is a good deal. If I needed something more rugged for serious use, I'd go for the PC9. __________________ Come visit me at www.aboutguns.net

November 30, 2001, 11:58 AM	#5
longship Member Join Date: July 5, 2001 Location: Mooresville, NC Posts: 65	Can anyone tell me how the camp 9 functions compared to a Ruger PC9? I'm not just talking about reliability, ease of cleaning, but also technically how it functions. Ruger's version is a blowback design I hear. Anyway, your input would be most appreciated. Bruce

November 30, 2001, 01:04 PM	#7
Ledbetter Senior Member Join Date: February 23, 2000 Location: California USA Posts: 4,533	A word on the Marlin Model 45 Camp Carbine This gun is the same design as the Model 9 and they fit in the same stock. An aftermarket folding stock by Choate is available, but not legal for post ban guns. The model 45 takes standard 1911 magazines. It's straight blowback operated bolt weighs a whopping 15 ounces. I have found that the micro groove rifling takes a little extra time to clean thoroughly, but the gun is far more accurate than you'd expect out to 75 yards or so. Bullet drop at 100 yards is about 6-8 inches. They like to be kept clean. Here's a website http://members.aol.com/fourn6/camp9.html Regards. Last edited by Ledbetter; November 30, 2001 at 01:37 PM.

November 30, 2001, 03:35 PM	#8
provalov Member Join Date: August 21, 2001 Location: Lexington, SC Posts: 31	Although I have heard from several folks that +p is not acceptable for the Camp 9, when I took the time to check the owner's manual, it only warned against +p+, not +p. __________________ Provalov

November 16, 2005, 05:56 PM	#9
Para Bellum Senior Member Join Date: January 7, 2005 Location: right there Posts: 1,882	Marlin Camp 9: still/again in production? I know this thread is rather old, but: Is the Camp 9 or a smiliar rifle still in production (maybe by another company)? All I found is this Ruger PC9GR __________________ Si vis pacem - para bellum If you want peace - prepare for war

November 17, 2005, 07:10 PM	#10
Omaha-BeenGlockin Senior Member Join Date: December 13, 2001 Location: U.S.A. Posts: 1,183	The Ruger runs cleaner too----back in the 80's---a buddy of mine had a Camp 9---that thing would be cruddy and gummed up after a box or so -----while a PC9 won't hardly show any signs that its even been shot. __________________ I take the leech that's bleeding me Can't stop to save my soul I take the leash that's leading me -------Metallica

November 17, 2005, 07:22 PM	#11
Dave Markowitz Senior Member Join Date: October 16, 2002 Location: SE PA Posts: 372	PB, The Marlin went out of production several years ago. The gun most similar to it that's still newly made is the Ruger PC-9. __________________ Dave Markowitz http://blogostuff.blogspot.com

November 17, 2005, 07:55 PM	#12
Ledbetter Senior Member Join Date: February 23, 2000 Location: California USA Posts: 4,533	But there are more choices now than just the Ruger and the Marlin. Kel-Tec and some others, including European guns. Good luck. __________________ Regards, Ledbetter from thefiringline TFL #4573 NRA for Life Winchester Canyon Gun Club for Life