In the past I've written about my Marlin Camp 45. This a very fun, reliable, and accurate little rifle. Although Marlin discontinued them around 2000 or 2001, they remain popular and prices have gone up quite a bit in the past few years. If you see a Camp 45 in good condition for under $500 get it. Aside from being popular as the host for a suppressor, I suspect that when Kim du Toit wrote about his a few years ago he caused a surge in demand.
Ever since I first wrote about my Camp 45 I've occasionally received requests for guidance on them. Here are some tips to keep them running well:
1. Before you even shoot it, replace the wimpy 11# factory recoil spring with a 21# Wolff. The 11# spring is OK for the Camp 9, but the Camp 45 is grossly undersprung from the factory. If I got a Camp 9 I'd put a 16# Wolff in it. (Actually, I'd originally put a 16# in it, but then shot GeekWithA45's Camp 45, which sold me on the 21# spring. It functions well with the heavy spring, the recoil is almost zero, and as a lefty I no longer get stuff in my face shooting out the ejection port.) Caveat: With the 21# spring the action is very stiff, so if you have weak hands you may be better off with the 16# spring.
2. Ensure that the screws holding the action in the stock are tight. A loose fit, plus the OEM spring, are probably the reasons that the Camp 45 has the reputation for cracking stocks.
3. As you may know they use M1911 magazines. However, you must use mags which have a squared cutout on the top rear. Those with a semicircular cut will not seat all the way in the mag well. Chip McCormick Shooting Stars and Power Mags work well in my Camp 45.
4. The Camp 45 has a buffer in the back of the receiver which keeps the steel bolt from smacking the aluminum receiver. With a lot of shooting they can wear out, although this is less of a problem if you install a heavier recoil spring per #1, above. Pick up a spare from Marlin or Blackjack Buffers.
5. The trigger housing, which holds most of the guts of the gun, is made of plastic. It's not some fancy modern polymer so keep solvents away from it. I use nothing stronger than FP-10. Ballistol, Break Free CLP or automatic transmission fluid should also be fine. I've read from people who've learned the hard way that Gun Scrubber (AKA non-chlorinated brake cleaner) will melt it into a pile of black goo, so keep it far away.
6. Camp 45s have Marlin's Microgroove rifling, which has the reputation of shooting lead bullets poorly. I've shot only jacketed bullets in mine, so I can't speak from experience. However, it's something to be aware of before you loading up a pile of .45 ACP with lead bullets. Try a box or two of lead loads before stocking up.
Oh yeah, mine ain't for sale.
Wednesday, April 18, 2007
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8 comments:
Just installed 21 lb trigger in Camp .45 as Dave prescribes. No problem except now the trigger will not release. It's like stuck on safety even though the safety lever moves freely.Any ideas?
I assume you mean a 21 lb. recoil spring. I didn't mess with the trigger.
Sounds to me like something isn't assembled quite right.
Yes 21lb. Wolff spring. OK. That's entirely possible. The only thing I did with the trigger group was cock the trigger before reassembly. Seemed like it was the thing to do at the time. Now I can't even figure how to release the trigger with the group out of the receiver. Thought if I did that and reassembled with it with trigger released it may solve the problem. Whadaya think?
Do you have a magazine in the gun? The Camp Carbines have a magazine safety. If there's no mag in the gun, it won't fire.
I just found you blog and I'm impressed.
I bought a 45 carbine and yes, the buffer self destructed.
Because i live outside the USA, I camt buy those buffers direct from the makers.
Any advise or potions you can give me please. I belong to a U S trade sanctioned bottom Pacific country.
Sad Carbine Owner.
shot 1/2 of a clay pigeon remnant at 120 yards using lead ball reloads with the factory sights on my Camp 45 that I had loaned out to a relative. nice to get it back after 7 years, i noticed on the box i paid $299 for it brand new, looks like it was quite an investment. thanks for the spring advice
When you say a 21 lb wolff spring, guess you mean a spring that will fit a goverment 45 will work on a Marlin Camp 45 correct?
Thanks
Bob P
No, the 21 lb. spring I used is not the same as a recoil spring for a 1911. AFAIK it's specific to the Camp 45. I ordered it from Wolff Gunsprings (gunsprings.com).
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