Marlin Camp Carbine Vs. Ruger Police Carbine

[USAF_Vet]

So I've been on the hunt for a Marlin Camp 9 for awhile now, to share mags with my S&W 469 as a nice little combo.

With the recent acquisition of a Ruger P-89, I figured I'd throw the Ruger PC9 into the mix.

In a side by side comparison, which of the two is better? I'd like a list of Pro's and Con's for each. Any personal anecdotes, good or bad, about either would be appreciated.

 

[Mosin Bubba]

I've never shot the Ruger, but I've shot a Camp 9 plenty. They're fun plinkers that remind me a lot of an M1 Carbine, but they're cheaply built, and I don't think they're worth the asking price nowadays. The last couple I've seen at gun shows were over $700.

 

[TruthTellers]

I had a co-worker once who was in love with the Marlin Camp Carbines, or the philosophy of them at least. His problem was that they were already out of production, pricey, and they didn't take any mags he already had.

I think what it comes down to is if you have mags already for it and the money to spend, get the Marlin. The Ruger Carbines are already a thing of the past and the P series Ruger had were so blocky, they made Glocks look like runway models.

Since you've already acquired a P89, Unless you have shot it enough to make it your main pistol, don't bother with the Ruger.

For me, I skip them both and get a Gen 1 Sub-2000, wait for Kel Tec to fix their Gen 2 Sub 2000's, or get a Hi Point.

 

[saltydog]

I have a camp .45 and shot it very little. It shoots pretty good and I have it sighted in at 50 yards.

 

[M1key]

Owned the Marlin and the Ruger. They were both accurate shooters. Much quieter than a pistol.

The Marlin had a rather poor trigger at least compared to the PC9.

Marlin was lighter than the Ruger, but not as good quality, IMO.

The Ruger was a solid, robust, somewhat heavy piece. Federal 115 +P+ clocked over 1600 fps and really flattened water jugs.

Both are gone now, but if I could find another PC9 or even a PC4 at a reasonable price I would own it.

M

 

[rule303]

The Ruger is a much more robust design, and will hold up to tens of thousands of rounds without much fuss. The Marlin is a lot lighter, and better looking IMO, but it has its quirks like the poly recoil buffer and mag well that can cause issues. Either one is seriously overpriced on the used market relative to what they sold for new.

 

[JR47]

The Marlin was designed more as a Camp gun (hence the name) than a Police carbine. It's not meant for thousands of rounds in a short period of time.

The Rugers, both PC9 and PC4 were designed as a Police carbine using pistol calibers. Meant for more shooting, and harder use, they should be sturdier. I fail to see how a P-Series Ruger pistol's "blockiness" has anything to do with the Carbines, though.

Neither of the two made a dent in the Police market, or any other market, so they were all three discontinued. I own a Camp 9, and the best thing I can say is that it is worth a LOT more than I paid for it.

 

[jobu07]

I've never owned the Marlin Camp Carbines, but I can only assume they are quality pieces.

Owning both a PC9 and PC4, they are heavy, low recoiling, accurate little carbines. The triggers are nothing to write home about... What I would give for Ruger to make a PC45...

 

[rbernie]

I've never owned the Marlin Camp Carbines, but I can only assume they are quality pieces

I have had both a 9mm and 45ACP Marlin - I paid too much for them, and sold them for more than I paid. I didn't ever warm up to the platform due to its fragility - they really were not well designed. The Ruger wasn't really around long enough to build up the cult following of the Marlin, and I rarely see one for sale.

These days, I can put together an 9mm AR-15 that takes Glock magazines (PSA upper and New Frontier lower) and runs flawlessly, all for $600. Given that, I can't see the allure of either the Ruger or the Marlin.

 

[T.R.]

The camp carbine went out of production more than 20 years ago. Replacement parts may be a concern.

TR

 

[ECVMatt]

I owned a PC9 and it was a fun gun. It shot very well and never jammed. Eventually I moved back towards pistol caliber leverguns as they were lighter and more powerful. I also really like the 77/357 for many of the same reasons. I realize they are completely different than the CC or the PC9, but I was kind of underwelmed by the 9mm carbines. Both are out of production, but I think Ruger might still support the PC9, so I would go that route.

 

[jmorris]

I bought my camp 9 when they first came out for $360, it remains to this day one of my friends favorite rifles.

Don't shoot aluminum cased ammunition in them, they lack sufficient neck tension and sooner or later the bullet will set back in the case and pressure will go up and you will have a split stock.

It's a fun little rifle but since I built a suppressed 9MM AR it collects dust in the back of a safe.

 

[berettaprofessor]

I understand about the desire to share mags, but I wouldn't recommend a camp carbine in 9mm....had one and it's one of the few guns I've ever sold. Trigger bad, not accurate, might as well just be shooting a pistol.

If I wanted a carbine in 9 again, I'd get a 9mm upper.

 

[bikerdoc]

No to the camp 9. ( sold mine)
Yes to the PC 9 ( love mine)
Double yes to the 9 mm AR.

 

[MAKster]

The Ruger PC9 is very sturdy, but way too heavy. A compact, light 9mm carbine would have been nice but this thing is just too beefy for a pistol round. Also because the stock and mag well are one piece, the only thing you can do to modify it is add optics.

 

[ExAgoradzo]

I don't have experience but any 9mm carbine would be a terrible thing in my safe...Id go broke or my wife would use it to shoot me just before I did .
The Berretta would be another contender. I've got a P89 and an M92. Since you already have the Ruger it would be a no brainier to me...

Greg

 

[TruthTellers]

The Beretta carbine probably cost just as much as used Marlin or Ruger carbines. The CX4's are good quality, but my god, can they put any more plastic on them guns?

 

[jmorris]

They could make them like the FN 5.7 or P90

 

[joneb]

I have the Camp 45. The recoil buffer failed which caused the hammer strut bridge to fail. I made some modifications, I installed a Black Jack buffer(get a few while your at it) I replaced the factory 11 lbs recoil spring with a Wolff 16.5 lbs spring. I made a hammer strut form saw blade steel, anneal then shape harden then tempered. This Camp has been running fine, when I do a take down for cleaning I inspect the buffer.
I have not owned a Ruger carbine but my guess is that it is better made firearm.
I do enjoy shooting the Camp 45 it is vary accurate and takes 1911 mags.

 

[DPris]

Ruger is the better design.
Denis

 

[Quiet]

I've shot/handled/carried both the Marlin Camp carbine (9 & 45) and the Ruger PC-9.

Accuracy is the same between the two carbines.

The Marlin Camp carbine is lighter than the Ruger PC-9, but not as durable.

The Ruger PC-9 is heavier than the Marlin Camp carbine and is more reliable (built like a tank).

I just wish I had bought a Ruger PC-9 and had it converted to Glock magazines when that was still an option.

 

[joneb]

I would have bought a PC-45 but I don't recall that option being available

 

[tulsamal]

I bought a Camp Carbine in .45 a couple years ago. Used obviously, but it seemed in very good condition. I've been working on guns since my Army days 30 years ago so I'm able to do most things decently. But that little rifle has never worked right. It would double or triple with such a high rate of fire that you wouldn't even realize it until you looked at the remaining rounds in the magazine. Such doubles would then jam the trigger group. Strip it down, the hammer would be totally "down" and somehow locked/jammed all the way rearward.

I replaced the buffer. I replaced virtually all the fire control pieces. Got the better made custom hammer strut. The heavier springs. The darn thing still does it. I'm not saying I've worked on it a lot... it mostly leans in a corner and mocks me. It took months to accumulate all the little internal replacement parts. And it is such a pain to strip down the whole fire control assembly. Who the heck designed such a thing?!

I love the look and feel and the 1911 mags. Size, weight, I've been told great accuracy in .45 (I've never gotten that far!). But as a used gun that may well have issues, I have a hard time recommending one. I'll agree with some others, if you want a pistol carbine, go AR type rifle.

Gregg

 

[Panzerschwein]

Both are discontinued, and both need to be brought back!

With Ruger pumping out all kinds of odd things, you'd think bringing back the Police Carbine would be a natural. PCCs sell well these days, and people like them handily. I'd be mighty dandy if I could get my hands on a Ruger Police Carbine in 9mm.

 

[ThomasT]

I have never owned the ruger but I did handle one in Cabelas once and they are heavy. But it looked very well built.

I have owned two 9mm CC rifles. I regret selling the first one. So I bought a second one off GB a few years ago for $286 and I picked it up from the seller. Good thing I did because the dealer had an S&W model 30-1 I also bought.

My CC looks like the previous owner shot it a LOT. Its a little skinned up on the stock but everything else is like new. I have a model 915 that shares mags with it plus several 20 round mags. I installed a 17lb spring and have a 20lb spring on hand. I also installed a new blackjack buffer.

We like to shoot this gun off hand at over 90 yards from my buddies front porch at a metal pole on the far side of his pond. The pole is about 3.5" in diameter. The record for off hand shooting is 8 out of ten shots that were hits. The gun is plenty accurate. Hitting a human out to 150-175 yards should not be a problem.

The first CC belonged to my buddy before he traded it to me. His 12 YO son used it to kill his first deer at about 50 yards away. He said the deer ran about 40 yards in a semi circle and died. They never lost sight of it. The bullet went through both sides and blood was squirting out both holes.

I really like mine and have no plans to sell it. They are priced too high IMO. But if you find a deal on one in good shape buy it. Keep the cleaning chemicals off the plastic mag well and you shouldn't have any problems. Its not an elephant gun so don't use super hot handloads. They work just fine with regular full power book loads. And change the recoil spring from the factory spring.

When they first came out there were magazine articles with hot loads using a case full of Blue Dot powder that were way too hot for the gun or any handgun they might find there way into. Stay away from those loads and the gun will be fine. If you need more power from a PCC buy a 357 or 44 mag levergun or one of the new ruger bolt guns.