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Posted: 7/22/2004 7:34:25 AM EDT
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Yesterday I was at one of the local gun shops I like. The guy who runs it usually shows me some of the new stuff he gets in from consignments, trades, etc. While he had one of his safes open in the back I saw what looked like a HK G3 except it had a wooden buttstock and hand guards. I had never seen a CETME before so I was a bit curious. After a brief discussion about the origins of the CETME (which Steve the store owner knew quite a bit) I handled the rifle a bit. It seemed solid but I didn't know much about them other than the standard "they are hit or miss" when it comes to quality. Steve got busy and I had to leave so I didn't spend any real time inspecting the gun or operating the action. The last thing he said to me as I walked out was that if I really wanted it he would sell it to me for $525 which would also include 9 magazines. The rifle is not made by Century Arms but someone else (once again I was in a hurry and just glanced over it). The only time I really moved the action was after Steve opened it to show me it was clear when handing the rifle to me. I popped it forward and left the bolt closed. So, I did a little CETME research on the web this morning and saw what I should and should not look for in one but my major question is this: is the price reasonable? I see some advertised for $300.00 but are they POS? $525 out the door is pretty reasonable (Steve included NCIS and other state charges such as taxes in the price). I'll get more info if needed. |
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Thats roughly $50 in mags, source (CETME or G3 and quality varies). Good ones are great, and I got lucky with mine. A heavy cocking handle pull wears in ok, but a Hard pull does not since alignment is off. Headspace is checked by slamming the carrier fwd and using feeler gauges between head and carrier (cetmerifles.com I think has specs, not with me at work). Back side of the head has a bit of bevel, unless it was ground to fake spacing. Otherwise spacing is adjusted easily by roller sizers. Cleaning is actually easy once you learn a new system, but you WILL need good chamber brushes for the flutes. G3 spares are easier to get, but they kick about 1/3 harder IMO. 2-2.5" on SA/Port/Aussie. But if it really needs work, you'll really prefer a FAL. |
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The price really depends on who made it...if it has the word "Hesse" anywhere on it, run. I just paid $435 for a Century Stainless Steel receiver CETME, and that was at least $50 too much, even factoring in shiping and transfer fee....I was just impatient, plus I could at least look at this one. I don't know who besides Hesse and Century have built CETMEs for sale in the US lately...you might wanna pop over to www.cetmerifles.com and poke around there. I *think* Hesse is still in the game, but under the Vulcan name. Ask your contact at the store to tell you what make/type of receiver it is....that makes all the difference. Just for comparison's sake, SOG has the black widow (plastic furniture) cetmes for around $300. |
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Check this website for a ton of information: www.cetmerifles.com THE biggest issue with CETMEs appear to be ground bolts. The monkeys at Century screw up the bolt to make it appear that there's a proper bolt gap which sucks and my rifle suffers from this. It usually means incorrect ejection timing and jams. Checks the site for mor information. |
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If it is a MARS imported gun.. RUN don't walk, back to the shop to buy it... If it satys HESSE, Run away.. If it is century, look it over real good, and get the dealer to give you a FTF gauruntee.. That is if it don't work, you get your money back.. Too many times I have seen folks urgent to sell a CETME, and I would amagine that is cause it was crapp... Furthermore, for around $300 more you could get a quality H&K G3 clone built by a reputable smith.. I paid $925 for my Rapid Fire G3(well actually I traded, but that was the asking price), and it was with a expensive NAvy lower.. |
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OK everyone thanks for the responses. I was back at the shop yesterday and I got a good chance to look over the CETME he had. First off its a Centruy Arms, I hadn't looked at it the day before to see who had made it. The action was smooth and not hard to charge. The rifle is in good shape. I hit up CETME files.com before I went and looked at what they recommended to examine to decide whether it was a good CETME or a junk CETME. After discussing this with the owner he took out some feeler guages and it meets the requirements listed on CETMEfiles.com (this rifle was like .003") which seems acceptable. I looked at some of the welds on the charging handle portion (on top of the barrel). Some looked pretty crappy but I did not see any visible cracks. I inserted about five of the 9 magazines that came with the rifle. All seated properly and did not move around. The rifle also comes with the double mag pouches. Rifle looks like this:  Magazines all look like this:  I think the price is a bit high ($525) for a Centruy Arms CETME that can be had for quite a bit less. The owner didn't justify the higher price with any particular reason. He just said it was there on consignment from another guy (who I knwo, but not well) who was going through some tough times. I know this is true and have known this guy to be good with his guns, and this CETME looks clean. I just don't think I'm going to spend that much when I can get one for less. |
100% agreed. I don't know what Steve the owner was thinking asking that price but it kind of ticked me off after I did a bit of research. Yeah, a G3 without the issues for alittle more money. I think that's the ticket. |
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0.003" bolt gap is out of spec. That, and the high price would make me not buy this gun. ~ $350 from Century for the gun (with wood furniture). The mag pouches ar $0.99 each at CTD. Interordnance is selling G3 aluminum mags for $1.95 each. $525 is waaaay out of line |
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One more thing...given my druthers, I'd take an FAL over a CETME any day. It's easier to charge, has a last round bold bolt hold open, is MUCH easier to clean, (trust me on this!!),has a relatively inexpensive and very rugged scope mount available, and the mags are almost as cheap, and actually designed for the gun. Not all those G3 mags work in all CETMEs. I enjoy the CETME I have, but if you're looking at $700 for a .308 rifle, as in the ORF , you're in DSA FAL territory, or one from ORF (although they're currently out of all FALs). There are some VERY good reasons why over 90 countries fielded the FAL. A CETME is one of those things that for $350, you get one, don't expect too much, and shoot it once and a while. At $700, I'd be looking at the FAL. |
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.003..is outta spec m8!! gap should run between .004 and .020..ideal gap is between .009-.012 500+$ is way to high for a cetme or anything by century do your homeowrk,,and shop around you will find one better than that,, thos mags are like 3-5$ a pop right now,,so dont feel like yer gettin a deal! offer him 225$ for it,,and spen the extra 300$ ya woulda spent on new wood(or hk plastic) new LP,,un ground bolt head and spare parts! replace and have a arifle that works andis very dependable! besides cetme rifles.com ,,head on over to the gunboards fr8/cetme forum,,, loads of info avial there also! ive had mine for 2 1/2 years now and have at least 2-3000's rnds thru it,,, i love it,,,,, DONT get this rifleif ya dont want to tinker,,or do your own repairs,,, they are simple to fix but some folks just donthavethe ""smarts"' to do it,,, let us know what you decide.. protus |
| keep in mind that initially SW was making receivers and Century bought them along with the tooling, and started to roll them on their own. The first runs of Cetmes were built with new parts ran $800, look at the serial number, these had cast receivers and IIRC started with CXXXX, these were very good rifles. The stuff now is being made of shot to shit parts, your call on the gun, but if it is on consignment, the sellor sets the price not the dealer, don't get pissy with him, he is just the middle man. If it is one of the older rifles, then the cost is pretty good. |
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If the CETME is a newer one, the price is too high. They only run somewhere between $250 and $350. Those mags are H&K mags, not CETME mags- they will work just fine, but they only run about 6 or 7 bucks apiece. CETME magazines are curved. Oddly, some of Century's CETME's like the H&K mags better than the real CETME mags, because IIRC, the receiver for their G3 and CETME are the same. Mine likes the CETME mags, and I've had good luck with it. Here's a few things to look for, based on experience: 1) Make sure that the trunnion (the round block the barrel is fixed to) is straight. 2) Make sure that the barrel and charging tube assembly are straight. You will probably have to work the charging handle a bit to make it loosen up. Century tends to go a bit overboard in the finishing process and refinishes the inside of the receiver. It helps if you take steel wool and smooth out the inside of the receiver. 3) The 2 pins that hold the buttstock assembly on are really tight- if it's new, you will probably have to tap them out with a hammer and a punch. This is normal, they will loosen up. 4) Check the headspace- it's easy, you can use regular old feeler gages. 5) When you disassemble it, make sure you don't have to pound on the pistol grip assembly to get it off. At the most, a firm tap with the heel of your hand is all that's needed. Any tighter than that, and you will have problems. 6) Be prepared to run a hundred or so rounds through it to loosen it up. It doesn't matter what kind, so long as it's good ammo (I've heard bad things about Indian surplus). It's a good rifle when the kinks are worked out. FWIW, Century is pretty good about fixing things if they are wrong. A fellow I know sent a CETME back to the factory for a couple of relatively minor problems and they even replaced his rifle for free (he only paid for shipping). IIRC, Century put a new guy in charge of the QC department and they are turning out a much better product now. Not too long ago, things were really hit and miss. |
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