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Posted: 11/6/2006 3:14:40 PM EDT
| What is everyone here's take on CETME/Century G3/91 clones?? I always thought they couldnt be bad, being American made and all, and it seems like there is a pretty shitty general consensus toward them on here? Help a newb out, in search of a quality yet not bank breaking g3 clone. |
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I've been happy with my Federal Arms FA91, have been since I bought it in either 98 or 99. MANY rounds through it, not as accurate as I'd like (6-8"@300yds on average ), but for the $600 I paid for it, I'm not arguing. Of course, spare parts back then were pretty cheap, so there's enough "extra's" to last me for a few more trips to the range. Mags are still cheap, ammo tho is going to be the problem if you're looking for cheap stuff. Simple to operate, simple to maintain with basic tools and an above 10 IQ. |
| A guy from my club let me shoot his and it was really quite wonderfull. It worked well , had a resspectable trigger,decent sights, good ballance , had decent accuracy , and had very light recoil considering its modest weight and the full ball ammo we were shooting . The only thing keeping me from jumping on one is that this fellow is very well known for being able to take problem guns and makeing them run right . I don't know much about CETMEs and wouldn't know a good one from a bad one . |
| I managed to get a good one, a really good one. Traded a Glock 30 for it and $125 cash. After doing to it what I wanted done, its one of my favorite guns, and id trust it with my life. Its functioned flawless. I have installed the HK wide forearm, Real HK olive drab retractable stock, Smith Ent. Vortex FH, and have since gathered up some original CETME items to go with it such as a couple bayonets, two bayo lug assemblies, an original canvas cover/sheath that the gun fits into to keep just and debree from it. Its truely a nice rifle. Has an unground bolt, and gaps in at 17 thousandths with stock rollers... Its got alot of life left in it.. I have to say, even though its made by Cenury, its one rifle I will not part with... Im actualy looking to trade my USPc 9mm stainless for another one soon. Just gota find a good one.... |
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I picked up a CETME from a member here. It was a bit problematic when I first got it from him. I THINK that it was a fairly new build and just needed to be broken in. After a few trips to the range, it stopped having FTF's. I've taken it to the range several times and run 100+ rounds through it with no problems. Its built on a Hesse receiver, has a bolt gap of .0016 IIRC with an unground bolt. It takes G3 mags without modifications. The main problem I have with it is the receiver is a very tight fit to the buttstock. I can get HK furniture in but its a bitch to get it off of there. That and surplus .308 is getting more scarce. If you're thinking about buying one check out the forums at cetmerifles.com The have a huge FAQ on the rifle, and many knowledgeable people to answer your question. I played around and Bubba'd it a bit...  Then put it back to normal. 
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Field strip and look at the back of the bolt; it will be obvious that a grinder was used. Since headspacing on these rifles are checked by measuring bolt gap between the bolt and carrier, the assemblers at Century just grinded the back of the bolt to get the "correct measurement". |
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I finally got a decent CETME after a couple of trys. My current one I have has been great for close to 4 years and is a great shooter. The bolt isn't ground and it head spaces correctly. Moreover, the gun shoots to point of aim so the barrel was installed correctly by the blind, drunken Century monkeys. However, I would be very apprehensive to purchase another unless you can carefully check them out before hand. The prior suggestion to research the CETME forum is good advice as they have a great wealth of information on these guns. Concening the last posters comment about the ammo situation- that is a very valid point about all G3 type firearms. They really need mil-surp 308 to function correctly and if there is no more incoming to our country then it would have to adversely affect the prices of CEMTEs, PTR-91s and HK-91s. |
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