CETME Opinions/Accuracy/And 1st hand experience

[Guest Letereat!]

1. I have been scouring for a larger caliber semiauto to add to the collection and dont want to drop 1500 on an AR-10 etc. and the Dragunov is just too.... loose and flimsy. (If anyone hasen't seen a slow mo of a Dragu popping off a few you should, ....it flaps like a kid waggling a stick.)Love the sight though, and it just looks kick ass. I have settled on the CETME.Caliber .308 of course and would really like to hear some 1st hand accounts from current and previous owners.
   

[Patrick Henry]

I do not own one, but did shoot one recently. It is a soft shooter, low recoil, more like a delayed push.

[Jasongar8]

I've bought one a few years ago for like $350. It's not the sporter, it has the black plastic stock and forearm and a regular thread on flash suppressor. It has always run fine for me. It is accurate enough for a battle rifle. It does kind chew up brass though. Nice guns for the money.

[Dad03]

I have one, for sale too. They are great. There is a bunch of online reading for them. From what I can gather

Century Arms started putting out some real crap in the later production models. The bolt gap is the issue. Some of the later models had the barrel pressed on not to spec an it makes the bolt gap out of spec. To fix the issue CA grinded down the bolt to increase the bolt gap making the gun dangrous to fire. To fix these the barrel needs to be repressed and a new bolt. Since these are roller lock designs the bolt gap is important since the rollers need to seat in the correct position.

Look for the earlier models that came with wood furniture but still check that bolt gap and make sure the bolt was not grinded on.!!! You are looking for a bolt gap between .009"-.024". The middle of the range the better.

I have seen these as high as $800. BTW mine is only $650, one of the good ones with the earlier woodstock furniture and has a bolt gap at .016" with a solid bolt. Only selling it cause the gun safe is getting crowded and 308 ammo is not the cheapest to shot.

Recoil is pretty tame but its a big boomer!

Edited July 18, 2010 by Dad03

[1gewehr]

As stated above, try to shoot it before you buy it. The CETME is a good rifle. Parts and magazines are inexpensive, so there is no excuse for not having spares. Biggest problems troops have had with the CETME military versions are bolt rollers cracking (relatively rare if you keep it clean), ejectors getting bent, and receiver dents. For civilian use, you are unlikely to see any of these. Still, I would recommend a complete bolt head (with firing pin) and complete trigger assembly (with ejector) as spares. HK mags usually work quite well in the CETME and are very inexpensive.

They have the ergonomics of a 2x4, a trigger made for gorillas (not guerrillas) and are quite heavy for a 16" barrel rifle. Still, they are known to be very reliable and accurate if you get used to the trigger.

Have you looked at the FN FAL? You can usually get a decent one for just a little more than a CETME. Easier to field-strip and and clean than an AK. As far as reliability, check out the story of 'Ol' Dirty'.

The FAL Files Forums - The Tale of Ol' Dirty. A Texas Legend. (Update: over 15,000 rnds fired w/o cleaning)

[Photoguy67]

Its a shame you are so far away, I have one and would be more than happy to let you shoot it. If you ever get up around Nashville let me know. Its not a tack driver, but for what its for, (battle rifle, bug out, home defence...) its more than adequate.

[kesava]

I have one

Heavy? yes

Accurate? Yes

Problematic? No

Fun to shoot? hell yes

when the zombie apocalypse arrives, i am ready.

[R1100R]

I had one that had the ground bolt. It shot fine. But scared of the Bubba job on it. Tried to deal with Century which has got the worse customer service. I sold it and swore off buying from Century after this rifle and a few AK's.

[Ghooge2008]

I sold mine to another member about a year ago, if you kept it clean it ran fine, ammo was a bit pricey, and it would suck to be the guy wagging this heavy gun around through the trenches....it also put the long....in long rifle. The brass was ruined after firing in mine...it uses the gas to help float the spent case towards ejection.

[DMark]

Follow this link and click on the BattleRifles section.

Militaryfirearm - Powered by vBulletin

Most of the former members of CETME.com (now closed) are there. The "stickies" hold a vast knowledge of how to checkout and run that weapon.

Enjoy!

Edited July 29, 2010 by DMark