Looking at a CETME
 

Re: Looking at a CETME
 

Is it .308 or 7.62x51mm?
http://www.thegunzone.com/30cal.html

Re: Looking at a CETME
 

Re: Looking at a CETME
 

.308 is hotter than 7.62.

Excellent basic design, sturdy and reliable; mechanical, not gas-operated. Not generally well-understood, but more info is available. See hkforums.

The basic design dates to the Stg45, and was later implemented by the West German military as the G-3. Variants made by various national armories. The delayed roller-locked system is also the basis for the excellent HK33 and of course the MP5.

Surplus magazines widely and inexpensively available. Different knowledge set required for any detailed maintenance, but parts are available. Barrel changes a monstrous PIA for the uninitiated and / or ill-equipped. The concept of "headspace" doesn't really apply, believe it or not.

All in all, an excellent and reliable firearm if made by a quality manufacturer. Clones becoming more widespread, some not so hot. NOT a target rifle, don't think you're gonna put a lot of glass on it and drive tacks. Barrel length is 18".

Re: Looking at a CETME
 

Re: Looking at a CETME
 

Owned a few...

My HK-91 was easily a sub-MOA rifle. The Cetme shot well too. Both have poor ergonomics, IMO, and a few weaknesses. Trashes brass.

I would recommend a Saiga, instead. Robust. Accurate. Better ergonomics. Mags more expensive, tho.

Re: Looking at a CETME
 

If I can ask, what are you paying for the CETME, if you do you homework you can own an AR for around $600-$675.

Not a crappy AR but a good one.

Re: Looking at a CETME
 

I own one and it's *gasp* made by Century.

The first thing I have to say is Bolt gap, Bolt gap, Bolt gap. It it the most important thing about the entire gun. if the bolt gap is wrong you will hate the gun and it will not function reliably.

Watch these untill you understand them.

Second thing is they absolutly destroy brass unless you get it modified They are not super percision rifles I would put it on par with a Saiga in 308.

You will either love or hate a delayed blowback gun. It is hard to describe the delayed blowback during shooting it is kind of hard to get used to(it makes noise and yes you notice that it is delayed) but one of the big benifits is there is hardly any kick to the rifle so it is the most frendily 308 you will shoot.

Third if you can get one with the paddle mag it is worth an extra 100-200 dollars for that they origionaly had a mag release like an AK but to meet ATF requirements they had to remove that feature and keep the backup mag release which is a inconviently located push button unless you can palm a basketball.

Mags are cheap 5 dollars or less most times it is nice to carry because the sling is designed well to carry at the ready.

If you have questions ask away.

Re: Looking at a CETME
 

Re: Looking at a CETME
 

Saigas are capable of fine accuracy...courtesy Darth AKSarBen

And another with Aussie ball at 100yds.

Re: Looking at a CETME
 

Unless that is a nice quality scope. I would say that you would be paying retail at $650.

The extra stock set can be had for $5 and the mags can be gotten for $2 each.
If the bolt gap is not in spec. its worth about $300 or less

Re: Looking at a CETME
 

http://www.robertrtg.com/g3.html

http://www.hkparts.net/shop/pc/home.asp

Re: Looking at a CETME
 

Re: Looking at a CETME
 

Classicarms has, or usually has, the following:
.308 CETME for $499
.308 Saiga for $449.95 (519.95 with a scope)
.308 DPMS AR for $899

Re: Looking at a CETME
 

Yes and no the Cetme actualy came first before the G3.

Here is a link that tells you what is interchangable with what. G3 mags might take a small amount of fitting On mine I had to take a file and remove about 1/64th off of the bottom so all ov them would lock up with out having to hit really hard.


http://www.robertrtg.com/cetmeinfo.html

Re: Looking at a CETME
 

Re: Looking at a CETME
 

Ask if you can shoot it first. You might be disappointed.

Re: Looking at a CETME
 

I love mine. I had always wanted one. Mine needed oversized rollers to get it running right my bolt gap was origionaly 006 but after firing it and "breaking it in" it had closed up by 002 so I put +4 rollers in it and it is good to go. The first thing I had noticed was that it got very hard to pull the charging handle and unlock the bolt. That made me go check the bolt gap and realize it had closed up to out of spec.

The only thing I really dislike on mine is the mag release I want to install the paddle mag in a bad way but have not taken the time to do the mod and the refinishing of the gun that will have to occur. I have smallish hands so things like AR's and AK's fit perfect for all the controls. I miss the mag release on the cetme by about 1" if i were to try and release it AR style.

I would recommend it to an experienced gun owner that likes milisurp firearms and is not afraid to have to tinker with a gun. It is kind of like a old car where everytime you filled it with gas you check the oil look under the hood and walk around and make sure it is right. If you are a Honda driver and never look under your car hood and don't like that kind of thing and just want to shoot it I would go for a Saiga in 308, they are virtualy the same price.

I am going to put a port buffer on mine and the paddle mag when funds allow so I don't dent the hell out of the brass. But that is not reall high on my priority list right now My personal SHTF zombie gun is a Sagia-12 with lots of goodies so the Cetme mods are on back burner and have been there for a while.

Oh yea one more thing getting crazy on putting the german stuff on the gun makes it hard to be HR 922 compliant due to limited US made parts. If you care about that kind of stuff.

Re: Looking at a CETME
 

I see a lot of interest in the Saigas. I'd love one in .308. Maybe next year. Nutnfancy interviewed the Saiga people at the Shotshow. It's on YouTube. He's a bit goofy but it was an ok interview.

Re: Looking at a CETME
 

It's assbackwards. Yes, you can shoot .223 in a 5.56. The 5.56 military caliber is more powerful.
When dealing with .308 and 7.62x51mm the civilian load (.308) is more powerful and you should make sure that you can safely shoot .308 in a 7.62. It kind of sucks because there's a lot of cheap .308 out there.
A guy on www.thehighroad.org asked the same question about his M1A. Springfield told him not to shoot over 174 gr in his rifle (according to him anyway). http://www.thehighroad.org/showthrea...=506709&page=4
I've been thinking about getting a 7.62/.308 and I would like to get something that will take both rounds. Hence the interest in what will safely shoot .308. I'll probably end up with a Saiga and would have had one by now if the magazines were not so expensive.

Re: Looking at a CETME
 

I have a Springfield Armory SAR8 which is similar but more pricey, good gun though.

Re: Looking at a CETME
 

I've run 'em both (7.62/.308) through my 91, never had any problem

Re: Looking at a CETME
 

I got my CETME not long after they hit the US market. I saw one at a range and loved the look of the wood on a battle rifle. And they were selling for something like $299 back then so why not give it a try?

When it comes to actually shooting it, I never have any problems. Mine functions every time and hits where I'm aiming. Trigger is a bit heavy but you can work through it. And it is a mild shooting rifle. Except for the noise. The brake on that rifle is really loud!

It annoys me to no end that the safety moves in the wrong direction. And every time I take it apart I end up shaking my head. It just doesn't feel like "the way" a gun should come apart and go together! And yes, it mangles brass. I only shoot Berdan non-reloadable surplus in mine.

The telling point to me is how often I actually shoot it. Around my house, the AR's get the most range time. Then the AK's. Then the FAL's. After all of those, maybe the CETME will get a look. I probably put a hundred rounds through my main AR for every round I put through the CETME.

Mine has nice wood so I pull it out to show to people. I just don't shoot it much. Maybe because of how annoyed I get every time I take it apart to clean it!!

I know there are "distinct camps" on this issue but if you want a 7.62 NATO battle rifle, IMO the list starts with the FAL. The M1A is nice and there are positive things about the AR-10's. But the FAL is the queen. Get two or three of them!

Gregg

Re: Looking at a CETME
 

EPIC FAIL of the G3s in the Contra jungle torture test.

Re: Looking at a CETME
 

Good to know. You cannot beat firsthand experience.

Re: Looking at a CETME
 

I've shot a variety from WW .308 in several weights, the 125 gr ST cycled, but you could tell it had a "soft" recoil, compared to others, all the way to LC traced, and if you install a port buffer, it'll save your brass and won't kick it out 20 ft, also, I've heard different, but my 91 is very accurate for a semi

Re: Looking at a CETME
 

Re: Looking at a CETME
 

That's interesting to know, I was sorta admonished here before by someone stating how awful and inaccurate the 91 was, that's never been a problem out of mine, like I said, I was really surprised at just how accurate mine is, I used to pop quart-sized water-filled orange juice jars at 230-250 yards easily, that was scoped (got a Kahles on top) though...lol but still out of a semi, I thought it was pretty good :ok:, one time, as an experiment, proned out on a sand bag rest, I pulled off, as fast as I could, a 20 rd mag at a torso target a 100 yards away, between 12-14 shots were in a 10" circle, center mass, I thought that was pretty good too, seeing how a 91 does "move" around a little

Re: Looking at a CETME
 

Also got one of the early ones. Had the canted front sight but that was fixed with a little TLC to it. Prefer CETME mags myself as G3's seem to be less well built and offer more issues with weak springs after long term storage when loaded. They, G3's, are fine to load up for the weekend and/or store unloaded. Have fired only surplus 7.62x51 through it and can count on being able to cover a group of 20 with my hand at 100m using open sights. When scoped I can ring the plate at 300m all day long. The only "heavy" caliber rifle my wife will fire more than once.

Re: Looking at a CETME
 

Have you thought about a FN/FAL, again cheap mags, great accuracy, reliable, last shot bolt open...built on an Imbel receiver for 800.00 from Atlantic Firearms...and not made by Century!

Re: Looking at a CETME