natedog
Member
I'm seeing cheap ($300-$500) G3, Cetme, and FAL clones in the shotgun news, says that they use original recievers and then american parts made by Century Arms. Yay or Nay?
Century Arms...
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megatronrules
Member
i shot a Cetme at the range this past week. Seemed well made and shot fine. No problems. Checked out one at a shop here and it was nice too. They are a great way to get a semi auto G3 type rifle. Unless you have $2000 or more for an HK 91. I know I dont.
Kahr carrier
Member
My friend has a Century arms L1A1 it shoots great never a problem with it and it was pretty cheap around $400 when he bought it.
Open Carry
Member
Century has a reputation of being an iffy proposition. After much research, I decided to go with a Cetme. The L1A1 may have a mix of inch and metric parts and the G3 was slightly out of my price range. Look here
Checklist for buying a Cetme
and here
Cetme and FR-8 board
Overall, I am happy with my purchase. I did find the sights difficult to use. Plan on getting a real HK91 claw-type scope mount ~$230 US.
Checklist for buying a Cetme
and here
Cetme and FR-8 board
Overall, I am happy with my purchase. I did find the sights difficult to use. Plan on getting a real HK91 claw-type scope mount ~$230 US.
Redlg155
Member
I've checked out both and for the money the CETME is a great buy. The only concern I would have would be the long term availability of spare parts and configurations available.
With the FAL you have parts that are readily available and have the bonus of an adjustable gas system. You can just about make it work with any ammo available out there.
So, if you want one to keep stock, the CETME will be a great choice. The FAL is a better choice if you are going to put thousands of rounds downrange and like to have the option of someday changing your rifle configuration such as going to an 18" barrel and different type stocks.
I've been more impressed by the FALs coming out by Century than the CETMEs. They just haven't learned to do a good weld yet for some reason on the CETME. Functionalls perfectly ok, but cosmetically crappy.
Good SHooting
Red
With the FAL you have parts that are readily available and have the bonus of an adjustable gas system. You can just about make it work with any ammo available out there.
So, if you want one to keep stock, the CETME will be a great choice. The FAL is a better choice if you are going to put thousands of rounds downrange and like to have the option of someday changing your rifle configuration such as going to an 18" barrel and different type stocks.
I've been more impressed by the FALs coming out by Century than the CETMEs. They just haven't learned to do a good weld yet for some reason on the CETME. Functionalls perfectly ok, but cosmetically crappy.
Good SHooting
Red
iamkris
Member
Just a couple of nits. The CETME and G3's are original HK / CETME parts kits, but the receivers are US made, as are 9 other parts (usually the sear, stocks and a few other parts). The receivers are either made by Century, SW, FMP or a couple of other manf that I can't remember right now. They are either stamped sheet metal or cast stainless. Look in the references shown above for the differences. I would expect the L1A1s are the same set up.
Agree with above that Century can be spotty from a quality standpoint. I just bought a G3 after deciding against the CETME. CETMEs are quite cheap right now ($299) but it appears that Century may be reaching the end of the parts sources as some of the condition of parts and the method of setting headspace measurement is beyond what you would want with a rifle with better condition parts.
I decided on the G3 since I thought the extra $100 or so wass worth better condition parts and a larger parts supply, including new HK parts. I don't have many rounds through it yet but it appears to be reliable and accurate...plus it gets LOTS of attention at the range.
Agree with above that Century can be spotty from a quality standpoint. I just bought a G3 after deciding against the CETME. CETMEs are quite cheap right now ($299) but it appears that Century may be reaching the end of the parts sources as some of the condition of parts and the method of setting headspace measurement is beyond what you would want with a rifle with better condition parts.
I decided on the G3 since I thought the extra $100 or so wass worth better condition parts and a larger parts supply, including new HK parts. I don't have many rounds through it yet but it appears to be reliable and accurate...plus it gets LOTS of attention at the range.
gryphon
Member
I have a FAL and couldn't be happier with it. It's plenty accurate and has been 100% reliable. I can vouch that Century mixed and matched metric and inch parts together, but that doesn't seem to have affected it in any adverse way.
I highly dislike CAI's iffy reputation. That said, I know of a flawless running FAL someone else had and I myself did the unthinkable, I bought a CAI Garand! I'm aware of the inferiority of the cast reciever, but I looked the gun over pretty good, headspace was good and fired brass looks fine. Only 4 bandoleers into it, but it functions 100% and will do fine in the role of truck/trunk gun and tide me over until the CMP Garand(s) show up. If you buy a Century, have it checked out by a gunsmith, know you are buying from a company with a checkered past but improving quality and judge the weapon by its performance.
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