CETME Price variations

[Storz]

I am thinking of purchasing a CETME in the near future, and poking around online the prices seem to vary anywhere from 500-800 bucks, all for the same Century CETME....any reason for this? Where is the best place to get one from?

I've read a ton of the threads about them here on THR and am willing to take a chance, especially with the warranty.

 

[otrman]

If your are going the CETME route, look for ones with the cast stainless steel receiver. They may be the ones in the upper price range if any of them are still out there. I own two of that type and the QC seems to be better on those than on the stamped steel receiver type that I have compared them with. At least on the two I have anyway. Both have several 1000 rds. thru them with no issues. Good luck.

 

[nalioth]

The "best" place to get one is to buy this parts kit and send it to a 'smith that knows a thing or two about building roller-locked rifles.

You'll end up with a Cetme that is functionally identical to a brand new Spanish military factory gun.

 

[Kwanger]

The $500 places....all the "new" ones are from the same batch, but some of these distributors are thieves, plain and simple.

 

[XD9GUY]

Try Classic Arms
http://www.classicarms.us/
They have them for $499 in .308 all day long.

 

[corky52]

Perhaps one that someone has taken the time to work all the bugs out of? Other than that? Variations in the market? You might pay a bit more for a CETME that's been worked up. or......
I'd agree, $499 is a good price. Then if you get one that isn't quite right....not broken, mind you, but not quite right. (and none of them are really perfect) You take the time and research to work out all the kinks and, sort of, tighten stuff up and make it yours....afterwards, it's a heck of a nice rifle for a good price. Plus you learn a lot about your rifle, how it functions and how it's put together along the way. That's a win/win.

Then, maybe your rifle is worth a little bit more if you resell it.

Aim small, miss small.

 

[nalioth]

The trouble with the above post is that the monkeys at Century grind critical parts during some of their builds, and after you add up the cost of replacing those parts with "known good" parts, and then getting the rest of the rifle adjusted to actually function with "known good" parts . . .

. . . it's not really worth it.

 

[NWCP]

Is it possible with your budget to save up for a PTR91?

 

[hub]

Is it possible with your budget to save up for a PTR91?

+1

If your willing to spend the money the PTR91 are nice and not a gamble on getting a rifle that won't function well and may be dangerous.

I had a Cetme that I bought pretty cheap on a gamble that I could get it right myself. It was a Century, it looked OK, and actually was pretty accurate for a battle rifle but it had a few fte issues. It gapped ok but after closer inspection it indeed had a ground bolt. I still thought no problem a few new parts, +rollers, ect and it will be fine. Well after a new bolt head, locking piece, and +4 rollers no gap. The only solution was to repress the barrel which I didn't have the experience and equipment to do right at home not to mention sending it to a gunsmith that knows that type of rifle, if you can find one would cost more than what I purchased it for. In the end I made my money back out of it by selling it out as parts but I only had $250 in it.

 

[Storz]

Is there a complete parts list anywhere there explains everything needed to build one? I wouldn't be against buying the parts and having a gunsmith put it together as it should be, but I would imagine that after that you're up in PTR91 territory as far as cost...

That classic arms place is in NC as well, might end up being the best route for me.

 

[iamkris]

We are at the bottom of the barrel of CETME kits right now. Most likely the higher priced ones are early variations, maybe cast stainless, with nice wood furniture.

There doesn't seem to be any wood furniture out there on new ones and the kit quality is not quite as nice.