Handled a Century Arms CETME today....

[Evil Monkey]

....at dunhams and I have questions.

First, the rifle was huge and made my AK look like a toy.

However, the mag would not seat well. When the clerk gave it to me, I just pulled the mag out with out depressing the button. We tried to put it in and it still wouldn't lock until we started banging hard on the bottom of the mag. The mag was of the Spanish curved type and they didn't have any G3 mags to try.

Is this typical of CETME's or was this mag or rifle faulty?

It was the new build CETME's from century arms and were asking $699.99 for it, is that a fair price?

 

[HorseSoldier]

Century kind of built their bad reputation on screwing up CETMEs . . .

 

[NC-Mike]

I think the new ones have black synthetic furniture.

You would hope they learned from past mistakes and get it right this time.

Not sure if the price is right but it doesn't sound off by much either way.

 

[Ian Sean]

It was the new build CETME's from century arms and were asking $699.99 for it, is that a fair price?

In my opinion...no...I would pass on it. I see Century is still having QC issues Price seems a little high also.

My CETME magwell was all messed up...this was when they Century first came out with them and I was one of the guinea pigs who bought one and started having troubles with these animals way back.

I wound up having to remove metal...because the Magazine latch would not go in fully...not only that the whole mag-well was off in size. G-3 magazines work in mine better than the CETME mags (they are tighter). Some rifles won't work with G-3 mags..some will.

 

[rbernie]

I've had an issue with one of my two CAI CETMEs, in that the mag catch was not properly relieved/radiused at the bottom and it would dig into the mags as I inserted them (rather than let them seat freely). It was a PITA to fix, but it wasn't hard.

That price is high. If you buy one, make sure that the bolt is not ground and that you can slip a piece of paper between the bolt and bolt carrier when the bolt is in battery.

 

[Logan5]

I'm sure the old threads here on the CETME are archived... Before you buy, you need a set of metric feeler gauges and a G3 mag, just to see what you're getting. Obviously, Search! But you need to be sure the triple frame isn't canted, and that the magwell isn't messed up. It should take G3 mags with a decent slap. I personally would not regard $699 as fair market value for one of these, but that's just my opinion I guess.

 

[Avenger29]

I seriously considered a CETME as my first centerfire rifle.

I decided not to get one, due to the extremely poor reputation of CAI. Back when I was looking (summer '05), the CETME was running at around $300-$350.

In fact, I strive to do no business with CAI. The way they treat customers and their poor quality does not make me feel very charitable to them. And they treat their customers the same (like crap) no matter if they have a lot of money or not. One of the members here, Nomad 2nd, tried to order a huge amount of ammo and two 5.45 AK's from them. They completely screwed up the order and pissed him off.

 

[jpwilly]

Pass on the CIA stuff. Save a little more and get something else!

 

[MassMark]

Save your dough and buy a PTR-91. When CETMES were cheaper, they were worth the risk, but at $700-bucks, you can do better.....For that money, I'd buy a Saiga .308 and a lot of ammo and accessories....If you like the HK look and ergonomics, a JLD/Vector clone may be the way to go....

 

[MisterPX]

The price on new CETME's isn't bad, folks must be comparing the price to the old CETME's. Century direct will run you $600 plus fees.

 

[aaronrkelly]

I bought a Century CETME last year for $425 out the door with 5 magazines. That price sucks.

I WOULD NOT buy a CETME unless youve read how to check for ground bolts and to check the spacing. Then take your feelers qauges with you...if it checks out consider it.

If not the gun could tear itself apart in short order (busted welds, stocks etc) or be unsafe to fire.

ALOT were......mine included.

 

[dstorm1911]

ya know when the ban first sunset I ordered 3 Cetmes from SOG all no-ban guns my partner did the same they were $230 ea with the crappy Century synthetic furniture all of mine were perfect no ground bolts etc.. one front sight was canted like 3 degrees no big deal to correct, my partners guns arrived the day after mine did and all 3 were a total nightmare all had canted sights 1 had a ground bolt fortunately he's an importer and dealer and has bins full of locking pieces, rollers and had bolts so I went through and fixed his all up he's since sold em all off and we just finished building him a really nice G-3 with all original wood etc.... my 3 are all still going strong without a single problem but at $600 ea I'd really have to think hard on that one, these are the exact same guns but the fact that 3 outa 6 were trashed I don't see Century upgrading their quality control $400 worth per rifle in the past 3 years

 

[DiN_BLiX]

I would pass and save money for somthing better.

 

[Mr White]

Evil Monkey, Step Away From The Cai Cetme! Do Not Attempt To Handle It Again!

My buddy has one be borrowed from a guy and its junk. It doesn't fit together right and the bolt sometimes binds in the receiver, causing it to not cycle properly.

 

[Evil Monkey]

I think I'll stay away from the CAI Cetme.

I've heard great things about the PTR91 and I think that's what I'll go for. $1,140 is a long way though.

http://www.ptr91.com/product_pages/ptr91f.html

 

[Drakejake]

I have two Century Cetmes, one with a stamped receiver, the other with a stainless cast receiver. The cast is much better. I paid less than $500 for each but I had to buy expensive parts (bolt head, bolt carrier) to get them up to spec. You can do a little filing on the mag well to make it easier to lock in mags. Yes, this is a common problem. There are several different kinds of mags which can be used in these rifles: the aluminum German ones, the steel Spanish ones, etc. Some may work better than others in your rifle. I think the Cetme is inferior to the FAL (and to the Saiga .308) but it is cheaper than the FAL and appealing in a crude, brutal way. Some tinkerers like the Century Cetmes because they often need to be repaired or reconditioned in order to work.

Drakejake