How easy (or hard) is it to build a Cetme C from a parts kit/barrel/receiver flat ?

[spacemanperry]

I've been pricing new and or used Cetme Model C rifles, and they range from $500 to $ 800 from various sources, including buyers online and Guns America. Right now, that amount of money is out of the question; maybe in the spring I can afford one, but with the economic situation/crime/marauding socialists in the US, maybe a cheaper option is to buy a Centerfire Systems parts kit, a barrel from one of several different suppliers and a receiver flat, then bend and weld the flat together, cut the charging handle tube free of he old cut receiver, fit and weld and put together the parts and have a functioning Cetme that I know will work without the possible issues of a Century put together with canted sights, bent cocking tube, ground bolts and the associated headspace headaches, etc. I would like to have another 7.62 battle rifle for use as a centerfire smokeless powder magazine fed repeating rifle, and the time to get one before everything else goes to hell in the US; tiime is growing short. I had a L1A1 but lost it to a pawn shop, but still have much .308 Winchester/7.62 mm NATO ammo and makin's, so ammo isn't a problem, not having a repeating rifle to shoot the ammo and use for an all purpose all around plinking/defense/hunting/large caliber rifle is. A Cetme rifle to me is a necessary tool for modern living in the US, like our ancestors and Patriots of old counted on having day in and day out. Times are such as having a repeating rifle that works at the lowest possible price in addition to doing it yourself is an option worth investigating to getting a Cetme. Making one may be challenging and I may need help over and above what I can do myself, but that's why I'm here posting this, is to find out. Advice and suggestions welcome.

 

[Trent]

A CETME receiver flat would be a REAL PITA to bend to the correct dimensions. Those have a lot of curved surfaces which must be *very* precise to make things work right. You'd need a full set of blueprints to get it right, for sure.

You are *much* better off buying a 100% finished receiver for them - and even then you still have plenty of welding, drilling, and hydraulic press work ahead of you. Century produced them - don't know if they still do - cost used to be somewhere around $200. They've probably gone up.

 

[Trent]

PS - A cheaper, easier, and far more forgiving "first fab" would be something of a Klashnikov design (AK47, AK74). You'll need a 220v spot welder for the rails (if you buy an 80% receiver), a drill press, a 20 ton (or higher) hydraulic press, and a lot of various custom jigs for doing blind riveting, supporting the receiver and front trunion during press work, etc

There used to be an AK47 board with a builder forum that was good - lot of guys did step by steps, with photos, on a number of builds. Don't know if it's still up, haven't been on it in years. But it was good place to see some of the things involved with firearms manufacturing.