Oh the choices...........

[bkjeffrey]

So I'm torn between two rifles for my next purchase.

First I was looking at the Romak 7.62x54R that classic arms sells for 599.00 Comes with two magazines. Extra magazines are about 20 bucks a piece. Replacement parts are scarce, I hear that if you break a firing pin you have to buy a whole rebuild kit to get one at about 300 bucks a pop. Range reports are decent, rifle seems to shoot 1-2 inch groupos with surplus lightball. 7.62x54 can be had at right a hundred bucks for 440 rounds.

Then I thought about the Cetme g-3 clone from classic arms for 499.00. Its a hundred bucks cheaper. Magazines can be had for right at a dollar a piece. Replacement parts are also abundant. Ammo-to-go has 308 ammo pretty cheap too. About 35 bucks shipped for Lake City M80 ball machine gun belted ammo. Range reports are scarcefor the Cetme so Im on the wall about its accuracy.

Whatever rifle I end up with Im sure Ill end up putting a decent piece of glass on it.

My goal for this purchase is 200-400 yard plinking. Id like to keep the hoards of zombies at bay when they are rushing my home. The Cetme is cheaper, but ammo is a bit more costly. The Romak is built on the tried and true Kalashnikov gas piston action.

What are yall thoughts?

 

[C-grunt]

Im sure the Cetme will be accurate enough for 400 yard shooting.

I would be leary of a gun that you cant get replacement parts for. A whole 300 dollar kit for a 5 buck firing pin? Jeesh thats scary.

Is the Romack like a SVD copy?

 

[oasis618]

I say get this instead.

 

[bkjeffrey]

Is the Romack like a SVD copy?

"like" being the key word.

 

[Maverick223]

Is the Romack like a SVD copy?

Nope, nothing other than looks (at a distance), it is a PSL. Which is a DMR built on a RPK reciever with long stroke gas piston IIRC. Not my favorite rifle, but they are fairly reliable. FWIW, I am not a big fan of the CETME either (Century ).

 

[bkjeffrey]

So....cetme 308 one, psl zero.?

 

[Roadkill]

I got a Century Arms CETME a couple of weeks ago. I took about an hour or two and used valve grinding compound to smooth out all the internal friction points, cleaned it, then lubed it with lithium grease and it really smoothed the action out. I bought 25 magazines from Cheaper than Dirt for .97 each, tried about ten using my .308 reloads and the gun shot very well. Its not up to the quality of my DSA FAL, PTR91, or M1A, but fired every time I pulled the trigger. I got it used for $400, will take it on trips where I wouldn't take the others.

 

[bkjeffrey]

yea, I wish CTD still had the .98 cent mags....Ill be buying some of them regardless of which gun I get. That was part of the reason I was looking at the CETME 308.

 

[FMJMIKE]

PSL

I don't believe I have ever heard of an AK-47 or PSL-54C breaking a firing pin. I vote PSL.........

 

[bkjeffrey]

One for cetme 308, one for psl.......thats it?

 

[cchris]

I can't vouch for either, but count one vote for Classic Arms. Good people to deal with.

 

[Maverick223]

One for cetme 308, one for psl.......thats it?

One for neither. I really would invest in something a bit nicer if it were I, but get what feels right.

 

[bkjeffrey]

Choice made.........

I found a Cetme 308 at a local gun shop today. Needless to say I'm not gonna be getting that one.

My decision is based entirely on fit, ergonomics, craftsmanship, quality of build. ( CAI? )

It seemed shoddy built. Felt way too gritty during function. Had ALOT of wobble. And the rear sight SUCKS! Not to mention I thought it was just plain ugly in real life. Didnt balance well either. They had a PTR 91 next to it, so I had a chance to do a good side by side compare, and if I had the 1300 bucks they wanted for the PTR I definatley would have bought the PTR. It was the opposite of everything wrong with the Cetme.

So, with that, I think were gonna go with the PSL, sight unseen.

Thanks for the little bit of input you all put in.....

Decision made. Now I just need to find one for a decent price since Centerfire Systems is sold out......

 

[Maverick223]

I would check out the PSL in person before you commit, or anything else for that matter, you may end up feeling the same way about it (generally plentiful at gun shows in my area). Have you considered a Saiga 7.62x54R or .308? They seem to be better constructed rifles to me, though they require conversion to gain proper ergonomics IMO.

 

[Uncle Mike]

Ptr-91......

 

[jobu07]

Maverick,

Is the Saiga in 7.62x54 a new addition to the line? I've never heard of it in this chambering before. I thought they biggest they went was 7.62x51. That'd be a pretty slick rifle to convert.

 

[Maverick223]

Is the Saiga in 7.62x54 a new addition to the line?

Just checked for it on the RAAC website, but no dice. IIRC they were considering adding it at the same time as the 5.45x39mm, I assumed that it was added at the same time. Unfortunately, it apparently didn't make the cut, at least not yet. I agree that it would be a pretty slick rifle, and shoot cheap surplus to boot. Hopefully they will reconsider and add it to the lineup.

 

[bkjeffrey]

Ideed, If a Saiga were to be chambered in 54R I would own one.

 

[nathan]

Wow , i never thought the parts on those Romaks are hard to find. How about Ebay, gunbroker and Centerfiresystems?

 

[bkjeffrey]

Well, Dang, I just called Classic to buy one from them and guess what....sold out! No back order!

 

[bkjeffrey]

I would check out the PSL in person before you commit

Im sure it feels like a over size WASR-10....but that aint saying much......haha

 

[Kwanger]

I'll vote for the Cetme - just expect to do some tweaking and don't get your knickers in a wad if it doesn't work 100 percent right out of the box, like some people do. There are plenty f warnings around on the web about the fact it might not, so as long as you into it with that mindset, you'll probably be happy. Had mine a few weeks now - it's gone bang every time (300 or so) I've pulled the trigger; no stoppages at all. Very tight groups as well-the recent ones have new barrels on them.

But a couple of things needed amending. When I got it, I had close to zero bolt gap (you'll learn all about this on these types of weapons) - but was easily rectified with new rollers about $15 or so. My rear sight was slightly crooked (and its crap too IMO) - so I cut it off an installed the G3 diopter sight - again parts are cheap, about $30 max. The handguard it comes with is a total cheap POS which overheats to the point of unholdable after 40 rounds - so I ditched that and got a G3 wide and insulated guard for $75. While not required, I also got a Choate side folding stock because I like them, and got the HK bipod to fit the handguard.

Result is I now have an accurate and reliable rifle which looks more like a G3 than a Cetme for just over $600 ($499 plus the 'essential' extras). Still half the price of a PTR91 - which is no doubt much better built.... but I personally question whether it's another $600 worth better built - YMMV. But - if you are the type who will not accept anything less than 100 percent out of the box - best to steer clear of the Cetme's and Century Arms in general.

Is it me or are there just loads of these 308 rifle threads going at the minute? Seems like everyone wants a 308 at the minute!

 

[bkjeffrey]

Ultimatley, I want a semi 308. I was looking at the cetme for cost reasons. But when it all comes down to getting it where it would ultimatley want it I think I would end up close to 1000 bucks. Replacing rollers. Upgrading the stock. Getting the railed forend. Upgrading the sights, the rear specifically. Scope mount. Decent scope. Maybe a different flash hider. Tweaking and tuning. Not to mention it destroys 308 brass and I reload 308.

I think when its all said and done I'd be well on my way to building a decent AR10. My buddy just built one for right at 1100 bucks.

I think ill go with the psl for now. Then start on an AR10 in the future for a semi 308.

 

[MachIVshooter]

I've had both, still have the G-3. FWIW.

Just thought I'd add that with the B-sqaure mount, harris bi-pod and a Simmons ATV 4.5-14x scope, I was into the rifle for only $800. It shoots 1-1.5 MOA with quality ammo and handloads, closer to 2 MOA with surplus stuff.

In the middle, obviously. You can see how much longer (ungainly) the PSL is.

 

[Kwanger]

Sounds good bkjeffrey....I know I'll end up with the German issue scope on my Cetme, so I hear ya on the spending $1000. The way I looked at it was that if I'd got a more expensive rifle to start with - I'd still have added some stuff to it, and spent substantially more.

Another reason I went with the Cetme over anything else (aside from price) was because I am very familiar with and generally like the HK platform.