Sweet CETME

[Storm]

A few years back I picked up a Century Sporter CETME. I love my PTR, but someting keeps bringing me back to this CETME. Anyone who knows the CETME (Century) knows that the history has been greatly varied with earlier guns questionable. They have gone through three or four generations some far better than others. Yesterday while cleaning up bookmarks I found this "history" that may be useful in choosing a CETME. http://www.surplusrifleforum.com/viewtopic.php?t=491 It may not cover very current guns but it will give you some guidance in choosing one.

My CETME is a 3rd Gen gun and has been outstanding right out of the "box". I've improved the bolt gap some, but this was unnecesarry and more to assure many years of use without tinkering with it again. These guns are easy to work on with a boatload of info out there on the Net. Other than a little bolt gap adjustment the major thing that I've done with this gun is replace the original furniture (yes, I watched my 922r parts count) which I restored and refinished with Watco's Danish Oil finish, IMO the best stuff going for military style wood. Furniture for the CETME is dirt cheap, as are the mags, and I have a bunch of both.

It's a heck of a good shooting rifle, and when you pull the trigger on one you know that you have shot something.

 

[Gordon]

Truly beautiful and dutiful!

 

[Storm]

Thanks!

I'd also recommend doing your homework before buying one of these. If it's a used gun determining which generation it belongs to will give you an idea of what you might be getting. If buying from the Net without actual inpsection I would only buy the gun with a generous return policy. Checking for a ground bolt is critical to buying the right gun, and that can only be done in person.

There is a wealth of knowledge on the CETME and clones (other than the original CETME all of these guns, including HK, technically are clones) here:

http://www.militaryfirearm.com/Forum/forumdisplay.php?f=23

 

[Kind of Blued]

That thing is begging for a matching wood pistol grip, no?

Still, nice rifle. I've never had the pleasure of shooting a G3/CETME.

 

[Animal Mother]

I love the look of a CETME rifle. Unfortunately, the uneven build quality has scared me away from the Century build which is all I can afford at this point in my life. I hope to one day find one that I have the option of returning if it doesn't work correctly. That is a beautiful gun you have there Storm.

 

[t165]

Cetme

Hey I've got one of those left. I had (5), three with the damn muzzle brake that I quickly got tired of. I sold those three and kept (2) without the brake and liked shooting them much better. I traded one for another firearm and this is the only one I have left. I fired about 70-80 rounds through it before she settled down and became reliable. I think H&K recommends firing approximately 200 rounds through one of their new guns before recommending warranty work if the firearm proves unreliable.

 

[Storm]

The bottom line is that the CETME can provide great service and can be an entire hobby in and of itself. If you go here http://www.militaryfirearm.com/ you can learn everything that you need to know in choosing one (in addition to the link provided in my original post) as well as how to fix and maintain one.

As to wood grips, while I would like to acquire some, if just to have, my goal was to have my CETME in as close to original condition as possible which calls for the plastic grip.

Also, if .308 isn't your bag, my understanding is that there is an HK93 (.223) version about to be released, or so I'm told.

 

[Fire_Fight]

I had a Century Cetme and traded it off for a Beretta Storm CX4 rifle. I love the Beretta but really miss the Cetme, it was a great shooter! Need to get another one.
FF

 

[gotmine]

One of the guys at militaryfirearm makes wooden pistol grips for the cetme. There's another that makes buttstocks and handguards...Also there are U.S. made hammers, triggers, etc.

 

[Storm]

One of the guys at militaryfirearm makes wooden pistol grips for the cetme. There's another that makes buttstocks and handguards...Also there are U.S. made hammers, triggers, etc.

Yup, if you add German wood or HK stocks, etc., you need to swap out for US parts to have a proper 922r part count.

Lots of good folks on that board, and lots of goodies.