CETME overhaul

[gold cup abuser]

Sometimes a cheap rifle is a steal other times its just a cheap rifle. When dealing with stuff done from Century Arms its a crap shoot either way lol.

I got a deal from a friend on a CETME and on the outside it didn't look too bad the only problem was in cocking the rifle, as it was a pita to get it to cock back. But for 300 bucks I figured that I was getting a bargain. I got the rifle, a Hoppes hard case, the original mag, a b square scope mount and a leapers mil dot scope. Not too bad I though...........

It almost went the other way...

I did some interweb searching on this problem and then found out about the infamous bent cocking tubes and ground bolts on the CETME's that Century builds I just saw 300 bucks go down the toilet, but I kept looking.

Then I found a web site that has a ton of info on CETME rifles:

http://www.militaryfirearm.com

One of the posters there showed me what I had to to do to get this 'bagain' running like new.

Not having a tool phobia I decided that I could handle this with no isues

The rifle was hard to cock because the bolt carrier was 2mm too short and the cocking tube support was worn. The bolt was also ground in the rear to give a false bolt gap and was also shorter than HK/CETME specs allowed.

So to get her back on the road to shooting. I had to do the following:

1. Replace bolt carrier with a new stripped one from apex.

2. Replaced the bolt with a new stripped one from apex.

3. Replaced the cocking tube support with a new one from RTG parts.

4. Replaced the locking rollers with a set of +4 rollers.

5. Replaced the original locking piece with a new one from apex.

6. Replaced the original cocking handle with a new rubber coated one from RTG parts.

Biggest issue I had was with the stripped bolt carrier. The carrier was totally stripped out of parts including the support tube in the carrier that allows the rifle to cock :|

I had to grind down the front of the old bolt carrier and drive out the support tube from the old carrier and then hammer it into the new carrier. A large automotive allen wrench helped here as did a ton of silicone spray.

Once I had this done and had a good bolt gap and the cocking tube was at a in spec gap I then did the follwing cosmetic changes to my CETME.

1. Replaced the issue wood with the following:
a. UTG railed forearm, this gives ME a better feel for the rifle and its lined so overheating becomes less of a problem. I was prepared to do some grinding on this around the front sight 'triple frame' so it would fit, but it just dropped in place The original wood just didn't do it for me and was in my eye one step above firewood.

2. Got a choate folding stock for the HK/PTR type rifles. Since the recoil guide is NOT compatable with the CETME I got a new recoil guide. On the HK guide I had to gently sand down the washer on the front of the guide so that the rifle will cock properly. The Choate stock went on with no issues, and again locktite red to the rescue to keep the screws holding the stock on the recoil guide.

3. From the above site a member there sells a HK type flash supressor. This is a much better alternative than that craptastic one Century likes to use. In getting that thing from hell off took a ton of grinding, as its held in place with a roll pin. After breaking a vice to get that thing off I fianlly got it taken off with a monkey wrench. This flash supressor is also marked US so it keeps the 922r compliance monkeys happy

4. I had a Knights Arament fore end grip laying around so I mounted that to the rail system.

So for another 300 bucks in upgrade and needed parts I now have a rifle that runs and runs well This is cheaper than buying new and possibly having the same issues

So in this case a cheap rifle became a great deal. And for me it didn't take a ton of gunsmithing skills to make her run and run right. YMMV


FWIW some ppl like to blast Century for their crappy builds, but considering how difficult it is to make these rifles its a miralce that they work at all. Besides if a shooter wants a real HK91 then they need to be prepared to pay an outrageous sum of cash for the priveledge of owing an HK rifle....

Sorry but I don't pay for privelidges like that


Later today when the camera is charged I will post pics.

If you are thining about getting a CETME go to the above sight and read the section on cocking tube gap. The dime and nickle trick they show there can help you decide if that CETME you are looking at will be a deal or a lemon.

[King 5.45]

Six days ago you promised pics. GIVE!

[Pector55]

I love my CETME!!!

[gold cup abuser]

Six days ago you promised pics. GIVE!

give me a few, I just got home from work and set up a photobucket acct

If you are nice I might add some Garand p0rn too

[Phillygunguy]

i Have a similar problem with my cetme its also a century arms pos
The charging handle was hard to cock but after doing it a few times it loosened up
My problem was actually after firing half a mag would FTF, When I loaded a new mag and slapped the charging handle it would disconect from the bolt carrier? I guess? and fail to go into battery. The weird thing is that it only did it with a loaded mag unloaded would work fine albeit useless
going to send it back to Century to see what the problem is unless someone could tell me

[King 5.45]

give me a few, I just got home from work and set up a photobucket acct

If you are nice I might add some Garand p0rn too

Considering the fact that most Garands were born in the 40s, I'm not entirely sure just how I'd feel at the idea of "Garand porn." Maybe, like grabbing an iron and some spray starch?



Yeah, baby ...

[gold cup abuser]

i Have a similar problem with my cetme its also a century arms pos
The charging handle was hard to cock but after doing it a few times it loosened up
My problem was actually after firing half a mag would FTF, When I loaded a new mag and slapped the charging handle it would disconect from the bolt carrier? I guess? and fail to go into battery. The weird thing is that it only did it with a loaded mag unloaded would work fine albeit useless
going to send it back to Century to see what the problem is unless someone could tell me

If the rifle is new then Century will fix it for you.

If the rifle is hard to cock try this:

With the rifle unloaded and the magazine out, and selector on FIRE, cock the rifle.

Once the bolt is back and locked, put a dime in the cocking tube, tilt the rifle down until the dime is flat inside the cocking tube.

Slap the cocking handle and let the bolt ride home.

If you can now cock the rifle more easily then the cocking tube gap is the issue and either the bolt carrier or bolt will need replaement.

If in cocking the rifle with a loaded mag do not forget to angle the magazine in then slap it hard from the bottom to make sure that the magazine is locked in place properly.

If this is happening with the issue curved CETME magazine try an aluminum HK magazine. If you are using metal HK mags some CETME's will not function with a steel magazine.

If the bolt carrier is not going into battery its possible that the ejector on the trigger pack may be dragging on the bolt and preventing it from going into battery.

Head to this sight and do some reading, it might give you better trouble shooting tips:

http://www.militaryfirearm.com


pics coming soon

[Phillygunguy]

Thanks I think I read about the dime trick Ill try it out
I think Ill send it back to them first being its under warranty Im sure they can fix it I will probably replace the bolt head although not sure how to tell if its been grounded and put some + 4 rollers in there I was thinking that the coking tube might be bent then in either case nothing would work and id be SOL
thanks a lot for the input though

[Phillygunguy]

4got to mention I have the original cetme mag it came with and got the hk steel mags ctd was sold out of aluminum

[gold cup abuser]

welllll

after taking pics and then having my laptop hard drive crash, I finally got them uploaded.

I did two additional mods to the rifle after a range session.

1. Changed out the CETME firing pin and spring with an HK.

2. Got a brass deflector from the folks at HK parts. Its a plastic snap on one. I was not in the mood to weld on the original steel one that HK upgraded on the G3.