Century Arms CETME Inspection

**JoshIronshaft** · September 15th, 2011, 10:54 PM

Got my first CETME for $400 on craigslist (oops - I mean pennswoods) with 7 mags. Wood forestock, black plastic buttstock, and typical century arms stuff: crappy rear sight, 12 hole brake, push button mag release, stamped receiver, etc.

Person I purchased from said he never shot it but cleaned it once, and the person he purchased it from shot it. Upon field strip, this rifle was shot and put away dirty. Receiver is wear free inside and out like it wasn't shot much.

First problem. No bolt gap.

My smallest feeler gauge is 0.004" and I can't get it in there. I assume the gap should be measurable the entire way into against the next surface and not just an edge measurement. Regardless, I can't get it in at all.

Sometimes the cocking tube handle lays cocked to one side, like so:

Not sure about that one. Seems to lock up fine when slapping forward from hold open position.

Handle shows resistance and stops my one finger when I pull it out at this position:

Cocking tube gap appears to be less than a dime's worth of movement from that small scratch above the cocking tube:

Like I said this is my first CETME and I've done some research but not much and could use advice.

Rear bolt face doesn't appear to be ground, but I could use reference pictures of ground and not ground.

Does anyone know the overall length of the bolts?

Should I measure the diameter of the rollers?

Thanks

**tonyfac** · September 16th, 2011, 08:12 AM

You need more bolt gap than that. 2 options, get a new bolt (apex has them)
or replace your rollers. if you were close to me i have extra rollers to try, for some of the best information on a cetme go here:
http://www.militaryfirearm.com/

for parts, rollers, mag release go here:
http://www.robertrtg.com/g3.html

i already replaced my bolt, rollers etc. and have .12 gap, shoots great with no ftf. now i am going to put on a port buffer and also looking into a clipped and pinned trigger pack.

**bigandy1966** · September 16th, 2011, 08:17 AM

I thought CL didn't do Firearms?

**tonyfac** · September 16th, 2011, 09:54 AM

Originally Posted by bigandy1966

I thought CL didn't do Firearms?

as the old sayin goes:
"everything is legal as long as you don't get caught"
have you seen the lehigh valley one? there is always postings there. you're not supposed to, but they just haven't been caught yet.