Cetme purchase

[1darksoul]

I don't have any experience with the Cetme rifles, and was thinking about getting one. The problem with this is that the more posts I read about them on various boards, the more negative reports I am finding. Are they as bad as some say. Whats the truth guys, give it to me, good, bad, or ugly. I can handle it. What do you Cetme owners say? Should I look to spend my money elsewhere?

[Schuetzenman]

Well, they have had their little problems. When you get a good one, they are very nice. I personally wouldn't purchase one unless I could hand pick it and examine it for function first.

[Richard Simmons]

I purchased my cast receiver CETME about a year and a half ago. Great wood, finish and functions perfectly. Sometime last year I started noticing that the wood was not nearly as nice and in some cases, downright shitty looking on CETMEs I was seeking on store shelves and at shows. There has always been a cosmetic difference between the cast and stamped receivers due to the welds on the stamped. Used to be that the drum, (HK type) rear sight was only fould on the stamped receiver while the cast carried the original CETME windmill rear sight. As Shuetzenman said, "if it's a good one they are very nice". IMO the chances of you getting a nice, reliable rifle are pretty good though you should expect some breakin to be required. To get the best looking rifle possible and to determine if you prefer one type of rear sight over the other you really need to view the firearm in person. All in all they really are a very good deal. HTH

[RetVet]

Ditto what's already been said plus watch out for the ground bolts. That is the BIG issue lately and will likely identify the weapon as either a poor build or having very worn parts.

I love mine and would be inclined to get a third someday.

[1darksoul]

Thanks guys,

I picked up my new CETME on monday evening. Got it for $299 from a dealer that I know and trust. Said it was gauged good. No ground bolt, and great wood. He said that he had ordered four originally and sent all four back. This was one of them that he got as a replacement for the original shipment. Since I didn't get this one until after the gunshow, I failed to pick up any ammo for it. What is a good surplus, NON-corrosive ammo, for this rifle? Hope to at least get to try it out in two weeks.

[Schuetzenman]

CETME will work with any variety of surplus. I've seen em eat Portuguese, Cavim (yucky accuracy), Chillean and South African. Shot best with the Port. and second best with the SA ammo. Try www.Ammoman.com to see what they have. Many sources are out of ammo right now in this caliber. It's a mini crisis . . . really!

Don't know why all of a sudden we are short on surp. .308 in the country when all last year and the year before that we were swimming in it.