Black Blade
10th June 2012, 01:57 PM
CETME - Centro de Estudios Técnicos de Materiales Especiales
CETME is an acronym for Centro de Estudios Técnicos de Materiales Especiales (Center for Technical Studies of Special Materials), a Spanish government design and development establishment. While being involved in many projects CETME was mostly known for its small arms research and development. The CETME rifle is its most famous project and the CETME name is most often used to refer to this rifle. The CETME rifle was designed primarily by the German engineer Ludwig Vorgrimler, who based his design on the experimental German StG 45(M) and the French-made AME 49. The StG45 used a roller=delayed bloback mechanism somewhat similar to the roller-locking system. The CETME design inherits the StG45(M)'s fixed-barrel. A variety of experimental 7.92 and 7.62mm cartridges were tested before settling on the 7.62x51 CETME. This round was dimensionally identical to 7.62x51mm NATO, but with a lighter bullet and powder charge to reduce recoil, making fully automatic fire more controllable. Due to feedback from Heckler & Koch, the production rifle was chambered for the more powerful 7.62mm NATO. The Model B went on to be the foundation of the widely-deployed Heckler & Koch G3 battle rifle.
I went out to the range to test out a couple of my CETME rifles.
Conditions: Overcast and rain with light cross-winds about 10-15 mph.
http://images.yuku.com/image/jpg/d5436190123ad5a9c19adb14b4fddeabf9f0287b_r.jpg
On this trip I used surplus G3/HK91 magazines with mixed results. I will work on modifying these "cheap" magazines to get them to function. It would appear that these magazines do lock up tight but don't seat high enough into the mag well. I have no problem using the CETME magazines however.
http://images.yuku.com/image/jpg/1f51611bd9c9d5b6d8d29d0dcb6c72e862578f2a_r.jpg
CETME 1 - Polymer stock set with aftermarket UTG rail.
http://images.yuku.com/image/jpg/01816c1dd7c0dbbedbd639b9221201f8e38973b8_r.jpg
CETME 2 - Wood stock set.
For this trip I used the Santa Barbara Spanish Military Surplus "7.62 CETME" 1960s production (112 grain). Originally manufactured for the "Cetme" rifle with a lighter bullet and reduced pressure, this is "the ammo" for the the Cetme rifle. Also Great for Spanish Mausers. Brass case, copper jacketed FMJ, lead and plastic composite core, non-magnetic.
http://images.yuku.com/image/jpg/1fb16012d3cddabcdeac8e130ac2c322473ff241_r.jpg
http://images.yuku.com/image/jpg/f6836de818b1d09accf2d37bb19cd36bab9ee32b_r.jpg
CETME 1
The CETME 1 rifle shot low at 100 meters and after some scope adjustment I did get on target. The scope is a cheap Tasco and not all that great. I forget my allen wrench set so I couldn't remove the scope to shoot with open sights.
http://images.yuku.com/image/jpg/05336d481123dd48ccd2d543b218ddba33c21e76_r.jpg
Still not bad but should be much better, I have replaced the scope and will try out some mag mods in the future.
CETME 2
The CETME 2 rifle was already sighted in previously and it seemed to be just as accurate as before. As with the CETME 1 rifle I used aluminum surplus G3/HK91 mags. The same problems of cycling an d feeding were evident although I did get several shots off one after another before the occasional FTF and FTE problems. The original steel CETME mags tend to function fine which leads me to consider some dremel work is in order to get these "cheap" mags to seat higher into the mag well allowing the bolt to catch and strip ammo off the mag into the chamber.
http://images.yuku.com/image/jpg/46a16911dcc6d0b2d7337799bc6fe1351fe34b32_r.jpg
The shots definitely grouped nicely. I shot a couple in the lower right target to get a feel for where I should make any adjustments. It was close enough that I just took after the main target. It was slightly off to the right but had a very decent grouping near center. I may tweak it slightly next outting.
All in akl, I am pleased as many people have experienced problems with the Century CETME builds. I chanced it and even though I had to do some minor work the rifles were fun to shoot and the outcome was satisfactory. I still have work to fine tune these rifles but they make me want to consider adding a HK91 (if I can find a good deal) or maybe a US made PTR91 clone. If you want a CETME I would suggest testing firing first if you can - otherwise expect to do some minor (or major) work on your rifles and mags. Who knows, you may get lucky and have a excellent CETME out of the box. Once up and running these are great rifles and a pleasure to shoot.
- Black Blade
CETME is an acronym for Centro de Estudios Técnicos de Materiales Especiales (Center for Technical Studies of Special Materials), a Spanish government design and development establishment. While being involved in many projects CETME was mostly known for its small arms research and development. The CETME rifle is its most famous project and the CETME name is most often used to refer to this rifle. The CETME rifle was designed primarily by the German engineer Ludwig Vorgrimler, who based his design on the experimental German StG 45(M) and the French-made AME 49. The StG45 used a roller=delayed bloback mechanism somewhat similar to the roller-locking system. The CETME design inherits the StG45(M)'s fixed-barrel. A variety of experimental 7.92 and 7.62mm cartridges were tested before settling on the 7.62x51 CETME. This round was dimensionally identical to 7.62x51mm NATO, but with a lighter bullet and powder charge to reduce recoil, making fully automatic fire more controllable. Due to feedback from Heckler & Koch, the production rifle was chambered for the more powerful 7.62mm NATO. The Model B went on to be the foundation of the widely-deployed Heckler & Koch G3 battle rifle.
I went out to the range to test out a couple of my CETME rifles.
Conditions: Overcast and rain with light cross-winds about 10-15 mph.
http://images.yuku.com/image/jpg/d5436190123ad5a9c19adb14b4fddeabf9f0287b_r.jpg
On this trip I used surplus G3/HK91 magazines with mixed results. I will work on modifying these "cheap" magazines to get them to function. It would appear that these magazines do lock up tight but don't seat high enough into the mag well. I have no problem using the CETME magazines however.
http://images.yuku.com/image/jpg/1f51611bd9c9d5b6d8d29d0dcb6c72e862578f2a_r.jpg
CETME 1 - Polymer stock set with aftermarket UTG rail.
http://images.yuku.com/image/jpg/01816c1dd7c0dbbedbd639b9221201f8e38973b8_r.jpg
CETME 2 - Wood stock set.
For this trip I used the Santa Barbara Spanish Military Surplus "7.62 CETME" 1960s production (112 grain). Originally manufactured for the "Cetme" rifle with a lighter bullet and reduced pressure, this is "the ammo" for the the Cetme rifle. Also Great for Spanish Mausers. Brass case, copper jacketed FMJ, lead and plastic composite core, non-magnetic.
http://images.yuku.com/image/jpg/1fb16012d3cddabcdeac8e130ac2c322473ff241_r.jpg
http://images.yuku.com/image/jpg/f6836de818b1d09accf2d37bb19cd36bab9ee32b_r.jpg
CETME 1
The CETME 1 rifle shot low at 100 meters and after some scope adjustment I did get on target. The scope is a cheap Tasco and not all that great. I forget my allen wrench set so I couldn't remove the scope to shoot with open sights.
http://images.yuku.com/image/jpg/05336d481123dd48ccd2d543b218ddba33c21e76_r.jpg
Still not bad but should be much better, I have replaced the scope and will try out some mag mods in the future.
CETME 2
The CETME 2 rifle was already sighted in previously and it seemed to be just as accurate as before. As with the CETME 1 rifle I used aluminum surplus G3/HK91 mags. The same problems of cycling an d feeding were evident although I did get several shots off one after another before the occasional FTF and FTE problems. The original steel CETME mags tend to function fine which leads me to consider some dremel work is in order to get these "cheap" mags to seat higher into the mag well allowing the bolt to catch and strip ammo off the mag into the chamber.
http://images.yuku.com/image/jpg/46a16911dcc6d0b2d7337799bc6fe1351fe34b32_r.jpg
The shots definitely grouped nicely. I shot a couple in the lower right target to get a feel for where I should make any adjustments. It was close enough that I just took after the main target. It was slightly off to the right but had a very decent grouping near center. I may tweak it slightly next outting.
All in akl, I am pleased as many people have experienced problems with the Century CETME builds. I chanced it and even though I had to do some minor work the rifles were fun to shoot and the outcome was satisfactory. I still have work to fine tune these rifles but they make me want to consider adding a HK91 (if I can find a good deal) or maybe a US made PTR91 clone. If you want a CETME I would suggest testing firing first if you can - otherwise expect to do some minor (or major) work on your rifles and mags. Who knows, you may get lucky and have a excellent CETME out of the box. Once up and running these are great rifles and a pleasure to shoot.
- Black Blade