Good cheap and reliable G3/CETME Clone

nick112207 · 12-02-2007, 08:17 PM

What company makes a good and reliable clone of these rifles in the 400 to 600 dollar range? I see century arms and federal arms make them but i cant get the prices online because im not a FFL holder

mattmacklind · 12-02-2007, 08:42 PM

Those are the only makers as far as I know. I'm picking one up used with wood furniture this week. I just hot lucky I guess but I wasn't even looing for one. I just saw it and thought hey I'd like one of those!

nick112207 · 12-02-2007, 08:48 PM

how much did you pay for it? because like i said i online wont show me the prices of them

just_a_car · 12-02-2007, 10:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nick112207

how much did you pay for it? because like i said i online wont show me the prices of them

Sure you can. Just go to GunBroker.com Online Gun Auction and search for them. You'll see what people are asking for them. That's where I purchased my CETME a while back and got a screaming deal as they were just starting to go up in price and I got it for the old price.

nick112207 · 12-02-2007, 10:20 PM

I'm just not sure if i wanna get a CETME or try to find a FA91. I read somewhere that the CETME ONLY accepts the old surplus NATO ammo?

just_a_car · 12-02-2007, 10:33 PM

Take a look here: http://www.gunandgame.com/forums/g3-...3-clone-2.html (G3 Clone)

That should give you an idea.

It's a debated issue on whether or not to use .308Win ammo in 7.62x51NATO-designed firearms.

I'll say one thing though, they ARE different rounds. But, they are "functionally" the same. Now, using the NATO ammo in a .308Win gun won't hurt anything, but that's because .308Win ammo has a higher Max-value for pressure.

nick112207 · 12-02-2007, 10:47 PM

yeah ive read that post many times trying to get every detail. i just wasnt sure because i was on a site and they said the FA91 was capable of sustaining the pressure but the CETME wasnt stable using the same pressures

just_a_car · 12-02-2007, 10:54 PM

Well, since the CETME was designed to deal with sustained fully-automatic fire... I don't think it should really have much of an issue, but that's just my personal, un-scientific opinion. PLUS, it's got a flutted barrel, so a lot of the gas does get vented back into the action once the roller-lockers disengage.

nick112207 · 12-02-2007, 11:07 PM

Ah ok. see i know nothing about these rifles. Most of my knowledge is of WWII era rifles and a little about AK's and SKS rifles. Haha. I think i might go with a CETME. I like how they look with the wood stocks and hand guard. I'm gonna have to check around where i live to see if anyone has any. If not im gonna have to buy off gunbroker and have it shipped to a local FFL dealer. I hate not being able to get a FFL. haha

mattmacklind · 12-02-2007, 11:22 PM

The one I'm looking at is asking just shy of 600. I'm going to see how low I can get it and shoot for around 500. I understand 308 is fine in them, but I'm actually unsure now that you mention it.

nick112207 · 12-02-2007, 11:25 PM

yeah none of the local little small town gun stores have them that im aware of. And AIM Surplus doesnt. IDK about SOG but they dont deal with you unless you have a FFL. I could check at a place called Target World or Dunhams

just_a_car · 12-03-2007, 12:12 AM

Last I heard, $500-600 is the going rate. Not a year and a half ago, they started to climb from around $350-$400 because Century Arms International (CAI) stopped making them from the kits (so I heard). Though, I believe you can still purchase the receiver-less kits, it requires you to get everything perfectly aligned and then weld it all together, which is why there were so many "Century-Monkey" screwed-up CETMEs out there. It's not like an AK or AR build where you just pin or rivet it all together.

Likely, people will realize that these are great battle rifles in a great caliber that have the recoil of an M4 in .223 (yes, I've tried one and it had the same recoil as my .308!!!) due to the roller-delayed blowback action and then they're going to start drying up and they just won't come down in price. They've steadily rose bit-by-bit for the past year or so by about $200, on average.

nick112207 · 12-03-2007, 12:17 AM

yeah thats a fine price range for me because thats how much i was looking to spend on an AK. and i already have a SKS so i wanted something a bit different with more accuracy and a bigger bullet

just_a_car · 12-03-2007, 12:21 AM

Yeah, I payed $533 out the door for my AES-10 that I just bought and haven't had the time yet to even clean the factory gunk out of, much less fire. You can see the post on that one over on the AK forum: Here (Bought a Century (CAI) AES-10).
And my original plans for modding it out: Here (Thinking of buying an AES-10).

nick112207 · 12-03-2007, 12:25 AM

yeah ive switched over to the CETME rifle. I like having guns from all over i think. I've already got one from italy, two from russia, one from yugoslavia, and the CETME will make 1 from spain (kinda)

just_a_car · 12-03-2007, 12:33 AM

Not kinda... most definitely!

We love our Spanish Ladies!

Those parts that aren't US-made to make the rifle BATFE-compliant are all Spanish from Centro de Estudios Téchnicos de Materiales Especiales (CETME).

As for the nationalities of my firearms, I have three Russkies, an Austrian, a Romanian, and my Spaniard.

Big Dog · 12-03-2007, 04:39 AM

The issue with using .308 Win in our CETMES is NOT one of pressure - the CETME is very forgiving of pressure differences, unlike many gas-operated guns.
The problem is in the thinner and more fragile commercial brass. The CETME has a very violent extraction/ejection cycle - that's why it throws the case a good thirty feet!
I have had a Remington .308 case ripped in half, the next round jamming in the chamber as it's stuck in the front half of the prior round's case.
If you can get some 7.62X51NATO cases, you can load for it properly.
In a pinch, we can use commercial ammo - but be careful and make sure it's fully ejected before firing the next one!

nick112207 · 12-03-2007, 06:09 AM

yeah dont worry i watch the actions on my guns to make sure they are good to go before firing. I dont have an excessive amount of money on hand so i am extra careful so as to not need to spend alot on spare parts from stuff breaking. Like i said, i baby them

Tex in Maine · 12-03-2007, 08:58 PM

here is a FA91 I picked up at a local gunshop for $500. I havnt had time to shoot it yet, hopefully this weekend.

nick112207 · 12-03-2007, 09:31 PM

I called a local gun store around here and they have an early production Century CETME for 600 with the wood furniture. They also have a newer CETME with the black synthetic for 650. someoen said the early Century CETME's were the good ones? I really like the wood over the black synthetic but if the newer ones are actually the better quality ones i'll pay the extra 50 for it. They have lay away so that makes it even better.

12-02-2007, 08:17 PM	#1
nick112207 Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 337 Trader Rating: (0)	Good cheap and reliable G3/CETME Clone What company makes a good and reliable clone of these rifles in the 400 to 600 dollar range? I see century arms and federal arms make them but i cant get the prices online because im not a FFL holder

12-02-2007, 10:33 PM	#6
just_a_car Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Edmonds, WA Posts: 3,412 Trader Rating: (0)	Take a look here: http://www.gunandgame.com/forums/g3-...3-clone-2.html (G3 Clone) That should give you an idea. It's a debated issue on whether or not to use .308Win ammo in 7.62x51NATO-designed firearms. I'll say one thing though, they ARE different rounds. But, they are "functionally" the same. Now, using the NATO ammo in a .308Win gun won't hurt anything, but that's because .308Win ammo has a higher Max-value for pressure. __________________

12-02-2007, 10:54 PM	#8
just_a_car Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Edmonds, WA Posts: 3,412 Trader Rating: (0)	Well, since the CETME was designed to deal with sustained fully-automatic fire... I don't think it should really have much of an issue, but that's just my personal, un-scientific opinion. PLUS, it's got a flutted barrel, so a lot of the gas does get vented back into the action once the roller-lockers disengage. __________________

12-03-2007, 12:12 AM	#12
just_a_car Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Edmonds, WA Posts: 3,412 Trader Rating: (0)	Last I heard, $500-600 is the going rate. Not a year and a half ago, they started to climb from around $350-$400 because Century Arms International (CAI) stopped making them from the kits (so I heard). Though, I believe you can still purchase the receiver-less kits, it requires you to get everything *perfectly* aligned and then weld it all together, which is why there were so many "Century-Monkey" screwed-up CETMEs out there. It's not like an AK or AR build where you just pin or rivet it all together. Likely, people will realize that these are great battle rifles in a great caliber that have the recoil of an M4 in .223 (yes, I've tried one and it had the same recoil as my .308!!!) due to the roller-delayed blowback action and then they're going to start drying up and they just won't come down in price. They've steadily rose bit-by-bit for the past year or so by about $200, on average. __________________

12-03-2007, 12:21 AM	#14
just_a_car Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Edmonds, WA Posts: 3,412 Trader Rating: (0)	Yeah, I payed $533 out the door for my AES-10 that I just bought and haven't had the time yet to even clean the factory gunk out of, much less fire. You can see the post on that one over on the AK forum: Here (Bought a Century (CAI) AES-10). And my original plans for modding it out: Here (Thinking of buying an AES-10). __________________

12-02-2007, 08:42 PM	#2
mattmacklind Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 24 Trader Rating: (0)	Those are the only makers as far as I know. I'm picking one up used with wood furniture this week. I just hot lucky I guess but I wasn't even looing for one. I just saw it and thought hey I'd like one of those!

12-02-2007, 08:48 PM	#3
nick112207 Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 337 Trader Rating: (0)	how much did you pay for it? because like i said i online wont show me the prices of them

12-02-2007, 10:20 PM	#5
nick112207 Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 337 Trader Rating: (0)	I'm just not sure if i wanna get a CETME or try to find a FA91. I read somewhere that the CETME ONLY accepts the old surplus NATO ammo?

12-02-2007, 10:47 PM	#7
nick112207 Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 337 Trader Rating: (0)	yeah ive read that post many times trying to get every detail. i just wasnt sure because i was on a site and they said the FA91 was capable of sustaining the pressure but the CETME wasnt stable using the same pressures

12-02-2007, 11:07 PM	#9
nick112207 Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 337 Trader Rating: (0)	Ah ok. see i know nothing about these rifles. Most of my knowledge is of WWII era rifles and a little about AK's and SKS rifles. Haha. I think i might go with a CETME. I like how they look with the wood stocks and hand guard. I'm gonna have to check around where i live to see if anyone has any. If not im gonna have to buy off gunbroker and have it shipped to a local FFL dealer. I hate not being able to get a FFL. haha

12-02-2007, 11:22 PM	#10
mattmacklind Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 24 Trader Rating: (0)	The one I'm looking at is asking just shy of 600. I'm going to see how low I can get it and shoot for around 500. I understand 308 is fine in them, but I'm actually unsure now that you mention it.

12-02-2007, 11:25 PM	#11
nick112207 Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 337 Trader Rating: (0)	yeah none of the local little small town gun stores have them that im aware of. And AIM Surplus doesnt. IDK about SOG but they dont deal with you unless you have a FFL. I could check at a place called Target World or Dunhams

12-03-2007, 12:17 AM	#13
nick112207 Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 337 Trader Rating: (0)	yeah thats a fine price range for me because thats how much i was looking to spend on an AK. and i already have a SKS so i wanted something a bit different with more accuracy and a bigger bullet

12-03-2007, 12:25 AM	#15
nick112207 Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 337 Trader Rating: (0)	yeah ive switched over to the CETME rifle. I like having guns from all over i think. I've already got one from italy, two from russia, one from yugoslavia, and the CETME will make 1 from spain (kinda)

12-03-2007, 12:33 AM	#16
just_a_car Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Edmonds, WA Posts: 3,412 Trader Rating: (0)	Not kinda... most definitely! We love our Spanish Ladies! Those parts that aren't US-made to make the rifle BATFE-compliant are all Spanish from Centro de Estudios Téchnicos de Materiales Especiales (CETME). As for the nationalities of my firearms, I have three Russkies, an Austrian, a Romanian, and my Spaniard. __________________

12-03-2007, 04:39 AM	#17
Big Dog Moderator Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Tallahassee, Florida Posts: 10,059 Trader Rating: (0)	The issue with using .308 Win in our CETMES is NOT one of pressure - the CETME is very forgiving of pressure differences, unlike many gas-operated guns. The problem is in the thinner and more fragile commercial brass. The CETME has a very violent extraction/ejection cycle - that's why it throws the case a good thirty feet! I have had a Remington .308 case ripped in half, the next round jamming in the chamber as it's stuck in the front half of the prior round's case. If you can get some 7.62X51NATO cases, you can load for it properly. In a pinch, we can use commercial ammo - but be careful and make sure it's fully ejected before firing the next one! __________________ Moderator of: AR15/M16, M14/M1A, New/Beginning Shooters and Militaria/Collectables.

12-03-2007, 06:09 AM	#18
nick112207 Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 337 Trader Rating: (0)	yeah dont worry i watch the actions on my guns to make sure they are good to go before firing. I dont have an excessive amount of money on hand so i am extra careful so as to not need to spend alot on spare parts from stuff breaking. Like i said, i baby them

12-03-2007, 08:58 PM	#19
Tex in Maine Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Norway, Maine Posts: 235 Trader Rating: (0)	here is a FA91 I picked up at a local gunshop for $500. I havnt had time to shoot it yet, hopefully this weekend. __________________ Man's Prayer: Oh Lord I'm a man, but I can change... if I have to...I guess.

12-03-2007, 09:31 PM	#20
nick112207 Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 337 Trader Rating: (0)	I called a local gun store around here and they have an early production Century CETME for 600 with the wood furniture. They also have a newer CETME with the black synthetic for 650. someoen said the early Century CETME's were the good ones? I really like the wood over the black synthetic but if the newer ones are actually the better quality ones i'll pay the extra 50 for it. They have lay away so that makes it even better.