CETME Ammo

Mike Franklin · 07-11-2008, 09:25 AM

Very many years ago I carried a modified HK-91 Sniper Rifle. I looked over several CETMEs and considered buying one. The gun magazines of the day claimed that the CETME used a lighter loaded round than the NATO stuff and that a diet of NATO or commercial ammo would batter the CETME to the point that it would no longer work.
Now that 's been like 25 years ago. Did that turn out to be a myth? Is there a difference in the ammo? What do you shoot in your CETME?

Tigercat200 · 07-11-2008, 01:44 PM

I'm using a mixed bag of mil surplus NATO ammo that I've had for 15 years or so. It came 500 loose rounds to an ammo can. Occasionally, I'll get a click instead of a boom but, I just pull them out and put them in my to be disposed of box. Otherwise, the CETME just eats it up. Matter of fact, there are threads saying that you should use the NATO ammo since the cases are heavier and the violent extraction cycle won't rip the brass apart and leave you with a hunk in the chamber. I'm sure the more experienced folks on here, like Mooseman and Just A Car, will chime in.

Bob

meatloaf · 07-11-2008, 09:36 PM

No problems with mill surplus its all I shoot.

Big Dog · 07-12-2008, 04:55 PM

It is a myth. The commercial market CETME rifle is based on the CETME Modelo-C - designed to use standard NATO 7.62X51.

The Spanish 'light loads' were an early development that fizzled. All their battle rifles used the standard NATO load.

This has been confirmed on the Gunboards site by Spanish ex-troopers who used these rifles.

The CETME has the ability to operate with a wider variety of loads than many gas-operated weapons can. The only weak point is that the cases need to be mil-spec. The thinner commercial cases can be ripped in half.

crazyivan.1 · 07-13-2008, 09:32 PM

the only problems i'm haveing is failure to feed the last couple of rounds, I think that my mag springs might be weak, I'm gonna try to stretch them back into shape.

Don357 · 07-14-2008, 11:28 PM

I've shot Mil-surp Indian, commercial Monarch (Barnaul) and Federal in my CETME without as much as a hiccup, and have gotten decent accuracy with them all.

Mike Franklin · 07-15-2008, 07:44 PM

I did shoot a bunch'a commercial stuff out of my HK but no reloads. I never had any trouble with the HK.

YankeeSpirit76 · 08-13-2008, 08:47 AM

When I first got my Cetme, I bought a box of Winchester 308. The rifle fired the first 2 rounds fine, but the third fired and when it ejected it tore the cartridge in half, leaving half jammed in the barrel. That's when I learned not to use commercial ammo.

I bought some mil. surplus made by the Australian defence ministry. It works fine but I noticed is very dirty, like a .22. After I fire 50 or 60 rds. the rifle starts to jam. The bolt doesn't go forward all the way. I don't know if it's because the ammo is so dirty, or because the rifle is so hot. Even shooting it slowly and taking my time the rifle gets so hot! Any idea what it is?

Mooseman684 · 08-13-2008, 11:16 AM

My recommendation is to add a Buffer to the action as it keeps the bolt from hammering the rear block and shoot any Mil-surp 7.62 Nato ammo you want...

Enscribe · 08-18-2008, 08:30 AM

Any mil surp ammo will due. My Cetme has been operating flawlessly for a few weeks now. (after a little tweaking) I heard of the weaker tolerance thng but assumed it was a myth for CAI marked their weapons 7.62x51 I have only shot surplus ammo out of mine since I got it. I have fired 5 rounds of russian bear ammo and tore a casing. other than that, The Cetme is reliable, very fun and manageable.

Big Dog · 08-18-2008, 05:11 PM

The CETME 7.62X51 ammo needs to be milsurp - but NOT necessarily "NATO". I have used Venezuelan "CAVIM" with very good results, Hirtenburger (via some other South American Banana Republic, with many years bulk packed together), South African, Aussie and Spanish Santa Barbara (the ammo the CETME is designed too use) - none of it "NATO" marked! All worked properly, the CAVIM and Aussie shooting the tightest groups.
My CAVIM cases are Boxer primed, and I have found other headstamps that are Boxer. Check those milsurp cases before discarding them as 'nonreloadable'! They may be useable.
The South African (R1M1 marked) is definitely NOT reloadable - 'snake eyes'!

I have heard on some forums that the Winchester nickle cased commercial brass is good to use - supposedly tougher than the regular commercial brass - but I have NOT verified this.

07-11-2008, 09:25 AM	#1
Mike Franklin Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Poteet, Texas Posts: 1,276	CETME Ammo Very many years ago I carried a modified HK-91 Sniper Rifle. I looked over several CETMEs and considered buying one. The gun magazines of the day claimed that the CETME used a lighter loaded round than the NATO stuff and that a diet of NATO or commercial ammo would batter the CETME to the point that it would no longer work. Now that 's been like 25 years ago. Did that turn out to be a myth? Is there a difference in the ammo? What do you shoot in your CETME? __________________ Aim real good we're nearly out of ammo.

07-11-2008, 01:44 PM	#2
Tigercat200 Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Middle of the USA Posts: 52	I'm using a mixed bag of mil surplus NATO ammo that I've had for 15 years or so. It came 500 loose rounds to an ammo can. Occasionally, I'll get a click instead of a boom but, I just pull them out and put them in my to be disposed of box. Otherwise, the CETME just eats it up. Matter of fact, there are threads saying that you should use the NATO ammo since the cases are heavier and the violent extraction cycle won't rip the brass apart and leave you with a hunk in the chamber. I'm sure the more experienced folks on here, like Mooseman and Just A Car, will chime in. Bob __________________ Bob Beware the fury of a patient man......John Dryden Last edited by Tigercat200; 07-11-2008 at 01:48 PM.

07-12-2008, 04:55 PM	#4
Big Dog Moderator Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Tallahassee, Florida Posts: 10,214	It is a myth. The commercial market CETME rifle is based on the CETME Modelo-C - designed to use standard NATO 7.62X51. The Spanish 'light loads' were an early development that fizzled. All their battle rifles used the standard NATO load. This has been confirmed on the Gunboards site by Spanish ex-troopers who used these rifles. The CETME has the ability to operate with a wider variety of loads than many gas-operated weapons can. The only weak point is that the cases need to be mil-spec. The thinner commercial cases can be ripped in half. __________________ Moderator of: AR15/M16, M14/M1A, New/Beginning Shooters and Militaria/Collectables.

07-14-2008, 11:28 PM	#6
Don357 Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Semmes Alabama Posts: 273	I've shot Mil-surp Indian, commercial Monarch (Barnaul) and Federal in my CETME without as much as a hiccup, and have gotten decent accuracy with them all. __________________ NRA member #151239009 NAHC Life member #40649874 G&G CETME Club Minister

07-15-2008, 07:44 PM	#7
Mike Franklin Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Poteet, Texas Posts: 1,276	I did shoot a bunch'a commercial stuff out of my HK but no reloads. I never had any trouble with the HK. __________________ Aim real good we're nearly out of ammo.

07-11-2008, 09:36 PM	#3
meatloaf Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: lakewood CO Posts: 904 Images: 3	No problems with mill surplus its all I shoot.

07-13-2008, 09:32 PM	#5
crazyivan.1 Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Fayetteville N.C. Posts: 29	the only problems i'm haveing is failure to feed the last couple of rounds, I think that my mag springs might be weak, I'm gonna try to stretch them back into shape.

08-13-2008, 08:47 AM	#8
YankeeSpirit76 Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Cranston, Rhode Island Posts: 407	When I first got my Cetme, I bought a box of Winchester 308. The rifle fired the first 2 rounds fine, but the third fired and when it ejected it tore the cartridge in half, leaving half jammed in the barrel. That's when I learned not to use commercial ammo. I bought some mil. surplus made by the Australian defence ministry. It works fine but I noticed is very dirty, like a .22. After I fire 50 or 60 rds. the rifle starts to jam. The bolt doesn't go forward all the way. I don't know if it's because the ammo is so dirty, or because the rifle is so hot. Even shooting it slowly and taking my time the rifle gets so hot! Any idea what it is?

08-13-2008, 11:16 AM	#9
Mooseman684 Super Moderator Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Alaska Wilderness Posts: 9,678 Images: 2	My recommendation is to add a Buffer to the action as it keeps the bolt from hammering the rear block and shoot any Mil-surp 7.62 Nato ammo you want... __________________ You know you might be facing your doom,when all you get is a click when you're expecting a BOOM!

08-18-2008, 08:30 AM	#10
Enscribe Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Seattle, WA Posts: 140	Any mil surp ammo will due. My Cetme has been operating flawlessly for a few weeks now. (after a little tweaking) I heard of the weaker tolerance thng but assumed it was a myth for CAI marked their weapons 7.62x51 I have only shot surplus ammo out of mine since I got it. I have fired 5 rounds of russian bear ammo and tore a casing. other than that, The Cetme is reliable, very fun and manageable.

08-18-2008, 05:11 PM	#11
Big Dog Moderator Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Tallahassee, Florida Posts: 10,214	The CETME 7.62X51 ammo needs to be milsurp - but NOT necessarily "NATO". I have used Venezuelan "CAVIM" with very good results, Hirtenburger (via some other South American Banana Republic, with many years bulk packed together), South African, Aussie and Spanish Santa Barbara (the ammo the CETME is designed too use) - none of it "NATO" marked! All worked properly, the CAVIM and Aussie shooting the tightest groups. My CAVIM cases are Boxer primed, and I have found other headstamps that are Boxer. Check those milsurp cases before discarding them as 'nonreloadable'! They may be useable. The South African (R1M1 marked) is definitely NOT reloadable - 'snake eyes'! I have heard on some forums that the Winchester nickle cased commercial brass is good to use - supposedly tougher than the regular commercial brass - but I have NOT verified this. __________________ Moderator of: AR15/M16, M14/M1A, New/Beginning Shooters and Militaria/Collectables.