Anyone own a CETME? (firearm)

[NNICKB]

Not familiar with the CETME, but my uncle had an HK 91 we used to play with from time to time, back in the '80s. See photo. Talk about a bunch of spoiled rich kids...

[Jonas Smith]

What a crew...

Anyone know what's the skinny on the STANAG claw type scope mounts for HK's and FAL's? Are they designed to be able to look through the iron sights under a mounted scope?

[Longhunter7]

FAL History

On the seventh day, GOD rested, on the eighth day GOD created the FAL. The rest is history!

[Tom Petroff]

Interesting thread.
A some beautiful weapons.
But I still prefer mine.
TGP

[Jonas Smith]

Well, I bought the CETME

I had some concerns about the reputation of the builder and it's ability to fire steel cased ammo, but my neighbor told me just to take it to the range and have fun with it, if I liked it I could buy it, if not he would just take it to a gun show and dump it.
I took it to the range and fired 100 rounds through it. No problems whatsoever. It is a great rifle from what I can tell. I got 1.5" groups at about 100 yards using the 200 meter sight, using crap Russian steel cased ammunition. I am very happy with this firearm.
My only criticism's are:

1) The safety is impossible to reach with the thumb of my right hand while maintaining a firm grip on the pistol grip, as is the magazine release. I am on the hunt for a extended safety lever, and I understand a paddle type mag release is available for it.

2) The is no empty magazine hold open for the bolt. I am not a round counter, so when the rifle goes click instead of boom it's nice to be able to visually see that the chamber is open indicating a magazine change is in order instead of wondering it it's a malfunction, hang fire, etc...

3) The rear sight has only 4 elevation settings and no windage adjustment. Windage is adjusted on the front sight, but it's very crude. I have a "see-under" scope mount on the way to dial that issue in.

4) Ammo is still expensive. Best price I've found locally are 200 round battle packs of Tula (Wolf) steel-cased for $84.

20 round Magazines are still .97 each, so I ordered 12. I also ordered 4 German double magazine pouches, a new German leather sling and cleaning kit, and the scope mount. I will buy a internal parts kit and a set of oversized rollers here soon(bolt gap is .007, so it's getting tight). I plan on putting a few hundred more rounds through it and if all goes well, this will replace my .223 as my primary WTSHTF rifle.

[maineSS]

As far as "End of Ammo" indicators, you could use tracer or blank factory rounds, or a downloaded round if you reload. The idea behind the blank/downloaded round is less recoil, the tracer is visual- but they may have certain availability/legal issues, apart from expense.