Opinions sought on Century HK-style rifles

[spieler]

I'm looking to acquire an HK-style rifle to add to the collection and just want some input from those of you who have purchased the Century made/assembled CETME and newer C93.

Yes, I am well aware of Century's reputation on this and many other boards, but given that this will not be a serious 'social' rifle, but more of a wall hanger and sometimes fun gun, I'm not too hung up on how pretty or well these guns are screwed together.

I've also got plenty of .308 and .223 fodder for my other guns, so I guess it just comes down to personal choice. I know that G3 mags are a dime a dozen and that MKE now has new 30 round mags on the market for the HK93/V93/C93.

If you have purchased either one of these guns in the recent past I'm looking for your input and if you were in the market for one, which would you choose?

Thanks.

 

[SteyrAUG]

I don't think much of them.

Regardless of what is on the receiver, it is a Special Weapons product. And those ain't so special.

Save yourself a headache and get a PTR91, that is basically a FMP product. Your other option is a MKE pistol which make a great platform for a SBR.

 

[Nwcid]

If you are wanting a "93" gun you basically have 3 choices.

CAI for ~$500
Vector for ~$1200-1500
HK for ~$3000

I know there are a few other one off guns like the Bobcat and actual SW guns but I am not sure of price on those but I believe they in the $1000 range.

I have plans on buying a CAI and even if I have to put a couple bucks in it I think I will still come out ahead. Like you I will just be using it for some fun plinking. There are TONS of reviews with pics of these gun by doing a search for "Century C93".

 

[Inkfidel]

JGsales has reviews on both of them, good and bad...worth checking out. If its just a beater/plinker/whatever I would grab one up while theyre $500.

 

[ptrthgr8]

The Century CETMEs are fine... if you don't mind tinkering with them to get them running fine. I've got one for sale on the non-NFA trader - you should check it out since it's already been tinkered with to get to proper running order and it's a rather nice looking example.

http://www.uzitalk.com/forums/showthread.php?t=55860

Cheers,

~ Greg ~

 

[jrc316]

I have to say ive seen both extremes on C93's. One was at a gun shop, PERFECT fit and finish, good welds and proper gap but he wanted $795 :roflmao Saw one at a gunshow today, scratches in stock, front sight melted at base by welder, stopped checking gap when fell below .008. I guess im going to have to order one and take a chance but it scares me to. Russ

 

[hagar]

I have 2, one I got from Aim, and one I got from J&G. Both run perfect, looks to be well build with nice furniture, and they shoot like NM AR15's! If I could get one of these with a Golani trigger, it would be the perfect rifle. I only checked the bolt gap on the J&G one, and it came in at .014.

 

[nfafan]

I have 2, one I got from Aim, and one I got from J&G. Both run perfect, looks to be well build with nice furniture, and they shoot like NM AR15's! If I could get one of these with a Golani trigger, it would be the perfect rifle. I only checked the bolt gap on the J&G one, and it came in at .014.

Check the bolt-gap after you have a few hundred rounds down the pipe. Let us know what you find. Mine went from .017 down to .008/.007 after about 350rds. It has held steady at the .008/.007 range since.
Regardless, this went back to Century for repairs.

 

[LTWVARNG]

Both my C91 and C93 run great. It prompted me to buy a Golani which also runs great. I had sworn them off years ago after a crappy FAL they wouldn fix and no gunsmith would even hear of fixing. Took the gamble on the c93 and swayed me to buy the 91 and the Golani. I think I may be done gambling for awhile

 

[Kevin Mc Carthy]

I have the Century clone 93's. I have #39 and #93. The first batch were awesome in fit and finish. I can not comment on later guns. #39 had a lot of grit and needed a bath with gun scrub and WD40. I had a HK 93 and I have no issue with the clones. In fact I enjoy the clones much better and can have fun with them. They are not collector items and are grest bangers. If you like to collect then HK. If you like to bang then clones.

 

[ddnc]

If you are wanting a "93" gun you basically have 3 choices.

CAI for ~$500
Vector for ~$1200-1500
HK for ~$3000

I know there are a few other one off guns like the Bobcat and actual SW guns but I am not sure of price on those but I believe they in the $1000 range.

I have plans on buying a CAI and even if I have to put a couple bucks in it I think I will still come out ahead. Like you I will just be using it for some fun plinking. There are TONS of reviews with pics of these gun by doing a search for "Century C93".

Gordon Miler @ HKspecialist has the MKE 93A2 available for around 1K. These are basically HK weapons made under license in Turkey. You will not have to do anything to get it to run. The reason the century guns are losing headspace is because the barrels are not pressed into the trunnion and the barrel retaining pin is taking the brunt of the impacts. By the time you get the barrel repressed properly you will be in the MKE price range. I have an MKE AT94P (MP5) SBR and although it won't take a sear it is 100%

 

[Eric]

My experience with the Century CETMEs mirrors the experience of many that I have read about in the various online forums, i.e. it's hit and miss.

From what I read, it appeared that the cast stainless steel receivers were more desirable than the stamped receivers. I ended up buying two new Century CETMEs with cast stainless receivers. They both shot very reliably although the point of impact was above and to the left of the limits to which the front sight posts were adjustable. I modified the sights to allow the guns to be sighted in.

Although not very scientific, I compared their accuracy by shooting from a sandbag rest at 25 meters. One of the the guns would consistently shoot 1.5 to 2 inch groups the other would consistently shoot 4 or 5 inch groups. To vary the experiment, I swapped bolts and carriers and trigger packs but it made no difference. One of the barrel assemblies shot 2" groups and one shot 5" groups. I sold the gun that shot the 5" groups. It's possible the 2" gun will do better from a bench rest. At 100 meters, it's not hard to hit milk jugs.

 

[jfk]

Buy it

These guns are excellent. For 400-500ish, it's a steal.

 

[nfafan]

Update:

Sent my C93 back to CAI for repairs, sent me a new one instead. This one is built on the other recvr they use from what the first one was built on.
It is in even better shape than my first one - which was hand-picked at Dunhams Sptg Goods.

If you have a C93 and have issues - make SURE you confront Cent for support. Maybe if enough folks ask for help, they'll start doing things right to begin with - whether it be C93, Golani, CETME, FAL, whatever they job out to be built...

Anyway...

After a thorough cleaning and now multiple range trips it is a solid .014 -.015 bolt gap, straight and true, solid and rattle-free, good black park that is holding up over NO PITS, nice furniture painted in a spatter-pattern close to Brit-FAL pebble finish - just a good gun for the $650.00 OTD I ended up paying for it.