Short version: MCM Cetme L is Awesome.

Long version:
With the current Election results, I've been buying-up Modern Sporting Rifles. I'm usually into older guns, but you have to get what you can when they are available. About 2 months ago, I was in a local gun shop & saw a MarColMar Cetme L. I really didn't know anything about them. It was heavy, looked kind of like an HK 93, and had an awkward manual of arms (especially for a lefty). I went home and started doing a little research on these.

The Cetme L's where Spain's service rifle for 1987-1999. They are a roller-delayed blowback design rifle much like the HK's, although Spain was the original designer of these types of rifles. They originally only accepted USGI type AR-15 Mags. Original Spanish mags are steel, have no bolt hold open, and where modeled after the FN FNC mags. In service, the Cetme L suffered from mag issues and bad spring quality/ratings (based on my research). Here's the story on these:
CETME Model L - Wikipedia

Searching the net, I found that MAC had some video's on the Cetme L, along with other posters. It seems a few years ago, these Spanish made parts kits started making there way into the US. A company called Hill & Mac Gunworks started to make these rifles on new receivers & barrels with the original part kits. They offered the standard Green version in semi-auto as used by Spain.

In around 2019, a company called MarColMar (MCM), also started to produce these. They took it a step further and re-engineered the gun with new springs & spring ratings. They also produced new furniture, refinished the used parts, and sell a gun that you would think is new. These are what you'll find in your local gun shop for $1350-$2000. They also offer these guns with a rail just forward the rear sight to mount your favorite optic. Color options are black, gray, FDE, or the original Spain Military Green. With or with out rail (Spain never had rails).

One of my favorite local Gun shops got in some MarColMar Cetme L's w/rail in black, so I picked one up. I took it to my local shooting spot and put a few mags through it with Wolf Gold .223. After a hic-cup or two on the first mag, it ran flawlessly. It was also already sighted in by MCM (which they do to all their Rifles). These rifles probably have less recoil than any .223/5.56 rifle I've ever shot. It's a pure joy to shoot & is probably one of my favorite rifles right now.

Spain's Military also used a 12" barrel version of this rifle called the Cetme LC. After shooting my L, I just had to have this collapsible stock version. MCM sells these as an SBR, or with a pinned and welded barrel extension/FH combo to get the barrel to the legal 16". I went that route, although I may SBR mine one day. These aren't cheap, and sell for 2K. But I see it as an investment. Spain only made about 650 of these LC models, so I would expect these to go up in value once MCM sells out. And the collapsible stock only works with the proprietary bolt carrier of the LC. So you can't just put it on an L model.

If your into old Military weapons that you like to shoot occasionally, these are awesome Rifle. And MCM went above and beyond with their re-design version of these. Prices are high, but if you could go back to the 80's, how many HK's, Poly's, Mitchell's, & Norinco's would you have bought knowing todays prices on these? Shoot, look what the SKS, Mausers, Enfields, & Mosins sell for now. If anything, these can be part of your gun portfolio. And if you go that route, the traditional non-rail green would be the correct Spanish version. And Slings, Bi-pods, Bayonets, and original steel mags are still available from Numrich Gun Parts or Apex Gun Parts to complete your collection. Although I predict these items will dry-up soon.

I hope you enjoyed this mini-review. Next time your at your local GS, give these a look.

Here's my two. Both (now) have Sig MSR red dot sights with ADM Q/D mounts. I find these are the perfect height for me. Not too high or low.







And if you don't want to spend too much on one of these, Hill & Mac have their original green version on their website for $999 (originally $1500). There's a few video's on the net that do a comparison of both rifles. It is recommended to order the re-engineered spring set available from MCM's website to put in these H&M guns. As H&M used the original springs in their builds.

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Watch & Pray

Ouch, you really know how to hurt a fellow. Nice rifles, never to be made again. Joe

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Behavior Creates Destiny

Spain was the original designer, but they had the help of a couple of German expat guys after WWII, when Germany was barred from weapons development. Sort of like the help we got from the same source in rocketry, at the same time.

If you follow this link,

https://www.youtube.com/results?sear...eapons+cetme+l

you will find several interesting videos from Forgotten Videos on these rifles.

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S&WCA 1729

I hope Dump1567 still likes his LC because I just bought a version of the Marcolmar Cetme L. Stripped, inspected, cleaned and lubed it is ready for the range tomorrow. I am really impressed with it's build quality and weird manual of arms, but the proof will be in the shooting.

Attached Images

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You should love it.

I ended-up getting rid of both my Marcolmar versions for the "Next Gun", but did keep my Hill & Mac for an occasional "Classic" shooter.

I've been focused on higher end 1911's recently, so my rifle shooting has been lagging. I need to get that thing back out to shoot.

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Watch & Pray

I know that HK 91's and 93's had polyangular riffling (308 was six sided) my understanding was that original Cetme's had cut riffling.

I had the HK 91 in the late 80's and early 90's. I had a few thousand rounds of Israeli ball ammo from 1981. It shot 1/4 MOA groups out to 400 yards! I have never seen any semiautos that close to rival the HK91!

Sold it between the AW bans and made thousands on the entire set up with 16 mags, bipod, carry handle, and scope base!

Ivan

I had a CETME back 15 years ago or so. I only fired it twenty times or so because anything over that and the wooden barrel furniture got hot and started smoking. That was back when they were affordable.

I shot the best group with that rifle, best of any iron sight groups and not trying to shoot a group. I was just testing the rifle for function; fired 5 shots, four were into an inch and the 5th was outside by some inches.

I finally decided I didn't need 7.62 NATO rifles and sold it and a FAL at the same time. The FAL (metric pattern) wasn't very accurate, but probably acceptable for a military arm. Good looking rifle, but I was glad to see it go.

What is weird about its manual of arms? Enquiring minds, you know...

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Release the Kraken

Quirky, might be a more accurate description. The charging handle from the Cetme C, which is commonly referred to as HK style, lacks the cutout to lock open. The bolt hold open is a button on the rear sight. The stock is squared. The mag release and safety are both in the common spot, but just feel different in operation. So far these items are a pleasant change from an AR. I have an AR and did not want another, so, so far, so good.