Century Arms

I bought a used CETME back in 2003 that was built by Century. To this day it has never fired a shot in my hands. I can't get the thing to go into battery when fully assembled. A gunsmith could probably fix this for under $200 for me, but I've never bothered. I'd like to do the work myself an learn something.

Then again, I got a WASR-10 from them reamed out to take regular AK mags and that ran fine for the hundreds of rounds I put through it. I later sold it, only because I liked my MAADI AK better, but it wasn't bad.

Century has a reputation for putting out questionable products. That repuation is there for a reason.

If you can afford .308 ammo, you can afford a nice $1,500 M1A or DSA FAL.

I've never experienced any problems with the five or six Century guns I've owned over the years. Got a couple in my present gun collection and they all work fine.

That said, with the current prices I see on Century L1A1's, Cetme's and G3's when they pop up at my local shops and at gun shows, I would certainly spend a couple hundred bucks extra and buy a DSA FAL or JLD HK clone instead. There's an older Century L1A1 with thumbhole stock being sold at local shop where I live and they're asking almost $700 for it! I saw Century G3 for sale at the last gun show I went to selling for over $700 and the last R1A1 I saw for sale was up around $650. I remember when J&G was selling Century G3's a few years ago for less than $500 and R1A1/L1A1's for around $400.

So it used to be that with Century you could get a cheap rifle for a cheap price and that made them a pretty good deal. Now it seems for the most part you get a cheap rifle for an expensive price. Century AK's are still pretty cheap and a pretty good value for the money, I love my Century M70B1. I wouldn't pay more than $500 for any Century produced gun, however for well under $500 I've owned some Century guns that turned out to be fine shooters.

I've owned two century guns and both had problems. First was a CETME. After modding the cocking piece and replacing the rollers, it worked. I recently bought a Golani (Galil). It wouldn't eject, a problem with a number of them. Century recalled a few thousand of the Golanis, and after a month, they sent me a new rifle. Have't tested it yet, but there were problems getting magazines to fit.

I paid $248 for the CETME, but $925 for the Golani. I can almost accept some issues with a $250 rifle, but for almost a thousand I expect things to work.

I own a Century WASR that has never given me any problems. Works fine. I may replace it with an older Century SAR-1 soon, but I'll keep the WASR at least until I'm sure the SAR works as well as it should.

I also have an AR-15 that I built up from a bare Century marked receiver that functions flawlessly. Granted, that doesn't prove anything other than Century had their named engraved on a receiver by someone who makes them properly.

I've almost bought a CETME or FAL with their markings on it a couple of times. Never have though.

I had a Century R1A1 that had the traditional stock (no thumbhole). Seemed like a great rifle for a good price. I never did get the thing to shoot reliable. I had tons of FTEs, FTF's, and hang-ups. It got stolen in Dec. 2006 in a home robbery (get a gun safe!)


If you want a solid, reliable, accurate semi-auto .308, then take a look at the Saiga .308.

It is fairly easy to convert the Saiga from the sporting configuration to the look of a traditional AK. It doesn't have to cost a fortune to do so, either.

The downside to the Saiga is that the 20 round magazines are $45.

But that shouldn't be too much of a deterrant. The Century FALs (R1A1) uses INCH pattern magazines and won't feed reliable with the cheap Metric pattern ones. For Inch pattern magazines, you will pay a good bit.

Quality magazines for Ar-10s aren't cheap either. Neither are they for M1A's. Really, the only cheap .308 magazines are for metric FALs and G3's and/or their clones.


And like mentioned earlier.... if you can afford to shoot .308 these days, you can afford the magazines for it as well.


Here's my Saiga 308:






-- John

I wouldn't! They sell what is minimally passable and seem to have no interest, past making a profit, in customer service.

About the only reasonable .308 semi low-end option is a Saiga .308. FBMG, Inchttp://www.fbmginc.com makes 20 rd mags for them, although they are on backorder because they only recently got the parts to make the next batch.

DSA has a few STG-58 FALs on for about $1200. At least, they had them the last time I checked their website a couple of days ago.

After that, you are looking at $1500 and up for the DSA FALs and Springfield M1A's. You might get a JLD PTR 91 (HK G3 Clone) for less, but they do tear up brass pretty bad, so don't hope to reload for one.

I have a policy of not doing business with Century because they have astonishingly bad customer service. A THR Member, Nomad, 2nd ordered two 5.45mm AKs and 60,000 rds of ammo and they managed to screw every aspect of his order up. On top of that, he had problems with the rifles.

GunTech said:

Century recalled a few thousand of the Golanis<snip>

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That was a lawyer advised recall so they could add firing pin springs. Seems commercial ammo primers are more sensitive than military ones.

I wonder why other AKs using the exact same system get by without a fps? SAR-3s or Saigas use them?

I've been very lucky with my centurys, a galil, a cetme, and a wasr---they've all run fine (the cetme's trigger is terrible, but i'll get around to fixing that someday--but it's functional).

If i were to go buy a reasonably priced 308 today, I'd get a saiga.

Century's AK variants are pretty rough but they seem to do ok,but that may be due to the AK's design. Century's FAL/G3 knock-offs are a bit more questionable(by reputation,I've not shot one). But I have found that you get what you pay for,and it's true that you can keep paying for cheap stuff or buy quality once.

Does it have to be semi-auto? Why not get a bolt-action .308 and save up for an AK(cheaper ammo too!)?

Blarelli said:

Yeah, I figured they had to be shoddy for that price range. Any recomendations for a good, accurate, semi-auto .308?

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Listen to JWarren on the Saiga .308. Cheaper than Century junk, and completely reliable. Seriously, who doesn't want an AK in .308? Fit it with a POSP scope and you can pop cans at 200 all day with it.

DPMS make a 308 AR-10 essentialy and you can get one for $1K...why buy some cheaply put together parts kit from Century!

Any firearm from Century is suspect at best. Worse, if they had anything to do with its manufacture. They have no concept of QC.
One option for you is to buy an M1 rifle stripped receiver from the CMP and have it built into a .308. Not exactly the cheapest way to go, but you'll have a custom rifle when it's done.

JWarren That Saiga looks great! It makes me rethink about a Saiga of my own.

I bought a DSA paracongo a few years ago when they were $1650. It's a great rifle with one exception, it has problems feeding some reloaded ammo. Factory and surplus ammo works fine though. My HK91 runs any ammo I put in it, but it doesn't have a bolt hold open on the last round.

Blarelli,

There are numerous places to get aftermarket stocks IF you convert the rifle.

Any AK-47 stock set for a stamped receiver will work. On Saigas, the forearm is an issue. You'll probably notice that the pic I posted still has the stock Saiga forearm on it. The reason is that Saigas do not have the retainer that traditional AK's do.

However, those nutty guys at the Saiga forum have solved the problem-- Dinzag did over there actually. Before, you would have to press off your Front Sight Block and Gas Block to put on a handguard retainer. Now, through the genius of Dinzag, we can get a split collar with handguard retainers that can be bolted on.

On my 308, I plan to leave it with the standard forearm, but my other projects will utilize that retainer.


But here are a few companies to look at if you decide to convert the rifle:


K-VAR

http://www.k-var.com

I've ordered from them with great results.



DSA

http://www.dsarms.com/

The Pistol Grip from the photo I posted came from them. Excellent service.



AA-OK

http://www.aa-ok.com/

I've ordered from them with great results.



Armory USA

http://www.globaltrades.com/

I've ordered from them and not only was the products great, but the people are VERY helpful and nice.




DPH Arms

http://dpharms.com/

I've gotten prompt quality service from them. I wish they had a phone contact.



ACE Ltd.

http://www.riflestocks.com

The stock and adapter on mine came from these guys. Very prompt service.



Copes Distributing

http://www.copesdist.com/

I've ordered miscellaneous stuff from these guys. Great service.




David's Collectibles

http://www.tickbitesupply.com/

I've ordered a few things from this guy. It was a pleasure doing business.




Fuzzy Bunny Movie Guns

http://www.fbmginc.com/

Get your 20 round magazines here! Correia will hook you up.




Dinzag

http://www.dinzagarms.com/

This is Dinzag, who makes bullet guides and conversion parts. A GREAT guy to work with. Follow the link on his site.




BattleRifleG3

http://forum.saiga-12.com/index.php?showuser=6
http://forum.saiga-12.com/index.php?showtopic=18719

If you REALLY want a nice, custom stock for your Saiga, this is the man to see. I think he even makes great stocks for unconverted Saigas. When I get to work on a 7.62x39 Saiga, it will sport his wood.



Ironwood Designs

http://www.ironwooddesigns.com/

This is a good company for some quality wood. I've spoken with the owner and he is a nice guy. The reviews of his work is outstanding.



Let me know if I missed anything.


-- John

since nobody has quoted that special phrase reserved for threads involving century arms INTL I'll do it


Bunch of drunken monkeys.

Thanks Wideym!

If you REALLY want to see some nice ones, you really should take a look over at the Saiga forum. There's a link in my signature. One guy even has a 7.62x39 in wood stocks that has been signed by TED NUGENT! They were the inspiration behind mine-- and the technical assistance on many occasions.

My first .308 was a HK-91 wide-forearm. Those are great rifles. I've regretted selling it since I did-- until I got the Saiga 308. I loved the HK, but never liked the condition of the brass IF-- big IF-- I could ever find it. I forgot that it didn't have a bolt hold open. I don't have one on my Saiga, but I *think* you can have one on some conversions.




jpwilly, I looked into that AR-10 route, but it's my understanding that they don't handle commercial .308 that well. I think it has something to do with having tight chambers. But I am no expert on anything, and definately not those.


-- John

I would avoid century assembled guns..the chances of real issues is just too great. My cetme works after tweaking but my saiga is utterly reliable and handles much much better. I have had the saiga for over 3 years and would trust it to no end!!!!

49north said:

I would avoid century assembled guns..the chances of real issues is just too great

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I think it depends on who Century gets to build them. If they use their in-house drunk monkeys, I agree with you.

The Yugos they sell now are not built in-house, but contracted out to folks that seem to know what they're doing.

Century imported firearms? Yes. (like the Savage made SMLE's they had several months back....Lend/Lease returns, IIRC, marked U.S. Property)

Ass-embled by Century's Drunken Monkey Gunsmiths? Less than a snowball's survival chances in Hades of me making THAT mistake again.