Made a few improvements and replaced the damaged rear sight.

Ready to hit the range and see how it does. My other .308 Century/PTR rifles like Federal 168gr GMM. The Cetme C308 shoots about 2 MOA (iron sights) and my PTR91 DMR has done 1.3 MOA at 100.

I'll be happy if this is in the 2.5 MOA range at 100 with iron sights. The G3 sights are OK, but not the best for precision for me at this point.

I was looking for something to put my decent German green furniture on, and this fit the bill - which was right about $800 delivered.

I know it's just a mixmaster of parts - but I like!

 

If they had the lug for the mount I'm thinking the mounts would be going extinct.

 

Had my CA-3 out for the first time this weekend.

Not great results.

I shot some Saltech and Igman M80 equivalent, and also some 168gr GMM. None of it was better than maybe 4 MOA - even the GMM. Some of it can be attributed to me and my struggles with open sights, so chances are it's better than that. I actually had the wrong shooting glasses on, which didn't help.

One issue did come up, and I need to talk to PTR about it (Century doesn't do any warranty work on the CA-3).

The rear sight is all the way over to the right, and it's still consistently shooting left. The elevation is also off, and I was using the "4" (400) setting on the rear sight to get the POI to be on the POA at 100 yards.

How is the elevation adjusted on the HK-style rear sight?

It did function fine all day with no issues.

 

Sight elevation adjustment is covered here. A hemostat or needle nosed pliers also works for elevation adjustment if you don't have the proper tool.

 

I have used a pair of very pointy needle nosed plyers and even 2 nails in a pinch.
This is the proper tool for elevation and windage adjustments.

Amazon.com : EQUIPTAC Sight Adjustment Tool for HK Drum Style Sights Stainless Screwdriver 2Pcs Set : Sports & Outdoors

Amazon.com : EQUIPTAC Sight Adjustment Tool for HK Drum Style Sights Stainless Screwdriver 2Pcs Set : Sports & Outdoors

www.amazon.com

 

I have a pair of these I've been toying with. I can only echo what has already been said in the not so great column. My primary gripe is with sight alignment, both rifles shooting extreme left. One will zero right at the edge of the rear sight's limit, the other won't zero any closer than around 2moa left before running out of adjustment. I think I'll make that one a scoped rifle, now that I think I finally have an answer to the nearly three feet low elevation problem I've been chasing.

I can understand (somewhat) PTR's possible reluctance in building a super cheap gun that would compete with its better built and more expensive brand labeled models. But it really seems like they went out of their way to try to make these just bad enough to convince people to pony up a bit more and buy a PTR. The missing scope mount pad/lug, missing cuts on the bulges, and lack of finishing gives that attitude away. But not being able to zero the irons is either complete BS quality control, or a **** move. And PTR has been welding these things together straight with little to no issue for years. That kind of narrows it down.

 

I have a pair of these I've been toying with. I can only echo what has already been said in the not so great column. My primary gripe is with sight alignment, both rifles shooting extreme left. One will zero right at the edge of the rear sight's limit, the other won't zero any closer than around 2moa left before running out of adjustment. I think I'll make that one a scoped rifle, now that I think I finally have an answer to the nearly three feet low elevation problem I've been chasing.

I can understand (somewhat) PTR's possible reluctance in building a super cheap gun that would compete with its better built and more expensive brand labeled models. But it really seems like they went out of their way to try to make these just bad enough to convince people to pony up a bit more and buy a PTR. The missing scope mount pad/lug, missing cuts on the bulges, and lack of finishing gives that attitude away. But not being able to zero the irons is either complete BS quality control, or a **** move. And PTR has been welding these things together straight with little to no issue for years. That kind of narrows it down.

I'll let you know if they fixed that issue with mine.

The sheet that they sent back with it said "bore sighting" or something, but not "realignment of front sight tower" or anything like that.

 

Here is mine with some cetmes. I haven’t shot it yet but it looks nice. Got it for a dream price.

 

Ordered mine last week from PSA. They have them right now for 699. Lowest I’ve seen them. I’m not a marksman, so I don’t really care if it’s a 4 MOA gun. Just hoping the sights will at least be straight. Here’s hoping. Waiting for PSA to send me a message and let me know I can go pick it up. They’re unbelievably slow to ship a gun to themselves.

 

Also, for those who know me, I’ve got a pretty bad back injury from about 10 years ago. I don’t generally shoot a lot of heavy recoiling rifles anymore. Not that .308 is that bad but regardless, more than I typically shoot a lot of. Will the improved buffers really help with recoil? Should I get a muzzle brake? What’s the best way you’ve found to kind of tamp down recoil on the G3 platform? Really want to like and keep this one but if it kicks my ass, I don’t know that I will.

 

A really good muzzle brake is what you seek. Very loud, but effective. An HK21 type butt pad really helps the shoulder but does nothing to mitigate recoil, such as you need.

 

Install a HK21 rubber buttpad. It will make it very comfortable to shoot.

 

I am pretty sure my bolt is a 1966 manufacture also.

 

It’s rather impressive how 20 years ago CAI was selling their poorly made CETMEs at virtually the same price point. 699 or so if my memory holds? Is PTR making new magazines with these as well or are they surplus parts like much of the rifle? Makes one wonder if the increased market will start to make the magazines rise in price similar to the huge hike FAL/SLR magazines took in recent years.