[Kimio]

Ok, from my understanding I have to be very careful when shopping around for one of these rifles since just about anything from CAI is a 50/50 deal on getting a decent shooter and a lemon.

Head spacing, ground bolt heads, canted sights, magaizine fit and the like I hear are the most common problems with these rifles among others. I was probably going to request Ghillie to do work on the rifle to bring it up to specs, but the less that is wrong with the rifle the better right?

Is there anything else that I missed? The ones I've found locally run anywhere from around $450 up wards to about $560.

 

[Gawker]

Damn.....I'm an AR guy but I have to (and almost hate to) admit I'm starting to want a 93 just for sake of argument. Not to mention the roller lock might suppress better than the AR since it doesn't blast gas back into the chamber like a DI AR. For that price I might REALLY be tempted to stray from the path

 

[Kimio]

I'm estimating anywhere from an additional 500+ in repairs on one of these things, something to consider Gawker. You'll basically be buying another rifle to get it back into peak shape, that's before shipping costs and paying for the parts necessary to fix it.

I'm looking at this as a long term investment really, from a collectors point of view. But yes, they're usually a mess from what I've read/heard, so I guess you get what you pay for

 

[Gawker]

Well to be fair if I was going to end up with a 93 I'd be a lot less likely to purchase one than build one. I recently acquired the flat bending jig for H&K/CETME builds and will probably be building a few guns late this year (first will likely be a MP5K-PDW but hell why not build them all right?) I mean the flats are kinda spendy but like you said, buy a cheapo and spend the price again on fixes and it all evens out in the end right?

 

[Kimio]

Yeah, I lack the technical know how to do any kind of repairs or builds myself, so I have to leave that up to the proffessionals lol. Ultimately, do it once, do it right, and then I'll never have to worry about it again hopefully.

They're sweet little shooters apparently once they've had some intensive TDLC, it's a shame they were not treated that way in the first place, otherwise they wouldnl't have needed to go under the torch TWICE.

 

[Shattered Mind]

Is there anything else that I missed? The ones I've found locally run anywhere from around $450 up wards to about $560.

Not really. Just buy it at the cheapest price you can, and have it sent DIRECTLY to Jeff Walters (Ghillebear) to have the barrel replaced. When it comes back, it'll be as good as a real 93... performance-wise. That'll skip a lot of pissed feelings, questions here on the board, hand wringing over "why does my new gun suck"?, etc.... besides saving time and money.

 

[Kimio]

Thanks shattered. Naw I know the reputation of CAI, I honestly have no intention of buying any of their products without it being looked over by a skilled smith. Besides, I'd really like to have it so that the rifle can be restored to what it should have been anyway. Hopefully I'll be giving Ghillie a call soon.

 

[Blitzkrieg]

How worn out are some of these parts kits Century uses? I decided to buy new parts for my build, already have the RCM barrel and next is the receiver and the Fleming trigger housing. Yeah it's goinna be expensive, but really new and built right

 

[Shattered Mind]

I bought 4 of these kits from Apex... same kits. 3 were in excellent condition including furniture and one was a stinker compared to the others but still usable.

 

[Blitzkrieg]

I bought 4 of these kits from Apex... same kits. 3 were in excellent condition including furniture and one was a stinker compared to the others but still usable.

Trouble for me is I live in WA State and they can't ship the kits to me because they contain full auto dedicated parts. Stoopid prohibition era law. I may have to order the kit and have it sent cold turkey to Ghillie.. ideas?

 

[scottinthegrove]

I'm estimating anywhere from an additional 500+ in repairs on one of these things, something to consider Gawker. You'll basically be buying another rifle to get it back into peak shape, that's before shipping costs and paying for the parts necessary to fix it.

I'm looking at this as a long term investment really, from a collectors point of view. But yes, they're usually a mess from what I've read/heard, so I guess you get what you pay for

"Danger Will Robinson, Danger!" Putting a brand new motor, transmission, and drive train in a rough 1983 Vega is still a 1983 Vega. I don't want to burst your bubble, but the receiver will still say "C93" on it. So even if you put another $500 in it, most buyers will still see it as a "C93". If you want an "investment", watch for an actual HK 93, buy it at a good price, never shoot it, and clean it regularly. It would be very hard to get your money out of a corrected C93. Unless you find one for $200-$300.

IMHO, to buy a C93 and have it fixed, is because you want a 5.56X45/.223 roller locked carbine to shoot a lot and you want it to run right. So if you buy a straight gun in the $500 range and replace the barrel with a RCM nitrided hammer forged barrel, paddle mag install and refinish, you might have around $900-$1,000 in the rifle. Even after the refinish and it looks better than brand new, how many guys would be willing to give you the amount you had in it? I don't think very many. I wouldn't. I'd want to give you $100-$200 less than that. If I was willing to give you what you paid for it, I'd just go buy one and have the work done myself. To me an "investment" is something that is worth more than I paid for it, not less. In 10 or 15 years from now you might be able to get a little more than you have in it, if you don't use it and keep it pretty. But if your putting 500-1,000 rds a year through it, it will have dings, scratches and wear. It will be a worn C93. So chances are you won't get what you paid for it. To put that "investment" against a $1,000 T-bill, I bet the T-bill will have more monetary value in ten years.

Again, my intent is not to "rain on your parade". To me, it is to be realistic. If you want a good 5.56X45/.223 roller locked carbine, buying a straight C93 that has not had the bolt ground and have a RCM barrel installed will get you a nice one. There is an element that has value. The enjoyment of having a good carbine that runs. I can't put a dollar value on that, but it does have value to me. Good luck with your C93 project.

Scott

 

[romanhastati]

"Danger Will Robinson, Danger!" Putting a brand new motor, transmission, and drive train in a rough 1983 Vega is still a 1983 Vega. I don't want to burst your bubble, but the receiver will still say "C93" on it. So even if you put another $500 in it, most buyers will still see it as a "C93". If you want an "investment", watch for an actual HK 93, buy it at a good price, never shoot it, and clean it regularly. It would be very hard to get your money out of a corrected C93. Unless you find one for $200-$300.

IMHO, to buy a C93 and have it fixed, is because you want a 5.56X45/.223 roller locked carbine to shoot a lot and you want it to run right. So if you buy a straight gun in the $500 range and replace the barrel with a RCM nitrided hammer forged barrel, paddle mag install and refinish, you might have around $900-$1,000 in the rifle. Even after the refinish and it looks better than brand new, how many guys would be willing to give you the amount you had in it? I don't think very many. I wouldn't. I'd want to give you $100-$200 less than that. If I was willing to give you what you paid for it, I'd just go buy one and have the work done myself. To me an "investment" is something that is worth more than I paid for it, not less. In 10 or 15 years from now you might be able to get a little more than you have in it, if you don't use it and keep it pretty. But if your putting 500-1,000 rds a year through it, it will have dings, scratches and wear. It will be a worn C93. So chances are you won't get what you paid for it. To put that "investment" against a $1,000 T-bill, I bet the T-bill will have more monetary value in ten years.

Again, my intent is not to "rain on your parade". To me, it is to be realistic. If you want a good 5.56X45/.223 roller locked carbine, buying a straight C93 that has not had the bolt ground and have a RCM barrel installed will get you a nice one. There is an element that has value. The enjoyment of having a good carbine that runs. I can't put a dollar value on that, but it does have value to me. Good luck with your C93 project.

Scott

What scott says is true the value of a clone 93 will never go up enough to warrant saving them for investment. If you was a gun that will just purchase one of gunbroker which is about 2k-3k in range. However if you want a awesome shooting kick a$$ gun get a c93 and have the works done on it.

If you can get a c93 for real cheap like 400 ive seen them for that much just do what I did have a new reciever put on it (it will say sw not c93), barrel, and cocking tube, paddle mag and new trunnion will only cost about 550 all together with the repark thats what mine cost and runs like a freaking champ. Also got bills trigger job and a compensator on it and could not be more pleased. The total cost was only 200 more then a vector 93 and would say it def is worth it in the end. I just got back from the range the other day and was able to get some good groupings at 300 yards. Heres a video from 3 weeks ago.

 

[Blitzkrieg]

The other option is using a black market receiver, new RCM barrel and the custom goodies you want, and having a real shooter.. what you put into it is your choice and you'll pay accordingly

 

[JTinIN]

The third option is pick up a HK93 .. for ???

 

[romanhastati]

The third option is pick up a HK93 .. for ???

2k - 3k for a really nice one

 

[JTinIN]

Low two's is a good price most days high mid's twos is common. To bad have not ran across anything equal to a 223 SAR8 or HK911 that needs a few parts for 922r but costs less and makes a good sear host.

My rule of thumb in the old days was to pick up the HK when it was with in a grand of the clone. Thus went with the HK91s and HK93 but clones the 53 as these tend to be several grand more for the HK and are conversions done on the German receiver, not factory guns. Had the 9mm's years ago before the clones were common or as good as now days.

Just thinking that if one needs to spend $600 to get a $600 gun going then has to consider what a clone by one of the good smiths would go for or even keep an eye out for a "non collector" grade HK93, as long as one can get buy with 1 in 12 twist (the 42 dash guns tend to go for a few dollars more most days).

Take Care

 

[Blitzkrieg]

I'm looking at $1500 or so for a very trick 93 with all new contract parts and a US nitrided barrel

 

[The_Great_308]

op, there is a sweet looking c93 that has already been compleatly worked over by ghilliebear in the forsale section here for $1200. Which is what you figured you would have to spend anyway. This would be no guessing what you would get from Century and no waiting on it to be fixed as it is already done. This particular one has a 12" barrel with a pinned 4" flash hider so you could even short barrel it if you want to with the proper paperwork.

http://www.hkpro.com/forum/hk-long-guns-sale/161413-wts-c93-converted-33k.html

 

[JTinIN]

I'm looking at $1500 or so for a very trick 93 with all new contract parts and a US nitrided barrel

Who's receiver and assume if was an HK93 has some serious miles on it, so take a close look at the trunnion (but you already know this ;-).

 

[Eldos1]

I have both a C93 rifle and a C93 pistol (waiting for SBR OK). Both needed some fine tuning. I have not taken the pistol out yet. The rifle is a good shooter now. I probably know more about these guns now than if I would just pulling it out of the safe, shooting, cleaning and putting it away. I am a hands on guy anyway. As for problems of the C93, This forum is going to attract the people with guns having problems looking for answers, therefore we see a higher number of problem guns. I could go to a gun shop and find help if I was having a issue with an AR, but I would not expect them to know a HK roller design. As for mag fit, the 40 rnd. is just made small. The MEC need a small amount of mag catch work, but will not wobble in the mag well like the 40s.

Another option in the ~$1k area would be a Vector clone. These are also made from US and Contract parts. Atlantic Firearms has them. This should be better assembled than the CIA, but I bet a CIA + Ghilliebear would be a better rifle. Downside on that option is shipping and having to wait for it to get back from Ghiliebear.

CIA makes good authentic AKs right down to the crude assembly methods. CIA = Communist Industrial Authenticity. :wink: