Patriot Mobile

CETME L Build

The #1 community for Gun Owners in Texas

Member Benefits:

  • Fewer Ads!
  • Discuss all aspects of firearm ownership
  • Discuss anti-gun legislation
  • Buy, sell, and trade in the classified section
  • Chat with Local gun shops, ranges, trainers & other businesses
  • Discover free outdoor shooting areas
  • View up to date on firearm-related events
  • Share photos & video with other members
  • ...and so much more!
  • V-Tach

    Watching While the Sheep Graze
    Lifetime Member
    Rating - 100%
    7   0   0
    Sep 30, 2012
    8,895
    96
    Texas
    I have had this kit for a while and the barrel and receiver flat have become available again, so while waiting for those to be delivered I started getting the parts in order.

    First I cut the cocking lever housing from the front receiver piece.......I will have to do some more to it before welding it back on to the new receiver. Next, I cut, dremeled/chiseled the barrel trunion from the front receiver piece. There were 6 spot welds that were left behind that had to be ground down. Then I polished the trunnion.

    Tomorrow night I will remove (cut) the rear site base from the rear receiver piece.......


    CETME L Kit.jpg




    Cocking lever housing after being cut off.....


    20211028_215833.jpg



    Peeling back the sheet metal receiver part...........

    20211028_220727.jpg





    Removing the sheet metal receiver part.........

    20211028_220732.jpg





    Spot welds being ground.............

    20211028_224416.jpg




    Spot welds removed...........

    20211028_225804.jpg




    Trunnion polished and ready to go..............

    20211028_231200.jpg



    Ready to cut the rear sight base off..........

    20211028_231453.jpg
    Venture Surplus ad
     
    Last edited:

    V-Tach

    Watching While the Sheep Graze
    Lifetime Member
    Rating - 100%
    7   0   0
    Sep 30, 2012
    8,895
    96
    Texas
    I have some HK 91 stuff, if you want to dress it up..collapsible stock green grip and handguard rear sight carry handle scope mount maybe some more...

    I have some HK 91 stuff, if you want to dress it up..collapsible stock green grip and handguard rear sight carry handle scope mount maybe some more...
    Thank you very kindly Sir! Not that I am not grateful, but will pass , the scope mounts on the CETME L are welded on....no provisions for the claw mount......That collapsible stock is worth some $$$ but I don't think it is compatible. If I were doing anything thing but the CETME L, I would buy that stuff from you......
    Appreciate the offer..............
     

    V-Tach

    Watching While the Sheep Graze
    Lifetime Member
    Rating - 100%
    7   0   0
    Sep 30, 2012
    8,895
    96
    Texas
    Damn, nice work and good luck. I hit the easy button and bought a Malcolmar. Everyone that shoots it hands it back smiling. The heft, roller delay, and 556 make an easy shooter.

    I bought the barrel and receiver flat from them......seem to be the leader in building CETME L's......If I screw this up....will buy a rifle from them too!
     

    V-Tach

    Watching While the Sheep Graze
    Lifetime Member
    Rating - 100%
    7   0   0
    Sep 30, 2012
    8,895
    96
    Texas
    Removed the rear sight from the receiver piece (which I thought was more tedious than the trunnion).......bead blasted all exposed small parts in preparation of parkerizing them...

    I am not going to cerakote or paint the receiver as the original was......I think parkerizing will look better......

    Barrel is supposed to be delivered Saturday, so hopefully I will press the barrel into the trunnion this weekend......


    20211029_202455.jpg







    20211029_214617.jpg






    20211029_214624.jpg



    20211029_230300.jpg




    20211029_230305.jpg
     

    V-Tach

    Watching While the Sheep Graze
    Lifetime Member
    Rating - 100%
    7   0   0
    Sep 30, 2012
    8,895
    96
    Texas
    I wish I had the knowledge and equipment to tackle projects like this. Looking forward to the completion.


    You learn by doing......this build is not as complicated as it looks.........almost everything involved can be done with regular hand tools most folks already have.....

    There is a 10 part series on building a CETME L by Ian McCollum. Unfortunately it was lost when when Youtube changed it's policies on guns.....it was then loaded on another platform Full30 that ultimately failed several times and not all the video episodes are found there. Some were lost.....all 10 can be found though with some searching and several of the episodes are on Vimeo. Search InRange Cetme L and you will find them....

    I watched all 10 episodes before starting the build and will no doubt go back to some of them as I progress......

    I do not expect my rifle will have the quality look and build of a Marcolmar rifle. I want a functional reasonably accurate rifle and think i can achieve that goal......

    You can too........imho...


    CETME L - Build Step 1 - Unpacking Your Kit​


     
    Last edited:

    Orbie

    Born Texan
    Rating - 100%
    7   0   0
    Feb 21, 2011
    2,490
    96
    San Antonio
    You learn by doing......this build is not as complicated as it looks.........almost everything involved can be done with regular hand tools most folks already have.....

    There is a 10 part series on building a CETME L by Ian McCollum. Unfortunately it was lost when when Youtube changed it's policies on guns.....it was then loaded on another platform Full30 that ultimately failed several times and not all the video episodes are found there. Some were lost.....all 10 can be found though with some searching and several of the episodes are on Vimeo. Search InRange Cetme L and you will find them....

    I watched all 10 episodes before starting the build and will no doubt go back to some of them as I progress......

    I do not expect my rifle will have the quality look and build of a Marcolmar rifle. I want a functional reasonably accurate rifle and think i can achieve that goal......

    You can too........imho...


    CETME L - Build Step 1 - Unpacking Your Kit​




    Interesting video. I recognize Ian from Forgotten Weapons.
     

    V-Tach

    Watching While the Sheep Graze
    Lifetime Member
    Rating - 100%
    7   0   0
    Sep 30, 2012
    8,895
    96
    Texas
    The Marcolmar barrel did arrive today. Very pleased with the machine work and nitride finish. I was a bit surprised (pleasantly) how light the barrel is.

    Slipped the trunnion on the barrel.......checking both for burrs or abnormalities......and clearances

    20211030_185648.jpg


    20211030_185718.jpg



    Applied anti-seize to the end of the barrel and inside of the trunnion..........


    20211030_185938.jpg



    I used a 12 ton Harbor Freight press, a penny in the chamber and a 14mm 1/4 drive socket to press the barrel in. It went in smooth and tight.........

    20211030_195237.jpg


    20211030_200613.jpg




    Checking bolt gap now while it is easy to check and change if need be........It is .019, so it's good to go..............


    20211030_195026.jpg



    The penny.....lol....

    20211030_195325.jpg



    Mocking up parts for later.......


    20211030_200745.jpg




    The receiver flat won't be in till next week.......then I am sending it to a friend of mine who just bought a 50 watt fiber laser for engraving......he will engrave our logo and a custom serial number (my birthday)...

    He is also an 07/02 but since the flat hasn't been bent, it is technically not a gun.........

    So I will be at a standstill for while...............
     

    IXLR8

    TGT Addict
    Rating - 100%
    10   0   0
    May 19, 2009
    4,418
    96
    Republic of Texas
    It looks like ya may have done this before ;)

    Really nice work. They had a history of them in recent issue of Shotgun News I was reading.

    I am a sucker for roller locked weapons. It is the simplicity that appeals to me.
     
    Last edited:

    V-Tach

    Watching While the Sheep Graze
    Lifetime Member
    Rating - 100%
    7   0   0
    Sep 30, 2012
    8,895
    96
    Texas
    I engraved my first receiver (mine of course)....didn't want to chance screwing up anyone else's......will look better after I parkerize the receiver, I think.....

    Now waiting on the bending jig......................

    20211125_023540.jpg



    20211125_023613.jpg
     
    Last edited:

    V-Tach

    Watching While the Sheep Graze
    Lifetime Member
    Rating - 100%
    7   0   0
    Sep 30, 2012
    8,895
    96
    Texas
    The jig came today.....


    20211202_203517.jpg



    Flat in the jig reading for bending.......

    20211202_203458.jpg




    I started in the middle and slow worked one end to the other for a nice even bend.....

    20211202_204330.jpg




    Receiver ready for removal from the jig......in hindsight, I should have lubricated the jig/flat with some grease. Although it bent easily, the jig left marks on the receiver which I removed with judicious filing and sanding.....I also had to do some blending (filing) on the ejection port and deburr it.......

    20211202_204423.jpg




    Front guide tab removed with a Dremel....

    20211202_210236.jpg



    Front of receiver filed square and deburred...............

    20211202_210703.jpg





    Rear receiver tab removed, filed square and deburred..........

    20211202_210711.jpg






    Bead blasted and ready for welding, which will probably happen on Sunday. I will Tig weld it.........


    It is now considered by BATFE as a firearm,,,,,,,,,,,

    20211202_211931.jpg
     

    V-Tach

    Watching While the Sheep Graze
    Lifetime Member
    Rating - 100%
    7   0   0
    Sep 30, 2012
    8,895
    96
    Texas
    Got some things done today........


    Drilling and installing the barrel pin...........


    20211205_115346.jpg




    Fitting the rear trunnion


    20211205_124817.jpg




    Fitting the magazine guide and mag release

    20211205_124839.jpg



    Fitting the trigger housing....


    20211205_124900.jpg




    Front of receiver welded, mag guide and rear trunnion welded in....

    20211206_192523.jpg




    Fitting front trunnion and barrel for welding. The two rear holes on each side will be welded in. The bottom (forward) is for the barrel pin......

    20211206_194630.jpg



    Holes welded in to hold the trunnion/barrel in place.........

    20211206_220635.jpg



    20211206_220531.jpg



    Looking out my bedroom window this afternoon...........

    20211206_152443.jpg
     

    V-Tach

    Watching While the Sheep Graze
    Lifetime Member
    Rating - 100%
    7   0   0
    Sep 30, 2012
    8,895
    96
    Texas
    I am going to put the vid on building the CETME L all in one place....

    Everything to build one can be done with common hand tools.......even the welder they use is a 110 volt welder.

    Anyone can do this........


    CETME -L Build Step 1 (unpacking your kit)



    CETME -L Build Step 2 (demilling your kit)



    CETME-L Build Step 3 (barrel Installation)



    CETME_L Build Step 4 (semi auto conversion)



    CETME-L Build Step 5 (weldments and receiver bending)



    CETME_L Build Step 6 (receiver finish welding)

    https://vimeo.com/542475804

    CETME-L Build Step 7 (trunnion installation)

    https://vimeo.com/542682510

    CETME-L Build Step 8 (charging handle tube installation)

    https://vimeo.com/542686719

    CETME-L Build Step 9 (rear sight and final assembly)

    https://vimeo.com/542698590

    CETME-L Build Step 10 (build series conclusions magazines and ammo)

    https://vimeo.com/542714483
     
    Last edited:
    Top Bottom