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Firearms / Assault rifles / CETME Model L

CETME Model L

General Facts

  • TYPE
    Assault rifle

  • ORIGIN
    Spain

  • NICKNAMES
    -

  • DESIGNED
    Late 1970's

  • DESIGNER
    CETME

  • PRODUCTION
    1986 - 1991

  • PRODUCERS
    Spain - CETME

  • QUANTITY
    About 60.000 produced.

  • UNIT COST
    Unknown

  • CHARACTERISTICS
    Solid and rugged design
    Controllable rate of automatic fire
    Rather heavy
    Various reliability issues
    Difficult to mount accessories

Introduction

The Model L is a late Cold War era assault rifle of Spanish origin. It was developed in the late 1970's to replace the older Model 58 series of battle rifles in Spanish service. The Model L is a decent rifle but in as introduced in the 1990's was behind the curve in rifle design. The Model L is rather heavy, cannot mount an under barrel grenade launcher and it is difficult to mount optics.

Design

The Model L is an assault rifle that uses the roller delayed blowback mechanism. As such it is very similar to the German HK 33. However, it is a standalone design there is no parts interchangeability with the HK 33. The Model L is mostly made of steel, but features a polymer stock and handguard.

Firepower

The Model L fires the 5.56x45mm NATO round from 30 round detachable box magazines. The magazine well is STANAG compatible but Spanish issued magazines feature a different feed angle. The Model L is a select fire weapon with a cyclic automatic rate of fire of 650 to 750 rpm. The maximum effective range is quoted as 400 meters. The full size rifle can be fitted with a bayonet and is able to fire rifle grenades.

Users

The Model L rifle and Model LC carbine were the standard issue rifles of the Spanish armed forces from 1987 to 1999. Since then they have been replaced by the German H&K G36 rifle that is produced under license in Spain. The short service life of the Model L is attributed to various reliability issues and difficulty to mount accessories, such as a grenade launcher. The Model L remains in use in very small numbers with several nations.

Variants

Model LC

Model LC: Carbine model of the Model L. It differs in having a shorter barrel and retractable stock. Although it is a carbine the metal stock makes it heavier than its full size counterpart. Due to the shorter barrel it is no longer possible to mount a bayonet or launch rifle grenades.

TypeAssault rifle
Caliber5.56x45mm NATO
Magazine30 round detachable box
OperationRoller locked delayed blowback
Fire selector0-1-F
Rate of fire650 - 800 rpm
Barrel length320 mm
Rifling6 grooves, 178 mm right hand twist
Muzzle velocity832 m/s
StockRetractable
Length860 mm / 665 mm
Width?
Height?
Weight3.55 kg
SightsIron sights, shrouded post front sight and flip up rear sight with 200 and 400 m apertures
Remarks-

Model L

Model L: Standard full size rifle with fixed stock and full length barrel. Early rifles featured drum sights at the rear. These were changed to two position flip-up sights.
Model LV: Designated marksman model of the Model L. The 'V' stands for visor, which is Spanish for optic. It features a scope bracket for the British SUSAT or Spanish ENOSA 4x scope.

TypeAssault rifle
Caliber5.56x45mm NATO
Magazine30 round detachable box
OperationRoller locked delayed blowback
Fire selector0-1-F
Rate of fire650 - 750 rpm
Barrel length400 mm
Rifling6 grooves, 178 mm right hand twist
Muzzle velocity875 m/s
StockFixed
Length925 mm
Width?
Height?
Weight3.4 kg
SightsIron sights, shrouded post front sight and flip up rear sight with 200 and 400 m apertures or drum type with 100, 200, 300 and 400 m increments
Remarks-

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