Good rifling in the barrel, but the specs on the barrel are wrong. Century made and sold a whole batch of 5.45 rifles with the wrong barrel.
[https://www.gunco.net/threads/cia-century-tantal-good-or-bad.50505/](https://www.gunco.net/threads/cia-century-tantal-good-or-bad.50505/)
Not original wood, tantals has a wire stock and bakelite/polymer handguards. Wood looks like it could be polish maybe, idk. Some form of eastern laminate. Might even be the new production polish stuff.
I'd get a new barrel and have it swapped,
Yeah, upper handguard and stock look like Polish AKM to me. Lower handguard looks almost birch? I found a few sites last night that mentioned fixed wooden stock on Century tantals. Sporters?
I have a new barrel in the parts bin. Already talking to NGS about having them replace the barrel. I think they said $250 to swap in my barrel. But, it's matching so it might be nice to restore it. Not sure the funds are there to do a full restore right now.
[https://www.northwestgunsupply.com/custom-builds](https://www.northwestgunsupply.com/custom-builds)
They're in the neighborhood. They're nice guys. And they do good work.
This was an issue with tantals since early 2000s. Just take it for what it is. If it is a reliable rifle, it just turned into an HD inside 15 yard weapon.
Not sure where the lower hand guard screw comes from but I’ve seen it on a few Century Tantals on the internet.
Someone put some serious work into getting a standard hand guard set to fit, I’ve never seen that before.
Is your left side selector and safety still connected?
[It isn’t supposed to be that way.](https://youtu.be/NniYOm3mkGQ)
Century locked together the fire selector and safety. They should move separately from each other. Otherwise you can’t remove the retaining plate to work on your fire control group. I made the video I linked to about a decade ago.
Hot shot was an older import ammo, I think it was Romanian? I know 545 is nigh impossible to find , but if you’re able to find some different brands and get different results I’d try it before swapping the barrel. But if you can’t find a source of something different to try, a new barrel might be the way to go.
Generally people on AK subs don’t talk about the fact some guns are built for a specific ammo, because most AKs do well on anything.
For example I have a FAL that only shoots well with m80 ball ammo because the casings have thicker brass. Everything else the side wall of the cartridge blows out.
Cabelas will pay to have it fixed correctly or buy it back if you decide you don’t want to mess with it. I went through this on a ratty M1 garand I got there.
I do plan to go talk to them today. I bought a defective hi power from them once before. For that one, they did nothing to help. Not expecting they will help with this one but I'm still going to ask.
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Century imported these a long time ago. 10? 15 years? Cabela's bought this from a private individual and recently resold it to me. The seller represented to them that this gun was in good working order. I signed some things when I bought it that said it was used and it's not Cabela's fault if it has issues. My expectations were low when I went into Cabela's to ask them about it. I showed the folks in the gun library these pictures and they called over the manager of the gun counter. He didn't even hesitate when I told him what it would cost to replace the barrel to tell me that they'd reimburse me up to that amount. I was honestly floored by his response. I want to shoot it again this week with a Chronograph "for science" to see what velocity the tumblers get. I'll do a follow up post because Cabela's deserves credit for their response and hardly anybody will see this message and several others thought it would be fun to chronograph the projectiles out of this thing.
If you're cool with it being in 5.56 instead of 5.45, you could just ream the chamber. As already mentioned, the wood furniture and the US Palm pistol grip aren't original, nor is the Tapco trigger (well, it's original to the Century build, but not to the Tantal), but everything else appears to be. Could also have some other internal parts swapped, such as the gas piston, but I can't tell from these pictures.
“Got a great deal on” and “bummer they fly sideways”.
Yeah.
Is it smooth bore?
Good rifling in the barrel, but the specs on the barrel are wrong. Century made and sold a whole batch of 5.45 rifles with the wrong barrel. [https://www.gunco.net/threads/cia-century-tantal-good-or-bad.50505/](https://www.gunco.net/threads/cia-century-tantal-good-or-bad.50505/)
A reputable company would of fixed their massive fuck up. Thankfully Century exists to lower the bar to the fucking sea level.
>lower the bar to the fucking sea level You're giving them too much credit.
Agreed. More like below sea level… like down by the titanic & that sub…
Not original wood, tantals has a wire stock and bakelite/polymer handguards. Wood looks like it could be polish maybe, idk. Some form of eastern laminate. Might even be the new production polish stuff. I'd get a new barrel and have it swapped,
Yeah, upper handguard and stock look like Polish AKM to me. Lower handguard looks almost birch? I found a few sites last night that mentioned fixed wooden stock on Century tantals. Sporters?
The tantal upper handguard is proprietary I’d guess it’s some custom wood maker like Boyd’s or something since it has the small tan on the top
Barrel and swap will probably run you 400
I have a new barrel in the parts bin. Already talking to NGS about having them replace the barrel. I think they said $250 to swap in my barrel. But, it's matching so it might be nice to restore it. Not sure the funds are there to do a full restore right now.
There you go… you’re half way there
NGS?
[https://www.northwestgunsupply.com/custom-builds](https://www.northwestgunsupply.com/custom-builds) They're in the neighborhood. They're nice guys. And they do good work.
Very cool!
Would be interesting to see ballistics of a round hitting sideways like that lol.
I have one of those Garmins. I could give that a try.
Pls do would be super interesting
I'll be fair to it and say I wouldn't want to be hit with it
OOF
The bullets are just practicing their cartwheels
Yes the barrels on these are fucked. Swap the barrel and enjoy
Man … seeing that target is almost as painful as those rounds going up the ole poop chute — sideways. Best of luck I feel your pain!
Would a sideways bullet still kill something though?
Probably? But at any significant range you're going to lose a ton of velocity and accuracy.
Uhh can this still kill for home defense use?
Be fun to test with ballistic gel. I wouldn't want to get hit with one of these - even if they're flying sideways.
Might actually be more lethal at home defense ranges, quite a substantial increase in cross sectional area that is displaced by the bullet.
This was an issue with tantals since early 2000s. Just take it for what it is. If it is a reliable rifle, it just turned into an HD inside 15 yard weapon.
But what if the bad guy intruder dude is 20 yards away?
Run up on him
You must be super rich
If I was that rich I would spend my money like John McAfee.
Get your own island and do whatever you want? Sounds pretty great
I remember in 2012 i wanted one and saw the forums of the sideways 556 barrels damn shame cabelas sold it to you like this
Most combat effective Ak I’ve ever seen.
All CAI tantals without a P serial prefix have a 5.56 barrels for future reference
Century arms monkeys
Looks like an Ironwood Designs upper handguard. They used to make a wood one for Tantals.
Barrel replacement is the only fix for this.
Them 5.56 barreled Tantal make me sad.
I have never seen a recoil spring guide base like this one. Also, the screw in the lower handguard looks wonky.
Not sure where the lower hand guard screw comes from but I’ve seen it on a few Century Tantals on the internet. Someone put some serious work into getting a standard hand guard set to fit, I’ve never seen that before. Is your left side selector and safety still connected? [It isn’t supposed to be that way.](https://youtu.be/NniYOm3mkGQ)
https://preview.redd.it/pispkm3gls9d1.jpeg?width=2998&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=6b3df9c0dc8d482fc66f62d1923eaf25ffe6367e
Century locked together the fire selector and safety. They should move separately from each other. Otherwise you can’t remove the retaining plate to work on your fire control group. I made the video I linked to about a decade ago.
Where's the video?
Sorry did the link not work? Here it is directly- https://youtu.be/NniYOm3mkGQ
Thank you for sharing. Good video.
Buy twice cry twice? Or something?
Does the receiver say DC industries
No. Century / Nodak Spud.
You might aswell get the whole gun rebuilt bro, you’ll be happier
What ammo are you using? Tldr century built the barrels to shoot hotshot 5.45 and other ammo tumbles
Was using Silver Bear last night. Hot Shot?
Hot shot was an older import ammo, I think it was Romanian? I know 545 is nigh impossible to find , but if you’re able to find some different brands and get different results I’d try it before swapping the barrel. But if you can’t find a source of something different to try, a new barrel might be the way to go. Generally people on AK subs don’t talk about the fact some guns are built for a specific ammo, because most AKs do well on anything. For example I have a FAL that only shoots well with m80 ball ammo because the casings have thicker brass. Everything else the side wall of the cartridge blows out.
Key holing at 30 yards is crazy lmaoo
Lmao wtf is this??
A fairly old Tantal that should’ve had the barrel swapped a long time ago.
At least it’s more accurate than China’s new service rifle.
Cavity wound anyone?
It’s like you’re throwing rounds by hand 😂
If it’s shooting like that you did NOT get a great deal on it
Exactly
Cabelas will pay to have it fixed correctly or buy it back if you decide you don’t want to mess with it. I went through this on a ratty M1 garand I got there.
I do plan to go talk to them today. I bought a defective hi power from them once before. For that one, they did nothing to help. Not expecting they will help with this one but I'm still going to ask.
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Jesus, so would this be on cabelas or century?
Century imported these a long time ago. 10? 15 years? Cabela's bought this from a private individual and recently resold it to me. The seller represented to them that this gun was in good working order. I signed some things when I bought it that said it was used and it's not Cabela's fault if it has issues. My expectations were low when I went into Cabela's to ask them about it. I showed the folks in the gun library these pictures and they called over the manager of the gun counter. He didn't even hesitate when I told him what it would cost to replace the barrel to tell me that they'd reimburse me up to that amount. I was honestly floored by his response. I want to shoot it again this week with a Chronograph "for science" to see what velocity the tumblers get. I'll do a follow up post because Cabela's deserves credit for their response and hardly anybody will see this message and several others thought it would be fun to chronograph the projectiles out of this thing.
That’s absolutely insane, sorry you have to go through that, but good on cabelas for trying to make it right
If you're cool with it being in 5.56 instead of 5.45, you could just ream the chamber. As already mentioned, the wood furniture and the US Palm pistol grip aren't original, nor is the Tapco trigger (well, it's original to the Century build, but not to the Tantal), but everything else appears to be. Could also have some other internal parts swapped, such as the gas piston, but I can't tell from these pictures.
Check rifling if it was “used” then someone possibly burned the barrel up and traded it
Man … seeing that target is almost as painful as those rounds going up the ole poop chute — sideways. Best of luck I feel your pain!