CETME Model L

Model L
The CETME Model L
Type	Assault rifle
Place of origin	Spain
Service history
In service	1987–1999
Used by	Spain
Production history
Designer	CETME
Designed	1981
Manufacturer	CETME
Produced	1986–1991
Variants	Model LC, Model LV
Specifications
Weight	3.4 kg (7.50 lb) (Model L) 3.55 kg (7.8 lb)
Length	925 mm (36.4 in) (Model L) 860 mm (33.9 in) stock extended / 665 mm (26.2 in) stock collapsed (Model LC)
Barrel length	400 mm (15.7 in) (Model L) 320 mm (12.6 in) (Model LC)
Cartridge	5.56×45mm NATO
Action	Roller-delayed blowback
Rate of fire	600–750 rounds/min (Model L) 650–800 rounds/min (Model LC)
Muzzle velocity	875 m/s (2,871 ft/s) (Model L) 832 m/s (2,729.7 ft/s) (Model LC)
Effective firing range	200–400 m sight adjustments
Maximum firing range	400 m
Feed system	12, 20, 30-round detachable STANAG magazine
Sights	Front: shrouded post, rear: flip-up sight with two apertures 440 mm (17.3 in) sight radius

The Model L is a Spanish 5.56×45mm NATO assault rifle developed in the late 1970s at the state-owned small arms research and development establishment CETME (Centro de Estudios Técnicos de Materiales Especiales) located in Madrid. The rifle retains many of the proven design elements the institute had used previously in its CETME Model 58 battle rifles.

The weapon was successfully trialled between 1981–1982 and approved for serial production in 1984 at the Empresa Nacional Santa Bárbara factory (currently Santa Bárbara Sistemas, integrated into General Dynamics European Land Combat Systems division). The Model L replaced the 7.62mm CETME Model C in service with the Spanish Army and the first rifles were delivered in 1987, by which time orders for approximately 60,000 had been placed. In 1999 the Model L as now been largely replaced in Spanish service with a license-built variant of the Heckler & Koch G36E.

The Model L is a selective fire, roller-delayed blowback firearm. The weapon features a semi-rigid two-piece bolt mechanism that consists of a bolt head and a supporting angular locking piece. During the "unlocking" sequence, the two cylindrical rollers contained in the bolt head are cammed inward against inclined flanks of the barrel extension and act upon the locking piece and bolt carrier, propelling it rearward at a velocity greater than that of the bolt, which remains closed until the fired bullet has left the barrel and pressures inside the bore have been reduced to a safe level before withdrawing together with the bolt carrier.

The bolt also has a cartridge casing extractor, while the ejector is located inside the trigger housing (the ejector is lifted by a spring in the front of the trigger housing. The recoiling bolt carrier pushes the rear of the ejector down insuring the ejector is lifted into place to insure ejection is timed properly). The weapon is hammer-fired and has a fire control lever, which is also the manual safety. The safety and fire selector lever is located on the left side of the receiver, directly above the pistol grip, and has three settings: "S" (Spanish: Seguro)—weapon safe (trigger is disabled mechanically), "T" (Spanish: Tiro a tiro)—semi-automatic fire and "R" (Spanish: Ráfaga)—fully automatic fire (initial production rifles also had a burst selector option, which was abandoned). The Model L fires from a closed bolt position and uses the NATO-standard 5.56×45mm cartridge loaded with the 62-grain SS109 projectile. INI (Instituto Nacional de Industria, a state factory) made ammunition was dirtier and gave much more chamber pressure than standard NATO ammunition, and was one of the sources of reliability problems (hard primers were in part responsible, too). At NATO joint exercises, foreign units tended to be warned not to use Spanish ammo if their rifles were gas operated [sources needed].