[SHOT 2025] New Roller-Delayed Guns From Century Arms
Century Arms is expanding its family of roller-delayed pistols. New for 2025 are the AP-51 in 7.62 NATO and the AP-53 in 5.56 NATO. The AP-5SD is also new and we had our first chance to check it out.
Century Arms @ TFB:
- TFB Review: Century Arms BFT556 Core AK
- Century Arms Adds New AP5 Models (Including An SD)!
- The Story Behind the "Budget" Thunder Ranch AKs from Century
- Century Arms And Sharps Bros. Unveil MB47
- TFB Review: The Century Arms AP5-P
AP-53
First up we have the AP-53. This is the shortest model in the HK33/93-pattern guns. It is more or less a 5.56-sized MP-5. Like all of the other AP-series pistols, the AP-53 is manufactured by MKE in Turkey. It includes a claw mount with a Picatinny rail for optics mounting and a four-prong flash hider. Fans of heavy firing schedules will appreciate that the barrel is cold hammer forged and chrome lined. The MSRP is $1,799 and it should be available in about a month.
AP-51
Moving up in caliber we arrive at the AP-51, which is chambered in .308 Winchester. It has the same overall form factor as the AP-53 with the exception of the added receiver length from the wider magazine. Also like the AP-53, it includes an optics mounting rail and chrome-lined cold hammer forged barrel. The MSRP is $1799 for this model as well. ETA for this model is also about a month out.
AP-5SD
We covered this previously, but this was our first opportunity to see it in person.
Mete MC9 Prime
The new releases were not limited to the AP series though. The new Canik Mete MC9 Prime has a 4-pound flat-faced trigger with only 1.3mm of reset distance. The barrel is ported, and tritium sights are standard along with an ambidextrous holster. Century’s MSRP is $649, or $849 with a Mecanik MO4 red dot sight.
From the manufacturer:
The Century Arms AP 53 is based on the iconic HK53 and is chambered in 5.56x45mm, with a 30 round HK 33 pattern polymer magazine, an overall length of 22.3 inches, a width of 2.2 inches, a height of 10 inches, a cold hammer forged barrel length of 8.3 inches and an unloaded weight of 7.2lbs (3.3kg). The AP 53 is equipped with a Navy style assembly with an ambidextrous selector, MP5 compatible wide handguard, standard HK33 trigger set-up and 4 prong flash hider.
AKA @fromtheguncounter on Instagram. Gun nerd, reloader, attorney, and mediocre hunter.
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That's one hell of a fireball-flinger. Does anyone actually make 7.62/.308 that's loaded for carbine or pistol length barrels, or is this just predicated on the idea that everyone wants to be able to clear the lanes at the range without needing an AR?
These would be perfect for 300 black out or 8.6 blackout