Automatic / assault rifle CZ 805 BREN A1 / A2 (Czech Republic)

Generation Next. Assault rifle CZ BREN 2

As time passes, and remembering the reader’s reaction to my article from that event (“Weapons in Czech”, No. 3/2014), this time I will devote a few words to the name of the machine gun, which will be discussed below. For weapon lovers around the world, when the name BREN is mentioned, the British machine gun with a top-mounted sector magazine certainly comes to mind, due to which it was easily recognizable from any angle. But experts do not forget that BREN, in essence, was a modification of the Czechoslovak ZB-26 machine gun, and the letter combination BREN at that time was an abbreviation for the names of the weapons capitals of Czechoslovakia and Great Britain - the cities of Brno and Enfield (BRno and ENnfield).

English machine gun BREN Mk II

Thus, in recent history, the Czechs simply used a brand widely known in the arms world, which in this case has nothing to do with either Enfield or Brno. Although the last statement is not entirely true, since relatively recently the arms factory in Brno belongs to the CZ company and produces combination guns and rifles. Well, we must admit that the choice of brand for an assault rifle is more than successful.

Several years ago, together with the appearance of the CZ 805 BREN model, the Czechs became very active in the global arms market in the direction of promoting their own small arms complex, consisting of a BREN assault rifle (with an under-barrel grenade launcher), a CZ Scorpion Evo 3 A1 submachine gun and CZ P pistols -07/09.

CZ BREN of the first generation with an attached under-barrel grenade launcher, etc. For a parade, the weapon is packaged with “five plus”, how to fight with such a “unit” is a big question

And now, based on the results of the operation of weapons already sold, including in the Czech army, which is completely re-equipped with new CZ machine guns and pistols, the time has come to rethink the Bren design in order to keep up with competitors. I can’t say what was more in this decision - modern marketing or real necessity, but, assessing the result, I don’t see any deterioration in the second generation of the machine. By the way, now it is promoted without the main digital index “805”, just as BREN 2.

Appearance of CZ BREN 2 assault rifles with different barrel lengths - 207 mm, 280 mm and 357 mm

The machine gun has become lighter and more functional, while maintaining stability when firing from awkward positions along with the principle of factory modularity. In the design of the new model, the gas engine has been improved, the trigger box, made together with the magazine receiver, has been completely changed, the folding stock has been redesigned, and in general a lot of little things have been changed. However, the new trigger mechanism without a fixed burst firing mode cannot be classified as such. I asked the Czechs about him back in 2013 - why? In response, it’s modern, potential customers are asking for it, competitors have it.

Translators-fuses CZ BREN (left) and CZ BREN 2. Please note that in the new machine gun the position of the axis of the flag on the trigger box has changed and there is no mode for firing bursts of a fixed length. Photo by Mikhail Degtyarev

The 2016 question is why? In response, there is an unjustified complication of the design, a decrease in the reliability of the weapon in critical modes, visual and tactile overload of the translator-fuse, and in general, no one really needs this option...

In my opinion, this is a kind of greeting to our Russian gunsmiths, who could not draw a conclusion from the Americans’ refusal of “threes” on the M4 and decided to get their own bumps in the company of the ordering organizations.

In the first generation of “Brens”, the Czechs originally solved the problem of factory multi-caliber weapons, providing for the possibility of replacing the magazine receiver connected to the trigger box with guides and pins. Now the receiver and the trigger box are one part, but in the 5.56×45 version the machine receiver is equipped with an insert, after removing which the part becomes suitable for use on a 7.62×39 caliber machine gun. I think that such versatility is a nod to Arab and Asian potential customers who traditionally use this caliber. In the future, if none appear, the insert may be abolished.

When a 7.62x39 caliber assault rifle is equipped, the factory simply does not install the insert necessary for the correct positioning of an M16-type magazine into the magazine receiver of the new trigger box. The Czechs abandoned their store standard proposed for the first generation of CZ BREN. Photo by Mikhail Degtyarev

The magazine release button has become double-sided in the base, whereas previously there was also an option with a “Kalashnikov” button behind the magazine, working in tandem with a button on the left side of the weapon. At the same time, thanks to saving space on the connecting node of the receiver and the box, the right button of the magazine latch was moved back and it became much more convenient to use.

The shutter delay is also duplicated. One button is on the left, and the “double” in front of the trigger guard has two control elements at once - when you press down, the shutter is released, and when you press the button up, you can force stop the shutter in the rearmost position.

In the first generation of the Bren (above), the magazine receiver was separated from the trigger box and consisted of different parts for magazines of different calibers. Photo by Mikhail Degtyarev

The safety switch flag has become more compact, but still, with the correct grip in both positions, the “fire” rests on the index finger. You can, of course, look for advantages in this fact, such as constant tactile monitoring of the state of the trigger, but I doubt the practical essence of such a view on the safety system of hand-held weapons.

The new “humpbacked” stock is noteworthy. This backrest architecture appeared about five years ago as a development of the idea of ​​a universal stock, providing equal ease of use of sights located at different heights - “mechanics” and optics, as a special case, are quite suitable as an example. If a stock with a rotating or lifting stop, when used correctly, requires one or another mechanical situational adjustment, then a “humpbacked” stock makes it possible to change the height of the aiming line by simply moving the head back and forth.

Buttstocks of different generations are not interchangeable - each has its own characteristics in terms of pairing with the receiver. Photo by Mikhail Degtyarev

It’s also not a cure-all, of course, but modern domestic gunsmiths, who sometimes get carried away in the pursuit of yesterday, should definitely pay attention to this approach. Moreover, those collimator “miracles” of incredible dimensions and weight that our army is looking after today are placed so high on the weapon that it can fit your chin on the butt. There are, of course (I know personally), apologists for shooting from a machine gun without fixing the head in relation to the sights, but they simply played into the open IPSC class, where the weapon has an extremely low amplitude of movement in space during a shot.

With the butt folded, firing the weapon with the right hand is difficult. Photo by Mikhail Degtyarev

As for shooting from the CZ BREN 2, in terms of its behavior during shooting, this weapon is quite combative, but comfortable. All the journalists invited to the presentation could personally verify this at the shooting range, where as software we were provided with about 10,000 rounds of 5.56x45 caliber and three machine guns with barrels of different lengths - 207, 280 and 357 mm. The Czechs did not waste their time on sports targets for accurate shooting, since the shooting training of all invitees is different, and the time for shooting, even during daylight hours, is still limited. We were offered steel targets with clear identification of a hit, and attention was drawn to the fact that the service life of our machine gun barrels is 20,000 shots. Intermediate cleaning was not promised.

General view of the receivers with barrels of the first (above) and second generation CZ BREN assault rifle. Photo by Mikhail Degtyarev

As a result, everyone fired - with single shots, short and long bursts, and those who were not lazy to equip magazines checked their weapons and bursts of 30 shots (see video).

Subjectively, when firing in automatic mode, the weapon behaves much more stable than the AK74M. Due to what? I don’t have a definite answer to this question, since stability is determined by a set of parameters of varying importance, including such as the rate of fire.

The reloading handle of the CZ BREN 2 assault rifle is connected to the bolt frame through an intermediate bar. Photo by Mikhail Degtyarev

In different cases, the best results when firing in bursts can be achieved by either constructively reducing the tempo or increasing it. For example, for the AK74M this parameter is 600 rounds/min. under normal conditions. And the characteristics of CZ BREN 2 indicate a rate of 850 rounds/min. plus/minus 100. Usually such a significant change in tempo is possible only under difficult operating conditions. In this case, it can also be determined by the settings of the gas engine, which, by the way, I didn’t pay attention to at the shooting range. The most important thing is that this is the first time I have seen this notorious range in public performance characteristics of weapons and I will definitely clarify this point with the Czechs.

Details of partial disassembly of machines of different generations. CZ BREN 2 below. Photo by Mikhail Degtyarev

To be honest, I don’t even know how to more vividly convey my impressions of shooting from the CZ BREN 2. The weapon looks and shoots, it’s comfortable, it’s controlled logically, it doesn’t raise any unnecessary questions, it has some hidden shortcomings that can be discussed later speak only based on the results of any prolonged use.

Like its predecessor, CZ BREN 2 provides the possibility of connecting all possible accessories. Note the unusual shape of the muzzle compensator

In my opinion, the CZ BREN 2 is a good basis for a sports carbine, which, if not for sanctions, would probably have already appeared in our country. So if I remember anything else, I’ll tell you about it in the next issue, where I will return to the CZ topic with material about the plant itself and how other examples of Czech weapons, primarily pistols and pistols, performed at the shooting range. machine guns.

Shooting from the CZ BREN 2 assault rifle at a presentation in the Czech Republic. Photo by Mikhail Degtyarev

The Firearm Blog

Czech small arms manufacturer Česká zbrojovka has introduced an improved, lighter variant of its 805 Bren rifle, called the 806 Bren 2. Altair.com reports:
By the end of 2015, the Czech national arms manufacturer Ceska Zbrojovka provide the army last game of the ordered four years ago, 17,678 rifles CZ 805 Bren subkarabinków A1 and A2 CZ 805 Bren. They are announced additional purchases of construction to 2020 completely replaced in line and reserve previously used 7.62-mm rifles vz. 58.

Already in 2011, the first CZ 805 went with Czech soldiers to Afghanistan, where the weapon was tested in combat conditions. That testing also revealed problems in childhood, modified in real time by specialists sent from the country. Complained about the high price of weapons (How much is the CZ 805 BREN?, 2014-08-16), a very large mass, poor ergonomics, as well as the bad balance of the gun during firing. CZ 805 first series production also had a very long, steady flask with uncomfortable cheek pad. Soldiers also drew attention to the negative shaped handle and tensioning levers switch. Worse yet, in contrast to almost all modern construction, the cocking lever would not stop in a rear position after using all of the cartridges in the magazine. User can also easily distribute gas system for cleaning weapons.

In the course of production changed, among others, flask, introduced enlarged wings switch the type of fire. In the second production batch it was decided to replace the drain chamber. Hence, the first 7737 Brenów supplied with transparent plastic magazines construction CZ (can be used interchangeably with the German magazine H & K G36), wypinanych lever similar to the AK. Other 9700 rifles CZ 805 (200 first series and all the others) are served with typical cartridge magazines of M16 (Soon contract for weapons forACR, 2013-12-07). The release levers are located on both sides of the chamber drain.

The refinement of weapons involved was Colonel Josef Kopecký, the Czech commander of the 7th Mechanized Brigade, which is why he and his soldiers were the first to get acquainted with a new, refined variant of Ceska Zbrojovka carbine. October 6 at the shooting range in Bzenec presented rifles CZ 806 Bren 2 A1 and subkarabinki CZ 806 Bren 2 A2 as chief of the General Staff of ACR gen. Josef Becvarovi.

Bren 2 rifles family were announced at the DSEI arms fair in London (DSEI 2015: CZ Bren announced carbine 2, 2015-09-18). This structure was formed on the basis of export varieties of CZ 807, which competed in the Indian weapon trials, canceled the program MCAR. Weapon referred to as the CZ 806 is adapted for ammunition 5.56 mm x 7.62 mm and 45 x 39, while maintaining the same drain chamber. The exchange will only be subject barrel, the castle and the magazine. In a variation of 5.56 mm would be a standard magazine M16, when the gun is supplied with the cartridge Russian model will be used for identical dimensions of the upper part of the hull.