In a market which is so thoroughly saturated with all things AR-15, I always enjoy getting my hands on something different to try out, particularly anything which has some manner of military pedigree such as last month’s Steyr AUG. It’s taken me some time to track down this finely crafted piece of Unobtanium but it was well worth the wait. This month I am pleased to bring to you all the CZ Bren 2 Ms.
I had heard some great reviews on the original CZ Bren 805 (not to be mistaken with the older Bren light machine gun from the 1930’s.) Already with the 805 there had been talk of a ‘SCAR killer,’ a rifle which is very similar in appearance and function to the expensive FN SCAR but for somewhere around half of the cost. The original Bren had a reciprocating bolt handle, a bit of heft, and what I have heard was a fantastic trigger. There doesn’t seem to be a lot of negative points on the first Bren though I don’t blame you if you’ve not heard about it. I have never seen one in person.
Still, some areas could have been improved. Part of the original Bren’s weight came from the construction of the upper receiver, as I recall there was a last minute change of materials and that had led to some added mass. With the Bren 2 series a weight reduction plan was in order along with changing to a non-reciprocating charging handle and some other alterations, what CZ calls a “clean-sheet design.” This new design seems to be doing well, The Firearms Blog recently reported that the Czech military had ordered up to an additional 16,000 of these rifles.
Only recently CZ had announced a civilian specific semi-auto rifle for the American market with a .308 version in the works. Though due to the peculiarities of American firearms import laws, it’s the Bren 2 pistols which had arrived here about a year earlier and with very limited numbers and zero fanfare. If you’ve never seen or heard of one I’m not surprised. They are quite the rare bird, particularly the very first models which had a different upper receiver based more on the military models. I believe only a total of 300 of these had made it into the country, 50 of each of three barrel lengths and of the two calibers. If you have one then you are very fortunate.
Two calibers? Yes indeed, the Bren 2 Ms comes in 5.56 NATO and 7.62×39 and can be swapped between the two without much difficulty. This is not a procedure one would accomplish in the field but it does greatly aid in the Bren 2’s modularity. The 7.62 model does require proprietary magazines, however these are a straight insert rather than the AK’s “rock and lock” and they hold the bolt open when empty.
As mentioned both of these calibers are available in three different barrel lengths. Because I’m a sucker for the really compact (and arguably much less effective for the caliber) short barrel models it was the shortest 8″ barreled 5.56 that I had the most interest in, and as luck would have it this is also the model which I was able to get some range time with. While you do lose a lot of the ballistic performance of a 5.56 in such a short barrel it does make for a handy and lightweight package.
The pistol models come with end caps already configured for AR style buffer tubes for braces or for SBR stocks, though it appears that there is a space for a retainer screw which did not come with the pistol. Use of a standard AR buffer tube end plate accomplishes this screw’s task, and I believe does a better job.
Starting up front, the cold hammer forged barrel comes with a fairly vicious looking twisted three prong flash hider which almost eliminates what is normally quite an excessive fireball in such a short barrel. The short stroke gas piston is easily adjusted between standard operation, adverse, and off. Steel flip-up sights come with a tritium insert on the front post and two more dots on the larger of two apertures in the back. The charging handle is easily swapped out to either side.
The magazine release is ambidextrous, set up exactly like an AR-15 on the right with a downward angled button on the left which is nicely situated for your left thumb. An extended AR-15 style bolt catch is also on the left, though the Bren 2 also has another bolt catch and release inside the front of the trigger guard which is both a rare feature and makes for super easy activation. Push up while drawing the charging handle back and it locks open, push down and the bolt flies home. For carry use both QD and standard sling mounts are included on both sides along the upper back of the receiver.
The safety selector is ambi and has a 45 degree throw, the selectors are small enough to not get in the way of the trigger finger. The entire lower receiver is carbon fiber reinforced polymer and is amazingly lightweight. The pistol grip has a small sealed storage compartment and a swappable backstrap, however I do not know if other sizes are yet offered. The ejection port is right side only but a large shell deflector keeps brass well away from the shooter.
Some users have mentioned the trigger on the 2 Ms not being quite as good as on the 805’s but I absolutely love it, unlike anything I have felt before in a rifle. Right from the factory is a 2 stage pull with the initial take-up being light but somewhat long. From there physical resistance can be felt but it is an incredibly short and easy break from here with some over-travel at the end. Reset is right at the second stage of the pull and the entire operation is just silky smooth, I will never tire of using this trigger.
Being a shorter and lighter piston operated firearm the Bren 2 did have some jump after each shot but I found it remarkably eager to return to target, no doubt aided with the use of an arm brace. The sights are very familiar to anyone who has used irons on an AR with the front being rounded more like an HK or AK compared to the trident-shape of an AR. As with the trigger the firing operation is buttery smooth, the bolt effortlessly glides within the upper with no obvious hang-ups.
The only controls I found to be stiff are the safety selector and the 5.56 version’s magazine release. These use the typical STANAG mags but they are quite stiff to feed into the well. A combination of spring tension and a catch which is not tapered means that you’ll need to be decisive with your reloads.
Accuracy is there but trying to find the 8″ barreled model’s best is a little tricky with iron sights, even with the excellent trigger and the smaller rear aperture. My best group at 25 yards is just shy of three quarters of an inch.
As usual there are a few complaints. First off, I have to discuss the factory handguard. It’s bulky, heavy, and not at all comfortable. It’s bolted together with steel plates. There’s barely any room for M-Lok slots. If you have a Bren 2 Ms which isn’t one of the very first to be imported then I would consider the HB Industries handguard to be a necessary upgrade. It’s longer, lighter, uses fewer parts, feels better in the hand, and offers even more M-Lok spaces for accessories. It is absolutely worth upgrading to and helps to shift the gun’s balance to the middle. On the 8″ barreled example the HBI handguard and an SB Tactical arm brace perfectly balanced out the pistol. In fact, after a brief email exchange with someone at HB Industries I have been led to believe that CZ liked this handguard design enough to mimic it for the rifle.
The second issue is the rear end plate, the same piece which an arm brace or stock can be installed. It has a fairly significant amount of vertical play. How a firearm with CZ’s quality control and at this price point could have so much wobble in such a critical area surprises me. That said, it isn’t difficult to reduce or completely eliminate this wobble. A single bolt holds a rear sling attachment in place and can be removed with a bit of elbow grease. Place a small washer or plastic spacer between the sling plate and the back of the receiver, reassemble, and the wobble is gone. Still, I feel that this could have been designed better to not have such a problem in the first place.
My last complaint admittedly doesn’t have hands-on proof to back it up. From what I have been able to learn the Bren 2 rifle is supposed to come to the civilian market with a heavy barrel and I cannot understand why they would choose this option. A semi-auto only version will see much less fire so a loss of accuracy due to a hot barrel is far less likely, for one. For another, the Bren 2 is supposed to be lighter than the 805 Bren. Why add the weight back on? I would surmise that the 14″ barreled pistol would be a much better option.
These few issues aren’t enough to kick my love of the Bren 2 Ms. It is simple to disassemble and maintain, it handles like a dream, it has a healthy combination of familiarity and modern features, and it’s not “just another AR.” This is a completely different animal, completely redesigned over its 805 predecessor and with limited but growing aftermarket support. It may have only been around for a couple of years but I believe the 2 Ms has a bright and successful future. Whether in factory configuration or with some modification you’ll have one heck of a shooter which is sure to draw a lot of attention at the range, if you’re fortunate enough to find one.
