Ceska Zbrojovka CZ805 BREN

History

Since 1959 the Czech army relies on their venerable vz. Type 58 assault rifles, these weapons are similar in appearance to the famous Soviet AK-47 but give a pure Czech approach on the inside. The system is loaded with 7.62x39mm M43 cartridges and is based on a pneumatic system using a drop breech. Nearly 1 million of this type were eventually produced by 1984, and several variants emerged from the family.

Czechoslovakia was peacefully divided into the Czech Republic and Slovakia in 1993, and both parties worked together to equip the new Czech army with a modern assault rifle system to replace the old vz. 58 lines.

The design of a new automatic rifle led to the "CZ805 BREN" in 2009 and was officially adopted by the Czech Army as a standard service rifle in 2010. The name BREN comes from the Czech Republic, the city of Brno in southeastern Czechoslovakia.

Like other modern automatic rifles, the CZ805 is designed as a "modular" weapon system, essentially a weapon that can be configured for mission roles. This is usually because the receiver and pistol grip/trigger assemblies remain the same across different looks - the barrel, handguard, stock, optics and magazine have to be modified as needed to create entirely new weapon roles, Such as carbine or light machine gun creation. As such, the base assault rifle can be configured as a compact carbine (while retaining its Assault Rifle qualities), a "long gun" sniper rifle form, or a light machine gun (LMG) for the Squad Automatic Weapon (SAW) role. This certainly expands the CZ805's capabilities tactical range, while also making it an economically viable alternative for the Army to purchase multiple weapons from a variety of sources to replenish inventories.

The modularity of the CZ805 BREN allows the base weapon to be changed in the field into a different weapon type that can fire a completely different type of cartridge. While the CZ805 BREN is normally used for the 5.56x45mm NATO cartridge, it can be adapted to use the Soviet 7.62x39mm cartridge and possibly the upcoming 6.8x43mm Remington SPC intermediate.

Most controls on the receiver are ambidextrous, and left-handed users can switch the pull handle to the other side of the receiver.

The CZ805 is a "select-fire" weapon system capable of semi-automatic (single-shot), two-shot burst and fully automatic fire as required. It's also perfect for the variety of roles the weapon can play on the battlefield - from tight ammo control to full fire support. The fire selector switch is located within the thumb of the firing hand and is replicated on both sides of the receiver for dexterous operation. Externally, the CZ805's design presents a bold, rugged look, worthy of being a modern automatic weapon.

The overall design layout is relatively conventional, and the internal features are relatively common. The stock is folded on the right side of the gun body, but this does not affect the operation of the gun.

The top of the receiver contains a long-running rail system for attaching accessories, including various optics, including night vision goggles. The lower front and sides of the handguard are also prepared with rails for attaching the flashlight, scope and vertical fore grip for a firm two-point grip.

The magazine's translucent design allows operators to quickly see their current ammo levels. These magazines are curved, withdrawn from the magazine well, and fit into the receiver in front of the trigger. Iron sights are located in the rear of the receiver and in the front of the front.

Depending on the configuration, the barrel protrudes a certain distance at the front end. As a pneumatic weapon, the CZ805 features a top-mounted cylinder and bottom-mounted barrel assembly - in line with other Kalashnikov-inspired designs from the 1950s. The total weight is approximately 3.6kg, the overall length is 910mm, and the barrel length is 360mm. Maximum range is up to 500 meters, depending on optics, cartridge type, training and experience.

The weapon is fed from a detachable 20, 30 or 100 round magazine, with 30 rounds being the standard. 100 count boxes are more common for SAW characters that require high ammo counts. Like other Kalashnikov weapons, the CZ805 BREN still supports bayonet mounts.

The CZ805 can be fitted with an additional single-shot, breech-loaded 40mm grenade launcher under the barrel to further increase the standard infantry's tactical "range". The CZ805 in its Designated Marksman Rifle (DMR) form comes with a standard scope and bipod, as well as a suitable precision barrel. The DMR can then fight alongside base infantry units and fire repeatedly and accurately at ranges beyond assault rifle units. The SAW form can be used in a similar fashion, with these units providing extensive "on-demand" firepower as part of a squad.

The carbine form is simply a more compact version of the standard assault rifle variety, and features a folding shoulder rest, shortened barrel, and handguard. Taken together, these changes significantly reduce the length of the rifle, making it equally suitable for use by special forces, paratroopers and vehicle crews.

The CZ805 BREN has since been listed as two clearly marked variants, simply referred to as "CZ805 BREN A1" and "CZ805 BREN A2". The A1 designation is believed to be a full-fledged assault rifle with a barrel length of 360mm.

The designated A2 is considered the carbine version with a barrel length of 277 mm.

Specification

Roles

Dimensions

Performance

Changes