In 2012, I was in Afghanistan and saw some of the first issued CZ 805 BRENs that were issued to Czech soldiers. I remembered thinking that they Czechs got issued some strange G36 things when we saw them from afar. Czech MPs at FOB Shank, good guys, let us shot them when we were on the range together too!

I see the Czechs are skipping straight to naming it the BREN before the British can make a copy of it

As a Czech, this makes me want to go back to our mountains and build more weapons like the Dwarves of weapon making we are.

Hope you enjoyed your stay in our country, it's an honor to have you visit!

A high point of my life was visiting Prague castle and seeing guards carrying CZ 805, Scorpions, and what looked like chrome or silver vz. 52s.

Ladislav Findorák was the head of the arms service of the Czechoslovak People's Army, who in 1989 approved CZ-2000 for service in the army, after the end of the Cold War he started his own company, where he dealt mainly with various universal constructions. The BREN was intended as a fast-changing multicabar rifle. This eventually turned out to be a dead end of development, as one advantage it has, the barrel fixed between the screws in the frame can be easily replaced when worn, and because it does not touch the body, it can be thin and will not heat up, making the weapon lighter. For a sports shooter, this can have the advantage of changing the caliber in the garage conditions, for shooting at short distances, it should not affect accuracy.

Basic with this rifle was pain. It's fucking heavy, and the one I got had an aversion to gun oil, and the telescopic stock couldn't lock properly. Plus the army issued sight is big,clunky and makes the bolt handle slightly more difficult to use. Another thing is the iron sights are halfway to useless with the issued sight (rip aiming in rain). And the fire selector switch is in an akward position, makes operating it uncomfortable for some. But mainly it's just fucking heavy...

Oh man so excited to see what Ian finds at the cz factory

The first gen magazine actually isnt so much proprietary - its G36 compatible (what a benefit xD)

"WARNING: Pointy thing towards the enemy" Ready for US Marines.

I don't have any hands-on with this generation of BREN, but I remember some interesting and funny stuff from the news since I am from the Czech republic. The controversy was, that it was quite expensive (the red dot was included alongside other accessories so it was difficult to find out the price only for the rifle, in the end, it was like 3.6K USD). One way of looking at this generation of BREN is that it helped jumpstart the Uhersky Brod factory but at the expense of us, taxpayers. CZUB was able to use the money and experience for BREN 2. This brought us new jobs and the ability to produce rifles at home. The fun part was something like: The red dot is big, heavy, and power-hungry but you can throw it at the enemy. If that does not help, take the BREN by the barrel and beat the enemy to death with the sharp Picatinny rails. If the enemy still overpowers you and takes your rifle, they will damage their hand by the reciprocating charging handle.

If someone thinks that Ian is "only" a "gunfreak youtuber". His visit in this company (with enormous huge tradition of designing & producing different weapon systems) - must be a sign/litmus paper, that he's in a class of its own. Nickname "Gun Jesus" didn't came out of nowhere!!! 🤣

Czech's and looking after us lefties by making things as ambidextrous as possible. It's appreciated.

Interesting and subtle details showing that Ian had set this rifle up for left handed shooting. Both with the cheek rest orientation and the charging handle. I wonder if we get to see him shoot some rounds in the very near future? :)

Looking forward to the video on the BREN 2 that was made to replace this!

Iam 20 year old czech and from time to time i go to a shooting range with my father to do a little competition. I once randomly found Ians videos and started to watch them. We got it in our veins hahahah

Looks like a CZ452 hanging on the wall. Great rifle.

The quality on those rifles is amazing

The first CZ Bren looks modern and ugly at the same time. CZ Bren 2 looks awesome, like a mix between a Bushmaster ACR and the FN SCAR. Czech Republic have a good and remarkable style for architecture and also weapons. They have really good designers and engineers 😙

I hoped Ian would get some juicy info on the bit controversial trials of the rifle. Where actually (if I remember correctly) the trials were postponed for CZ to deliver guns for testing, while FN had SCAR L ready (which were supposed to be build inder licence in Czech Rep.). I think SCARS were also supposed to be cheaper. And I am Czech I do appreciate that we have our own rifle, but I hoped the selection process would be more clear. As from the quick switch to BREN 2 can be guessed SCARS were probably better ... :) I also thought that the 805 was build from the start to have the option to chose proprietary, STANAG or G36 magazines.

Just waiting for the Bren 2 video, keep them coming Ian, great job as usual.

Ive been awaiting this video for a while now, thanks for making it

Replaced the rear half of the factory lower receiver on my "pistol" version with one from Dan Haga Designs, which allowed for any AR style pistol grip to be installed. The reciprocating charging handle requires learning a different manual of arms, but I have had no issues. It is chonky, but also flat shooting. My biggest complaint is the trigger. Lots of travel and no after market solutions. Zero reliability issues, but I am concerned about erosion around the "normal" gas block port. Something I am keeping an eye on, with about 2K rounds fired.

Awesome n the fact that you give knowledge and the history behind everything makes this an excellent channel. Really really cool stuff man.

Welcome to the Czech Republic. I watch your videos regularly and I think they are by far the best on this topic. So take a look at everything we can do here and especially remember to have a beer and a "svíčková s knedlíkem".

I have a 14" Bren 2ms in 762x39. It's a awesome rifle. I've had it for over a year now and I still geek out over it as much as the first day I got it. I had to get a 556 gas regulator and the HB industries high load spring to take care of some over gassing issues, but now it shoots so smooth. It's feels like a 556 gun now.

When I first saw the Bren 805 I thought it was just a SCAR rip off, but I really like the design of it. CZ has some pretty awesome guns out there

Have been waiting for this video since they posted photo of you there! Hope you enjoyed your visit :)

I love my 805 S1, the heavy front seems to keep it on target for quick follow up shots. Learned something new about the take down pin holders in the stock, glad I didn't skip over the video.

I knew this was coming because of the video about visiting CZ! Lets go!

Very cool, thanks Ian!

Amazing how many AR-18 derived designs there are considering the original was not all that successful. BREN-18 would've been a cool name.

This was one of those guns I rolled my eyes at back in 2014ish when they came in. I was one of those "well my AR can do more." sort of guys. Now I'm kicking myself. These look so sweet. Hopefully picking up a bren 2 at some point.

CZ makes really cool stuff!

Thank you , Ian . 🐺

Thanks

Was wondering when are you gonna drop by. Welcome to CZ!

Very interesting review, thank you!

this is exactly the kind of entertainment I need after a long day at work.

Ian, being Gun Jesus: ...but that is a subject for a second video. Me, channelling my inner goblin: GIMME, GIMME, GIMME, GIMME!!!

Great work Sir thank you

I think this is leading up to the adoption of the Bren 2, in 7.62x39 by GIGN! So there will be a French connection ;)

Man, that buttstock takedown is slick. As you slide the stock down, the main spring pushes back into your thumb, that you just used to push in the button holding the stock. Very ergonomic:)

I love my 805. Fantastic rifle. Have even used it at 2gacm.

2 years ago I was sent to fight narco cartels in the jungle of Jalisco in Mexico, while most Marines had the SigSauer 516 or Galil ACE 53, I was assigned a Bren 805. It was heavy and the safety selector was in akward position, but a good gun in general, the problem were the magazines wich performed poorly, 2 of them broke and the rest all the time were kind of Wobbling in the gun, giving me the feeling they would fall in any moment.

The Portuguese Air Force MP (Polícia Aérea) have an element within them, the NOTP, that is responsible, among other things, for aircraft protection when landing on hostile territory. They're equipped with the 805. Seen pictures of them with the 805, as well as older ones with the G36.

BREN 805 is IMO a very underrated rifle. It has some problems, yes, but look at the development of an AK, AR platforms.. were they spotless? Not at all. There are things that cannot be revealed and identified as an issue unless the gun is fielded and properly tested in combat conditions. Plus replacing Vz. 58 - an awesome rifle to say the least was very hard. Plenty of our soldiers loved Vz. 58 so BREN 805 had a really tough position to begin...

Wellcome at my HOME ! :D Soo nice to see this video. THX!

can't wait for part 2

This gun looks cool in photos but If you actually have to roll around in the mud with it, maintain it and expect it to function flawlessly in shit conditions... you're better off with either the older classic (vz.58) or the much improved BREN 2. (source: saw this gun jam, double feed, carbon-fuck itself with just few dumped mags in my and squadmates hands too often for a military firearm).

I love my 805 S1 carbine, I wish they would still make them and import them to the US, but sadly they’ve been discontinued. I also have a BREN 2MS, but would have much preferred a BREN 2S as it is much closer to the military version. The 2MS is sort of a bastardized version for the US market (no lightening cuts, ‘modular’ MLOK handguard). Sadly only 300 total 2S guns were introduced ever imported and CZ has made no mention of that model ever returning, so we’re stuck with the Americanized 2MS.

I like those fire select labels.

Awww! The little 452 on the wall behind Ian. They handle beautifully and have fantastic iron sights. Anyone who learns to shoot with a "Bruno" (as they're called in Ireland, CZ is from Brno, so... 🤷‍♂️) has a special place in their heart for that little gun.

This has been one of my favorite rifels since I remembere it being announced

Fun fact: You can finish entire Battlefield 4 campaign using an CZ 805 BREN. (and EVO3)😉

Welcome to Czech Republic ! Happy to have you. Enjoy your stay and dont overdo the beer !

The fireselector style looks cool.

Cool modern rifle, I've never owned a cz but I am a bit of a fan boy Hope to see a shooting video tomorrow, make it so. Fun switch engage! If you happen to see this Ian ask if they have some of their old prototypes stored in their facilities, I'm sure you know there are more than a few quite interesting ones, in my research I've found a couple I would like to request: ZB530, ZK423, AP67, SA83 (krasa[#1 on my list!]), EZ-B, LOP(#2) And of course to see the vz61 revisited if you would. Great in depth informative video as always Ian, enjoy your trip!

As a Czech, I'm sorry that I couldn't invite you for a beer and take you to some of the many military museums we have.

like cz, good info, thanks

My Bren 805 S1 is still my favorite rifle. Favorite to shoot also. Shoots so smooth. It’s like shooting a 20 inch AR. Being an AK guy the reciprocating charging handle is normal to me. Same with having no bolt release. All pretty easy to do being left handed. I noticed the rifle was set up for a lefty. Charging handle and cheek piece. At least the second generation was.

I am no firearms expert, yet I am very impressed by my CZ Bren 2 in 7.62x39 mm in the 14.5” barrel. It does stovepipe casings though (about 1 or 2 per 100 rounds), which I suspect is due to the speed the bolt moves.

They may have never made different back straps for the grip, but the changeability and the redundant separation in the stock block, makes me think they had thought about the possibility of one piece, thumbhole stocks, possibly for a civilian market?

I love this brand and I love this firearm!

First time I saw these I fell in love

Thanks to Ian, i turned into a a fact machine on gun every time i play video games with friends. It s like we are playing Hunt Showdown and i see the LeMat and explain it was not created for normal bullets

Can’t wait for the 806/Bren 2 comparison, such an interesting background of Czech small arms

Ians Passport is starting to look like a International Cartel Weapons Runner

Finnally visiting Czech Republic? Enjoy your visit!

It is obviuosly heavly inspired on the G36 but they went from a 19,9 inch Barrel too a M4 length like barrel with 14,2 inch and added a 3 round burst fire Mode, i used the G36 during my basic military service, the first time i hold in in Hand i thought its a airsoft gun it consits of more than 80% of glass fibre reinforced platic but its still durable, the felt recoil is a bit more than a .22 long rifle, the low weight (8 lbs with empty mag) has a positive effect on long marches, and the cool Thing is the light-gathering snail so you can use the reddot in daylight without batterys, the Dot covered 9,8 inches of the target at 109 yards, inside buildings you had to close the flap on top of the reddot always so that the Red point could not be seen.

Gun looks really interesting, I gotta Czech this out

Theres an interesting feature, spring is pushing the piston back, so it is in contact with the carrier. On vz58 it was reversed, spring pushed the piston forward, and on full auto sometimes carrier was not in contact with the piston and piston hits it. I wonder if it was actually a problem after some years of full auto.

I’ve taken my bolt carrier group apart so many times, it seems like a place where you could potentially get a lot of dirt so it is kind of odd other than the fact that it’s very common for any government to believe that soldiers are idiots and you definitely don’t wanna lose any of those parts. I think if the weapon was a pound and a half lighter and better balanced but it would be in the form that we saw it in this video quite ideal.

fantastic

Actually for the grip backstrap, a larger one was offered. I bought one from Numrich. It makes the grip feel so awesome. I also prefer the Gen 1 mag release. I know it's not M4 style, but with the design of the Gen 2 button, if you sling it over your shoulder and go for a hike, it will repeatedly drop the mag in the mud. This mostly happens when going downhill, when the weight of the gun works against the button. Once switching it over to the G36 style mag, problem solved.

An excellent, if often overlooked service arm

I shot a longer barrel 805 with a sekletonized stock. The first rifle i ever shot. I will always love this gun

Awesome.

when i saw this thing for the first time i thought to myself, its improved G36 ....and even after those years i still stand behind this opinion - those non captive bolts and two holes in stock for their "storage" during field stripping - typical HK thingy, and obviously G36 compatible mag.... but despite it is heavy ( more so badly balanced), those rails worked as saw and destroyed any piece of equipment it came in contact with ( included especially your own fingers!) and few things more ( but not reciprocating charging handle - we were switching from VZ 58, so no big deal), it was pinpoint accurate, eats almost anything you feed it with and best of all, it leads to Bren 2 :D, which is for me finished version of this thing, Bren 805 was just working unfinished development stage....

I am a total 🇨🇿 gun fan.... the Vz58 was a rifle ahead of its time in many features. The 805 is a damn nice rifle. Played with an early issued model during some NATO exercise, they were actually conducting part of their final field trials. Very well made rifle. Those heavy red dots, you could pound a tent stake in with one, and not lose zero lol.

Great video looking forward for mk2 👍

THANK YOU! it’s so great to see why a gun exists

Living the CZ life !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

This was my fave on GR wildlands

Ian has an awesome life. Invites to armories, museums, and arsenals to view guns

I love czech made weapons, i carry a 75 everyday, I really want an bren 2 but money has been tight the last few years and it's an expensive rifle

Just like with the Galil ACE, I like the aesthetics of this gun way more than the more modern one that's imported now.

It's awesome CZ invited you! BTW grab a few bottles of Becherovka on your way out, it's divine!

Love the 805!

Very cool.

Id love to see a video on the Polish MSBS

I was wondering when I'd see one of these on your channel! I have one of their semi auto rifle (S1) carbines, i have to say my biggest issue with mine is the charging handle position. It's just high enough to be a guaranteed knuckle buster unless you get slick- sided optics mounts. It is by far the smoothest action in a semi auto ive ever felt though.

Awesome video. I am hungry for more! Also wellcome to Czechia. :D

You had an invite…very cool.

Love the original Bren. Wish I had picked one up. Own a bren 2, which in some ways is probably better but I still like that 805

Nice design. Easy to disassemble.

805 on my bucket list.

Looking forward to your breakdown of the Bren 2. Maybe you’ll ruffle some feathers & you or your loyal fans will help build a fire to have CZ handle the issues some people are having with the 7.62x39 variant with it. Pretty sure GIGN own a few of that particular gun, so… I think you’d appreciate that. Good stuff fella!

Not a commentary on function or quality, as I have found it's unwise to second guess the Czechs on either. But purely a matter of aesthetics. It looks like what a moderately talented B-list game developer would model for your near-future science fiction military shooter video game if you told him "Our game needs a generic assault rifle, but please don't base it on anything immediately recognizable, I don't want an AR or an AK to cause copyright issues. And also, we need it by tonight."

I've always wanted to see one of theese