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Originally Posted By mk4dubbin: Garand daddy on the Bren 2 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vHnygnwFp38 View Quote Good video. I’ve wanted some sort of unique piston rifle for a while, I think I’ve narrowed it down to the XCR or Bren 2 (the B&T is too expensive). The HBI handguard looks way better than the OEM handguard. If I were to get a Bren 2, I’d have a tough time deciding between 11 inch or 14 inch barrel. Out of curiosity, do any Bren 2 owners here have experience with the XCR as well? The XCR is a bit more expensive, but after the aftermarket stuff I would put on the Bren 2, it would probably be a wash. |
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I'm really shining up to this one. Just need it in 300BO and I'm all in. Any news on other cal options?
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Slow is smooth, smooth is fast.
All your base are belong to us® |
Originally Posted By AZgunner: ... Out of curiosity, do any Bren 2 owners here have experience with the XCR as well? The XCR is a bit more expensive, but after the aftermarket stuff I would put on the Bren 2, it would probably be a wash. View Quote View All Quotes View All Quotes Originally Posted By AZgunner: Originally Posted By mk4dubbin: Garand daddy on the Bren 2 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vHnygnwFp38 ... Out of curiosity, do any Bren 2 owners here have experience with the XCR as well? The XCR is a bit more expensive, but after the aftermarket stuff I would put on the Bren 2, it would probably be a wash. I have both. The XCR is a far better gun. No mods required. With that said, the Bren is still a pretty good gun for the money. |
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> Have gun, will travel <
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Will an aimpoint micro T-2 with 39mm spacer and standard mount co-witness with the BUIS?
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Originally Posted By Johnny_Longslide: I have both. The XCR is a far better gun. No mods required. With that said, the Bren is still a pretty good gun for the money. View Quote I appreciate the response, that probably pretty well settles it. I’d be changing a couple things about the Bren which would basically put it at the XCR price point. I’ll probably stick with my previous plan and get an XCR. |
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Originally Posted By Johnny_Longslide: I have both. The XCR is a far better gun. No mods required. With that said, the Bren is still a pretty good gun for the money. View Quote Out of curiosity, what makes you consider it a far better gun? Is it the accuracy, recoil impulse, reliability, overall ergonomics, etc? I appreciate the feedback, as these two rifles have been high on my list. For the XCR, I’m tempted to go with the 12” mid length, for the CZ Bren 2 it’s a tough choice between 11” or 14”. @Johnny_Longslide |
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Originally Posted By Johnny_Longslide: @AZgunner Pros:
Now again, the Bren is good too. I really like it. It shoots good, looks good, light, semi accurate etc The gun you get is really going to be dependent on what you want, what you're looking for out of it and how much you want to spend... Diminishing returns and all... IF I had to grab one, either would work for me. Honestly you cant go wrong with either. GET BOTH !!! View Quote I really appreciate the write up! Thanks! Man, it is going to be a tough decision. |
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> Have gun, will travel <
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Anyone tried the Neoteric Designs PDW style Stock for the Bren 2 yet? Not much out there as far as reviews but they are available for sale and July4th10 gets 10% off all their stuff today.
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I have a Bren 2 Carbine and XCR heavy 16”.
Most differences have already been covered above. My biggest complaint is the XCR being noticeably heavier than the Bren for a similar barrel length and profile. That polymer lower has significant impact on weight on the Bren. The XCR is overgassed on any setting over 3 on my example. 2 will occasionally not lock back on the last round, 3 is the sweet spot. I have not run it suppressed yet, but expect 2 to be adequate. The XCR stock is thin for me, but strong enough to butt stroke a tiger. The Bren stock wobble kit works and it is a comfortable stock to use. Recoil impulse is similar for both, although the XCR can get sharp for a 5.56 rifle if you open the gas to higher settings. Keep it low and it is a little bit lighter than the Bren, probably due to the weight. I don’t notice a lot of difference between the two settings on the Bren, but only compared the two settings sparingly. The Bren HATES Winchester white box M193. 4-5 inch groups. That ammo will shoot 2-3 in the XCR and an LMT MRP. They each like their own match ammo and can approach 1 inch with their particular favorite. I forget what they like, don’t have it on me. They both liked Prvi 69 gr well enough at 1.25-1.75 inches, but shot their best groupings with different ammo. The ambi charge handle on the Bren is nice if you want to sling the rifle on your back, and run it on the right side like an AK. That’s not an option on the XCR, and the charging knob isn’t as comfortable poking in your back. Otherwise the ergonomics are comparable, and very good. The HB trigger on the Bren is a must and makes a good trigger. No upgrade option for the XCR, but it’s good as well. Neither are Geissele quality, but nice enough, crisp carrot break. Build quality is excellent for both, but the XCR gets the nod. I like them both. |
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No, my name has nothing to do with enemas.
MO, USA
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Good timing on the XCR comparisons. I was about to pull the trigger on a Bren 2, but I already have a latest gen XCR-L and I think I'll just stick with that.
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AK building addict in recovery.
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My two cents. I have both. The XCR is a good niche rifle from a niche American company that was innovative back when it came out. My Bren2 MS feels lighter and better balanced. Bren parts are available from a variety of sources, on and off-shore, with a surprising level of after market support (e.g. HBI). Accuracy for both of my rifles is approximately the same (2-3 MoA) Both are reliable. In fact, I've never had a malfunction from either. CZ is a much older, much larger multi-national company with .mil contracts in Europe and a larger US presence following the Colt acquisition. The XCR downside is tiny Robinsion Arms. RA has improved over the years; however RA CS went from marginal to average, at best. I'm comparing their CS to my long term interactions with the majors - Colt, HK, Beretta, FN - Browning, IWI, Smith, etc. Extended order cycle times, slow inquiry responsiveness, and an aura of ambivalence characterize my RA interactions over a long time period. (I won't bring up the RA 96 abandonment). If you want a very good, interesting, albeit niche rifle from a company with questionable long term product support and business longevity, the XCR is the way to go. If you want a rifle that's modernized across the board from a company with unquestioned longevity, the Bren2 MS would be my choice. However, would I grab either when running out the door? (not sure why I'm running) No. I would grab my GWOT era Colt 6920 or my DI LMT Mk 18 clone, or even one of my PWS long stroke ARs or my short stroke LWRC. That said, I haven't sold my XCR, and I never will.
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The only malf I had in the XCR was within the first 100 rounds with the gas at 2. FTF IIRC. Hasn't happened since. None for the Bren, ever. Probably have 500 rounds through each of them, and they both run like a sewing machine.
XCR tosses brass like an AK, in a low earth orbit, especially at higher gas settings. Bren 2 piles it like a well tuned AR, no deflector dents. Both are piston clean brass, not sure how dirty when suppressed. Side note: My rifle shuts off gas at setting 1, not zero, so 2 is the lowest functional gas setting. I think the dial is off by one notch?? Not sure, but don't care. It runs and the actual number isn't important to me, so long as it's repeatable and readable. |
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Originally Posted By AZgunner: Good video. I’ve wanted some sort of unique piston rifle for a while, I think I’ve narrowed it down to the XCR or Bren 2 (the B&T is too expensive). The HBI handguard looks way better than the OEM handguard. If I were to get a Bren 2, I’d have a tough time deciding between 11 inch or 14 inch barrel. Out of curiosity, do any Bren 2 owners here have experience with the XCR as well? The XCR is a bit more expensive, but after the aftermarket stuff I would put on the Bren 2, it would probably be a wash. View Quote I have both x39 and 5.56 Bren 2’s, as well as an XCR-L. Contra Johnny’s opinion, I wouldn’t say the XCR is hands down the better gun. I like both rifles for different reasons. XCR: -Takedown and upper/lower interface familiar for an AR user -uses AR grips -very few upgrades necessary, if any -monolithic upper receiver -extremely reliable/robust -parts availability (though it may take some time) Bren 2: -significantly lighter than the XCR -more developed aftermarket -extremely reliable, if perhaps less robust feeling due to poly lower (I did swap back to the poly lower after trying the HAGA aluminum lower — I trust the poly tbh) -greater modularity than the XCR due to handguard system -combat proven, adopted by national mils, LEO, etc The 5.56 Bren is my go to rifle. Zero reliability issues with it over 5,000 rounds or so. Relatively light, even with all the crap I’ve thrown on it. Excellent trigger, and while I prefer the XCR’s gas system, the gas plug I’ve got in it now is perfectly adapted for what I shoot. Both rifles are excellent weapons and you really can’t go wrong with either, but the Bren gets my nod as a GPR type gun because it’s noticeably lighter. |
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So, I just weighed my XCR and my Bren 2Ms - Both are 11" barrels and setup identical, with empty metal mag, just like my picture above
Both came to 8.26lbs. - ** EDIT - XCR came to 8.62lbs I also weighed my Spear LT for sh!ts and giggles: 11.5" barrel, empty metal mag, same optic and light setup -- 8.26lbs Of course the weights will vary depending on your configuration. Perceived weight... The XCR "feels" heavier, kinda like the Sig Virtus - Due to the monolithic upper / Metal stock perhaps The Bren "feels" lighter, at least on mine, due to the shorter handguard and thinner barrel The Spear LT - Thinner receiver and lighter handguard But they all balance quite nicely to me. So a win for ergos on all |
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> Have gun, will travel <
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Originally Posted By Johnny_Longslide: So, I just weighed my XCR and my Bren 2Ms - Both are 11" barrels and setup identical, with empty metal mag, just like my picture above Both came to 8.2lbs. I also weighed my Spear LT for sh!ts and giggles: 11.5" barrel, empty metal mag, same optic and light setup -- 8.2lbs Of course the weights will vary depending on your configuration. Perceived weight... The XCR "feels" heavier, kinda like the Sig Virtus - Due to the monolithic upper / Metal stock perhaps The Bren "feels" lighter, at least on mine, due to the shorter handguard and thinner barrel The Spear LT - Thinner receiver and lighter handguard But they all balance quite nicely to me. So a win for ergos on all View Quote What kind of scale did you use, by chance? I’m really surprised to hear that all three weigh the exact same. |
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The Bren 2 MS is not combat proven.
The Bren 2 is. We also have no data regarding broken rifles, parts etc. I wish people would stop harping on this as though its a selling point. The original M16 was "combat proven" and it was a hunk of junk that required iterative changes until we "got it right". |
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Mike_Golf says: "You're not an ethical hunter and likely an asshole to boot."
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> Have gun, will travel <
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Originally Posted By Magsz18: The Bren 2 MS is not combat proven. The Bren 2 is. View Quote View All Quotes View All Quotes To be fair the same could be said for 90% of the guns on the civilian market.. ARX, Galil ACE, etc Originally Posted By Magsz18: We also have no data regarding broken rifles, parts etc. I wish people would stop harping on this as though its a selling point. The original M16 was "combat proven" and it was a hunk of junk that required iterative changes until we "got it right". BTW As soon as we’ll notice small changes on the Bren2MS we’ll know what have been improved based on the current combat experience. In 2023 with all social media available we should find out things quicker than in the 60’s. If nothing catastrophic about the Bren have been published yet I guess it’s a good sign. |
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Originally Posted By Johnny_Longslide: Fancy bathroom type scale - 1.6 oz accuracy View Quote High end scales will usually give margin of error range for a given weight range (eg <.5lb from 0-100lb). Bathroom scale probably not the best tool for measuring weights under 20lbs (or even under 50lbs honestly). You could absolutely be right, but maybe I’ll try to get my hands on a post scale for a second reading. My XCR-L is a standard length receiver, and my 5.56 Bren is a 14” for the record. I’ve been curious about the XCR’s weight in particular as getting numbers from the internet on that platform is difficult. |
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Originally Posted By grinning: High end scales will usually give margin of error range for a given weight range (eg <.5lb from 0-100lb). Bathroom scale probably not the best tool for measuring weights under 20lbs (or even under 50lbs honestly). You could absolutely be right, but maybe I'll try to get my hands on a post scale for a second reading. My XCR-L is a standard length receiver, and my 5.56 Bren is a 14" for the record. I've been curious about the XCR's weight in particular as getting numbers from the internet on that platform is difficult. View Quote Went back and reweighed: Accutek Postal Scale Bren 2ms = 8-4.2oz (8.263lbs) Sig Spear LT = 8-4.5oz (8.281lbs) XCR = 8-11.6oz (8.725lbs) In my haste, I might've wrote it wrong originally. |
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> Have gun, will travel <
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Originally Posted By stevelish: Get the Bren. You will then have 2 SCAR killers. View Quote View All Quotes View All Quotes Originally Posted By stevelish: Originally Posted By AEnemaBay: Good timing on the XCR comparisons. I was about to pull the trigger on a Bren 2, but I already have a latest gen XCR-L and I think I'll just stick with that. Get the Bren. You will then have 2 SCAR killers. Lol. |
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I appreciate all the opinions and comparison. It’s a tough call for me, I like the look of both rifles and they both get a lot of good feedback from those who own them.
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so is this thing actually discontinued for the USA market or not?
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I want one of these so bad. Hard to find here in Calistan.
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Edit: already addressed
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Finally decided to pull the trigger on a Bren 2. Does the HB Industries 10.8 handguard work on the 11.14" version of the rifle?
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" We sleep safe in our beds because rough men stand ready in the night to visit violence on those who would do us harm. " -George Orwell
Celer, Silens, Mortalitas "Swift, Silent, Deadly" |
Originally Posted By Blackwind: Finally decided to pull the trigger on a Bren 2. Does the HB Industries 10.8 handguard work on the 11.14" version of the rifle? View Quote Yes. |
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> Have gun, will travel <
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Looking at a Bren 2 in my commie state. Does it take metal AR15 mags? I believe the answer is yes and CZ shows the metal Mag, just confirming
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Thank you Sir
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Been awhile since I’ve poked in here - did CZ ever fix the issues with the x39’s being suppressed? A 9” 7.62 gun tickles my pickle.
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I was playing dress up today just playing around and did a "what if?" I was thinking Automatic Rifleman role. Kind of a RPK. Pics are with 40 and 60 round mags. I am not keeping it in this configuration.
Attached File Attached File |
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Originally Posted By Johnny_Longslide: Perceived weight... The XCR "feels" heavier, kinda like the Sig Virtus - Due to the monolithic upper / Metal stock perhaps The Bren "feels" lighter, at least on mine, due to the shorter handguard and thinner barrel View Quote After running a carbine class in the Florida heat recently (that kicked my ass), this ‘perceived weight’ parameter went to the top of my list in evaluating guns (assuming reasonable accuracy and reliability). On that front, it’s the legacy MCX at the top of the heap and the Bren far ahead of my XCR. |
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Couple of quick questions. I’m looking at 7.62x39 Bren mags and notice two variants available.
Is there a significant difference between the black with window and the clear version of Bren magazine? Where is the cheapest place to buy them? I found some for ~25/magazine + shipping. Thank you |
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Originally Posted By rdb2403: Couple of quick questions. I’m looking at 7.62x39 Bren mags and notice two variants available. Is there a significant difference between the black with window and the clear version of Bren magazine? Where is the cheapest place to buy them? I found some for ~25/magazine + shipping. Thank you View Quote Based on their cz scorpion mags and the feed lip separation on their clear ones I’ve stuck with the black windowed version and haven’t had any problems. I think they are the safer bet |
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Wow, the 16” rifles have really dried up. I can only find a few used ones and the asking price is $2500-2900. And in this economy where the gun market is REALLY slowing down.
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If you think you’ve got problems now, just wait until you see the solution.
Just say “Chi-nope.” |
Originally Posted By SlimBlundt: Wow, the 16” rifles have really dried up. I can only find a few used ones and the asking price is $2500-2900. And in this economy where the gun market is REALLY slowing down. View Quote The live footage of Ukrainians using them in combat increased their desirability for some strange reason. |
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Originally Posted By stevelish: The live footage of Ukrainians using them in combat increased their desirability for some strange reason. View Quote Maintenance video Failed To Load Title |
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All of us want to be Hicks, but most of us are Hudson.
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Originally Posted By rdb2403: Couple of quick questions. I’m looking at 7.62x39 Bren mags and notice two variants available. Is there a significant difference between the black with window and the clear version of Bren magazine? Where is the cheapest place to buy them? I found some for ~25/magazine + shipping. Thank you View Quote I broke every clear mag I had back when I had my 7.62X39 Brens. The black mags seemed to hold up fairly well. |
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Mike_Golf says: "You're not an ethical hunter and likely an asshole to boot."
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