Should I just give up on a 7.62 Bren?

[Lakeshore Rifleman]

I've wanted a Bren 2 for a long time, though I've gone back and forth about buying one.

Now, I've decided to buy a Bren 2 in 7.62x39, either 11" or 14", and they seem to no longer exist. They're out of stock on every website, and I've been watching Gunbroker for a month, checking multiple times per day, and there are just ZERO 7.62x39s for sale. Tons and tons of 5.56, but no 7.62x39. Same for GunsAmerica and GunAuction.

There was a 14-inch 7.62x39 on Armslist, which even had the bayonet lug on it, and the private seller said he was willing to ship it from his FFL to mine since we're a thousand miles apart -- but he wanted payment by Zelle and I got cold feet, after agonizing over it considerably. If it had been PayPal, I might have gone for it, since they offer some kind of buyer protection, but Zelle -- yeah.

So, do you chaps think should I just give up and get a 5.56 even though I already have AR-15s, and really want the 7.62 version?

Is waiting for the 7.62x39 version to show up for sale somewhere a complete fool's errand, and I'm just wasting my time?

In short, is the 7.62 Bren 2 a dead item that won't be seen again?

[alp3367]

 They were taking off the authorized dealer price list this year as they focus on the 5.56. Though I wouldn't be surprised to see the 7.62 return later this year or next.

 Also, please be aware that paypal will provide you zero protection on gun related stuff as they specifically prohibit it.

[Fuzzy Sights]

Some things take time.  I would never give up.  Put the funds aside if you can and wait your opportunity.  Got my Winchester 1886 in 40-65 Win that way.  Took three years and that was before election and COVID.  Now I can't find brass...

JW

[czkyle1776]

They were taking off the authorized dealer price list this year as they focus on the 5.56. Though I wouldn't be surprised to see the 7.62 return later this year or next.

 Also, please be aware that paypal will provide you zero protection on gun related stuff as they specifically prohibit it.

Really?!? So... Is this cz engineers basically ceding that it is not a simple fix of a gas port size or springs? Because if it was something of that nature, guns should be able to have these parts swapped out and shipped. That's what I'm worried about. Something is critically wrong with the 7.62 guns that is going to require a complete change of receiver or carrier dimensions. Disappointed to hear they've been pulled from distributors as this indicates a much bigger issue....

[MeatAxe]

They were taking off the authorized dealer price list this year as they focus on the 5.56. Though I wouldn't be surprised to see the 7.62 return later this year or next.

 Also, please be aware that paypal will provide you zero protection on gun related stuff as they specifically prohibit it.

Really?!? So... Is this cz engineers basically ceding that it is not a simple fix of a gas port size or springs? Because if it was something of that nature, guns should be able to have these parts swapped out and shipped. That's what I'm worried about. Something is critically wrong with the 7.62 guns that is going to require a complete change of receiver or carrier dimensions. Disappointed to hear they've been pulled from distributors as this indicates a much bigger issue....

I think CZ is probably primarily focused on fulfilling military contracts for the Bren 2 and selling as many Ms versions in the US as they can ahead of an AWB. As far as qc and fixing the FTE issue on the Ms, it’s probably not a priority right now, as long as they’re still flying off the shelves. However, if they’ve pulled the x39 Brens from distribution, that may be a sign the CZ is finally addressing the FTE issue after a lot of bad publicity.

I haven’t had any trouble at all with my 11” 2Ms x39, aside from not having any spare parts on reserve, though some spare parts seem to be trickling in to CZ USA recently. Not all of the US x39 Bren 2s are having trouble, though it seems that way when problems are amplified on the internet - probably just qc issues on a minority of individual guns. We aren’t hearing of any such issues with the military full auto versions.

People seem to be fixing their overgassing / FTE issues by drilling a smaller gas port in position 3 on the gas plug. Hbi provides the service for @ $60, which seems to work,so I’d try that before giving up the ghost and sending guns back to CZ USA, where they’ve remained in limbo for months, years.

[Aries144]

Plenty of people have addressed the issue by simply using a smaller gas port. All the symptoms are consistent with an overgassed firearm. The solution is pretty clear at this point.

I think this has more to do with CZUSA wanting a factory solution. They want CZ Brno to supply the fix.

I say if you have a 7.62x39 Bren 2, talk to a gunsmith about reducing the port size. I'm going to see what a gunsmith says about having the primary port welded over and re-drilled smaller. That way I retain the originally intended function and I can have the 3rd port location drilled out later for a suppressed setting if I choose.

[Lakeshore Rifleman]

Yes, I was going to go the HBI gas port route.

But, since the 7.62 appears to be extinct -- I can't believe nobody is even selling old stock once in a while on Gunbroker, it's literally easier to find listings for an obscure transferable WW2 submachine gun than a Bren 2 in 7.62  -- I probably won't need to worry about that.

[armoredman]

Last word I heard was CZ stating that the problem is more complex than thought before. I know the frustration - I traded my 7.62x39mm version for 5.56mm version, reluctantly, because when it worked it was an absolute tack driver for me, loved it. However, the 5.56mm version is also a HUGE amount of fun.

[czkyle1776]

Last word I heard was CZ stating that the problem is more complex than thought before. I know the frustration - I traded my 7.62x39mm version for 5.56mm version, reluctantly, because when it worked it was an absolute tack driver for me, loved it. However, the 5.56mm version is also a HUGE amount of fun.

Interesting. Are you able to share more details on this information? I figured as much. Otherwise, they'd have released a fix already. The whole system probably needs to be reworked...shame...

[MeatAxe]

Last word I heard was CZ stating that the problem is more complex than thought before. I know the frustration - I traded my 7.62x39mm version for 5.56mm version, reluctantly, because when it worked it was an absolute tack driver for me, loved it. However, the 5.56mm version is also a HUGE amount of fun.

Interesting. Are you able to share more details on this information? I figured as much. Otherwise, they'd have released a fix already. The whole system probably needs to be reworked...shame...

To keep things in perspective, out of the thousands of Bren 2s in x39 sold in the US and internationally under military contracts, as you traverse the various gun forums on the interwebs, it’s the same half dozen or so people posting with legit fte problems. They seem to be all semi-auto, mainly the 2Ms. Not hearing of any problems with the full-auto military guns, though they apparently have a different (heavier?) bolt carrier.

That said, CZ was pretty fricking stupid to let this problem and web-amplified bad publicity go on for so long without fixing the malfunctioning guns or even supplying spare parts for all their customers.

[alp3367]

That said, CZ was pretty fricking stupid to let this problem and web-amplified bad publicity go on for so long without fixing the malfunctioning guns or even supplying spare parts for all their customers.

 I've got a fair amount of sympathy for the situation. I recall a public post months ago where they talked about how they were trying to get people that had problems to send their guns in and it was very few, like 2 or 3. When you've sold thousands of the things and only have a weird hard to diagnose problem with a small amount and can't get your hands on many of the problem guns it's hard to fix. But hopefully it's resolved soon.

 As far as the parts go I believe they've got plenty for warrenty work. Just not enough to sell seperately.

[America_First]

It's not just a handful of firearms, CZ received multiple examples.  There are multiple issues to address, but primarily,  cleaning the ejector spring assembly and channel of debris.  Secondly, performing the HBI upgrades (spring and port drilling service) which should dramatically increase parts longevity. 

CZ-UB will eventually make it right, remember, when Zack from CZ-USA originally requested us to send our firearms in, it was at the height of political unrest.  This FTE issue not only affected US imports, but also European Bren 2Ms's as well.  Those guys were also experiencing FTE issues.  Personally I think it's a simple fix, outlining everything above for most owners, but I would like CZ-UB to really do good work and make this platform completely bulletproof in terms of reliability with OEM components (likely a new bolt / spring kit / gas regulator assembly)

[armoredman]

Last word I heard was CZ stating that the problem is more complex than thought before. I know the frustration - I traded my 7.62x39mm version for 5.56mm version, reluctantly, because when it worked it was an absolute tack driver for me, loved it. However, the 5.56mm version is also a HUGE amount of fun.

Interesting. Are you able to share more details on this information? I figured as much. Otherwise, they'd have released a fix already. The whole system probably needs to be reworked...shame...

Not really, and not from confidence - I really don't know anything more. I hope they get it ironed out, because I loved that firearm.

To keep things in perspective, out of the thousands of Bren 2s in x39 sold in the US and internationally under military contracts, as you traverse the various gun forums on the interwebs, it’s the same half dozen or so people posting with legit fte problems. They seem to be all semi-auto, mainly the 2Ms. Not hearing of any problems with the full-auto military guns, though they apparently have a different (heavier?) bolt carrier.

That said, CZ was pretty fricking stupid to let this problem and web-amplified bad publicity go on for so long without fixing the malfunctioning guns or even supplying spare parts for all their customers.