The stock MS handguard is shit. It’s heavier than the original 1913 railed front end and the m-lok slots are so few and so poorly placed that they’re essentially useless, even for mounting rail covers to act as heat shielding. If you’re stuck with the stock MS pistol handguard, just use the 1913 rail on top and wrap the handguard with something heat resistant.
The HBI handguard is better, as it barely has enough m-lok slots to add enough rail covers to have heat protection for your hand. One problem is that anything, like a light or laser, mounted high on either side that projects forward of the handguard past the gas adjustment switch, can hinder access to the gas adjustment tab unless you can use a tool smaller than a 7.62x39 round. Another issue is that HBI chose to extend the top 1913 rail and cover up the takedown lever for the gas system, leaving only a small hole on top to push a tool through. Again, neither a 7.62x39 nor a 5.56x45 round are small enough to fit. In fact, the only thing I can think of small enough to fit that comes with the firearm would be the firing pin. That ‘feature’ takes the weapon a step backwards and reminds one uncomfortably of the lobotomized ‘hunting’ firearms that have plagued the market for 70 years and require tools or a gunsmith for takedown.
CZ’s new handguards for the MS, that are included with the 16" barrel carbine and their 922r kits to allow Bren 2 pistols the use of the Bren 2 factory folding stock, look to be the best option. They are very similar to the HBI handguards, but don’t extend quite as far forward and so don’t block the gas system.
I have the Original Bren 805. It’s cool but will never replace my AR’s. It’s bulkier, heavier, and ergos are not as good. After reading reviews I was looking forward to it’s trigger but have been disappointed. I call it a 4 stage trigger. Despite the fact that I have dry fired it thousands of times, cleaned it, and added grease it still has several “walls” before it finally lets off. I sure wish Geiselle made a trigger for it. All that said I still enjoy it and think it’s a great rifle. Maybe the Bren 2 is better.
There was someone on here that helped me when I had issued with my Sig 556R (version 2) suppressed. I warrantied an extra gas port and he drilled it out for another setting, normal, closed, suppressed. If anyone remembers doing this kind of work, probably will work for the Bren 2 if extra gas ports can be acquired.
https://hbindustries.net/store/shop/cz-bren-2-handguard-10-8-m-lok/ makes me look much harder at an 11" gun. The lack of a suppressor setting definitely gives me pause, though, as suppressed use will definitely be part of my plan. It’s this (since the HK433 will never happen) or an AR with a LAW, and I’m honestly quite conflicted.
For suppressed shooting RIGHT NOW, I would go with the AR. They’re easily tuneable and the package is quite svelte once its all said and done.
Down the road, once CZ pulls their heads out of their asses and actually makes the gun workable for the American market, the 5.56 Brens may be excellent suppressor hosts.
I’ve got an 11” 5.56 that for the moment wears a B&T APC style brace in an A3 tactical adapter. I wanted to run a few more rounds through it before a form 1 and buying add ons like the HBI rail. I’ve not had enough rounds to make a long term decision. But so far it’s the softest shooting 5.56 I own, very light weight, and the trigger is surprisingly good. I haven’t mounted a suppressor yet but it’s coming.
It may not turn out to be durable enough for the apocalypse. But doesn’t have to be either. It’s a really cool gun with a but of promise.
