GIGN ditches HK416 for CZ Bren 2 in 7.62x39!

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GIGN ditches HK416 5.56x45 for CZ Bren 2 7.62x39

SOFINS: French GIGN gets new rifle

30th March 2017 - 10:38 by Erwan de Cherisey in Souge, France

SOFINS: French GIGN gets new rifle

The French National Gendarmerie Intervention Group (GIGN) has ordered a new standard issue weapon.

It has selected the Bren 2 assault rifle from Czech company CZ. The company told Shephard at the SOFINS exhibition that the GIGN has selected the 7.62 x 39 mm version of the rifle and placed an initial order for 68 units earlier in 2017.

Additional procurements are slated to take place in the near future with the aim of replacing the majority of the H&K 416s currently in service.

The decision to adopt the Bren 2 was the result of a process that began in 2015 after the Paris attacks in January that year. Faced with terrorists equipped with bullet-proof vests, French gendarmerie and police intervention units found that 9 mm weapons had little efficiency in such situations and that 5.56 mm ammo lacked the necessary stopping power.

The CZ spokesperson said that the GIGN identified a need for a new weapon able to fire a heavier bullet. The 7.62 x 51 mm calibre had the suitable characteristics but the weapons for this calibre were considered too heavy and bulky for efficient close-quarter combat.

Thus, GIGN decided to evaluate assault rifles chambered in the 7.62 x 39 mm calibre instead and undertook trials throughout 2015 with a variety of weapons.

CZ's offering was only proposed in the latter stages of the evaluation program. Throughout the better part of 2016, the rifle was intensively tested in a variety of situations and was found to be the most reliable and efficient weapon within the panel of rifles tried by the GIGN.

The CZ Bren 2 was developed from the CZ 805 Bren S1 to take part in the French Army Future Infantry Weapon (AIF) programme (which saw the selection of the H&K 416). However CZ was unable to participate in the process as it came in too late. Development on the Bren 2 continued nevertheless and the weapon has now been selected in its 5.56 mm version by the Czech military which will use it as its standard rifle instead of the original CZ 805.

The Bren 2 7.62 x 39 mm version selected by the GIGN is a compact assault rifle with a nine inch barrel. It comprises a handguard with Picatinny rails which allows for the fitting of a variety of accessories and aiming aides as well as collapsible telescopic stock.

The GIGN has requested some modifications for its own rifles which comprise a new flash hider designed to be fitted with a sound suppressor. Some of the rifles procured by the GIGN also include a modified gas regulation system allowing for subsonic shooting. The weapon is fully ambidextrous and despite its short barrel, retains its full precision at a range of 400m as confirmed during the GIGN trials.

CZ is now pitching its P-10 pistol to the GIGN. The company has also offered its Bren 2 7.62 x 39 mm rifle to the French Special Operations Command (COS), arguing that equipping Special Forces with such a rifle would allow for easier interoperability in the field with local forces in Africa or the Middle East however it has not managed to generate the expected interest so far.

https://www.shephardmedia.com/news/special-operations/sofins-french-gign-gets-new-rifle/

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Interesting choice to say the least...
 
Very interesting decision. Surprised to see a NATO (albeit GIGN is LE) unit adopt 7.62x39 for a standard issue rifle. I wonder if any consideration was made to an AR platform in 300 Blackout? Ballistically similar AFAIK, but with a similar manual of arms to the HK416.
 
Surprised to see a NATO (albeit GIGN is LE) unit adopt 7.62x39 for a standard issue rifle.

Need to remember this is not your father's NATO: they already have a boat-load of 7.62x39 in use by member states such as Poland, Czech Republic, Hungary, etc.

Surprised they would do this; we train pelvic/head shots when armor is encountered.
 
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Very interesting decision. Surprised to see a NATO (albeit GIGN is LE) unit adopt 7.62x39 for a standard issue rifle. I wonder if any consideration was made to an AR platform in 300 Blackout? Ballistically similar AFAIK, but with a similar manual of arms to the HK416.

Every once in a while you'll even see a pic of a GIGN operator with an AK, Galil, or even a Saiga 12.
 
What's that huge ring handle looking thing up front near the muzzle?

Its wall hanger.

Anyways I wonder what they'll be feeding them with?

Other than Lapua ball and a few American premium-ish JHPs like the Winchester PDX1, there's not a lot of good Western sourced duty ammo available that I'm aware of.
 
Its wall hanger.

Anyways I wonder what they'll be feeding them with?

Other than Lapua ball and a few American premium-ish JHPs like the Winchester PDX1, there's not a lot of good Western sourced duty ammo available that I'm aware of.

they will just raid the russian mafia expat villas on the cote d'azure, plenty of 762x39 there...
 
Its wall hanger.

Anyways I wonder what they'll be feeding them with?

Other than Lapua ball and a few American premium-ish JHPs like the Winchester PDX1, there's not a lot of good Western sourced duty ammo available that I'm aware of.

It does make you wonder if they considered any other ammunition for the 5.56mm rifles? A slightly wider entry hole doesn't always mean a more dead target. It's what happens to the bullet inside the target that matters.
 
It does make you wonder if they considered any other ammunition for the 5.56mm rifles? A slightly wider entry hole doesn't always mean a more dead target. It's what happens to the bullet inside the target that matters.

From my understanding of the article, they are more preoccupied with penetration of the ballistic vest/plate. Is 762x39 that much better at defeating armor?
 
Quite the opposite, to the best of my knowledge. I thought 7.62x39 was an odd choice given their apparent wish to defeat armor...

Yeah, there are quite a few questions that come out of this selection choice. I suspect "the grass is greener on the other side of the fence" may have been a major factor in the choice.
 
Typical 7.62x39 FMJ has great close range barrier penetration, and is known for being effective after it passes through said barriers.

Its not so great against plate armor though, short of dedicated AP ammo, but perhaps GIGN was more concerned about the above than defeating rifle plates?
 
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