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CZ 807
View on WikipediaIt has been suggested that this article be merged into CZ 805 BREN. (Discuss) Proposed since July 2025. |
The CZ 807 is a Czech modular dual-calibre assault rifle originally developed by Česká zbrojovka Uherský Brod for the Indian Armed Forces. The modular design of the rifle allows operators to quickly change the calibre to either 5.56×45mm or 7.62×39mm.[3]
Key Information
The CZ 807 was announced by the CZUB in 2013 at an event in Liberec.[4] However, in June 2015, the Indian tender was scrapped.[5]
Design details
[edit]The CZ 807 is based from the CZ 805 BREN and CZ BREN 2. The basic characteristics of the rifle are that it is a piston operated, gas-driven select-fire rifle of dual calibres. The ambidextrous charging handle is easy to change sides on. It has a modular design, with an aluminium alloy upper receiver and polymer lower receiver/fire control group. The bolt is a multi-lug type riding in a bolt carrier, locking into a barrel extension. The system is balanced well, and designed to meet the most rigorous requirements.
The materials used are fire-resistant, impact-resistant, and damage-resistant. The controls are accessible from both sides. Other characteristics include folding telescopic stock and interchangeable backstraps in three sizes.
Calibre conversion
[edit]Changing calibre of CZ 807 assault rifle is simple: the barrel assembly, bolt and firing pin, and the magazine are changed out in a field-safe operation at the unit level. The trigger group of the CZ 807 has a magazine well that is for the 7.62×39mm magazines. To convert to 5.56×45mm, the only item needed for the lower (trigger group) is the magazine well insert.
Variants
[edit]The CZ 807 is available in two calibres:
- 5.56×45mm NATO CZ 807 Assault Rifle [2]
- Barrel Length: 408mm
- Bore grooves: 6
- Rifling Twist: RH 178:1mm
- Length of rifle: 904mm (W stock extended), 857mm (W stock retracted), 692mm (W stock folded)
- Rate of Fire: 800 rounds per minute (approximate)
- Effective range: 450 metres
- Magazine capacity: 30 round
- Rifle weight (no mag): 3.41 kg
- 7.62×39mm CZ 807 Assault Rifle [2]
Users
[edit]
Egypt: Paratroopers and presidential guard.[6]
Ghana: Used by Ghana Police National Protection Unit (NPU) and Counter Terrorism Unit (CTU).
India: Used by Various State Police STF's.
Kenya:Used by Administration Police's Border Patrol Unit (BPU) and Security of Government Buildings (SGB). [7]
Ukraine: Used by Ukrainian military.[citation needed]
Potential users
[edit]
Pakistan: CZ 807 was one of the three finalists in the Pakistan Army competition to replace Heckler & Koch G3 and Type 56 rifles.[8] In November 2016, Ceska Zbrojovka and Pakistan Ordnance Factories signed a Letter of Understanding (LoU) to "intensively negotiate a delivery of complete technology for the production of small arms to Pakistan Ordnance Factories, POF. Mutual interest refers to gradual launching of production in Pakistan, ranging from light assembly to maximum localization of production. Within this cooperation, transfer of technology as well as technical support including technical training of the personnel for Pakistan Ordnance Factories is expected."[9][10][11] In March 2017, during a marketing demonstration to local law-enforcement agencies in Quetta, Balochistan, a Česká zbrojovka official stated that: "Recently we have signed a letter-of-understanding with POF, and we are ready to transfer, the full transfer (sic) of modern technology from CZ to Pakistan, to POF, so we can produce the most modern and most advanced assault rifles in the world at POF." CZ 807 assault rifles, Scorpion Evo 3 sub-machine guns, and P-series pistols were showcased at the event which was also attended by Pakistan Army officials.[12][13][11]
References
[edit]- ^ a b c d e f g h i "CZ 807 - CZ Assault Rifles - Products". czub.cz/en/. Archived from the original on 22 January 2017. Retrieved 26 January 2017.
- ^ a b c d Shea, Dan (5 February 2016). "TORTURE TESTS: THE CZ 807 AI". Small Arms Defense Journal. 7 (Features, V7N6): 18–29. Archived from the original on 30 December 2018. Retrieved 26 January 2017.
- ^ Shea, Dan. "Torture Tests: The CZ 807 AI". sadefensejournal.com. Archived from the original on 30 December 2018. Retrieved 30 December 2018.
- ^ Johnson, Steve (3 October 2013). "The New CZ807, Upgraded CZ805A2, Semi-Auto CZ805S1". thefirearmblog.com. Archived from the original on 29 November 2016. Retrieved 26 January 2017.
- ^ Raghuvanshi, Vivek (6 October 2016). "Indian Army in Global Hunt for Assault Rifles, Endangering Excalibur". Defense News. Retrieved 28 January 2017.
- ^ "Egypt vsadil na české pušky. Mají je elitní výsadkáři a dostane je také prezidentská garda, pomáhat budou i v boji s islamisty | Hospodářské noviny (IHNED.cz)". 8 February 2018. Archived from the original on 9 February 2018. Retrieved 31 May 2019.
- ^ https://twitter.com/HammerOfWar5/status/1606659934833221632 [bare URL]
- ^ Grohmann, Jan (4 December 2016). "Útočná puška CZ BREN 2: Nový přístup, nové myšlení". ARMÁDNÍ NOVINY. Archived from the original on 18 February 2017. Retrieved 26 January 2017.
- ^ V, Miles (9 December 2016). "Pakistani POF tentative plans to produce CZ 807". thefirearmblog.com. Archived from the original on 17 February 2017. Retrieved 26 January 2017.
- ^ "POF signs four LOUs with foreign firms". Radio Pakistan. 24 November 2016. Archived from the original on 18 February 2017. Retrieved 26 January 2017.
- ^ a b Jake [@Jakepor21] (22 October 2021). "Ghanaian police National Protection Unit (NPU) and Counter Terrorism Unit (CTU) carrying CZ BREN 2 rifles. https://t.co/THfo1PnFCK" (Tweet). Archived from the original on 11 January 2023. Retrieved 17 April 2023 – via Twitter.
- ^ "New Assault Rifles From Czech Republic For Pakistan". YouTube. Archived from the original on 10 April 2017. Retrieved 4 April 2017.
- ^ CZ BREN IN BALOCHISTAN. Syed Shehryar. 29 March 2017. Archived from the original on 9 April 2017. Retrieved 17 April 2023 – via YouTube.
External links
[edit]CZ 807
View on GrokipediaDevelopment
Origins and Initial Purpose
The CZ 807 assault rifle was developed by Česká zbrojovka Uherský Brod (CZUB) in the early 2010s primarily to meet the requirements of a large-scale tender issued by the Indian Armed Forces for over 65,000 new service rifles.[1] This initiative sought a modern, modular platform capable of firing both 5.56×45mm NATO and 7.62×39mm cartridges, emphasizing reliability, adaptability, and compatibility with existing ammunition stocks prevalent in the region.[6] The design evolved from earlier CZ models like the CZ 805 BREN, incorporating lessons from prior developments to create a dual-caliber system with enhanced modularity for various operational environments.[7] Publicly announced by CZUB in 2013 during an industry event, the CZ 807 was positioned as the culmination of the company's first-generation modern assault rifles, focusing on gas-operated mechanisms and interchangeable barrels to facilitate caliber switches without extensive reconfiguration.[7] Its initial purpose centered on providing Indian forces with a versatile weapon for counter-insurgency and conventional warfare, where the ability to utilize cost-effective 7.62×39mm rounds alongside NATO-standard ammunition addressed logistical and tactical needs.[1] Although the Indian tender was ultimately canceled in June 2015 due to procedural issues, the rifle's foundational design retained this export-oriented focus, enabling subsequent evaluations in other markets.[8] The development prioritized durability and ease of maintenance, with testing protocols influenced by the demanding environmental conditions specified in the Indian procurement, such as extreme heat, dust, and humidity.[1] This resulted in a platform intended for elite and standard infantry units, balancing weight, accuracy, and firepower to supplant aging INSAS rifles in service.[9]Design Influences and Evolution
The CZ 807 assault rifle evolved directly from the CZ 805 BREN platform developed by Česká zbrojovka Uherský Brod, retaining core elements such as the short-stroke gas piston operating system, modular rail interfaces, and ambidextrous controls while prioritizing export-oriented adaptability.[1] This lineage stemmed from CZ's post-1990s efforts to modernize Czech military rifles, incorporating lightweight polymer lowers and aluminum uppers for enhanced durability and reduced weight compared to earlier steel-heavy designs.[1] Initial development focused on meeting the Indian Armed Forces' 2010s tender for over 65,000 multi-caliber rifles, announced publicly in October 2013 as a BREN-derived carbine convertible between 5.56×45mm NATO and 7.62×39mm via barrel, bolt, and magazine swaps.[7][1] Influences included the practical need to bridge NATO and Warsaw Pact ammunition standards, enabling seamless integration into forces retaining Soviet-era stockpiles while adopting Western calibers, with trials emphasizing 16-inch barrels for Indian specifications and robustness in tropical environments.[1] By 2016, the design hybridized further with the emerging Bren 2, simplifying components for cost efficiency—such as non-user-convertible caliber setups in some variants—to compete for large-scale replacements of AK-pattern rifles in markets like India and Pakistan.[3] This iteration emphasized field reliability through proven gas-driven mechanics over the 805's more complex modularity, though it retained dual-caliber potential and underwent rigorous testing, including New Zealand evaluations of 14- and 16-inch configurations.[1][3] The model's evolution concluded with its removal from CZ catalogs around 2021, supplanted by refined successors like the Bren 2 that addressed production scalability and advanced ergonomics, yet its emphasis on economical modularity informed CZ's broader assault rifle strategy.[3]Design and Features
Operating Mechanism
The CZ 807 employs a gas-operated system utilizing a piston to cycle the action, with propellant gases tapped from the barrel via a gas port to drive the piston forward against the bolt carrier. This piston-driven design separates the high-heat, fouling-prone gas operation from the bolt and trigger assembly, contributing to enhanced reliability in adverse conditions.[1] The bolt carrier group incorporates a multi-lug rotating bolt that locks directly into the barrel extension, providing secure headspace and extraction. Upon firing, the short rearward impulse from the piston rotates the bolt to unlock, allowing extraction of the spent cartridge case, followed by ejection and chambering of a fresh round from the magazine under spring tension. The system's select-fire capability supports safe, semiautomatic, and fully automatic modes via a fire selector integrated into the receiver.[1] Modularity in the operating mechanism facilitates caliber conversion between 5.56×45mm NATO and 7.62×39mm by replacing the barrel assembly, bolt carrier group, firing pin, and magazine, without altering the core gas piston or receiver components. This field-expedient process maintains consistent cycling dynamics across configurations, as the gas port and piston dimensions are optimized for both intermediate cartridges.[1]Caliber Conversion System
The CZ 807 features a modular caliber conversion system enabling reconfiguration between 5.56×45mm NATO and 7.62×39mm cartridges, facilitating logistical flexibility for users with mixed ammunition stocks.[1][10] This adaptability stems from the rifle's upper receiver design, where the barrel assembly, bolt carrier group (including bolt and firing pin), and associated recoil spring components are swapped as a unit.[10] The process requires no specialized tools and can be performed in field conditions by a squad-level operator, typically taking under five minutes.[10] For the lower receiver, the standard configuration includes a magazine well optimized for 7.62×39mm magazines, such as those compatible with AK-pattern systems. Conversion to 5.56×45mm necessitates only a dedicated magazine well insert to accommodate STANAG-type magazines, preserving the trigger group's commonality across calibers.[10] Caliber-specific kits, often termed "conversion packages," bundle these upper components—barrel, bolt carrier, and firing pin—along with the requisite magazines, ensuring reliable chambering and extraction without receiver modifications.[1] This system enhances operational versatility, particularly for forces in regions with prevalent 7.62×39mm surplus or hybrid NATO/Warsaw Pact inventories, as demonstrated in export models tailored for such environments.[7] The design prioritizes minimal parts interchange to maintain gas system integrity and cycling reliability across calibers, with the short-stroke gas piston mechanism adapting via barrel-length-specific gas ports.[1] Testing has confirmed consistent function post-conversion, underscoring the system's robustness under austere maintenance scenarios.[1]Ergonomics and Modularity
The CZ 807 assault rifle emphasizes user-friendly ergonomics through its lightweight polymer construction, resulting in an unloaded weight of 3.05 kg for the 7.62×39mm variant and 3.13 kg for the 5.56×45mm NATO version, which minimizes operator fatigue in prolonged engagements.[2] The folding and length-adjustable stock, extending the overall length from 688 mm (folded) to 872–919 mm (extended), incorporates a rubber butt pad to enhance cheek weld stability and mitigate recoil impulse.[11][2] Controls are optimized for intuitive handling, with an ambidextrous charging handle that facilitates rapid manipulation regardless of handedness.[1] Modularity is a core design principle, enabling field-level caliber conversion between 5.56×45mm NATO and 7.62×39mm by swapping the barrel assembly (408 mm length), bolt carrier group, firing pin, and magazine well insert, typically completed without specialized tools.[2][1] This adaptability supports logistical flexibility for forces employing multiple ammunition types. The receiver integrates a continuous MIL-STD-1913 rail system across the handguard, top, and sides, accommodating a wide array of optics, grips, and suppressors to tailor the rifle to mission-specific requirements.[11] A durable aluminum upper receiver houses these interchangeable components, ensuring structural integrity under operational stress.[11]Variants
Standard Configurations
The CZ 807 assault rifle is manufactured in two primary standard configurations, chambered for either 5.56×45mm NATO or 7.62×39mm cartridges, with both utilizing a 408 mm (16-inch) barrel length optimized for intermediate-range engagements.[12][13] These configurations share a modular design derived from the CZ 805 BREN platform, incorporating a short-stroke gas piston system, rotating bolt, and selective-fire mechanism (safe, semi-automatic, and fully automatic modes) with a cyclic rate of approximately 800 rounds per minute.[1] The lightweight alloy upper receiver and polymer lower frame contribute to an unloaded weight of about 3.15 kg, while the adjustable six-position sliding stock yields an overall length of 833–927 mm.[2][1] Key differences between the configurations lie in barrel rifling and internal components to accommodate the distinct ballistic profiles of each cartridge. The 5.56×45mm variant features a six-groove barrel with a right-hand 1:178 mm (1:7-inch) twist rate for stabilizing higher-velocity projectiles, whereas the 7.62×39mm version employs a four-groove barrel with a 1:240 mm (1:9.45-inch) twist suited to the heavier, shorter-range round.[1] Both accept 30-round polymer magazines, though caliber-specific magazines are required for reliable feeding, and the rifle supports quick field conversion between calibers via replacement of the barrel, bolt head, and carrier group.[2][13]| Specification | 5.56×45mm NATO | 7.62×39mm |
|---|---|---|
| Barrel Length | 408 mm | 408 mm |
| Rifling | 6 grooves, RH 1:178 mm twist | 4 grooves, RH 1:240 mm twist |
| Magazine Capacity | 30 rounds | 30 rounds |
| Effective Range | Up to 500 m | Up to 400 m |
| Muzzle Velocity | ~900 m/s | ~715 m/s |
