New Bren Owner w/Questions

While I have never been a serious collector of military antiques, I recently was offered the chance to purchase a Bren MK1 (M) dated 1943 and produced by JI in Toronto.

During the course of firing the weapon (without doing much research beforehand,) I noted the fired cases (.303) had ballooned so much in the breech it took quite a bit of effort to eject the fired case(s.) Of course, afterward, I realized the barrel did not have the necessary gas regulator which I noted on another fellow's Bren.

Using the other fellow's regulator and barrel, I found the weapon performed flawlessly.

My question(s) are such...

1. Were the ballooned cases the result of not having the regulator installed, or is the existing barrel to blame?

2. Should the barrel be the culprit, where is a good source for replacement Mk1 barrels?

3. Since I currently have a MK1 barrel, though the serial numbers on the receiver and barrel do not match, will the mis-matched serial numbers have much effect on the weapon's value?

I am so pleased to have found this forum. I have grown quite fond of the weapon during the short time she has been in my possession and plan to have her with me for a very long time.

Thanks to any of you who may take the time to help.

Bob

barrels are easy to get they run from $25 to $75
check the barrel you have to see if it was converted to 7.62x54r. thats a common conversion where you are. because the ammo is cheaper and easier to get

send me a pic of the cases and I can tell you what has been done to the chamber


the value is not effected in any way by changing barrels
now the big question is it FA ot SA

You haven't said whether you were firing it on semi or auto. The barrels are all 'fitted' or 'matched' to the gun so you could have excess CHS. There are different regulators but they all operate in the same way and it SHOULD function the gun on the smallest gas hole but the second smallest for reliable functioning.

|You say in Q1 that you didn't have the gas regulator installed. Are you sure? It would fire but it simply wouldn't function at all if you didn't have one.

Fitting barrels PROPERLY (as opposed to just 'fitting a barrel') is quite complicated even for the average skilled Armourer as you need a selection oif barrels to start with, barrel locking nuts, locking shoulders, engineers blue, a few cups of coffee, the radio on to your favourite station and a new box of patience.

Thank you to both who responded to my question(s) in reference to the Bren MK1. To answer your questions let me begin by saying I have much to learn about the weapon so that any sharing of information from your hard-won knowledge is more than appreciated. To Mr. Laidler, I have spent hours on this site reading what you have written. I feel it is very much an honor to have a man of your experience and breadth of knowledge respond to me.

1. The weapon is SA only.

2. Positive I did not have the gas regulator installed. Truth be told, I had no idea what the cavity on the side of the barrel was for until I found another fellow with a MK2 and realized I was "missing" a piece.

3. Mr. E., I will fire a couple of more rounds through my barrel and show you the results. The cases expand so much inside the breech, it's simply a nightmare to try and remove the spent cases. I did use a micrometer on the breech after the first couple of rounds failed to extract. The size of the bore at the breech was apprioximately .310 inches.

Now, if you both would permit, I have another couple of questions in reference to the gas regulator and the proper fitting of same.

1. Are there different "versions" of the regulator such as there are different models of the Bren? Does it matter which regulator is chosen? Are there specific models of the regulator which historically are matched to the Mk1 and if so, what are characteristics of that regulator. My questions are asked so that I may not mix and match different parts from different models. I would very much like to keep the weapon as close as possible to its original state. My feeling about this is quite stong, I believe due to her age, historical value, and out of respect for the men who used those like her in battle she certainly deserves that attention to detail.

2. Mr. Laidler indicated the 2nd position on the regulator should be used. Due to my own ignorance, for what are the other positons intended?

3. Going back to one of my original questions in reference to where to purchase spares and additional parts, who is a good source for such products? While I have found a number of sites online who DO sell the products I seek, (though the MK1 barrel does seem a bit difficult to find) I am not familiar with purchasing military hardware; hence, I don't know a good site from a bad...whom to stay away from and from whom to purchase.

Again, thank you for taking your time to respond to what I am sure are very ignorant questions. Slowly but surely I am sure to fill in the blanks.

Bob

I think that the very first thing you ought to do is to go to BDL Ltd on this site and get from him a little 'ready reckoner' type book called The .303 Bren Light machine gun.

There are two common versions of the gas regulator, the wider Mk3 and narrower Mk4 but to be honest, you are fiddling while Rome is burning worrying yourself about cosmetics while your gun is in a what might be called 'in a bit of a state....' Additionally, being semi auto only, your gun is soooooooo far removed from the real McCoy that the idea of perfection is flawed in my opinion. Others might feel differently of course. The different size holes in the gas regulator are to do JUST that......, regulate the flow of gas. The 4 sizes allow the gun to function with the minimum amount of gas to do what is required. Too little won't cock the gun while too much just knocks the sxxx out of it

Sort the chamber out before you do anything. Just put a 7.62 x54 rimmed case into the chamber as a quick glance check before you even get the booklet! It could be that if you ain't got a gas regulator, you might not have a locking shoulder either and that might be giving you your bulged case headache!

Just get the book and spend a couple of hours reading it is the best advice I can give, given my limited experience with Bren Guns

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Peter Laidler

Sort the chamber out before you do anything. Just put a 7.62 x54 rimmed case into the chamber as a quick glance check before you even get the booklet! It could be that if you ain't got a gas regulator, you might not have a locking shoulder either and that might be giving you your bulged case headache!

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what he said
really dont fire it untill you get it sorted out