bren mags

I have several different bren mags 3 of MA 42 that fit tight into the gun and feed fantastic
then I have 2 of JI that are a bit lose and miss feed 1 in 10
then I have a 7 of ones marked with a broad arrow a star and 4C that are very loose and let the bolt go under the round which results in a long dent on the round that did not get stripped off.
whats the best way to make these loose ones fit better? they need something done to the mag catch lug on the mag body. do I weld it or is there an easier solution? I have 9 mags to do
thanks

Is it a live firing gun or a dewat? The fact that the majority work perfectly in your gun indicates that it's not a problem with the gun or magazine catch but with the feed lips of the other magazines. There is a mandrill and dolly to reform the magazine lips but to be honest, Bren magazines are so cheap and plentiful - just like Sten magazines - that I'd just go and get some more and select the 12 that work the best and keep them in a magazine box.

Just my 2c's worth of opinion

thanks peter
this is a live gun
I only use the 3 that work properly for now. I never thought of checking the feed lips. I will compare the best mag with the worst mag and see if there is any difference. with the worst mags they will function better if I hold downward pressure on them while firing.

I've a copy of the D.D.(E). Of the mandril if you cant find one which i can send down the wire. I rather regret selling my minter but I thought I was getting shut of my .303s at the time so was getting shut of all the related bits.

ATB

Tom

By the by was there a mandril specifically for the 30 rd UK 7.62 mags? Ive the one for the 20 rounder and the Sterling but not a 30.

Didn't see one but I suppose that you could just push the 20 rounder a bit further in. To be honest and serious Tom, I don't think that there's many out there who could make one of the two-part Bren magazine lips mandrills!

I thought that may be the case, i've never seen on listed.

You know me I like to tempt folk into repro'ing stuff, having no engineering skills myself

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...lcloseup-1.jpg

I never had the forming tool part and I am guessing thats not uncommon so does any one want me to put up the drawing for that, which is within the realms of a lot of the good folks here?

Until just now I didnt realise that D.D.(E) 2319 wasnt the first proposed version and there was D.D.(E). 2253 from 15th June 1939. It didnt last long as the others dated the 30th of the same month.

ATB

Tom

PS got several really nice designs for Besa to Vickers or Bren tripod adapters........

Hi
I have one of these, but as I am in the UK and as Mr E says his Bren is live fire I doubt your whereabouts would be very close to me . But if any one does ever find the need for it let me know Terry

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...irtool45-1.jpg

That bit is only half of it. Do you have the other part? Without the dolly to radius the lips, it's pretty well useless!

Does the other half look like this?

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...ntitled2-1.jpg


or this

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...ntitled3-1.jpg

The lower one. On the D.D.(E). As well as the dimensions it specifies the metal, heat treatment and tolerances, I don't know why there seams to be far more of the mandrels than the tools out there.

ATB

Tom

now if I could just reach into the screen and borrow those tools for just an hour or two.

No doubt this is al in the Enfield inch and I have No idea what any of it means but here ithttps://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...toolbren-1.jpg is

Just had a look for the SLR and Sterling mandrels and they aint where they should be so it looks like I sold them as well :-( All I found were a couple of adapter mags still bagged up which i assume fitted into a hole on the work bench to support the guns while they were being worked on. I bet they're going to be pigs to replace.

ATB

Tom

If you are in the US... or are really hot to own one of these and can pay for international shipping etc.... BRP Corp in Maryland has these for sale... from Greece I believe. Contact

---------- Post added at 06:17 PM ---------- Previous post was at 06:15 PM ----------

So can anyone identify the item on the top? I have one too...

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by boristhepig

Does the other half look like this?

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...ntitled2-1.jpg


or this

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...ntitled3-1.jpg

---

Well so thats were all the Bren bits are!

No need to make one when you can get one here with a couple of other tools for 22 bucks

BREN Tool Kit - BRP CORP Store

Uw they do have some nice bits.

Are these kosher?

British Flexible Cleaning Rod - BRP CORP Store

you know me and my cleaning rods....

ATB

Tom

Can anyone give me a bit of info on HOW to use the repair mandril ?

I can't replace my mags due to the restrictions here in California regarding hi-cap mags.

I have the dolly part, and can obtain the mandril, but I'll be damned if I can figure out how to use them....

From an Armourers point of view, FIRST, you get both parts of the tool out of the darkest reaches of the tool cupboard where it has been since the workshop opened in 1944 and dust it off. Second, strip the magazine. That's if you CAN strip it because if it's come to you because it's dented, then invariably you'll struggle simply to get the internals out. Put the large mandril part into the magazine, trying to dolly the dents out as you go. Make sure themandrill if free to enter fully and wind down the feed lip clamp. Put bottom end of mandrill into vice and use dolly part to re-form feed lips. Send magazine to phosphating/paint plant.

Test magazine by live firing in gun on test range. Time taken 2 hours or so.

Alternatively, you could just:
Scrap magazine and replace with new. If you were here I'd give you a zillion.

The tool was never ever used in my knowledge outside of my apprenticeship............... That's why there are so many of them in new condition out there. This is the Bren Gun equal to the mickey mouse watch. Good to look at but not a lot of good for telling the time. Biggest load of crap since the Sterling zeroing tool!

I have to get back up off the floor when you post those replies Peter. Worth a million bucks for the entertainment alone!!

Re Boris's photo (thread 9, page 1) the top photo shows what looks like the vice plate from the Armourers bench. It bolts onto the Armourers bench and the vice bolts onto that for a bit of rigidity. Can you confirm/deny this Tankie?

CSM Archer...... If you can only have 10 round capacity magazines, there was a miscellaneous instruction about converting Bren mags to 10 rounds for training use where '...close supervision and the need for......... blah blah blah' and on it goes. It was quite slick, enables the mags to be stripped and was fool proof and instantly visible. Is anyone else awarte of this? Anyone need pics/details? I saw a complete box of these during the destruction phase

[QUOTE=Peter Laidler;293013]Re Boris's photo (thread 9, page 1) the top photo shows what looks like the vice plate from the Armourers bench. It bolts onto the Armourers bench and the vice bolts onto that for a bit of rigidity. Can you confirm/deny this Tankie?

Pete, Yup. Thats the one/

The Top Photo shows the Vice mounting plate for the Armourers field chest/Bench. I still use mine at shows & displays. Yes, I actually work with it! This plate is readily removable & stows in the Field chest. & bolts to the front of the chest.
When the four steel tubular legs are inserted & fitted underneath. The Vice then bolt's to this plate, & you have an almost waist height working facility. There are photo's Of Me at one of the War & Peace show's. On the Armourers Association website. Working on Weapons using this set up.