Always thinking out loud.

[AmEngRifles]

If L4’s were known to damage the sheet metal followers of their newly developed magazine, why didn’t they develop a more substantial cast follower like the .303 Bren mag contains?

Came to me as I was cleaning L4 and .303 Bren mags this morning....

I KNOW I can not be the first person to make that observation. 🤭

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[AmEngRifles]

I wonder if I can grind a .303 follower to work in an L4 magazine? May have to give it a go.

[browningautorifle]

I wonder if I can grind a .303 follower to work in an L4 magazine?

I don't think that will work too well, when they changed magazines in the 7.62 rifles they used a complete different mag and follower. I had one with a modified follower and it didn't work really at all.

[AmEngRifles]

I don't think that will work too well, when they changed magazines in the 7.62 rifles they used a complete different mag and follower. I had one with a modified follower and it didn't work really at all.

BAR, I understand what you are saying, but I see that the spring looks the same as the .303 Bren and of course the follower of the .303 is much longer. I am sure there are physics involved that I am not taking into consideration. It was my response to the fact that apparently .308 L4's would chew up the sheet metal followers. I guess this was caused by guns (maybe JUST the L4A1?) that did HAVE a BHO feature? I am still learning.

---------- Post added at 02:00 PM ---------- Previous post was at 01:57 PM ----------

If you need L4 mag follower and spring, i have four of them left over.

"E", thanks for the offer. Actually, all my L4 mags have fine followers. I have not shot my rifle yet and was expecting it to start chewing up the followers if I shot them to the last round?? I think I have mixed an early issue with L4A1s and it must have been resolved by the time of the L4A4, which is what I have, in a rebuilt SEMI AUTO format unfortunately. ??

Thank you very much for the kind offer. I am fine. In fact, since you said that, will followers from L1A1 20 round mags work in the L4 mags?

---------- Post added at 02:02 PM ---------- Previous post was at 02:00 PM ----------

You are refering to the L4A1's bolt hold open device and metric magazines. If you dont have an L4A1 with a BHO then you dont have a problem. The issue as I understand it was the BHO bending th sheetmetal follower in the metric magazines. If your bren takes inch magazines then you dont have a BHO or an L4A1

Thank you Mr. E. Yes, I guess I did SOME reading and then got my models and issues mixed up. Thank you for simplifying and clarifying for me. I appreciate that. Sorry to cause some much chatter over something that is nothing for me to worry about.

Can't wait to get the thing to the range and start getting some rounds through it. Any issues with my use of L1A1 mags in the L4? Hopefully not.

[browningautorifle]

Sorry to cause so much chatter

That's what we do here...not to worry.

[Elphiel]

If you need L4 mag follower and spring, i have four of them left over.

[ActionYobbo]

If L4’s were known to damage the sheet metal followers of their newly developed magazine, why didn’t they develop a more substantial cast follower like the .303 Bren mag contains?

Came to me as I was cleaning L4 and .303 Bren mags this morning....

I KNOW I can not be the first person to make that observation. ��

You are refering to the L4A1's bolt hold open device and metric magazines. If you dont have an L4A1 with a BHO then you dont have a problem. The issue as I understand it was the BHO bending th sheetmetal follower in the metric magazines. If your bren takes inch magazines then you dont have a BHO or an L4A1

[Brit plumber]

No issues with using L1 mags other than filling your mags more often lol.