54R Bren Issues

[Peter Laidler]

Don't know about the reaming but you COULD ask Vince to do another for you. Brian at BDL can refinish in phosphate and the correct paint

[djandj]

Don't know about the reaming but you COULD ask Vince to do another for you. Brian at BDL can refinish in phosphate and the correct paint

Peter, what barrel do I have there with the slot in the bottom? Vince's barrel doesn't have it and while I can get it to fit into my gun, it isn't perfect.

Thanks

[Peter Laidler]

To be honest I can't see the slot in the barrel that you talk of. But the bottom barrel looks like a variant of the Mk2 barrel that was produced for cheapness, eliminating the positioning guide that you can see in the top photo. In truth, this positioning guide/channel and the locating peg on the gas blast plate served no real purpose because you couldn't position the barrel wrongly in any case. If you tried, it wouldn't go into the gun! And when the barrel was in the gun and locked down with the barrel nut, it was as tight as a ducks bottom in any case.

But we reverted to it in the Mk3 and L4 series. Just another part of the strict licensing agreement that we adhered to, virtually to the letter

[djandj]

To be honest I can't see the slot in the barrel that you talk of. But the bottom barrel looks like a variant of the Mk2 barrel that was produced for cheapness, eliminating the positioning guide that you can see in the top photo. In truth, this positioning guide/channel and the locating peg on the gas blast plate served no real purpose because you couldn't position the barrel wrongly in any case. If you tried, it wouldn't go into the gun! And when the barrel was in the gun and locked down with the barrel nut, it was as tight as a ducks bottom in any case.

But we reverted to it in the Mk3 and L4 series. Just another part of the strict licensing agreement that we adhered to, virtually to the letter

Thanks Peter, I suppose it was the positioning guide to which I am referring. So it was in earlier model MK Barrel then.

[Vincent]

Don't know about the reaming but you COULD ask Vince to do another for you. Brian at BDL can refinish in phosphate and the correct paint

I can ream another barrel. That's no problem.

Thanks for the information on the positioning guide.

[djandj]

Thanks Vince. I will order a barrel from Omega and then ship it out to you to ream. They don't do online stuff, so I have to send a check, then then send it to me, then I have to send it to you etc. etc. I'll send back your barrel at the same time if that's ok with you.

David

[browningautorifle]

Why not just send them payment and have them send it directly to Vince?

[WallyG.]

Not to rain on the parade...but you do know that barrels are not identical... you have one right now that appears to work... the new one may be different enough to cause problems. Just food for thought.

[Vincent]

It's a real possibility that another barrel might be different enough not to bring this bolt off the stops. I suspect the bolt might have been cut a little deeper when it was opened for the 54R rim. A new bolt would correct that if needed.

My thoughts are to start at the front and work towards the back. A properly chambered barrel, properly cut bolt and the right size locking shoulder to set the headspace. If a new barrel works, then that's all that needs to be done.

[djandj]

Not to rain on the parade...but you do know that barrels are not identical... you have one right now that appears to work... the new one may be different enough to cause problems. Just food for thought.

Quite True Wally. But Vincent showed where mine was indeed cut too deeply. If the HS is different or whatever, I'll have to buy Vincent's barrel (at a vastly inflated price... right Vince!)