Bren Gas Cylinder

[Joe H]

The Gas regulator could be softened by heat BEFORE reaming any of the gas ports. With modern metals, it might be possible to use a carbide drill to open the ports out as an option? As mentioned by Peter, & myself in my original post. The gas port in the barrel SHOULD be of sufficient size in it's present state before needing to touch that.

Tankhunter,

I was thinking the same thing. I have a small lab heat treat furnace which I use for heat treating small parts, so it would be easy to anneal the regulator. After reaming and testing it could be treated back to hard. As was noted the regulators are availble in the US at very reasonable cost. It would be alot easier to experiment with some HSS drills than expensive carbide drills and reamers. I would like to know my semi had a reserve gas capacity like the original Bren. Im also working on some caliber conversions so flexibility on the gas system may be very useful.

As with most parts that were hardened to this degree, the regulators, like the bolt etc. must have been machined before hardening.

I certainly appreciate your's and Peter's insight into the gas issue.

Peter, back in my much younger days I had a British Racing Green (Morris Garage) MGB, wire wheels, wood steering wheel. What a great fun car!

Joe