Wanted: Ideas on how to lock the magazine in place

[Brit plumber]

And tidy, and reversible to a degree.

[Peter Laidler]

Definately reversible BP. Even the hole in the locking shoulder screw is academic because it only holds the shoulder in place. No load on it at all because the load on firing is transferred directly to the body

[beetle]

Thanks everyone for the help! As you can tell I don't have one in front of me to examine. But it seems like all of the ideas presented here will work. I'll ask the builder to review this thread. Thanks again -- perhaps soon I'll have a Bren!

[Peter Laidler]

That's as may be KG, but that's what he asked and that's what I suggested! There ain't no simple answer because if the BATF man can remove it without a tool, then our man can expect some BIG time in the slammer!

[skiprat]

as the magazine catch and ejector block can be removed from the gun without a tool by the small push out pin to the rear,,( A long winded way to remove a magazine) , would the authorities notice this? (I'm in the UK and dont know the full ins and outs of the law) I think the ejector block would need securing to the body of the gun.

[WallyG.]

Greetings:

Since I'm not a Californian... my knowledge of the requirements is a bit fuzzy... but if the intent is to have a functioning semi auto rifle/weapon... and California prohibits the detachable magazine in this scenario... if you fix the magazine in place how then do you charge it to then be able to fire the weapon... if you use a tool to remove the magazine so that it can be loaded then is it not by simple definition detachable? Although now just no longer quickly detachable... The California DOJ will probably want to evaluate this solution. Also... Is there a restriction on the number of rounds that can be loaded into such a magazine? If so, then your permanently attached version will also have to be restricted in capacity. Also... I agree that the modified catch would have to be permanently pinned in place - otherwise you could very quickly replace the modified magazine catch with an unaltered one and be using original magazines in short order. I suggest you loose the flash hider (cut it off in front of sight) and the pistol grip... then there would just be the issue of magazine capacity to worry about... presuming the CAL DOJ approves.

[beetle]

Hi Everyone.

some interesting conversation on this thread. In case people are interested let me clarify a bit.

The requirement I'm trying to meet is a California state law, not a federal law. Thus I wouldn't be dealing with the BATF (Bureau of Alcohol, Tobbaco, and Firearms) which is a Federal organization. Instead, it would be with the California DOJ (Department of Justice). Still violation of the state law would mean pretty harsh penalties, including imprisonment. So it's best to keep the firearm in a legal configuration

While California has about 5 different laws related to Assault Weapons, only two of them we need to be concerned with. The other laws relate to items like Short Barreled Shotguns and .50 BMG rifles which are irrelevant to this scenario.

Essentially there are two paths I can take. The first path is to keep the detachable magazine, but lose the pistol grip and flash suppressor. This is certainly the easier approach, but it takes away much of the character of the Bren.

The second path (the one I'm pursuing) is to keep the pistol grip and flash suppresor but remove the ability to easily detach the magazine.

Here's where some of the confusion arises. Notice I said "easily detach the magazine" and not "permanently attached magazine". Fortunately California law defines an assault weapon by how easy it is to detach the magazine:

"detachable magazine" means any ammunition feeding device that can be removed readily from the firearm with neither disassembly of the firearm action nor use of a tool being required....

Thus I think all of the approaches in this thread will work. As long as it requires me to use a tool to remove the magazine I am good to go. Yes I could still remove the magazine by dissasembling the gun, but by the definition above that is not defined as "readily removed".

Thanks again for all of the feedback!

[tankhunter]

I Reitterate: What I discribed with regards to cutting off the mag catch & Drilling it for a Pin punch TOOL. THEN the retaining CROSS PIN that holds the Ejector & magazine catch assembly in place could be welded with a 'Blob' of weld deposit on the NON Headed side. Thus 'Premanantly' retaining the Modified catch that NEEDS a tool to remove a magazine! HOWEVER, in the event of a broken componant, the weld could be ground off, the parts removed for replacment or repair & the pin re -welded again. THUS, the Magazine is NOT 'Readily Removeable' without a tool. But IS, removable, AS PER YOUR LISTING REQUIREMENTS, that you wrote about earlier. Failing all else, MOVE HOUSE, from 'The Peoples Republic of California'!.......

[Peter Laidler]

I'm totally lost now................. Suggest a house move as suggested by Tankie!

[Brit plumber]

Its good to see that the politicians running our country went to the same school as yours!!