Bren semi auto build - USA

[garthok]

I have been getting pretty good with my welder, I am making a jig to line up the receiver sections for welding. The jig will be a block of aluminum milled to fit inside the bren receiver with copper plate directly under where I will be welding. I guess I caught the bug, I also purchased a 1919A4 parts kit to make a semi auto beltfed.

Other notes, as I do not have a mill, I have taken the ill advised route of using my drill press and a cross slide vise as a light duty mill. It is barely stable enough to make the cuts from the aluminum.

[Midmichigun]

Garth,
Good to see you doing it!
And yes... the 1919 is probably an easier build than your bren.
The "mill/ drill" press idea is for people who are desperate. Watch or the chuck could come out of the drive shaft. On most, they are only tapered fits. Fairly dangereous at high speed and the chuck comes off.

Looking forward to your Bren progress. I also need a jig, but haven't taken the steps to make my own yet...

[garthok]

I finally broke down and purchased a Harbor freight mini mill after breaking a few of the milling bits, as soon as the mill comes in, and I get it set up I should be able to finish the jig in one sitting(you need to go really slow with a drill press). I have also joined the weaponeer forum(same name) and will eventually duplicate my posts over there.

[Brit plumber]

money well spent!!!! A mill and a lathe are so handy, you will wonder how you did with out.

[Midmichigun]

Weaponeer is a good site... and I post there under the same screen name as here.

I also broke down a number of years ago and purchased the Mill/ Drill from Harbor Freight. It works fine for most milling operations. You just need to go slow, and keep that ROUND column tight. I suspect that you didn't get my model however, if you call in a mini mill. Just remember if you got the model I suspect, go real slow.

I also have added DRO's as $$ has allowed. These are battery operated gizmos, that have improved my accuracy, if not my machining skillls! LOL!

I look forward to your updates on both forums!

My SA kits slumbers yet in its box. As previously mentioned, I would like to go out and do the build as a .308, but did miss a group buy through one of the forums on a run of .303 to .308 barrel conversions (and barrel length and Flash Hider could be altered I believe).

[garthok]

Pics of bren jig, I probably should have measured more, the parts fit tight but the rails are a bit narrow. I have to modify it to complete the front weld. These are from before adding the denial pins, I had to add an additional short channel to clear those.
Attachment 39397
Attachment 39398
Attachment 39399

At this point I have all of the denial welds and pins completed, I have welded the back three sections and dressed up only the back weld. I am waiting for some better mill bits to clean the inside to make sure everything fits where its supposed to.

[Peter Laidler]

Hey Gartock......... You're another of those like the Centurion tank owner in Australia and the Half Track restorer on this site. You ought to put this Bren rebuild all into a readable format and when it's done, mistakes an' all, get it printed into a soft cover book to sell on to those who also want to do something similar. I did it with the No 32 scope book and look where it got me. They say if you want to become a poor author, start off as a rich one, self publish and become a poor one naturally!. No, seriously, that's what you ought to do, believe me. My friend did it with a restore-it-yourself book on MG Midgets

[garthok]

Not much progress on the bren, but I did complete the semi 1919a4, now building a tripod. I want to find a safe place to test it, so haven't fired it yet. I also purchased a semi-Madsen LMG, and had a blast at the range While I was there I met another member on this forum, I need to get back to building the Bren.
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[garthok]

readable format

I tend to ramble a bit, I started keeping a binder with all of my notes, pics and ideas. I will post the contents in a roughly chronological order when complete. It definitely wont be bestseller material, but may make sense to somebody

[dogone]

I was practicing a weld with copper back plate. The copper was melted onto the weld and difficult to remove. Is this to be expected or am I doIng something wrong; to hot maybe. Once removed it cleaned up nicely but would be hard to get off while backing in a receiver.