Questions about my L1A1

[tankhunter]

[
Isn't that going to batter the lock nut recess into an out of spec size in short order?

In my experience, allowing extra movement into a system not designed for it is a recipe for quick destruction...isn't it??

WOW that went off topic, I thought I was in the Bren forum...

Nice gun, as others pointed out you stole it at that price as the bare receiver is worth more than you paid.[/QUOTE]

The reply was posted as a Technical point/ solution to a post concerning accuracy/ bigger beaten zone. Inspection regulations as I mentioned, are there as preventative measures to ensure accuracy & naturally a loose Barrel is a 'Fault' within these perameters. Yes, technically, you are correct with regards to a loose barrel POTENTIALY causing damage. BUT, it would be to the Barrel THREADS in THEORY.As the Barrel nut closes on these in the Downwards/closed position. In practice, the barrel is a very heavy item & if shot with a 'loose' barrel over a PROLONGED time. I would agree that some damage would occur. But the term 'Loose' is Armourers terms is regarded as a SMALL movement of the barrel when checked by the method I mentioned previously. Although obviously not correct. I personally would not have a problem firing a Bren/ LMG with a 'Loose' Barrel as defined by my explaination. The reply was to a stated complaint asto the guns lack of a good beaten zone & how it could be corrected.
Also I assumed the poster meant WHEN THE GUN WAS USED IN SERVICE. In which case, the 'Firm' has 'Quite a few spare Barrels' at it's disposal. & an Barrel exchange by the Armourer to correct any POSSIBLE damage would present NO PROBLEM! The Bren is a very ruggedly constructed weapon. It WILL stand a VAST amount of abuse & mistreatment. NOT that I recomend you do it!....

I am ASSUMING Also, that when he meant an L4A1. IF used in the Falklands Islands campaign, it would have been either an L4A3 (Naval /Royal Marines) or an L4A4 Army. the L4A1 was a VERY early conversion variant & would NOT have been in Service at the above timeframe.

I tried to 'Wear out' a bren when I was at the school of Infantry in the UK during my time there. As an experiment with one of a HUGE number of surplus Brens. We fitted it to a tripod & fired it remotely with a LONG cord for safety. All internal working parts were smeared with Car engine valve GRINDING paste! It fired over 20,000 rounds without incident (4 x stoppages caused by failed primers) using up stale surplus WWII ammo! We gave up after this, as it got boring trying to 'fire to destruction'! Testimonly indeed as to the Brens reliability & rugged construction!

You ARE correct in stating that the post was going off topic! But the question was posed on this thread & replied to correspondingly!...............

Information

Warning: This is a relatively older thread This discussion is older than 360 days. Some information contained in it may no longer be current.

[Peter Laidler]

Like the fabled .303" Bren, the 7.62mm L4 version (it was called an L4 and an LMG but to Armourers the world over, it was still just a Bren.....) wasn't as accurate as even the most mediocre rifle. But we were not encouraged to discuss that outside the Armourrers test ranges. We did emphasise its tremendous firepower, reliability and simplicity so the legend lived on.

[Brian Dick]

I can hit a 2' metal popper that's 9" across at center mass on my 150 yard range with the L4A3 Bren. It's easy on single shot and I can get one one out of a 3 shot burst on full. You know the other two ain't far off! It's not a sniper weapon but it's certainly plenty accurate for it's intended role.

[Peter Laidler]

Savour the moment each time you shoot it Brian. I always used to and treated every time as though it would be the last. I even let my young son do it several times when it was quiet on the ranges. After all, it's only right that in the future he should be able to say that '.......I have fired a Bren Gun' (and a Tompson gun as well of course)

[David TS]

Savour the moment each time you shoot it Brian. I always used to and treated every time as though it would be the last. I even let my young son do it several times when it was quiet on the ranges. After all, it's only right that in the future he should be able to say that '.......I have fired a Bren Gun' (and a Tompson gun as well of course)

Peter

I have a deact Bren on order from the contact you kindly gave me. One of the things that swayed me was because I may just get to fire one as part of the deal, for the first time since I used one in the Cadets 45 years ago

Funnily enough, I am also after a deact Thompson if you know of a good source for one of those too.........

[Brian Dick]

Don't worry Peter. You know I do! I also love shooting the Inglis Mk.II. It's the best thing you can possibly do with your pants on!!

---------- Post added at 03:19 PM ---------- Previous post was at 03:18 PM ----------

Oh yeah, I have to agree on the TSMG too!

[Paul S.]

Just in case it hasn't been mentioned, the little 'dimple' and scrape mark on the barrel are from a slip-on muzzle brake that was held on by a set screw. Entreprise Arms made them during the pre-Clinton ban days at least. They, the muzzle brakes, were notorious for being launched downrange with about the 4th or 5th round fired through them. Hence the scrape mark.

[Brit plumber]

The RAF still had L4A1 as well L4A4 in the late 80s early 90s, I still have my L4A1 training notes somewhere. They were most probably Armoury queens by this point.

[Peter Laidler]

There were a lot of L4A1's in Ordnance just missing the odd/one-off ejector blocks so a 'final demand' for these was placed at Enfield in order to keep them serviceable. There were plenty of magazines too. One 'problem' that was encountered and had to be resolved was lack of L4A1 gun barrels. Another 'problem' was that those that were tasked with looking into the problems were post L4A1 era armourers!!!!! Anyway, miscellaneous instructions were issued top Field and Base workshops (the only ones able to fit barrels at this late stage) that a single L4A4 barrel could be fitted with no change in the gun nomenclature. Problem solved!

There, another useless bit of little known Bren info for L4A1 owners to digest

[tankhunter]

From the Mid seventies through to the late eighties, I NEVER saw or handled ANY L4A1 LMGs in ARMY Service. The only ones I ever encountered during that time period were in Museums.

I believe as I stated previously, that the L4A3 & L4A4 LMGs were THE ones used in the Falklands Campaign

I would have enjoyed inspecting & potentialy doing any repairs to an L4A1!

Peter, next time I see you at the 'Collection' could I be privelliged enough to 'Fondle' one Please?......[/B]