bren mags

[ActionYobbo]

I have several different bren mags 3 of MA 42 that fit tight into the gun and feed fantastic
then I have 2 of JI that are a bit lose and miss feed 1 in 10
then I have a 7 of ones marked with a broad arrow a star and 4C that are very loose and let the bolt go under the round which results in a long dent on the round that did not get stripped off.
whats the best way to make these loose ones fit better? they need something done to the mag catch lug on the mag body. do I weld it or is there an easier solution? I have 9 mags to do
thanks

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[Peter Laidler]

Is it a live firing gun or a dewat? The fact that the majority work perfectly in your gun indicates that it's not a problem with the gun or magazine catch but with the feed lips of the other magazines. There is a mandrill and dolly to reform the magazine lips but to be honest, Bren magazines are so cheap and plentiful - just like Sten magazines - that I'd just go and get some more and select the 12 that work the best and keep them in a magazine box.

Just my 2c's worth of opinion

[ActionYobbo]

thanks peter
this is a live gun
I only use the 3 that work properly for now. I never thought of checking the feed lips. I will compare the best mag with the worst mag and see if there is any difference. with the worst mags they will function better if I hold downward pressure on them while firing.

[tombear]

I've a copy of the D.D.(E). Of the mandril if you cant find one which i can send down the wire. I rather regret selling my minter but I thought I was getting shut of my .303s at the time so was getting shut of all the related bits.

ATB

Tom

By the by was there a mandril specifically for the 30 rd UK 7.62 mags? Ive the one for the 20 rounder and the Sterling but not a 30.

[Peter Laidler]

Didn't see one but I suppose that you could just push the 20 rounder a bit further in. To be honest and serious Tom, I don't think that there's many out there who could make one of the two-part Bren magazine lips mandrills!

[tombear]

I thought that may be the case, i've never seen on listed.

You know me I like to tempt folk into repro'ing stuff, having no engineering skills myself



I never had the forming tool part and I am guessing thats not uncommon so does any one want me to put up the drawing for that, which is within the realms of a lot of the good folks here?

Until just now I didnt realise that D.D.(E) 2319 wasnt the first proposed version and there was D.D.(E). 2253 from 15th June 1939. It didnt last long as the others dated the 30th of the same month.

ATB

Tom

PS got several really nice designs for Besa to Vickers or Bren tripod adapters........

[boristhepig]

Hi
I have one of these, but as I am in the UK and as Mr E says his Bren is live fire I doubt your whereabouts would be very close to me . But if any one does ever find the need for it let me know Terry

[Peter Laidler]

That bit is only half of it. Do you have the other part? Without the dolly to radius the lips, it's pretty well useless!

[boristhepig]

Does the other half look like this?




or this

[tombear]

The lower one. On the D.D.(E). As well as the dimensions it specifies the metal, heat treatment and tolerances, I don't know why there seams to be far more of the mandrels than the tools out there.

ATB

Tom