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Thread: BREN 8MM ZB Magazines

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  1. #1
    Legacy Member Joe H's Avatar
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    BREN 8MM ZB Magazines

    Will the 8mm ZB 26-30 magazines fit into the mag well of a Bren Gun. If they don't are they too wide or too long? If they are too long, how much?
    Is it feasible to mod the mag or the well to make them work in a Bren?

    Thanks,

    Joe
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  3. #2
    Legacy Member Brit plumber's Avatar
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    Kev G will have the answer but I think that the mag or well need a few thous removing to make them fit. I've got a 7.92 Inglis mag (I think they have the same dims as the ZB ones) which is just a fraction to long to fit in the normal .303 well.

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    Legacy Member Joe H's Avatar
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    Thanks Brit plumber,

    I had heard that they fit and not fit. I guess if it is only a few thou and the Bren well is on the high end of the spec they may fit. If they are in the middle or low end some grinding is required.

    Joe

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    Legacy Member Brit plumber's Avatar
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    I suppose it could all depend if the gun is original or a reweld. There could be quite large differences between rewelds.

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    Legacy Member Kev G's Avatar
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    Quick reply is as BP says - they are too long.

    ATB KG

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    Legacy Member Joe H's Avatar
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    Thanks Guys,

    I'm in the USAicon working with a semi reweld. Thanks for the info. Looks like using the ZB mag should be very feasible.

    Joe

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    Legacy Member djandj's Avatar
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    FWIW - I have a new Historic Arms build MKII and I got ZB 39 mags (as the rifle was chambered in 54R) The ZB 39 mags fit perfectly, but at least in my rifle they are slightly too narrow (front to back) and thus the back mag catch doesn't hold them in well and they pop out towards the end of the mag (last 2-3 rounds). I am experimenting with welding/epoxying an extra piece of metal to the front so as to make them fit better.

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    Legacy Member Brit plumber's Avatar
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    Would it not be easier to shape a spot of weld on the front of the mag catch? It makes cense that they pop up as the Bren mag is ever so slightly longer than the ZB39 mag.

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    Legacy Member Joe H's Avatar
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    Guys,

    I had the same problem. A piece of shim stock soft soldered in between the side folds just above the front catch works. I think I used about .080"

    Joe

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    Peter Laidler's Avatar
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    It's simplicity itself to modify a Bren mag catch to retain the 7.92mm magazines. Forget all the epoxy stuff (the stuiff of nightmares in my opinion.....) and silver solder a piece of metal to thje front face. Then judiciously file it carefully until...... lo and behold....., you have a 7.62mm catch!

    As for the fit of the 7.92mm magazine. As told, they aren't LONGER but the extreme rear bottom edge differs. Look carefully and the Bren magazine follows a very subtle curved arc whereas the ZB doesn't. It is this curved arc that allows the Bren magazine to fit - or DOESN'T allow the ZB magazine to fit depending on your take on things. As this curvature allows you to insert the nose of the mag in place and roll the magazine rearwards (in an arc centred about the front protruding rib) to engage with the mag catch. To allow the ZB magazine to fit you must relieve the rear left and right corners of the Bren magazine well to cater for the straighter rear bottom edges of the ZB magazine.

    This was a condition of the pre-war experimental trials with a .303" gun that went back to ZB to investigate the possibility of Brens being made as 7.92mm guns in the future. Mags weren't to be interchangeable. Luckily all the drawings were in hand for 7.92mm magazines when a) a LARGE amount of 7.92mm ZB guns without magazines were captured by S/African forces during a raid into Germanicon West African territory during the war and later, when Canadaicon manufactured 7.92mm guns. All done using the Enfield pre-war design.

    Not a lot of people know that!

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