Mk1 #5 bent barrel

[Brit plumber]

Theres a good photo of a Bren barrel being straightened in the BGS. I'd have a go at it but as Peter said, I wouldn't go at it with a vice, I find a vice doesn't have the power or control that the correct press would have.

[nd31male]

The guy I have doing it has a full metal shop. Press cnc you name he has the tools for the job. I'm confident he can do it. The best part is I've been playing with water transfer printing and he has a cpl AR lowers he wants me to do in trade.

[browningautorifle]

We'll want to see the end result of course...

[nd31male]

Of course!

[Peter Laidler]

If he has a full workshop facility then maybe you could start by turning a 4" / 6" long .301" bar to use as a Gauge, testing, straightness of bore. We didn't use these* and it will be a GOOD benchmark for you both on the basis that neither of you will be best desrribed as 'barrel viewers' using shadow as the true Armourers were. Apologies if you both are of course, but a long exact gauge is a good start. Internally thread it at one end and you can use it to accurately find the start and end of the curve
* That's not exactly true as we did use a long gauge for testing Sten, Sterling, Owen etc and revolver barrels as they were too short to view properly for straightness

[nd31male]

I'll bring this to his attention. I'm not sure of the method he plans on using. I'm just keeping my fingers crossed.

---------- Post added at 01:45 PM ---------- Previous post was at 01:35 PM ----------

Want to thank all of you for being so helpful this is all out of my relm but appreciate you willing to help out and not beating me down for lack of knowledge in this area. First goal getting it to shoot from there I will decide weather I'll go for a restore or leave it pure as it is.

[Vincent]

* That's not exactly true as we did use a long gauge for testing Sten, Sterling, Owen etc and revolver barrels as they were too short to view properly for straightness

Do you remember the measurements of the gauge, Peter?

[browningautorifle]

I did the exact same thing Peter is speaking of and I had to make the gauge specific to the barrel I was doing. I have a straightness gauge for .556 from Diemaco but the .44 and .30 cals I had to custom turn. They need to be tight. Then as he says, drill and tap a hole at one end for a good quality cleaning rod...they need to be about 6" long to ensure you can eliminate the bend.

[Peter Laidler]

I will have a look at the EMER's Vince. Leave it for a couple of days........

[villiers]

Just imagine the pleasure of finding it might even shoot better´n many of the more `exotic´ specimens to be found at the local range.