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Thread: A Left-Handed Bren at last!

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  1. #1
    Legacy Member MGMike's Avatar
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    A Left-Handed Bren at last!

    For decades this has been the source of frustration to left-handed people like me who can’t stretch over the Bren far enough to align the sights on the far side. The acquisition of an East Germanicon Doctor red-dot sight and a stray 30mm scope ring provided inspiration. As it happens a short section of the Bren barrel has an outside diameter of 30mm, so no alteration was necessary (from the beginning this was an absolute requirement.) The problem was to rig a mount as far to the rear and as close overbore as possible, and far enough forward to clear the sliding magazine well cover but without interfering with the carry handle.

    The attached photos show the prototype.

    The POI was astonishingly close at 175 yards (though the Doctor sight is parallax-free only to 40 yards), well within the burst dispersion of a Bren. No sight adjustment was necessary to shoot the wires off the 12" gong. The unit did not loosen from full-auto vibration. All in all, worthy of further development-- even if it’s about 40 years too late for military application.

    M
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    A Collector's View - The SMLE Short Magazine Lee Enfield 1903-1989. It is 300 8.5x11 inch pages with 1,000+ photo’s, most in color, and each book is serial-numbered.  Covering the SMLE from 1903 to the end of production in India in 1989 it looks at how each model differs and manufacturer differences from a collecting point of view along with the major accessories that could be attached to the rifle. For the record this is not a moneymaker, I hope just to break even, eventually, at $80/book plus shipping.  In the USA shipping is $5.00 for media mail.  I will accept PayPal, Zelle, MO and good old checks (and cash if you want to stop by for a tour!).  CLICK BANNER to send me a PM for International pricing and shipping. Manufacturer of various vintage rifle scopes for the 1903 such as our M73G4 (reproduction of the Weaver 330C) and Malcolm 8X Gen II (Unertl reproduction). Several of our scopes are used in the CMP Vintage Sniper competition on top of 1903 rifles. Brian Dick ... BDL Ltd. - Specializing in British and Commonwealth weapons Specializing in premium ammunition and reloading components. Your source for the finest in High Power Competition Gear. Here at T-bones Shipwrighting we specialise in vintage service rifle: re-barrelling, bedding, repairs, modifications and accurizing. We also provide importation services for firearms, parts and weapons, for both private or commercial businesses.
     

  4. #2
    Contributing Member Ovidio's Avatar
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    Oh my God. Short from a rape! ;-D
    34a cp., btg. Susa, 3° rgt. Alpini

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    Legacy Member Kev G's Avatar
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    Nice Czechicon made body too !

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    Legacy Member MGMike's Avatar
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    Thread Starter
    Here's a couple more pix.

    The vertically-split ring is clamped upside-down on the barrel, with its base holding a short section of rail (likewise clamped upside down) cantilevered forward, just long enough to attach the Doctor sight base with its protective wings. The underside of the rail was thinned to be symmetrical in cross-section with the top, and a slot filed to mate with the cross-bolt in the ring.

    Initially I tried this rig cantilevered rearward, just forward of the receiver, to maximize the field of view through the glass. I quickly discovered that it blocked the sliding magazine cover. I considered removing the cover just for this installation, easy enough --but then decided to simply reverse the rail. The ring was rotated as close to vertical as possible (beyond which the receiver obstructs the view) in order maintain correct cheek weld and to simply the adjustments for zero. There is still minor interference with the carrying handle if it is raised fully upright, so yes, there will be a Mark I * version.

    M
    Last edited by MGMike; 08-08-2017 at 09:41 AM.

  8. #5
    Contributing Member Ovidio's Avatar
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    Envy is a bad feeling, but you're baiting me in that direction.........
    I'd pay to be allowed to own and shoot my old MG.
    God bless the 2nd amendment you can exploit so well!
    34a cp., btg. Susa, 3° rgt. Alpini

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    Contributing Member CINDERS's Avatar
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    Whats the go Ovidio where you are like us here no S/A's allowed and weapons like the Bren even in semi auto mode would be on the restricted list I speak for Western Au guys some of the eastern seaboard brethren are luckier than us here.

  10. #7
    Contributing Member Ovidio's Avatar
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    We actually can buy a semiauto reproduction of the MG 42, but it's extremely expensive and not even close to the real thing.
    It also fires with closed bolt.......
    34a cp., btg. Susa, 3° rgt. Alpini

  11. #8
    Legacy Member ActionYobbo's Avatar
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    whats the story with that rear sight set up? thats the first time I have seen that
    1ATSR 177AD & 4/3 RNSWR

  12. #9
    Legacy Member MGMike's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Mr E View Post
    whats the story with that rear sight set up? ...
    Everything but the barrel and magazine (and the left-handed sight, of course) are Czechicon.

    M

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