Ammo types and the semi auto Bren

[browningautorifle]

I was recalling that so many early machine guns had oilers are part of their mechanism.

And it stopped as practice. I wouldn't oil ammo, all our books spoke against oily ammo. Commercial ammo works fine in MGs too, trust me. Ammo with lacquer can have issues in some guns though, as the guns heat up and the lacquer melts and sticks.

[AmEngRifles]

Browningautorifle, et al.

I tried the oiled cartridges for both Wolff copper washed steel and brass cased PPU. Ran perfectly. I was pleased. Now the trick is to come up with a better oiling process. As it was, I laid out a row of rounds and spritzed them with Rem Oil from a non aresol spray bottle. A bit heavy on the oil. There was enough excess oil on the table, that the second batch I just rolled the ammo around in the left over oily spot on the table. They all ran 100%. I am pleased with those results.

I have no idea why two different built guns, one Project Guns and one Historic Arms would both have the tendency to tear cases apart? They both have good headspace and would run HXP & MEN with zero issues.

I understand it is not a great solution in a military context, but for a civilian shooter, at the range, it means I now have the ability to buy modern manufactured .303 and run consistent strings of fire. I have had more than one range trip extravaganza interupted by case separation.

No worries with the L4. All modern .308 runs well in it, once a bit of spring "tuning" (cutting) was performed.

[cal50]

I have been using Wolf steel case 303 while restoring my MKI Bren. Barrel is a MKI with correct headspace and no issues with the steel cased ammo once I got my gun running correctly.

I am down to maybe 80 rounds left and none to be found.
That will steer me to my +500 rounds of HXP brass and reloading if I can't find any cost reasonable live ammo.

Buddy has some boxer primed Canadian surplus 303 that seems to shoot good around $1 round. This is ball powder loaded, NOT Cordite.

PPU is also popping up around $1 a round and non corrosive and boxer primed.

[cal50]

Tested some MKVII brass case ammo in my MKII semi conversion.

All rounds fire but will not cycle the gun. Tried a 2nd MKIII Bren and it also will not cycle,
1942 manufacture date so not sure if it lost some of its "pop" from age or just not Bren friendly.


As an FYI the brass is boxer primed but the primer size is about .005" smaller than USA large rifle primers. I opened up the pockets to reload the brass and my MKII ran without issue on gas setting #4/ My gun has the early double row of holes gas cylinder.

AMMO~






Good stuff !