Bren L4 / .308 build

[cal50]

If my memory serves me right, there is a bit more to do to your top cover to get it to work properly. Shortened at the rear slightly????

You are correct sir!

After looking at it I need to cut the rear surface a bit , the magazine adapter has a step in it so a little more off the right side than the left.
Need to eyeball it how far forward to cut it and where the end of the cover rests in the closed position.

Not sure if the lip of the cover is slightly behind the top detent or if it covers it.

[Low & Slow]

Always something, isn't it? Especially when you start getting close, another odd issue inevitably crops up. Really great to watch you do this, thanks!

[cal50]

If you are ever building an L4A3 and do not have the original mag dust cover this can be of use.


Never paid much attention to the lowly dust cover included in my L4A3 parts set but it was a standard cover. Seems there are variations as ribbed and flat , mine was flat. Originally after I noticed I had a dust cover that did not fit I thought incorrectly the sides needed trimmed. Turns out the length and width needs shortened which is easy to make from a standard cover.


The front lip of the cover needs to clear the top detent so the barrel but plunger stays extended.



Trimmed~




Modified Vs stock dust covers~





Dimensions~

[cal50]

"Barrel NUT plunger "

Not sure why I cant edit the above post.

[Peter Laidler]

When I die, I'm sure that someone will engrave on my grave stone 'HE KNEW HIS BRENS,

When they were slowly being withdrawn and replaced by the L7 GPMG's you could see the gun racks getting emptier and emptier. And later, when the last were replaced at section level, by the not-so-mighty L86 5.56 light support weapon, one of the old Training Sergeants said to me '..... you won't be battling your way on the advance, over smashed up walls and bombed out buildings with an LSW. You need a man to do a mans job...'
I replied that I realised that and being older, knew the value of a big real machine gun. He replied ' well, why aren't you telling them that then.....?"

How do you answer that? The Bren served for 66 years - and the LSW for 10

[browningautorifle]

'HE KNEW HIS BRENS,

Well Peter, when we start discussing one here, we look for you to come and give input. That's a fact.

[Peter Laidler]

I'll try my best Jim. You being one of the Bren generation......

[browningautorifle]

You being one of the Bren generation......

I've shot my share, specially liked the 7.62 version. Aussies still carried them when I went to Enoggera/Canungra in '77.

[Peter Laidler]

Britain/Enfield ripped the Australians off over Brens. In Malaya, with pooled ordnance resources, the Australian Infantry were equipped with the L4 Brens. They did have some L2's but the Infantry wanted the 7,62mm Brens. Australia were more than capable of converting their own guns to 7.62mm but mainly had Mk1 guns in the 60's plus a smattering of Mk2's and 3's. But Enfield wouldn't allow them to convert their 303 guns because the conversion was covered by strict patent laws....... Nope, they had to buy them from Britain. The barrel and magazines weren't covered by the patent rules so Oz did what they do and made their own replacements. They also made everything else that was interchangeable, such as the woodwork and other parts.

We certainly had them plus the old 303 guns but by the time I left, the L4 was the Infantry gun alongside the M60's - soon to be replaced by the L7/GPMG..., The General

A similar thing happened with the little F1 SMG. Australia wanted to use the superb Sterling curved magazine. But Britain said NO! Buy from us. James Edmiston got to hear about this and thought to himself '......just a minute, I own the patents for these magazines and I say who can make them.....' So he did no more and tell Australia (actually, it was the Defence attache at the Aust High Commission in London, over lunch) that hey could make the magazines without any payment or royalties. One condition that they were not sold abroad.

Not a lot of people know that......

[browningautorifle]

Britain/Enfield ripped the Australians off over Brens.

I was also under the impression that the Inglis Mk1 Bren was the preferred model to convert to a 7.62. I was told we lost many to the pooled resources as well and they turned into 7.62.

I also had my turn with the F1. It served purpose. Not a widely issued gun, they didn't make very many comparatively.