BREN Gun

[Combat Diver]

Had this brought into the shop today for an inspection. RSAF BREN Mk II in .303 made in 1942. Just missing the buttplate and is broken down sitting in the solvent tank at the moment. Hopefully will test fire tomorrow with some 1942 dated MkVII ammo.

https://www.AR15.Com/media/mediaFiles/32677/IMG_6052_jpg-762549.JPG
https://www.AR15.Com/media/mediaFiles/32677/IMG_6053_jpg-762550.JPG
https://www.AR15.Com/media/mediaFiles/32677/IMG_6056_jpg-762551.JPG

Cleaned and disassembled.

https://www.AR15.Com/media/mediaFiles/32677/IMG_6060_jpg-762631.JPG


CD

[Combat Diver]

Reassembled, repaired stock, and now my biggest rattle can paint job.

https://www.AR15.Com/media/mediaFiles/32677/IMG_6061_jpg-762685.JPG
https://www.AR15.Com/media/mediaFiles/32677/IMG_6062_jpg-762686.JPG

CD

ETA: Take that back, Carl G's are bigger.

[TheGrimReaper]

Too cool.

[KenH]

Looks like you sure did a good job on rebuilding that old machine gun. Since you're in Afghanistan I'd guess the fully auto laws don't apply? Let us know how it shoots.

[Larry Gibson]

Well done!

[JBinMN]

Nice!

I wish I could be there when ya let some rip.
:)

[funnyjim014]

So...ummmm....what did u check with the DVOM lol. Very cool, that things seen some stuff

[45workhorse]

Jealous I am.

[Stephen Cohen]

The Australian Army still had a few chambered in 7.62 Nato when I was dressed in green, I never liked the 7.62 version after firing the 303 version it just felt different to me. Those who carried them in combat spoke highly of them. It is good to see that some have survived the ravages of time. Regards Stephen

[leebuilder]

Drool worthy.
Thanks for posting, please share the range results. The old guys I'd talk to said some were very accurate, to accurate in fact.
Be well

[Southern Son]

When my dad did his National Service, he told me of all the weapons they trained him with. He said the SMLE kicked him too hard (dad was not a big bloke), he said he couldn't hit nothing with the Owen gun, but he loved the BREN. I always wanted to fire one. Won't never get to.

[missionary5155]

Good morning
What a fine piece of history to have in your hands !
In 1974 we did some "joint campouts" with British Troops" in Germany. That was back when a troop joined the Regiment for life. They all had the best words for the Bren. The only discontent I remember was not having more range time. They would chuckle when the BAR was mentioned.
I also await your fine description of that freshly re-furbished Bren.. and a 1942 !

[Combat Diver]

Had two case separations using the KF 1942 dated ammo (one round dated 1938).


https://youtu.be/0rgxVQZa0UU

CD

[Earlwb]

Nice find, and it was nicely spruced back up too. It is amazing about all of the old guns still being used over there.

[one-eyed fat man]

The BREN was much better suited to the role of squad automatic weapon than the BAR. I wish I could find one now, it would eat the ammo a Vickers doesn't like. BARs were common in Viet Nam and fun to play with. Only ran across one BREN there mixed in with a cache of SMLEs and no ammunition. The Lee Enfields were a big hit, still eligible to come home on DD 603, so excellent trading material. (The advantge to being in a mounted unit, having a tank to carry your loot.)

[KenH]

Thanks for posting the video - sure looks like fun. While I'd LOVE to shoot that BREN, I think I'll pass on coming to your shooting range {g}

[Combat Diver]

The BREN was much better suited to the role of squad automatic weapon than the BAR. I wish I could find one now, it would eat the ammo a Vickers doesn't like. BARs were common in Viet Nam and fun to play with. Only ran across one BREN there mixed in with a cache of SMLEs and no ammunition. The Lee Enfields were a big hit, still eligible to come home on DD 603, so excellent trading material. (The advantge to being in a mounted unit, having a tank to carry your loot.)

One disadvantage I identified while shooting is that with that magazine to my right front (sights off set to the left) is loss of right side visability ie blind spot. Brass is ejected straight down so flying brass out to the side doesn't give your prone position away as much.

CD

[one-eyed fat man]

One disadvantage I identified while shooting is that with that magazine to my right front (sights off set to the left) is loss of right side visability ie blind spot. Brass is ejected straight down so flying brass out to the side doesn't give your prone position away as much.

CD

There's always a trade off. Although, I will say, the Brits did a pretty good job with the magazine otherwise. More capacity and remarkably reliable with a rimmed cartridge. I see it doubled on you a couple of times. Did it short stroke and fail to disconnect or was the sear worn enough it didn't hold? An ammo question, most .303 I have been around, no matter where in Commonwealth it came from would be prone to click bang hangfires once it got to be 25-30 years old or so? your supply seemed pretty reliable.

[JBinMN]

Thanks for sharing the video of your firing of it! Plenty cool!
:)

[Combat Diver]

Both rounds KF dated 1942 MkVII ammo. Case on left was the one that separated first and then left separated and that case jammed into other neck piece. Scratches on left case was from when I removed it. What was amazing that the gun still fired after the first separation. Gave the gun back to the ODA, so we'll see if I can get it back to the range.
231664

CD

[ShooterAZ]

Thanks for the write up. Great piece of history brought back to life, that thing is bad to the bone.

[woodbutcher]

:grin::drinks: Ahhhhhhh.The stories that old beast could tell.Thanks for the write up.Thanks for your service.
Good luck.Have fun.Be safe.
Leo

[JSnover]

Outstanding! A buddy of mine has a Bren and a Boys rifle (.50 BMG conversion) Both are amazing.

[Multigunner]

The BAR was not at all a bad design and while WW2 American versions were not that sophisticated European users improved on the design remarkably. They developed both quick change barrel modifications and belt feed conversions along with lage capacity H type magazines. The operating system is still in use today in the FN LMGs and squad autos.
A Aerial gun using the BAR operating system held the record for rounds per minute for many years, well over 2K RPM.
A replacement for the 1919A6 that used the BAR type toggle was in the works towards the end of WW2. It was similar to the later FN58.

The ancestor of the BREN was pretty much perfected before the British modified the design to suit the rimmed .303.
They also had a prototype .303 chambered BAR but as expected it didn't work out well, mainly due to the erosion problems of cordite ammunition. Bores wore out too quickly in full auto fire and they had not adopted a quick change barrel at that time.

The BREN had its teething problems. The first run of these had serious reliability problems in desert warfare.
An investigation uncovered that an engineer at the factory had thought the tolerances were too loose and taken it on himself to reduce the tolerances. No problems were encountered when the guns were used in Europe but in North Africa conditions were quite different. The Long Range Desert Patrol group chose to use the old Lewis guns and Vickers K aircraft guns till the BREN's problems were sorted out.

[Markopolo]

That is one freaking cool gun!!!!!!! I want one!!!!!

[BigEyeBob]

When I was in the Australian Cadet Corps we used the Bren ,great firearm and very accurate .Enjoyed firing it on range days .Iwas 15 years old then a great experience for a young person .Would love to have a crack with one again .