[ScottD]

Well Ive decided to move onto building a SemiAuto Bren. I need to know as much about the subject as I can get. Build info, parts, S/A conversion and machine info. Im trying to keep it as SIMPLE as possible, with as little machining as necessary. I cant find ANY parts, but I did find what seemed like a 'do-able' tutorial from this site, but I lost the link! So please feel free to contribute all info here.

Also, somebody said something about converting it to 7.62x54? (Ream the bbl and open up the bolt face?) Anybody here do that kind of work?
Lemme know- Thanks -Scott

 

[Commander47]

www.projectguns.com

 

[Orion Arms]

try dennis at midwest metal. his setup works great on my bren.

http://www.geocities.com/jumanra/brengun.html

 

[Commander47]

Dennis isn't doing anything with the Brens at the moment.

Stan at Projectguns.com is posting pictures and a tutorial of his current Bren project.

Stan has an ATF approved conversion that uses weld in pins instead of a denial bar running the entire length of the receiver.

I"m not sure which is better. The pins sure look a lot easier to install rather than welding a bar into the receiver.

 

[Pvt.Joker]

Plus, Stan (Pirate) is in the process of getting his 07 license, at which point I think he is going to offer other services such as perhaps doing the welding and mods, along with offering the conversion parts. I don't want to speak out of line for him, so if I'm mistaken, please correct me. But it *should* make the project FAR easier to tackle at that point. His website linked above has more details, and will be updated, I'm sure. I do know I've bought from him in the past, and plan on doing so again, for whatever that's worth.

 

[linc_64]

I built mine using the jig and semi parts from Dennis http://www.geocities.com/jumanra/brengun.html
And a guy on here did the machning, hangman1515. Very nice work.
ezfeed also has some prints for the machning .And weaponeer has some 922 compliance parts. Good luck. It was a fun build, and well worth it!!

 

[CaptMax]

Can any of you post some pictures of your completed gun? I'm interested in seeing them and maybe building one as well. Thanks.
CaptMax

 

[ScottD]

Well, in my one whole day of research Ive discovered:
1) Dennis is no longer doing any Bren work.
2) Project guns has a decent tutorial, That will be the base of my build.
3) The internal mods dont look horribly difficult, but the tutorial doesnt say anything about the trigger group.
4) The receiver weld up.....Is it really that difficult? I did my '42 with nothing but a HF MIG welder and some copper pipe as backup material. Its not pretty, and there is some occasional porosity, but it worked. I plan on setting it on the lower, getting everything in place, tacking it, and slowly filling in the missing metal. ( Can I use aluminium as a backer or will I burn thru it?)

Keep up the input guys. By the time I get the kit, Im sure Ill know 10% of what Ill need to know.......

 

[CaptMax]

ScottD, I wouldn't use aluminum for a backer, just copper. The thicker the better too.
CaptMax

 

[ScottD]

ScottD, I wouldn't use aluminum for a backer, just copper. The thicker the better too.
CaptMax

Any idea where to get some, maybe scrap? Syracuse is totally void of stuff like that......

 

[Orion Arms]

i thought i heard somewhere that dennis was going to do make some more parts in the future. he has some other projects he has to focus on right now.
his kit included a new trigger setup.
also he made welding jigs for the bren. you may be able to barrow or buy one from this board.
i am sure stans work is great but i havent seen it yet.

 

[Commander47]

Any idea where to get some, maybe scrap? Syracuse is totally void of stuff like that......

Anyplace with scrap metal will have lots of this stuff. Also, you can use the thinner copper if you back it up with something heavier.

I asked Stan about doing the denial pins, and what he does is mill the two slots in the front of the bolt, then position the pins while fitting the bolts.

I have a jumanra (Dennis) jig I will not need after this build I'm working on. But it won't be for sale for a while.

 

[panaceabeachbum]

that method of bren build with the two pins for denial was granted to WLA , if its still there you can download the letter with all the details from the weaponeer site.

Junmara mentioned just a few days ago that he would have parts this year, he hass atf approval also

 

[FNP90]

Scott, I wish that you had taken up this project 2 weeks ago, I just sold a beatiful MK1 kit and welding jig.... AND im about 10 minutes from Syracuse...

 

[ScottD]

Anybody got welding jig they wanna loan or rent out to me?

 

[ppsh41]

try onlinemetals.com for copper scrap http://www.onlinemetals.com/merchant.cfm?pid=12634&step=4&showunits=inches&id=155&top_cat=87

 

[ScottD]

Thanks. That was a great site. I wish I had seen that months ago when I was using beaten down copper pipe as my back up material...

One other thing...

Does anybody have any pics of their semi? Pirates tutorial doesnt show how or why the lower receiver needs to be cut? This is all learning for me, and I want as much info as I can get.

Trigger info?