KGP

BP: Thanks! That’s the type of info I wanted to hear. I’m real new to the Bren drum stuff - like 2 weeks - but have had 5 Brens over the last 35 years. I regret selling my first one, a great Mk 1, but still have a 8mm Inglis with 7.62x39 conversion and two semis. Regards, Ken

Well, I only have the one drum and no chest but someone is selling a drum with a home made drum loading mount on GunBroker. From looking at his photos, I think it’ll be easy to copy his loading block and already bought the parts I think I’ll need. Maybe I’ll make the wooden piece a few inches longer on each end so I can clamp it to a table when trying to use it. I still have to get the cosmoline out of the guts, too. I got the cover withe the wind arrow off and the spring looks good but I’m not sure how to get further into it - or should I just soak in in the part cleaner like it is?

After a few days of soaking with rust remover and a slight warming with a propane torch, I finally got the piece to rotate in the outer tube. After a few minutes of rotating, I could tap it out. Seems that it was just a small amount of rust. Some steel wool and more rust remover and it works fine. It was the lower leg section, which was good as there is the protruding food to help rotate and tap out, and it was in the left tube. Thanks for your help. The tripod hadn’t been used for about 35 years. I bought one of each back in the mid-1980’s for about $125-150 each. Ken

Picked up a 100 round Mk1 mag with the attachment piece and crank but no loading block. Is it possible to load the mag with out the block? Easy? How? I see mention of people reproducing the blocks but have never seen any additional info? Also, is there any info on breaking the drum down to clean cosmoline out of it? I am down to removing the spring but dont want to mess anything up. Ken

I picked up a Mk1 drum mag and thought Id put the Bren on the Mk1 tripod with the mag. The leg that attaches to the tripod comes right out but I cant get the other to budge. Ive soaked it with penetrating oil and also put a punch in the hole in the tripod on the rear of the release button. The release button seems to work fine and pull out as far as it should go. Ideas? PS: Thanks for the info on the second bent on the 7.62x39 op rod. I have it cut but havent tried it. Also, I just posted another question about loading the .303 100 round drum.