100rnd Bren Drum Magazine

I'm going to make a set of insides for the 100 round bren chest sometime this year, including the metal winding bracket.
It probably will not be till early summer or early fall.
If anyone is interested in a set, let me know and I can make more than what I need to rebuild mine.
Original slot head screws will be included and those are expensive now. Slot head screws are now special order.
 
My question is how did you aim the Bren with a drum attached. The drum obscures the left side rear and foresights, and the only thing I can think of is there was a sight that would slide into the dove tail grooves on the left side of a true Mk.1 Bren receiver. Does it follow that there was such a sight and only Mk.1 Brens (and not Mk.1m or Mk.II) were used with the drum? Was there something else? Was it 'spray and pray' with tracers?


 
bogusiii said:
My question is how did you aim the Bren with a drum attached. The drum obscures the left side rear and foresights, and the only thing I can think of is there was a sight that would slide into the dove tail grooves on the left side of a true Mk.1 Bren receiver. Does it follow that there was such a sight and only Mk.1 Brens (and not Mk.1m or Mk.II) were used with the drum? Was there something else? Was it 'spray and pray' with tracers?


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I believe that most of the AA mounts included sights. When used without, then it is likely a matter of watching the trace or the splash.

On my M1919 semi auto, I would eyeball it onto the target, then once shooting just move the dust cloud over to the target. It never took more than 10 seconds to knock out a target at 200 to 300 meters. Of course, one well aimed shot could do the same thing, but isn't nearly as much fun.
 
stencollector said:
I believe that most of the AA mounts included sights. When used without, then it is likely a matter of watching the trace or the splash.

On my M1919 semi auto, I would eyeball it onto the target, then once shooting just move the dust cloud over to the target. It never took more than 10 seconds to knock out a target at 200 to 300 meters. Of course, one well aimed shot could do the same thing, but isn't nearly as much fun.
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The Fox manual and kit list shows no AA sight or provision to store one. It goes into enough detail to mention the brass catching bag, cleaning rod and parts wallet so you'd think it would.

I think we should lobby Kelvinator to do another run of these. I'm short three.
 
The only time I have read of Brens used in action with 100 rd drum mags by infantry rather than on anti aircraft mounts was during the British raid on the dry dock in the port of St Nazaire. (Operation Chariot). An old destroyer the HMS Campbeltown had a her bow reinforced with steel and concrete and unbeknown to the Germans a huge demolition charge was hidden in the concrete. The HMS Campbeltown rammed the dry dock gate and when the time delay set the charge off the next day it destroyed the gate and it also took out a large number of Germans who were examining the destroyer. On the run in up the river estuary British Commandos lay on the deck of the HMS Campbeltown armed with Brens with 100rd drums, aiming was done by watching their tracer. The Commandos held their fire until the German guns opened fire, then the Commandos retuned fire with their Brens and gained fire supremacy for some extremely valuable minutes. The raid was great success although the dry dock was not out of action for as long as hoped for and British losses were very high.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St_Nazaire_Raid
 
Mr Wolverine said:
The only time I have read of Brens used in action with 100 rd drum mags by infantry rather than on anti aircraft mounts was during the British raid on the dry dock in the port of St Nazaire. (Operation Chariot). An old destroyer the HMS Campbeltown had a her bow reinforced with steel and concrete and unbeknown to the Germans a huge demolition charge was hidden in the concrete. The HMS Campbeltown rammed the dry dock gate and when the time delay set the charge off the next day it destroyed the gate and it also took out a large number of Germans who were examining the destroyer. On the run in up the river estuary British Commandos lay on the deck of the HMS Campbeltown armed with Brens with 100rd drums, aiming was done by watching their tracer. The Commandos held their fire until the German guns opened fire, then the Commandos retuned fire with their Brens and gained fire supremacy for some extremely valuable minutes. The raid was great success although the dry dock was not out of action for as long as hoped for and British losses were very high.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St_Nazaire_Raid
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Canada installed the loading and winding bracket on the engine cover of universal carriers from late 1943/early 1944. There are images from the North West Europe campaign 44/45 showing the drum mounted on Canadian used, British made scout cars with a single BREN mounted using the drum magazine. Some images show carriers entering Germany where the rear compartment soldier has the BREN mounted in the AA role with drum magazine.
 
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