Bren Parts Kit

tamaneko

I've been looking at the various Bren parts kit auctions that they have here, but am curious to know more. Are these legal to purchase without an FFL, and can they even be assembled back together to something that can legally shoot? I've tried Google, but hasn't really given me any good results, so how exactly do you put one together?

rufe-snow

Unless you can build them on a semi-auto receiver, that has been approved by the BATF in advance. No, My 2?.

As far as buying the parts are concerned, ( less functional receiver ). State and/or local laws, might or might not affect your possession of these parts. Federal law obviously doesn't, as their sold all over the net.

11b6r

Brief explanation- the parts kits do not include a receiver- or one that has been so thoroughly damaged to be non-restorable. Under Fed law, the RECEIVER is the gun. Be careful w/ STENS- if it was once a machinegun, the Feds consider it to ALWAYS be a machinegun. If you "restore' one to shooting condition, you may have some serious issues if you have not done some legal hoop jumping at the start.

tamaneko

The bren parts kits I've seen do come with a receiver, but they're been sliced up, as pictured.



Is that still ok to own, or does it need a license or whatnot even at that condition?

nmyers

You didn't answer rufe=snow's question --- where do you live?

In most parts of the US it is legal to own the parts. To my knowledge, there is no legal semi-auto receiver; if you think that there is one, buy it before you buy the parts kit.

Neal

http://www.usdoj.gov/usao/nv/press/june2006/hirata06146.htm

richbug

There is an ATF approved Semi conversion out there. it involves rewelding the original receiver. There is a jig to hold the old pieces in proper place, lots of welding, machining, and fitting. The end result being a receiver that will not accept the FA firing parts.

Not a job for a hobbyist.

tamaneko

Well, I live in California...it's going to be illegal, isn't it? To be honest, I'd just settle for a display piece, the Bren is a nice gun to look at.

redice

quote:Originally posted by tamaneko
Well, I live in California...it's going to be illegal, isn't it? To be honest, I'd just settle for a display piece, the Bren is a nice gun to look at.


A lot of places sell non functional receivers to make display pieces out of parts kits, dunno if they make one for these or not.

nmyers

Tamaneko, you not only need to worry about CA law, but many localities in CA have their own firearms laws. Even if you find that it is legal where you live, the fact that a display piece looks like something that is illegal can get you in a world of trouble.

Those of us who live in repressive states need to be extremely careful. The consequences of a brush with the law are too devastating to be worth the risk.

Neal

"Arrest now, litigate later." ---- ATF motto

tamaneko

Thanks for the info guys, I gave it a go ahead. I did a bit more digging and found a Bren parts kit for $180 at Weaponeer.net, but it didn't come with a barrel so I just won an auction for a Bren barrel for $50.

Not bad for $230...but unfortunately since Brens used 30-round mags, this is going to permanently be a magless display gun until I move out of this crappy state. [:(]

JackiePapers

Did you find a dummy receiver? Maybe you could find a dummy mag too...

I wonder if there aren't resin replicas of the Bren? [?]

65triton

to see how to make it semi go to www.1919a4.com it looks to be a major pain....you're converting a gun that fires from the open bolt to one that uses a striker to fire from the closed bolt. and the select fire trigger is also modified...imho it's too much trouble.....plus getting on the batf radar.....