Where can I fire a Bren gun?

[rpinches]

Where can I fire a Bren gun?

My Dad was a desert Rat in WWII and has always bemoaned the fact that he missed his chance of firing a Bren gun because of poor light cutting short the training day.
It is his 91st Birthday in a few weeks and I would love him to arrange this for him as a surprise.

He has been shooting since about 12 years old, mainly Shotguns but some rifles too.

Anyone with any advice whatsoever I will much appreciate.


Richard

[Tower75]

Ok - I'll bite.

Firstly, hello, rpinches

Right - unless I'm corrected by those older and wiser then I, you will not be able to get a working, fireable BREN gun. BREN guns, being machine-guns are Section 5 - prohibited weapons. Unless you're a S5 dealer, you will not be able to get your hands on one.

I've never seen or heard of a straight-pull version, so I doubt they exist either.

A deact will cost you big - they're very pricey.

All in all it's probably a no-go. Which is a pain. I'd like a BREN too.

Regards
T

[ovenpaa]

Welcome to the forum Richard, I also think you are going to struggle as they are S5 Firearms.

[bobbob]

Try contacting re-enactment groups. Google "War and Peace show." From there you should be able to get details of military re-enactors who may have blank firers available. Worth a try, good luck.

[Dave 101]

Hi

Or take your Dad on holiday to the US , http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UyIiFOuc ... re=related

Dave

[Sim G]

I was going to suggest a film/TV prop company, but that would only be blank firing.

However, we are not talking about anyone here, we are talking about a 91 year old Desert Rat vetran! See if you can get in touch with the Small Arms School Corps at the army's school of infantry at Warminster. You never know....

[Sim G]

And, a quick google search produces the home page of the SASC weapons collection........ visitors by appointment, contact details and it's a registered charity!

http://infantry-weapons.org/index.htm

[ovenpaa]

And, a quick google search produces the home page of the SASC weapons collection........ visitors by appointment, contact details and it's a registered charity!

http://infantry-weapons.org/index.htm

I have walked past the building a few times, even been promised a look inside but always been too busy :(

[Chapuis]

Try the Royal Armouries museum in Leeds. They have both a Bren gun and a Vickers simulator for the kids to play on. I couldn't get my youngest daughter off them so that I could have a go.

[dave_303]

The Channel Islands,

I know that there are at least 2 or 3 BRENs floating around in Jersey semi-auto only, look up a few of the shooting clubs in Jersey in particular the fullbore lot, they may be of help