Enfield L4 (BREN) Light Support Machine Gun (1957)
The Bren Gun, 7.62mm Series is based on the successful and proven wartime Bren Gun .303.
Finding a lot in common with its wartime counterpart, the 7.62mm Series would fulfill the same roles as the Bren before it. One noticeable difference between the two would be in the curvature of the 30-round detachable box magazine, which appeared straighter in the new design to accommodate the spacing of the new cartridges when in the new magazine. The pedigree of the wartime Bren proved sound and translated well into the L4A1.
With several early models varying in little ways, the L4A4 became the definitive one in the series, becoming the standard. A chromium-lined spare barrel was issued with the weapon system and the carrying handle was carried over from original Bren designs. The weapon system could be mounted on a tripod for the sustained fire role and the ammunition fed in through the top, as in the Bren .303. The straightened magazine was really the distinguishing feature between the two as both units appeared very similar to one another. The L4A4 was split between some rarer Mk II .303 Brens and the more common Mk III models, many of which were in large supply after the war.
To this day, many still swear by the reliability and fire power available through the Bren system, even as the L86 LSW (detailed elsewhere on this site) of 5.56mm blend takes to the stage with the British Army. The Indian Army produced its own Bren through Ishapur based on .303 Mk 3 conversion models, all accepting the 7.62x51mm round and designated as the "IA". Text ©2003-2013 www.MilitaryFactory.com • All Rights Reserved • No Reproduction Permitted
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Specifications for the
Enfield L4 (BREN)
Light Support Machine Gun
Country of Origin: United Kingdom
Manufacturer: Royal Smalls Arms Factory (among others) - UK
Initial Year of Service: 1957
Overall Length: 1133mm (44.61in)
Barrel Length: 635.00mm (25.00in)
Weight (Empty): 22.05lbs (10.00kg)
Cartridge: 7.62x51mm NATO
Action: Gas-Operated; Selective Fire
Feed: 30-Round Detachable Box Magazine
Muzzle Velocity: 2,440ft/sec (744m/sec)
Rate-of-Fire: 500 rounds per minute
Range: 5,550ft (1,692m; 1,850yds)
Sights: Iron Front and Rear
Variants:
L4A1 - Mk 3 Bren Gun conversion of .303 model, modified to fire the 7.62mm NATO-standard cartridge; appearing in 1957; Mk 1 bipod; steel barrel.
L4A2 - Mk 3 Bren Gun conversions appearing from 1959-1961; lighter bipod; steel barrel.
L4A3 - Mk 2 Bren Gun conversions; chrome-bore barrel; limited production.
L4A4 - L4A2 model series supplied with chromium-lined spare barrel; some converted from Mk 2 marks but limited while Mk 3 conversions more common.
L4A5 - Royal Navy-approved variant; converted from .303 Mk 2 models; chrome-lined steel barrels; appearing in April of 1960.
L4A6 - Modified L4A1 model to accept "perfected" L4A1 magazine over the L3A2 magazine; redesigned chrome-bore barrel; appearing in November of 1960.
L4A9 - Conversion models with L7 series "dovetail"
IA - Indian Army conversions of the .303 Mk 3 Bren Gun.
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Australia; India; United Kingdom
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