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Enfield L4 (BREN)


Light Support Machine Gun


United Kingdom | 1957



"The Bren Gun, 7.62mm Series is based on the successful and proven wartime Bren Gun .303."

Performance
Performance specifications presented assume optimal operating conditions for the Enfield L4 (BREN). Information presented is strictly for general reference and should not be misconstrued as useful for hardware restoration or operation.
5,550 ft
1,691.6 m | 1,850.0 yds
Max.Eff.Range
500
Rounds-Per-Minute
Rate-of-Fire
2,440 ft/sec
744 m/sec
Muzzle Velocity
Physical
The physical qualities of the Enfield L4 (BREN). Information presented is strictly for general reference and should not be misconstrued as useful for hardware restoration or operation.
1,133 mm
44.61 in
O/A Length
635 mm
25.00 in
Barrel Length
22.05 lb
10.00 kg
Weight
Gas-Operated; Selective Fire
Action
7.62x51mm NATO
Caliber(s)
30-Round Detachable Box Magazine
Feed
Iron Front and Rear
Sights
Variants
Notable series variants as part of the Enfield L4 (BREN) Light Support Machine Gun family line.
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.
Authored By: Staff Writer | Last Edited: 08/01/2017 | Content ©www.MilitaryFactory.com | The following text is exclusive to this site; No A.I. was used in the generation of this content.

The L4A1 is nothing more than a modified World War 2-era Bren Gun, .303 Series chambered to fire the NATO-standard 7.62x51mm cartridge. The success of the original Bren series in the worldwide conflict solidified the Bren as the frontline light support machine gun for the British Army. The issue lay in the .303 cartridge, which was quickly being realized that its time had come and gone. With the NATO adapted 7.62x51mm cartridge the norm amongst the West, it was decided to update the Bren system. With an Ideal Cartridge Panel established in 1945 to find such a replacement, the Bren saw itself being groomed to take on the all-new .280 rimless round design. However, it was quickly deemed that the better route to go would be to take on the US 7.62 T65E3 cartridge case instead and the Bren Gun, 7.62mm Series was born.

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.

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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".

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Operators
Global customers who have evaluated and/or operated the Enfield L4 (BREN). Nations are displayed by flag, each linked to their respective national small arms listing.

Contractor(s): Royal Smalls Arms Factory (among others) - UK
National flag of Australia National flag of India National flag of the United Kingdom

[ Australia; India; United Kingdom ]
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Image of the Enfield L4 (BREN)
Right side view of the Enfield L4 Light Machine Gun

Going Further...
The Enfield L4 (BREN) Light Support Machine Gun appears in the following collections:
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