Subject: Bren 10 Newsletter #1 (99/SEPT/16)

From: Bill McLean
Subject: Bren Ten

Hi, I got your email address off of Glocktalk. My user is BillMc. I would like some advice on Bren Tens if you have a minute & don't mind.

I spoke with someone who has a couple standard models for sale. The guy claimed that they should not be fired due to the slide cracking. His claim was that the metallurgy was bad in the pistols and that they would all crack at some point. I have wanted one for quite a while, I don't know if I would shoot it or not. After talking to this guy, I am beginning to wonder if I should buy one. I read that you had a 10mm and a 45 Bren and would like to get your opinion on all of this.

Thanks for your time
Bill McLean
Piedmont, SC


Hi Bill,

Congradulations! Yours is the first letter to go out to our Bren 10 Renaissance Association!

In answer to your question: As far as I know there was NOTHING wrong with the metallurgy of the Bren 10 pistol. The problem with cracked slides can be traced directly to the ammunition made by Norma Precision. Their 10mm ammo was loaded MUCH higher than the recommended pressures for the Bren 10 and the power varied greatly from box to box. Kinda makes you wonder where the "Precision" came from in their name ;)

At any rate, if you want to fire a Bren 10 I would suggest you stay away from hot loads and stick with ammo like the FBI downloaded stuff. The original Bren 10 is worth quite a bit and costs quite a bit and if by some slim chance your slide did crack...you would be out a lot of cash.

Now for the good news...the good folks at Triton Ammunition are seriously considering the re-introduction of the Bren 10 pistol. I think they would have a real winner on their hands if they did bring it out. There seems to be quite an interest in this pistol even though not many of them were produced. If you like I can put you on the Bren 10 list and you will hear any news as soon as it is released...maybe even some inside information BEFORE it is general knowledge. Let me know.

Mike Bonomo
"Dep"
P.S. The going price for a Bren 10 standard model with one mag is around $1200-$1500. The higher end would be for unfired with original mag and box and instruction manual.