Subject: Bren Newsletter (99/OCT/12)

From: Jay Ely

Michael,

I would like to get information on how to join the Bren Ten Association. I followed a link from the 10mm Information page.

I am really interested in the convoluted and short lived history of Dornaus and Dixon and the affect that had on the production of the Bren Ten. I have talked to a lot of folks proclaiming knowledge of the pistol but most of it is hearsay. Stories of cracked slides and frames quickly come to mind. It would be nice to sort fact from fiction.

I compared the slide and frame cross sectional thickness of my Bren 10 to my S&W 645 and EAA Witness (in 10mm) and the Bren is much thinner. Hence weaker? Don't know for sure but it does not look as strong.

Thanks.
Jay Ely


Hi Jay,

Okay, I have you on the Bren Association mailing list. From what we have been able to discover the problem with damaged Brens had more to do with the ammunition being used than any fault in the pistol itself. The frame rails of the Bren are the same as those for the CZ-75 and Star 30 pistols, which are considered as being more sturdy than the style used on the Colt 1911A1. The Norma Ammunition that was available for the Bren was inconsistent in it's loadings with some coming out WAY higher than SAAMI standards for the 10mm cartridge. If you have a Bren 10 pistol right now I would suggest using the downloaded "FBI" loads in it, simply because unless you bought the weapon brand new and know exactly what was used in it, you don't want to take a chance on using hot loads like Cor-Bon +P or Winchester 175 grain ammo in it. If it was used with Norma ammo the frame may have already been overstressed. Wouldn't want to risk blowing up a pistol worth $1500 or more would you? ;)

Mike