Subject: (99/OCT/23)

From: MikeyMyBoy@aol.com
Subject: BREN X LIST

Please place me on the Bren X mailing list. FYI -- I received an email a while back (don't think i kept in on the computer as a saved document) from Dan Wesson Arms who said they had spoken to Michael Voit who owned the Peregrine Falcon/Bren X rights as far as making this gun again but I can't say that it ever went past the talking stages. Let me ad that I would buy this gun but I would prefer to see a SIG style lockup employed as well as a decocking lever. I would also like to see the frame rails lengthened slightly.


Hi Mike,

I have added you to the Bren Association and this newsletter is what you will receive when any Bren input is available. Right now we know that Triton Cartridge Corporation is working on a revival of the Bren pistol. I had also heard rumors about Dan Wesson as well as Sturn Ruger re-introducing the Bren pistol, but we haven't been able to confirm that.

As far as internal modifications go, the Bren 10 uses the Browning/CZ75 pistol lockup for it's mechanism. This has proven to be quite reliable and copied by MANY pistol manufacturers. Since this pistol also already employs numerous safeties and was actually designed for police/competition, I don't really see the need for a decocking lever. As it exists right now it is ready for "immediate employment". Safety is really something that is the resposibility of the user, rather than the pistol. Hammer drop safetys and decocking levers are something installed to appease the people who don't want to train with the weapon. The Colt 1911A1 has done without that modification for quite a while and accidental shootings are almost non-existent with that weapon. Ditto for the Browning Hi-Power.

The frame rails are actually the same design as the CZ-75 pistol and since they are the reverse of the 1911A1 they are remarkably strong. They have to be to take the punishment of the 10MM cartridge :)

Please understand that my comments are just my personal opinions. But the majority of Bren Association members would prefer to see the original Bren brought back in it's original form. A modified version later on would certainly be welcome IF the demand for those modifications exists. Mainly, the modifications we would like to see are different calibers and perhaps some form of night sights. But we REALLY would like to see the 10MM version brought back as an EXACT duplicate of the Dornaus & Dixon Bren and not the Peregrine Falcon.

However, having said that, your comments will be read by Triton Cartridge's Fernando Coelho, who is the "main man" behind the Bren's revival. He is also a member of our group. Perhaps he will agree with you that the modifications you mention would be a good idea :)

Mike Bonomo

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From: ragland
Subject: The Motherload

Hello,
I guess I've finally hit the motherload. I have no idea how I missed all this 10mm info in the past, but I am ecstatic to have found it now. Since you guys seem to know all the people in the know. I figured I would ask you some questions and see if someone out there has an answer.
1. I have a gunsmith friend who had a Bren Ten M&P. He sold the gun to a guy who had the unfortunate luck to be shooting it when it experienced a catastrophic slide failure. Upon examining the gun the opinion was that the slide had not been properly heat treated. I thought this was an isolated case until I started reading your old newsletters. I always wanted a Bren Ten, I actually had an order in with Peregrine and I am hopeful of the rumor with Triton, but if it falls through like Peregrine did, my only recourse is to buy a Bren. If I decide to do this just how big a risk am I taking? I would prefer not to end up wearing the rear portion of the slide.
2. Does anyone out there have much experience with the IAI Automag IV in 10mm Mag? How reliable is it? How does it seem to be holding up? and how hard are they to come by?
3. Has anyone dealt with Le Mag recently? I sent them a letter about 10 months ago inquiring about a 10mm carbine and never got any reply.
4. Am I the only insane individual who has looked at the Grizzly and wondered: could I run the chamber out remove the spacer from the magazine, change the springs and run 10mm Mag ammo through it? It seems viable.
5. Just how hard are D-Max Carbines to come by? How reliable are they? How hard is it to find magazines?
6. I am also very curious about the Witness 10mm. I have been hesitant to buy one because some years back I had a friend who had the front of the slide break off on a Witness in 45acp. While it is true this friend of mine did have a habit of loading shall we say Hot ammo I don't know what he was shooting when it broke. If anyone out there had any experience with the Witness 10mm good or bad I'd be interested in hearing it. I did notice that someone said it appeared to be beefier than the Bren.
7. Has anyone out there rechambered a 610 in 10mm Mag? Did you run into any problems? I just sent my first run 6 1/2" 610 off to try and have a 610 Classic cylinder fitted to it. If they can get the newer cylinder to work I will have the new cylinder reamed out to 10mm Mag. If all goes well I intend to send my 5" off for the same treatment. So if you have any info I'd appreciate it. Information on Loading data would be nice too. Currently the only data I have is from the Accurate Arms manual.

Well I'm glad I found a group of true believers and I hope you will add me to the mailing list.

Thank you,
Travis


Hi Travis,

Okay...I have you on the Bren list. Geez...I'll try and answer as many questions as I can and leave the rest to the group. Okay...by the numbers...
#1 We know that members of our group are going to fire their Brens. Not me...but some members ;) Almost all of the catastrophic failures we have info on are related to the ammo...specifically Norma ammo. We have heard some info that the Bren Marksman Special had heat treating problems. You'll have to inspect the inside of the slide for small irregularities to find the problems. They should show up as small pits or craters. Stay away from buying those guns. If you are going to fire a Bren 10mm then I STRONGLY suggest you use the "FBI" loads in the 160- 180grain weights. We just don;t know what kind of punishment each Bren has been subjected to and using hot ammo in a Bren does involve some risk. The slide may have been weakend by previous users.
#2 From what I hear the Automag IV is an excellent gun with no problems. Availability I can't say but not many places carry Automag products. It may have to be a special order from your dealer.
#3 No input.
#4 Before making that modification I would suggest you contact LAR and see if the pistol can take the 10mm mag safely.
#5 D-Max...almost impossible to find. Used versions are quite expensive.
#6 I believe one of our members has a Witness 10MM. I'll leave it to him to comment.
#7 Okay...I confess to ignorance on 10mm mag. Is this a new wildcat cartridge? Cripes...the 10mm is hot enough for me :))
Hope these answers help. The rest of the group can add or correct as necessary.

Mike