View Full Version : Original Bren Ten: Occasional shooter or safe queen?
I may have the good luck on finalizing a deal on an original Bren Ten in the next day or so. I’d like to shoot it occasionally...maybe 50 rounds a year or so, but I’ve read online horror stories online about cracked slides. For those of you who own one, what do you think?
I believe the cracked slides were the result of the full house 10 mm loads (200 @ 1200). I would shoot it with some reduced power handloads.
Achilles11B
04-09-18, 08:59
There’s a lot of 10mm loaded to .40-level power out there nowadays that should be ok to run through your Bren. Hopefully this page should help with your search:
http://ballistics101.com/10mm.php
Gary1911A1
04-09-18, 09:16
There’s a lot of 10mm loaded to .40-level power out there nowadays that should be ok to run through your Bren. Hopefully this page should help with your search:
http://ballistics101.com/10mm.php
I agree. Treat your Bren well.
LMT Shooter
04-09-18, 18:44
I know nothing about issues with Bren Tens, but I hope you shoot it if it's safe to do so. I've never understood the idea of owning a gun that you do not intend to shoot.
Please, please post some pics if you purchase goes through! Maybe even a video.
Drifting Fate
04-09-18, 21:18
Use moderately with moderate loads and enjoy. Just like a Python, except you need magazines. :p
Thanks for your responses! I finalized the deal tonight and will be receiving the pistol probably next week. I'll post some pictures once I receive it.
QuickStrike
04-11-18, 13:13
I thought occasional shooters could still be safe queens?
No point leaving a gun pristine for the next guy to wear out.
I’d run .40 level ammo through it a couple times a year if I had one.
Picked it up today and am very pleased—the pistol’s in great shape with just a little bit of visible wear. The are some awesome extras, too. The original box (a little battered) manual and papers, a Dornaus & Dixon Bren Ten booklet, a very cool little 20 round box of original Norma ammo (not for shooting, though!), and the August 1984 Guns & Ammo, the exact magazine the originally kindled my interest. I’m very pleased and excited to try it out!
https://i.imgur.com/uZWflBg.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/yzHTQwX.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/fOvsawS.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/Ev7ACle.jpg
Very cool gun. Save that one for the grandkids
Now all you need is a shoulder holster and a white suit!
Now all you need is a shoulder holster and a white suit!
LOL! :)
nightchief
04-19-18, 23:16
Now all you need is a shoulder holster and a white suit!
No socks and a Ferrari too! ;)
Neat piece of firearm history you acquired. Did it include extra magazines? I've always read that was one of the big issues with this pistol, the lack of available magazines.
LMT Shooter
04-20-18, 00:39
It looks awesome, congratulations. Did you get an original factory mag? Can't wait for the range report.
militarymoron
04-20-18, 07:55
Beautiful pistol! Not buying one when I had the chance is one of my big firearm regrets, along with $400 HK94s back in the 80's. That's the exact model I'd have wanted too. Enjoy it!
Mr. Greene
04-20-18, 09:22
love it. was really hoping the resurrection of that pistol by Vltor would have happened. One o fmy Holy Grail guns
MountainRaven
04-20-18, 13:11
Now all you need is a shoulder holster and a white suit!
No socks and a Ferrari too! ;)
Neat piece of firearm history you acquired. Did it include extra magazines? I've always read that was one of the big issues with this pistol, the lack of available magazines.
Linen suit coat, parachute pants, pink t-shirt, Ray-Bans, boating shoes, and a Ted Blocker #1 Lifeline holster (assembled backwards). And the Ferrari should be a Ferrari body on a Chevy, IIRC.
love it. was really hoping the resurrection of that pistol by Vltor would have happened. One o fmy Holy Grail guns
Last Vltor said anything about it, it was still in the works, it's just been plagued by poor quality components from subcontractors and Vltor's attention (and manufacturing capacity) being taken by larger .gov contracts.
Mr. Greene
04-20-18, 14:17
Linen suit coat, parachute pants, pink t-shirt, Ray-Bans, boating shoes, and a Ted Blocker #1 Lifeline holster (assembled backwards). And the Ferrari should be a Ferrari body on a Chevy, IIRC.
Last Vltor said anything about it, it was still in the works, it's just been plagued by poor quality components from subcontractors and Vltor's attention (and manufacturing capacity) being taken by larger .gov contracts.
yeah but I still want a couple of them.
I had it out to the range earlier today for a quick shakedown. I hadn’t shot a handgun since last Fall, so I was out of practice for sure. I must admit that I was apprehensive—after waiting 34 years to shoot one would I be let down? (<spoiler alert>I was not!)
The pistol fits great in the hand—it’s one of my most comfortable ones to hold, and even though it’s 38 oz, the pistol’s balance makes it feel lighter. The single action trigger pull is my absolute favourite type of trigger, light, very smooth and with just a bit of movement. I’m not a fan of the “breaking glass rod” trigger…I like a bit of movement. The pull is wonderful—I’m very pleased! The recoil is more like a push than a snap—it’s very manageable and pleasant (of course, modern ammunition is not as hot as the original Norma load). There's a positive reset, too—you can hear it in the video below.
Here are the first six rounds at 15m (after shooting my VP70z the first shot surprised me and went low and left)
https://i.imgur.com/nzR7eGA.jpg
The next six were better—I might have to adjust my sights!
https://i.imgur.com/6dzNGAU.jpg
I fired a few more rounds then finished off with ten quick ones.
https://i.imgur.com/xVq1t8k.jpg
Here’s the pistol in action:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wy_tP9hO1So
I don’t think I could be happier with the pistol—it looks great, has awesome extras and feels wonderful to shoot. A great day at the range!
Awesome! It's great when a plan comes together. What ammunition were you using?
Awesome! It's great when a plan comes together. What ammunition were you using?
Oh right, I should've mentioned! It was American Eagle 180 gr.
Federal American Eagle 10mm is expensive. I don't think that it can be found for under $20 per box of 50rds. S&B and Magtech is available for about $300 delivered per 1000rd case ($15 per box of 50rds). I've been using the S&B and it's clean shooting and reliable. I've never shot the Magtech 10mm, but I'd also expect it to be clean burning and reliable based on my experience with their 9mm and 40S&W. If you don't reload, still pickup that brass and you can sell it to recoup a good part of the cost.
https://ammoseek.com/ammo/10mm-auto?co=new&ca=brass
What a great pistol! Congrats!
Achilles11B
04-22-18, 11:53
Glad to hear it’s a shooter. How easy/difficult is it to acquire spare parts for it?
Glad to hear it’s a shooter. How easy/difficult is it to acquire spare parts for it?
I would imagine just about impossible. This will be an occasional shooter for me, I think, which is a bit of a shame considering how very enjoyable it is to shoot.
Gary1911A1
04-23-18, 09:50
Chuck Warner is planning on making copies of the Bren Ten and hopes to have spare parts for the originals. https://www.facebook.com/groups/CSPOwnersAssociation/
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