The Grandfather of Modern 10mms

[Talyn]

I really wanted one of these Back-in-the-Day. It still appeals.

The Bren 10 - The Beginning and the End

So why did a promising pistol fade so fast? Part of the answer is business, not ballistics.

Early production was rocky. Magazines were a headache, and some pistols shipped without usable magazines at all. Spare magazines were scarce and expensive. Add the challenge of feeding a brand-new cartridge, and the growing pains piled up.

By 1986, the company had ceased operations, with total production likely under 2,000 pistols. The gun became rare almost overnight.

The Bren 10 – The Beginning and the End

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[BassCliff]

Hi,

Interesting piece. All this time I thought Crockett carried a 1911.


Thank you for your indulgence,

BassCliff

 

[Shibadog]

Col Cooper was a huge fan of the .45 and liked the design of the (then) unobtainable CZ 75, though he had no love the the little 9mm. The 10 was intended to give LEO’s the most effective man stopper available in an auto (much as the .41 Mag was intended to do with revolvers). Both failed in that goal for one reason-recoil was more than most wanted to deal with, and neither ever really “took off” with the target group (though the 10 got close before FBI wimped out). Both are and remain good, solid powerful rounds, excellent for the outdoorsman or for SD work.

 

[ECS686]

Col Cooper was a huge fan of the .45 and liked the design of the (then) unobtainable CZ 75, though he had no love the the little 9mm. The 10 was intended to give LEO’s the most effective man stopper available in an auto (much as the .41 Mag was intended to do with revolvers). Both failed in that goal for one reason-recoil was more than most wanted to deal with, and neither ever really “took off” with the target group (though the 10 got close before FBI wimped out). Both are and remain good, solid powerful rounds, excellent for the outdoorsman or for SD work.

There is a lot of opinion the FBI “whimpped out” but that wasn’t the case.

There isn’t any mortal man here that would be able to run full power 10mm through a S&W 1076 in a 5,000 round academy and NOT have issues.

The other issue was the gun failed them as much as the full powered ammo.

And they couldn’t go to the 45 as that was available and the agent running the FTU wanted the 45 but politics made the 10mm. And there were basically 3 guns at the time. s&W 1000 series (which the frame mounted decock versions were short lived due to Sig suing everyone) a Colt Delta and a Glocl came along a year late.

We also found out we can get great penetration without loading stuff as hot as we use to think.

But folks are like Tim the tool man and think more power the better. Your arms and wrist in layer years so do whatever you want

 

[tapehoser]

Always thought the Colt Delta Elite preceded the Bren Ten, but I was mistaken. Good article.

I carry a Glock 29 and love the 10mm with all my precious little heart. It makes me feel snazzy.