Dan Wesson builds the Bruin as a hunting and woods-defense 1911 with a 6.03" barrel and a loaded weight of 43.9 oz. That makes it the heaviest 10mm handgun in this group by a wide margin, and the extra mass is deliberate. Owners who run full-power 180gr loads at 1,300 fps report the Bruin handles the recoil better than any other 10mm 1911 they have shot. The 4.2 lb single-action trigger is the lightest in the 10mm 1911 category, and reviewers consistently describe the break as clean with minimal overtravel. The optic-ready slide with tritium/fiber optic sights makes this one of the few 1911s that ships ready for a red dot without aftermarket milling.

The trade-offs are real. Eight rounds is eight rounds, and the 9.7" overall length makes the Bruin impractical for anything except field carry. At 43.9 oz unloaded, it weighs 15.5 oz more than the Glock G20 Gen5 MOS, which carries 15 rounds in a shorter 8.07" frame. The Bruin is a purpose-built woods gun and target pistol for shooters who prioritize recoil management and trigger quality over capacity and portability.