10mm 1911 clones: do they hold up?

[Nightcrawler]

Someone asked me this and I really didn't know the answer, so I though I'd check here.

How do 1911 clones chambered for the 10mm cartridge hold up over long term? I mean, the 10mm cartridge is considerably higher pressure than .45ACP, and a lot of shooters don't even like to use +P .45 becuase they think it'll batter the gun. I'm sure that the 10mm guns have heavier recoil spings, but are they reinforced in any other way? Is slide/frame battering an issue? How much heavier is the recoil spring than a stock .45 pistol?

Seems to me, though, that the 10mm gun would have a lot more steel around the chamber than a .45 caliber, and that probably helps.

Thanks.

 

[GreenFurniture]

Both of my Delta Elites have held up just fine.

I'm running Double Tap ammo in them too.

 

[Nightcrawler]

Didn't I read something about the early Delta Elites having a frame cracking issue, or is that just internet myth?

 

[Bob R]

Didn't I read something about the early Delta Elites having a frame cracking issue, or is that just internet myth?

Not a myth. Just not an issue. Where they cracked was not important. In all but the earliest pistols Colt milled out the area to prevent it from happening.

Sean Smith covered it very well on his web page.... 10mm Tech Notes

http://www.geocities.com/mr_motorhead/10tech.html

The Delta Elite developed an unenviable reputation for developing frame cracks, and generally being fragile. This was unfortunate, since Colt found and cured the design defect that caused the frame cracks very early on in the guns' production. Their solution was rather ingenious: they simply milled away the part of the frame that tended to crack! This problem aside, the Delta Elite is in fact a strong gun, with the frame and slide being made of high-quality forged steels.

Figure 8: Original frame design (left) and modified frame design (right).

Anyone thinking of a 10mm 1911 should read through this site, IMO.

bob

 

[trueblue1776]

10mm

RAZORBACK BABY! I HAVE SEEN THE LIGHT! CAN I GET A WITNESS?


......stupid....CZ.... grumble.... grumble....extra 300 bucks.....

 

[Nightcrawler]

Hm.

What about the other 10mm 1911s? Kimber and CZ/Dan Wesson make them now. Any issues with those?

Oh, and do the current DW RZ-10s have front serrations or no? I think I've seen pictures of them with both. (Just curious on that last point.)

Oh yeah, Springfield Armory produced a 10mm for awhile. How were those? How do all of these compare to the Delta Elites?

 

[Iggy]

IIRC the new Razorbacks do not have FCS and have fixed sights.
The PM-7 has FCS and adjustable sights.
The RZ has a Clark rib on the slide and the PM-7 has a round topped slide.
There is also the Commander sized DW 10mm.. the CBOB

I have one of the original RZ's and a CCO version.
I haven't kept count of the number of rounds, but neither show no signs of wear or deterioration.

 

[Nightcrawler]

That's good that the RZ-10s don't have the front serrations. I hate them with a passion. They ruin the lines of most pistols for me, and aesthetics count. Otherwise we'd all be carrying Glocks.

Thanks for the info. Buddy of mine, knowing I'm the "gun guy", got all pumped about a 10mm 1911 and just started bombarding me with questions, most of which I had no answers too. I've batted around the idea of getting one one of these days, but...I realized today that I haven't purchased an autoloader since 2003, and that's only the second one I've bought since turning 21. In the interim there have been four or five revolvers, and more to come.

I was a little dubious about the long-term durability of 10mm 1911s. The cartridge is a lot more powerful than the gun was designed for. Do the non-Colt models feature the enhancements of the Delta Elite, or are they just 1911s with 10mm barrels? Does it matter?

 

[GARY1911A1]

The Springfield Omegas might have been the most well built 1911 for the 10MM, but they don't quite feel like a 1911 and may have some reliability problems in some. Mine runs fine though. Get an EGW Firingpin Stop with a flat bottom for a 1911 and that will also help.

 

[MadMarcus]

If you want a REALLY BEEFY 10mm 1911 to shoot the HOTTEST loads out of there`s only one way to go LAR Grizzly. Engineered to shoot .45 Win. Magnum but also available in other calibers including 10mm. Like shooting .38 wadcutters in an N frame S&W. Marcus

 

[mhl]

Check this site too:

http://marina.fortunecity.com/harbour/347/10mm02.html

I think a ramped barrel is designed higher pressures for 10mm, and the olod Delta's had 2 springs, with most replacing them with single 18-22 pounders, compared to 16 on a .45. Some say they shoot 18 on low power loads for lower fte counts, and switch to 21-22 for the more powerful/custom loads, but I've never seen hard numbers on it.

 

[gandog56]

RAZORBACK BABY! I HAVE SEEN THE LIGHT! CAN I GET A WITNESS?

As long as it's not an EAA Witness!

P.S. My Razorback is my favorite 1911.

 

[Peter M. Eick]

I have never had any problems with mine once they were broke in. I have put about 11,000 rounds down my 2 1911's 10mm's and love them. Just change the springs, and keep shooting.

Be careful if you are going into the nuclear reload levels of power. If you are not used to shooting a "barking" 10mm, it can be quite surprising.