Colt Delta Elite

[.3937"]

I finally have my short list down to the Colt or S&W 1006. I might still consider Fusion but they don't take phone calls, and I don't want to do the drawn out email thing trying to get my questions answered before and during a build.

I found a Colt in what I would call very good, to borderline excellent condition at a pawn shop yesterday for $875.

I don't know if the Colt's had any generational flaws along the way worth avoiding, but if serials numbers can tell that I wrote it down. It's DS26531. I could only get him to knock $25 off so ~ $920 on the road.

It seems a tad high compared to some others I've found online. I'm wanting a 6" barrel really, but a 5" would do I suppose.

 

[MachIVshooter]

The Delta is a fine gun. However, if you plan to run alot of full power 10mm, the Smith is the obvious and only choice.

 

[.3937"]

What about the price range - seem reasonable?

 

[Demitrios]

I run a lot of full power 10mm through my Dan Wesson. The Smith, while still a fine gun, is not the obvious and only choice.

 

[sigsteve]

What would make a quality 1911 such as a DW or Colt Elite not capable of shooting full power 10mm in regular use? Are you suggesting that the 1911 platform is not designed well enough to handle a more powerful load than the .45?

 

[Oro]

Yes, I think that is a fair OTD price for a new Delta.

But I don't think that s/n is a new one (I could be wrong). The used ones usually are a little lower than that.

The "generational" flaws were only with the very early ones in '86 and '87, and it's easy to remedy by machining away the slide rail above the slide-stop cut-out. Same place WWII and earlier .45's crack.

 

[FrankM]

Colt delta......

The serial number on yours seems to be a new one. I bought a new one back in October and the # is DS26xxx. I love mine and carry it for a duty weapon. Routinely shoot Winchester Silvertips throught it....not bad at all

 

[surfinUSA]

The Delta is a fine gun. However, if you plan to run alot of full power 10mm, the Smith is the obvious and only choice.

No. Acutually the G 20 that was designed for the 10mm is the only choice, athough the S&Ws are a good alternative as is the Delta.

 

[Knockdownpower]

I agree, the smith would be a good choice, but I personally own a Glock 20 and it was built for the punishment the 10mm dishes out. I shoot mild reloaded ammo mostly to save money but I keep Federal Hydra shock loaded in it. I have a stainless steal Colt delta elite and love it. I think every 1911 fan should own one at some point in their life. Hope this helped

 

[loop]

After I got my Delta Elite I sold my Glock 20. The Delta is just much more accurate and handles a wider variety of reloads.

I wouldn't own a Smith auto. Way too many bad experiences with poorly built ones.

The Dan Wesson is a pretty good gun from what I've seen, but why buy an imitation Colt when you can have the real thing?

Another thing about the Colt, it is the company that has been building 1911s the longest and also building 10s the longest. If experience counts...

The price you mentioned seems reasonable.

 

[MachIVshooter]

I run a lot of full power 10mm through my Dan Wesson. The Smith, while still a fine gun, is not the obvious and only choice.

Of the two he's considering, it is I run full power stuff through my Kimber with a 21# spring and a shock buff. But the S&W requires no modification/aftermarket parts to handle the heavy stuff constantly. Unlike 1911's, which are adapted to the cartridge with the same external dimensions as their .45 ACP counterparts, the 1006 was built for it, with a heavier slide and frame than it's 4506 no dash base platform.

No. Acutually the G 20 that was designed for the 10mm is the only choice, athough the S&Ws are a good alternative as is the Delta.

The 1006 was designed for the cartridge, overbuilt to begin with, and has better case support with a factory barrel. There is a reason the 10XX-based 45XX-1 guns are the only production .45 ACP guns considered adequate for .45 Super with no modifications. I stand by my statement unequivocally. The 20 has a magazine capacity advantage, but no better durability. And it wasn't one of the OP's considerations.

 

[loadedround]

.3937: I bought one of the first Delta Elites when they came out and shot about 20 bx og the then hot Hornady ammo to get empties for reloading and since then have shot over 1000 heavy jacketed rounds and about another 1000 mediun lead rounds thru my DE w/o any percived damage. I did change my recoil spring a few rounds ago, not because I needed to, but because I wanted to change it. I enjoyed my first DE so much that I just bought a second 10 mm Delta Elite in SS as a backup.

 

[.3937"]

I meant to update y'all and totally forgot about it so here it is short and sweet.

Never say never. I started out my 10mm research not having ruled out any of them except the Glock, since I have always detested the way they look. Over the period of about a month of doing more and more reading and handling several of the models, I finally chose the Glock 20.

I was pretty shocked the day I drove home with it, thinking back on how dead set against it I was. I have only shot a few hundred rounds through it but the verdict thus far is . . . . . I love this gun AND this round.

I'd bought it primarily for backup during hog hunting. My SA 1911 .45 loaded with Golden Sabres still maintains its HD role and that won't change. But after blowing up a few water filled targets and soapy phone books I'm more comfortable knowing the 10mm is on my hip should my Marlin 336 ever fail (which is about as likely as the Glock failing) - but you never know when a round will misfire so I don't take anything for granted.

So thanks for all the input and suggestions - so far I'm well pleased with my choice.

P.S. I got the Model 20 with two clips, speed loader, case, new in box for $560.00. It has adjustable sites which the guy told me was not common. He said most of them are fixed but I don't know how accurate that statement is - wouldn't have mattered I'd already made my choice before waling into his store.




.

 

[JoelSteinbach]

Of all the hand guns that I own, and of the 11 different 10mm, my pair of Delta's that I would never consider parting with. The had been worked on many years ago by Clark of Louisianna, The only parts maintainance I have is to change recoil springs, and bushings every 200 rounds. Great guns, I also own a Glock 20, and a 29, not at all in the same league.

 

[DesertFox]

I'm working on acquiring one of each 10mm - well, I have passed numerous times on the Wyoming Arms / Parker... They are all fantastic machines. Delta Elites are like Rolex whereas Glocks are like Timex. S&W are tanks but the Megastar is the super tanker. Love the Ruger Buckeye Blackhawk to fill my single action revolver needs and the 610 for roving bands of attacking bowling pins... Bust out the MP5/10 for pending attacks from zombies...

 

[LawofThirds]

Actually, Glocks are all imported with adjustable sights to score enough points to be importable as a "sporting" firearm (which is also why there's none of the .380 ACP Glocks running around). Most lose their adjustables after importation and then hit the dealership floor.

The joys of stupid import rules. The "dodge" sprinter van is actually a mercedes. They're assembled, test driven and then disassembled into major components in germany and then shipped here to be "built" in America because of the trade hissy fit caused by germany and other european countries restricting the import of american chicken meat (they weren't happy with the amount of certain chemicals in the meat) and the US responding by banning the import of complete "light trucks".

 

[MattTheHat]

Another vote for the Delta Elite. Love mine.

I ordered a 10mm upper Monday that should be here by Friday. Not really a pistol, but the AR is a fun platform for emptying 10mm brass.


-Matt

 

[General Tso]

I got my Delta for around $875 brand new from budsgunshop.com less than a year ago. Check there. I wouldn't pay $875 for a used one.

 

[.3937"]

Most of the time I see a statement about how one brand of a certain caliber is a POS compared to another brand of the same caliber, I default into doubt to some degree. While the Colt or S&W or the Frito Lay 10mm may be "better" than the Glock or a Nighthawk (these are just exapmles not saying one is or not) - usually the statements are more emotion than anything that can be quantified with empirical data.

I do say "most" of the time as I realize there are exceptions. The Witness is obviously flawed. There may be others. But to say the Glock 20 is not even in the same class of quality or dependability is nothing but brand loyalty or "Because I own one-itis". I'm not saying the G20 is "the best" or that it's even better than most, but when I see " . . it's not even in the same league." that's my queue to mark that guy down in "No credibilty" crowd.

 

[HisSoldier]

The Delta is a fine gun. However, if you plan to run alot of full power 10mm, the Smith is the obvious and only choice.

Not everyone would agree.

The Dan Wesson is a pretty good gun from what I've seen, but why buy an imitation Colt when you can have the real thing?

MIM, and maybe the DE doesn't use the plastic MSH, that in itself would be enough for me. No MIM or plastics in a DW.

 

[atblis]

That sounds a touch high. You could probably get one NIB for that much or maybe even less.