Glock 20 v. Colt Delta Elite. Which is better 10mm platform?

[el Godfather]

Dear THR:
The question is the subject line says it all. Of the two which is more relaible, accurate and durable platform for a 10mm loads when pushed to higher pressures?

Please discuss your experiences.

Thank you

 

[Dan-O]

Glock 20 hands down, especially with an aftermarket fully supported barrel.

 

[plateshooter]

I agree with Dan-O. Plus you can add a 40 conversion barrel to shoot much cheaper reloads for practice.

 

[jmr40]

The discontinued S&W 1006 series would probably get my vote for best platform. The Glock isn't far behind and clearly the best currently in production.

 

[Torian]

I'm not entirely certain, but I thought the new production Delta Elite didn't have the same problems the older models did.

Glock 20 is a solid gun, but I'm just not a fan of shooting heavy 10mm ammo out of it.

I recommend a new EAA 10mm Elite Match if you can find one. That's what I ended up going with, and I never looked back.

 

[tarosean]

The discontinued S&W 1006 series would probably get my vote for best platform.

This!

Ive seen broken, as in snapped, 20's and Deltas.
Im sure someone has managed to blow up a 1006 too, but that would be a hard task. Plus it can serve double duty as a sledge hammer, yacht anchor, etc. etc.

 

[Mainsail]

Plus you can add a 40 conversion barrel to shoot much cheaper reloads for practice.

Are you saying that .40 is much cheaper to reload than 10mm? I'm curious because I reload 10mm and I can't imagine how it could be much cheaper when they both use the same bullet.

On topic, I prefer the G20SF or the G29SF for 10mm, and love the 1911 design for .45 ACP.

 

[ATLDave]

Neither come with much barrel support from the factory. Aftermarket barrels fix it for Glocks, but I don't know of a "fix" for the Delta. Note that Underwood makes special, down-powered 10mm for Colt Deltas: http://www.underwoodammo.com/deltaelite10mmauto180graingolddotjacketedhollowpointboxof50.aspx

Here's a thread that shows pics of barrel support on many different 10mm's. http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=671004&highlight=what+is+an+unsupported+chamber

 

[MachIVshooter]

The Delta is more likely to contain an overpressure load safely, with it's thicker chamber and steel frame, but the G20 is going to see less wear with a steady diet of full power ammo.

As mentioned, the 1006 is king of the 10mm autoloaders.

I have five 10mm's, including the G20 and 1006. Also a Kimber Stainless Target II, a Witness Compact and a Witness Limited.

The Glock is my least favorite to shoot, but gets carried most for 3 reasons:

1) 16 round capacity.

3) Fairly light weight

2) Don't much care if it gets beat up in the woods or impounded if, god forbid, I have to use it for defense.

 

[jerkface11]

Are you saying that .40 is much cheaper to reload than 10mm? I'm curious because I reload 10mm and I can't imagine how it could be much cheaper when they both use the same bullet

They don't use the same brass.

 

[Black Butte]

Ive seen broken, as in snapped, 20's and Deltas.

People who are snapping Glock 20s are not reloading correctly.

 

[Stevie-Ray]

I'm not entirely certain, but I thought the new production Delta Elite didn't have the same problems the older models did.

What problems were those? I bought mine in 1989 and it never fired an anemic round. Lowest power was 170 gr hp @1200 fps. I only a few years ago started using a Glock 29, but that was to keep the Delta looking good, as you can't ugly up a Glock in the woods. But I far prefer the Delta.

 

[JoelSteinbach]

10mm is my favorite round, I now own 12 different 10mm weapons, my most accurate, dependable, is an older Delta combat custom from Clark, I have a pair, stainless. and blue, but the best value would nbe one of the used S&W 1006.

 

[g_one]

If I was going to get a 10mm it would be a 1911. It would definitely NOT be a Delta Elite though. Between these two specifically, I'll take the Glock all day long.

 

[Viottato]

I see the main topic is durabilty, but as a platform goes, you have to consider that the GLOCK holds twice as many rounds.

 

[PabloJ]

Dear THR:
The question is the subject line says it all. Of the two which is more relaible, accurate and durable platform for a 10mm loads when pushed to higher pressures?

Please discuss your experiences.

Thank you

Over few years I looked over following used samples: Colt Delta, Colt 'Double Eagle', Bren Ten, S&W 1006, 1076, Model 910, G29/G20. When pros and cons were reconciled per pistol (there was just one revolver) the Glock was "last one standing".

 

[captain awesome]

I recommend a new EAA 10mm Elite Match if you can find one. That's what I ended up going with, and I never looked back.

-Amen
Shoots like a laser, and I did a couple aftermarket mods to keep brass nearby; a recoil reducing guide rod, stronger recoil spring, shortened ejector. Never once had a hick up with it. At the moment my sister is borrowing it since she lives alone in an apartment downtown, and needed some protection. I am debating whether I can go that long without it, or whether to get another 10mm. If I do, it will be another of the same, or a S&W 1006. Depending on availability and price.

 

[mljdeckard]

As much of a 1911 fan as I am, if I wanted to get a 10mm that will run well out of the box, I would get the Glock.

 

[Rock185]

The 1911 is a favorite of mine, but NOT in 10MM. I have owned both pistols. There was nothing to choose between them as to accuracy.For some reason, my G20 was not real reliable, but I suspect most G20s are very reliable. My Delta in stock form was 100% reliable. While I didn't break anything in the Delta after moderate use, I really felt like the Delta was a bit overmatched by it's 10MM ammunition. One fellow 10MM shooter told me that his Delta cracked the slide through the locking lug area, ahead of the ejection port. He said that Colt replaced his Delta under warranty and that he sold the replacement gun without shooting it. While I am perhaps not Glock's greatest fan, the G20, with it's heavier slide construction and much greater slide mass, would be my choice, between the two, for durability using the real 10MM ammunition...ymmv


Ps, If shooting some of the later factory 10MM ammo, or reloads, loaded to ballistics similar to .40 S&W, I think the Delta would last virtually forever. Using the "real" 10MM ammo,e.g.,the old Norma, or similar, 200 @ 1200, CorBon 165 @ 1325, 135 @1475, Buffalo Bore 180 @ 1380 fps, etc.,I'd be more confident in the G20's durability. My personal favorites though, accurate, reliable, durable,etc, are the S&W 10MMs...

 

[bigfatdave]

Are you ignoring ergonomics here?

 

[Inebriated]

Glock 20.

It's all about the capacity, IMO.

 

[Peter M. Eick]

Glock 20 even though I have more 1911 format guns then my one G20. The 1911 just cannot take the nuclear overloads that a G20 will digest with a decent barrel. One has to give the gun its due as much as I dislike its flexy plastic frame and utilitarian nature.

 

[Dave Arff]

Having to choose between a Glock 20 and the colt chambered for a 10 mm round, I would have to choose the Glock 20 hands down. Although the colt is aesthetically attractive. With the high pressures that a 10 mm round can exert there has been some frame failures. but not in Glock. As far as purchasing a new barrel for Glock 20 convert to a 40. Because of the cost of bullets really does not make sense to me. If you are a reloader the only difference between a 10 mm and a 40 is about two grains give or take to achieve a particular philosophy. So if you want to turn your 10 mm Glock into a 40. My suggestion would be to load light on your 10 mm rounds, could develop a injection issue but if you call Glock they will provide you with a lighter recoil spring, to better match the pressures of a 40.

 

[kgpcr]

The Glock 20 will outlast the Colt in my opinion

 

[Messenger Guard]

I don't feel the 1911 platform is beefy enough even in enhanced form to handle the round count a Glock can. The Glock's capacity would also be a factor.