Tell Me About the Colt Delta Elite and the 10mm

[wanderinwalker]

Lately I've been considering getting a second 1911 to go with my Colt Competition in .38 Super. The Delta Elite in 10mm is very high on the list, primarily because it was a very close decision between the Competition and a Delta when I picked out the .38 Super. (The Super won purely on the emotional value of I just thought it looked cool.)

I'm here to ask for other users experiences as well. How is durability and reliability of these pistols? Accuracy? Any tips and tricks to running them that you've learned that aren't immediately obvious? And of course, how's the recoil? Fifteen years ago I was a huge .44 Magnum fan, and I continue to own and shoot 4" .357 Magnum revolvers, so I'm not entirely recoil averse.

I'm a handloader and after picking up the Super I'm now familiar with being not-quite-in-the-main stream. To me that's become part of the appeal of owning one of these pistols.

And for the sake of discussion, let's just say I'm well set on getting a Colt if I get another 1911. The caliber isn't dead-set on the 10mm though.

 

[JONWILL]

I picked up a Delta Elite a few months ago. They were around $950 delivered.
I like it. Recoil isn't bad. The power is up there with a 357

Be aware most factory ammo is around 40 S&W power.

You either need to buy premium ammo like Buffalo Bore or Double Tap or reload to get the most out of it.

Colt has done a great job improving on the original Delta. They beefed up the recoil spring (2 springs) has a shock buffer and the slide stop is already cut out where it used to crack.
Mine has a great trigger and is as accurate as I can hold it.

My reloads are 10.3 grains of Blue Dot under a 180 grain XTP. I don't have a chronograph but the recoil puts them just under Buffalo Bore

 

[cowboy77845]

I put a 22# Wolf single spring in my older Delta and never had any problems. Really like the round. Use to have a bunch . (Colt Gold Cups and S&W). Sold 'em a while back, they were bringing too much $$ on the secondary mkt to ignore. Buy it, you will like it. Prices seem to be more reasonable now. Must be some increased interest now since SIG and Ruger have come out with 10MM.

 

[whatnickname]

I owned a Colt Delta Elite a number of years ago. Despite my best efforts that pistol just about beat itself to death. The plunger tube, that held the spring plungers for the thumb lock and slide latch, on the left side of the frame, would come off on a regular basis. After re-staking and / or replacing the tube for about the 6th time, I traded the pistol away. If I wanted a 10MM today it would either be the Glock 20 or the G40 model. Granted, my experience was based on one example of the Delta Elite. I may have very well had a lemon.

 

[THE DRILL INSTRUCTOR]

I've had a Delta for a number of years, it was my carry gun when I lived in Vermont. I replaced Colt's funky double recoil spring setup with a single 24# Wolf spring, as well as replacing the plastic MSH with a proper steel one and put on Trijicon night sights. It's a great little package, and the only feeding issues I ever had with it were due to some cobra mags. I use the factory mags or Wilson combat mags, they both feed great.

When I get around to shooting it again I'm going to experiment with a heavier mainspring and square firing pin stop to soak up more recoil. It kicks a fair bit with full power loads, especially the 230 grain hardcast Double Tap I carried in it for defending against animals, but not so much that it was uncomfortable or unmanageable.

One thing to note on feeding it properly hot 10mm: the Deltas have traditional unramped barrels with poor case support at the base, so heavy loads will bulge the cases and make them unusable for reloading. If you plan on shooting a lot of hot loads, consider that the additional expense of a ramped barrel and fitting will not be cheap. I don't reload, so it hasn't ever been a concern for me but it's definitely something to consider.

All in all it's probably my favorite handgun alongside my S&W M29.

 

[Cannibul]

I'm a 10mm fan. I have three 1911 pistols in 10mm. I have two Dan Wesson's and an Original DE in Blue.

If I were in the market, actually if I had permission, to buy another 10mm 1911 I'd first look at the new Ruger, then another Dan Wesson, lastly another Colt.

 

[Balrog]

I am a 10mm fan, but I am still not sure why I would prefer it over a 45 ACP or a 9mm in about 99 percent of the shooting scenarios I can think of. I have had 2 Colt Delta Elites in 10mm over the years. Both were fine pistols, accurate and reliable, and I can find no faults with either. They handled full power 10mm loads well. Ultimately, I got rid of them though. 10mm is a nice cartridge, but there is nothing I would use the 10mm for that I could not just as easily be using a 45 or 9mm for.

If you have a need for 10mm, Delta Elite is a great way to go.

 

["Dandy"]

If you are dead set on Colt but not 10mm I would not get the Delta Elite.
I have a SR1911 in 10mm.
Even though Kimber has the most barrel support I don't feel it as useful as the bull barrel in the Ruger.
Though I doubt I have the bank roll to destroy a Delta by running full house 10mm to failure. The mass of a bull barrel will slow down unlocking time beating the gun up less.
Though sentiment was the only reason I went with a 10mm in the 1911 platform. I wanted that classic look. I already have a Glock 20 and don't have a .45 pistol and don't see it in my forseable future.

 

[wanderinwalker]

Thanks for the thoughts and insight. I'll probably mull this over some time as it appears a 10mm will be my third 1911 now. In a fit of almost complete gun ADD, I ended up with a blued Colt Competition Model, Series 70 in .45 ACP, instead of a Delta Elite.

(I need to clean it up and get it to the range before I post too much about it. I'm cautiously hopeful it will be as good as my stainless .38 Super.)

 

[Deaf Smith]

Mine works great. Normally I just use handloads. 180 at 1150 is plenty for most critters (but it can go way higher in power.)

Deaf

 

[bannockburn]

wanderinwalker

In a fit of almost complete gun ADD, I ended up with a blued Colt Competition Model, Series 70 in .45 ACP, instead of a Delta Elite.

(I need to clean it up and get it to the range before I post too much about it. I'm cautiously hopeful it will be as good as my stainless .38 Super.)

Photos and range report please of both Colts when you get a chance. Thanks!