Colt Delta Elite experience

VikingDude · Jan 31, 2020

To sum me up very shortly, I have never been a 1911 person, always preferred double stack pistols, and I have never felt the need to have other handguns than .22lr and 9mm. Don’t get me wrong, the 1911 is a really nice design and I can admire a good quality 1911. But I have never craved or wanted to buy a 1911 or own handguns in other calibres than .22 and 9mm. Heck, I even was gifted a Ruger 1911 some years ago that I later sold (with the givers permission) to buy new winter tires.

But that was until a week ago when I saw a YouTube video about the Colt Delta Elite. I started watching more and more videos about the Delta Elite and I did some research about the 10mm cartridge and I am completely sold on both the pistol and the calibre. I haven’t wanted a gun this bad for many years.

But does anyone here have any experience with the current production of Delta Elite? Is there anything that I should be aware of that could be an issue?

10mmauto · Jan 31, 2020

Can't speak to the newer guns, but the originals are great shooters.

10mmauto · Jan 31, 2020

Of course, there is nothing like a third generation Smith 10mm....

Echo40 · Jan 31, 2020

My only issue with the Colt Delta Elite is the price. Frankly, it's overrpriced for what it is and you can get a better 10mm 1911 for substantially less with the Ruger SR1911 10mm.

No seriously, the Colt Delta Elite doesn't have full chamber support and currently uses a traditional 1911 barrel with bushing whereas the Ruger SR1911 has full chamber support and a bull barrel for three hundred dollars less than the Delta Elite at $700.

In addition, for the same price as a Delta Elite you can get a substantially better 10mm 1911 by SIG, Kimber, or Dan Wesson.

That being said, if you absolutely must have a Colt Delta Elite, then obviously there is no substitute, and the Colt will obviously hold its value better than others based on brand name alone.

shocker · Jan 31, 2020

My friends who are into 10 mm 1911s buy Rock Island Armory. Prancing horse doesn't mean what it used to, at least at a 100% surcharge.

NMPinNYC · Jan 31, 2020

FWIW, I've got a Colt Delta Elite and a Colt Delta Gold Cup for old times sake. BUT that said, I recently bought myself a pair of DW Valors in 10MM, just because they were discontinued...

bmcgilvray · Jan 31, 2020

I've got a Colt Delta Elite that was purchased new in February of 2016. I have no complaints about it or its barrel and chamber design. It's digested some pretty heavy Underwood and Buffalo Bore loads as well as hand loads without issue. Only a single 220 grain hard cast Buffalo Bore load showed case head expansion and that load is not used. A similar 220 grain load from Underwood has given perfect satisfaction.

I like healthy 180 grain jacketed hollow point loads best of all for my pistol.

Triathloncoach · Jan 31, 2020

Always wanted a Delta Colt. (Ok, I love the grips) I had a 1006. Right now I carry a Glock 29. Love the 10mm and with some practice it is manageable.

Is it worth the price premium? The resale will also provide a price premium.

44wheelman · Jan 31, 2020

Some brass will bulge from unsupported chamber. Had one years ago, in my recent quest to replace it, got distracted by the Kimber Custom II (gfo) aka shot show special. Yes I had to polish the feed ramp and chamber, but then it ran like a top.....and for $615-brand new. It tight, I like it.

Brother bought one of the newer colts, he seemed to think it was pretty well fitted.

So if the pony means a lot to you, go for it. Otherwise, there are cheaper & as good or better alternatives.

VikingDude · Jan 31, 2020

Thanks for the replies so far.

I must admit that the main attraction to the Delta Elite is the design, with the delta logo on the grips and Delta 10mm Elite on the slide, I just think it’s so darn pretty.

I whole heartedly agree that Colt’s in general are overpriced compared to other manufacturers, but price is not the main factor here and I think that I am willing to pay the extra money for a pony on the slide. We are getting some Kimber 10mm in stock soon, and I will hopefully get to handle a Delta Elite on an upcoming gun show in March.

But have any one here that have or have had a Delta Elite experience any problems with not having a fully supported chamber?

LEO918 · Jan 31, 2020

Here's the latest configuration with upgraded grips. Nothing to complain about, it just works.

colt_saa · Jan 31, 2020

I have been a BIG fan of the 10MM Auto cartridge since the nineties.

My first was a Smith & Wesson 1006 and my second was this Delta Gold Cup

Truthfully, the S&W is a softer shooting pistol, but everyone that I have let fire both have turned in tighter groups with the Delta Gold Cup

I do not own a current production Delta Elite, but I have shot them and I am just as pleased with them as I am with my old Delta Gold Cup that I have been shooting for the past few decades

If I did not already own the Delta Gold Cup there is no doubt that I would be a owner of the current production pistol

Loyaljeeper · Jan 31, 2020

I can’t really comment on the Delta Elite. Although, I am sold on the 10mm and have really learned to love it in a 1911. I picked up my first 10mm 1911 a couple of months ago, a Rock Island Ultra.

CH4 · Jan 31, 2020

FYI: To my knowledge the DE is the only 10mm 1911 that does not use a fully supported chamber. It obviously works fine with anemic loads but not sure how it’ll handle full house loads. That said, I like mine.

BLUEDOT37 · Feb 1, 2020

From Handloader #314 (Jun-2018):

The date this tested Delta Elite was mfd. isn't stated but he doesn't say any changes were made historically to them either.
(He mentions earlier models may have short leades though.)

.

.

Breakaway500 · Feb 1, 2020

I bought this Delta Gold Cup NM from a forum member recently. It is the first 1911 style pistol I have ever been able to shoot with any accuracy. Can’t explain it other than it just works for me. If this had been my first handgun 50 years ago my current gun collection would now be vastly different than it is. However it’s never too late to explore new options. Just need more safe room

moralem · Feb 1, 2020

I don’t even pretend to understand the issue of supported chambers vs. non-supported chambers, but I do have two Deltas, one an original blue version and one a more contemporary brushed stainless I had turned into a bright stainless. I also have a Glock 20 and love the 15 round capacity, but I love my 1911 platforms. I have a large stash of vintage Norma ammo I feed through the Deltas and have never had an issue with the Colts.

Sevens · Feb 1, 2020

The Delta Elite definitely lacks the case head support. I believe that it matters. It matters not only if you want to use the top-end loads, but it matters most if you intend to handload/reload your brass, which the bulk of 10mm enthusiasts do. (at least in the last three decades before the more recent popularity of 10mm)

If you don’t handload and don’t intent to, and you aren’t buying the scorching boutique ammo, you may not have a problem... but when you consider the situation you may see why it’s disappointing that the Delta Elite continues to be this way while most (or is it every?) other 10mm guns have far better case head support.

Even with that said, it isn’t a deal breaker. The gun is historic and iconic. If you simply want it for the joy of owning or shooting much of the ammo on the market and no heavy handloads or top-end hunting or animal defense, you likely won’t notice where it lacks.

tlawler · Feb 1, 2020

I had one for a few years back in the late ‘90s and early 2000’s. I wasn’t reloading then, so I couldn’t afford to shoot it that much. I put mainly WWB and UMC through it and didn’t know a supported chamber from an unsupported one at the time. It was a lot of fun to shoot and I wish I still had it. I had a chance to buy a 10mm Double Eagle several months ago, but passed.

Sevens · Feb 1, 2020

As to the pistol, I owned one for a short stretch a handful of years ago. Mine was new in 2011 or thereabouts, and I was disappointed by a few things. It annoyed me to no end that an $1,100 Colt had a plastic mainspring housing but worse, a plastic guide rod. To this day it makes me laugh that legendary Colt used plastic in the guide rod where even Glock elected to use metal parts (at least in my circa-2008 Glock 29/10mm.)

The Delta didn’t work for me mainly due to the old school GI-style grip safety. I found it not at all comfortable under recoil and paired with the arched MSH, my grip on the pistol didn’t reliably allow me to shoot. That is certainly much more of a “me” problem than anyone else, but it is something to be aware of.

Again... iconic and historic, a huge part of the lore of 10mm. However, like most modern Colt firearms, I don’t see value behind the high price.

Even with all that said, I notice EVERY one that I see in any shop or gun show. That goes back to my formative years in this game. I got an “A” on a term paper in English in my sophomore year of high school. I think it was 1987. The subject was the Colt Delta Elite. Might have been the best paper that this lousy student ever wrote!

Colt Delta Elite experience

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