Colt Delta Elite experience

pacecars · Feb 1, 2020

My first 1911 and 10mm was a Delta Elite back in the 80s. I fired a lot of the original Norma loads in it with no problems at all. Since then I have owned a lot of 10mm 1911s, Glock’s, EAA and S&W revolvers. The only guns I have had issues with were a Kimber and RIA. The Delta is great but there are a lot of choices. The Ruger is good, the Springfield and Sig are better and a Dan Wesson is a step above them all

studenygreg · Feb 1, 2020

I have one of the newer Colt Delta Elites. I've ran about 500 or so rounds of S&B, Sig, and Hornady ammo through it including fmj and SD. I havent had any issues with mine.

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Echo40 · Feb 1, 2020

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

The issue with unsupported chambers is that they can cause the case to bulge or even rupture if shooting hot loads by boutique manufacturers or handloads. If all you plan on shooting through it is regular off-the-shelf loads such as the typical 10mm Lite/FBI loads (which really aren't much hotter than .40 S&W) and don't handload, then it shouldn't be an issue, but if you actually plan on shooting full power 10mm loads, then you'll want to either get another brand of 10mm 1911 with full chamber support or eat the additional cost of an aftermarket barrel with full chamber support.

Personally, if it were me, then I would sooner just buy a Ruger SR1911 10mm then outfit it with Delta Elite grips than pay the additional cost for a Delta Elite plus an aftermarket barrel, but then again, I wouldn't be content to shoot ammo that's only marginally hotter than .40 S&W yet costs significantly more.

I know that some are bound to provide anecdotes of how they've shot full power ammo in their Delta Elite yet never had a case blowout, but personally I wouldn't chance damaging the magazine, grips, and possibly even more critical components just because folks on the internet have had good luck.

CLASSIC12 · Feb 1, 2020

My first 1911 was a stainless Delta Elite. I recently added a blued one.

I like them a lot, accurate powerful guns, and they look great.

I shot a lot of Norma, UMC and stout reloads without issues.

I did have bulged cases and a blown one with Prvi Partizan, real **** ammo imo. I am convinced that the brass was too thin.

What are the gun laws like in Norway [emoji1189]? I work for a Norwegian company, been to Oslo a few times, and I yet have to meet a gun enthusiast colleague.

stansdds · Feb 1, 2020

I have experience with the old Delta Elite. The unsupported chamber will definitely lead to bulged brass with hotly loaded ammo and potentially a case head rupture. The originals shipped with a plastic recoil spring guide rod and dual springs. The plastic rod acted as a shock buffer and would wear out fairly quickly. The dual recoil springs were of dubious value in controlling slide velocity. There was also an issue of receivers cracking, the crack would form at the top of the window through which the slide lock tab protruded into the magazine well. The solution was to mill away that portion of the rail.

The Colt Delta Elite was as popular as it was due to the simple fact that the very expensive and hard to find (and even harder to find magazines) Bren X. The Bren was a rare item and Colt could churn out Delta Elites by the tens of thousands.
Modifying the Delta Elite does improve its durability. First, a flat bottom firing pin stop with a 1/16" bottom edge radius should be fitted to the slide. Then, a 25 pound mainspring. This will make the trigger pull even heavier, but the combination of heave mainspring and flat bottom firing pin stop greatly delays the unlocking of the breech.
Ditch the plastic recoil spring guide rod and replace it with a steel guide rod and a recoil spring of 18 pounds.

If I were to go looking for a 1911 chambered in 10mm today, I'd look at Dan Wesson, Kimber, Rock Island Armory, Ruger, or Springfield Armory. All of these makers use bull barrels with full support chambers, a much better way of handling the pressure generated by the 10mm Auto cartridge.

10mmauto · Feb 1, 2020

Darn - Delta Elite, Smith 1066. I forgot I had one of these...

Wyo · Feb 1, 2020

I’ve had a Delta since the early 90’s and have fired several thousand full power, and I do mean full power, rounds through it with never a single problem. I hear about the “case head support” issue all the time but the Colt barrel has simply never been a problem for me - maybe it has for someone else. I also have a Dan Wesson and 2 Glock 10mm’s. They’re fine too, especially the Dan Wesson, but my favorite is still the Colt.

epj · Feb 2, 2020

I had one when they first hit the scene. Only problem was the ferocious hammer bite. Nowadays a hammer and grip safety change would cure this problem. The hammer bite with the Norma ammo was so bad I didn’t keep it long enough to worry about chamber support.

bmcgilvray · Feb 2, 2020

Well Dirty Harry Callahan; I only shoot full bore 10mm ammunition through the Delta Elite, not being interested in .40 S&W performance and I particularly don't want another brand of 1911-type 10mm pistol.

VikingDude · Feb 2, 2020

Thanks for all the replies so far, much appreciated.

Since I do intend to shoot hot ammo, AKA normal 10mm loads, I decided to do a little search on the subject since I think it would be strange that Colt would design a pistol, when the 10mm Norma was the only one on the market, with what I would consider a serious flaw in the design if a normal load could damage the pistol.

What I have found out so far is that as long as there have been used quality brass and the loads are within the same range as the original 10mm Norma loads and you don’t consider the max load as a challenge, the partial unsupported barrel should not be a problem. Both Buffalo Bore and Underwood says on their web page that their ammunition is safe to use in the Delta Elite. I believe and hope that if the partial unsupported barrel was an issue, that Colt would have rectified it long ago.

So, I am going to be having this in the back of my mind and if I start seeing lots of irregularity on the cases I will buy a new barrel that is fully supported.

Echo40 · Feb 2, 2020

Unfortunately, most factory loaded ammo is 10mm Lite/FBI, and hence has become the norm. Nowadays the real Norma-spec, full-power loads are only offered by Boutique ammo manufacturers such as Buffalo Bore, Underwood, etc.
That's probably why Colt hasn't bothered to upgrade the Delta Elite's barrel, because the vast majority of factory loaded 10mm ammo isn't high pressure enough that the risk of bulged/ruptured cases is a concern, and there are more folks who just shoot factory loaded 10mm Lite/FBI than those who load their own or buy full power ammo.

But yeah, by all means, don't take my word for it, as I don't own a Delta Elite and am just repeating what I've read online while conducting my own research, and admittedly I'm a more cautious fellow so I'm predisposed towards accepting reports of danger rather than chancing it by trusting those who say it's alright because they've done so successfully before.
Also, I'm not in love with the Delta Elite in particular, so choosing another with full chamber support just in case, especially when it's substantially cheaper like the Ruger SR1911, isn't hard for me.

VikingDude · Feb 2, 2020

Dirty Harry Callahan said:
Unfortunately, most factory loaded ammo is 10mm Lite/FBI, and hence has become the norm. Nowadays the real Norma-spec, full-power loads are only offered by Boutique ammo manufacturers such as Buffalo Bore, Underwood, etc.

That's probably why Colt hasn't bothered to upgrade the Delta Elite's barrel, because the vast majority of factory loaded 10mm ammo isn't high pressure enough that the risk of bulged/ruptured cases is a concern, and there are more folks who just shoot factory loaded 10mm Lite/FBI than those who load their own or buy full power ammo.

That's a good point. I will be going to a trade show in little over a month and I will be sure to ask that question if Colt have any of their engineers there.

Dirty Harry Callahan said:
But yeah, by all means, don't take my word for it, as I don't own a Delta Elite and am just repeating what I've read online while conducting my own research, and admittedly I'm a more cautious fellow so I'm predisposed towards accepting reports of danger rather than chancing it by trusting those who say it's alright because they've done so successfully before.

Also, I'm not in love with the Delta Elite in particular, so choosing another with full chamber support just in case, especially when it's substantially cheaper like the Ruger SR1911, isn't hard for me.

I will be doing some more research on it, but the main factor that I believe it's safe is that Underwood says all their 10mm ammo is safe to use in the Delta Elite, and the owner of Buffalo Bore personally have a Delta Elite that he use with his own ammunition for publishing the velocity.

I fully understand where you are coming from, but when two reputable manufacturers of full power ammunition says it's safe, I usually take their word on it.

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Sevens · Feb 2, 2020

I hear what you are saying but those two manufacturers use new brass. If you reload brass that has been weakened near the case head with loads that replicate what Underwood and Beefalo Bore make... let’s see what you come up with after the Delta has it’s say.

jdlii · Feb 2, 2020

This Delta Elite began its life in blue but, developed some finish issues with its first owner. I acquired it from one of may favorite haunts for $400.00 with an original and an extra magazine, made by Chris McCormick.

It had some bluing issues and was only the second firearm that I have had refinished. The mainspring housing was changed out to a WWII version with a lanyard loop. The sights are Novak nite sights and the grips are VZ operators.

It shoots like a dream and there have never been any any "buldging" issues. This one sees a significant amount of field time and is a pleasure to shoot with the Wilson trigger. It is also my bed time companion.

Like most forum members, with 10mm handguns, I acquired another one. The second one is a 610-2. It can handle any load.

A GREAT round!

oysterer · Feb 2, 2020

I'd stay away. There are way way better 1911s out there as well as other 10mms. Colt will be the bottom feeder in that group. A unfitted parts bin gun with limited accuracy potential for 2x the price for what its worth is my assessment. It does go bang though if thats what you are after.

7tenz · Feb 2, 2020

Got three, well 2 Colt deltas and one SS Enh Delta and a sort of 1911 Double Eagle 10mm.The other is a Kimber Target II 10mm. Being CA I can't have the new edition unless someone ppt's it to me. Got a total of nine 10mms accumulated over 30 years or so. FYI the Kimber has a ramped barrel.

/the Custom Combat 10 has a yellowish electroless nickel finish that didn't come out well in the crappy photos.

Colt Delta Elite experience

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