[Biggums]

Hello, I'm a newbee to this forum. I've had the 1911 bug for years and just got the Delta Elite bug on top of this. So I just bought two 99% with box papers etc. blued Elites. I'm not interested in how I did money wise I would just like some Elite folks to give me either positive or negatives on these guns.

Please if you have the time just a short or long note on these discontinued guns. I love 1911's and am especially into SA's. My thought was to send one in and have it worked to totally updated parts and mods etc.

Any thoughts would be appreciated!

Thanks

Dave in Lewistown Montana.

[Bergeron]

Dave, congrats on your purchases! I bought a blued pre-Enhanced model about a year and half ago, and it's quickly become my favorite 1911.

That said, Colt did not do the best job in designing some of the small parts, and there are some things to be aware of. The recoil spring guide rod is plastic, and can quickly become damaged, even if you are firing lower power 10mm ammunition. I would strongly recommend that you replace the recoil spring guide rod that comes with the gun with a steel type/model that you favor. If you switch guide rods, the spring system will no longer fit, as the inner spring has a diameter too small to fit a standard 1911 guide rod. You will then have to get another recoil spring.

You should also consider the ammunition that you will be firing through the gun. Except for the guide rod and spring setup, a factory Delta should handle "Medium-velocity" or 40S&W spec ammo just fine. If you wish to fire full power, original spec 10mm ammo, there are simple steps that you can take to better optimize your pistols. First off, a 20lb variable rate spring should provide a good job of absorbing recoil energy, without battering the gun. I find Wolff to be an excellent manufacturer for this componet. Also, by replacing the factory firing pin stop with the EGW flat-bottomed firing pin stop, you will better enable the gun to soak up the recoiling slide velocity. An extra-power mainspring will do the same thing, and I have both the EGW firing pin stop and the extra-power mainspring (again, Wolff). A bull barrel will also help, but the factory bushing barrel is not insufficent. The modifications that I've suggested, except for the bull barrel, can be performed at home, and are not expensive.

Magazines are also another important componet. I have had no problems with the factory blue 8-rounder that came with the gun, except that it is less corrosion resistant that stainless steel models. I was recomended the CMC stainless steel 9-rounders, and am totally satisfied with them. I would also encourage you to consider Tripp 10mm CobraMags, as they appear to have superior engineering than most 1911 magazines.

I purchased my Delta to use in local bowling pin matches, so I've made a few other mods to it. I wanted to be able to return the gun to its factory configuration, (except for the guide rod) and I'm also a poor graduate student, so I wanted my mods to be cost-effective. The factory beavertail looked too small for comfort, so I had it switched for the Wilson beavertail that can be installed without removing metal from the tang. I also had a steel flat checkered mainspring housing installed, along with an Ed Brown thumb safety that replaced the factory part that was a bit undersized for my tastes. To aid in rapid reloading, I also had a magazine funnel and extended magazine release put on the gun. I know that the pre-Enhanced versions do not have beveled magazines wells, so you may wish to either have the magazine well beveled, or install a magazine funnel. I've found that it makes a big difference in my reloading. I'm going to keep the gun like this until I can afford to have it rebuilt into a full custom.

An issue that I had that you may want to be aware of are sharp edges around the gun. I've only fired full-power 10mm out of mine, and found that the grip safety and mainspring housing were painfully impacting my hand after about 50 rounds. I had my gunsmith remove the hump in grip safety, relieve the grip safety along its edges, and relieve the bottom of the mainspring housing, and now the pistol is extremely comfortable to shoot for extended periods of time.

Good luck with yours, and please keep us updated.

[grendelbane]

+1 on the EGW small radius firing pin stop. I have a 25 pound mainspring in mine, and it definitely helps to tame the beast.

It took a while, but the Delta Elite is rapidly becoming my favorite handgun. I wish brass was a little cheaper and more available, that is my only major complaint.

[Biggums]

Thanks for the two great informative posts so far. This is going to be fun!

I can't believe these beasts can be had for the prices still out there! Say sleeper?

Thanks again!

Dave

[AnthonyRSS]

No Pictures?
NO PICTURES!?!

[jibjab]

+2 or 3 on the firing pin stop instead of extra power springs, it will retard the backward slide movement without hammering the pistol when it returns to battery . A tungsten recoil spring guide rod would be nice but I don't know where to find them :(