Thinking about a 1911 in 10mm. Suggestions?

Check out Fusion Firearms. A bit spendy, but well worth it. They build longslide 10mm 1911, which I have always considered to be the best way to handle that cartridge in that design.

I bought a Delta Elite - a stainless one from the most recent run. I've only put 200 rounds through it, but it is functioning well so far and is quite accurate. No second guessing for me; I love it. This is the only 10mm I've ever owned or shot, so I can't really comment on other choices.

Dan Wesson (ie. CZ) offers a few.
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Powerful cartridge.
Dunno about ammo avail.

I remember liking the 45/38 from back in the 60's.
Just change barrel to switch.

Check out Fusion Firearms. A bit spendy, but well worth it. They build longslide 10mm 1911, which I have always considered to be the best way to handle that cartridge in that design.

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Exactly what I was thinking!

http://www.fusionfirearms.com/shop/six-inch/6-inch-long-slide/

10mm

If you have not fired a 10mm I would recommend doing so before a purchase.
I have fired two to see what all the press is about. I was not impressed. I love my .45 ACP 1911s and .44 Mag Revolver. I am not recoil shy but the 10mm IMHO is just unnecessarily harsh.

I voted RIA so you can have money left over to buy some ammo

I'm not a Glock fan, and have a Colt Delta Elite, but I hate to say it, the Glock 20SF is a better 10mm platform.

In .45ACP or 9mm my Glock 21 and 17 collect dust (got caught up in the Glocks are great hype when they we still relatively new before the '94 AWB) while I shoot the crap out of my 1911 pistols.

Wilson, Fusion, Dan Wesson and Colt Delta.

I have a Dan Wesson CBOB that has thousands of rounds through it since 2007 and it's still running strong. Many of those thousands were powder puff 180's doing about 1000 fps. But it has handled many "warm" loads too.

The Glock's seem to handle just about anything which is nice if you enjoy shooting them...I didn't.

One of these days I need to pick up a 5" 1911 in 10mm and I'll have my eye out for a D.W. with a good price, however prices being what they are these days, it might put a Fusion in the ballpark.

And one day I'd like a Delta just because it's a Colt.

Well, I can tell you which one I did buy...

Dan Wesson stainless CBOB (Commander Bobtail). To be honest, I was looking for a Kimber 10mm, but couldn't find one. The DW showed up used, 600 rounds, so I bought it. I had some (ahem) issues with it, and since it was "used", DW wanted nothing to do with me. Not at all impressed with the replies I got on the DW forum (section of the 1911 forum).

All that said, I (finally) have it working well, and I have way more into it than I will ever get back, so I'll probably be buried with it.

The 10mm is a neat cartridge, but it is a reloader's proposition...and at that, not an easy one. It is a rare day that you find 10mm brass on the floor at your range or find once-fired 10mm brass online.

As far as the Glocks go, I was considering a G20. Then, one day I picked up some 10mm brass off the floor. I was ecstatic (see above). Then I started looking the cases over. They were notably of round at the base--bulged. They went into the trash can. The more I read about Glocks, the more people I see stating that this is de riguer if you shoot full-power loads from a Glock barrel.

That idea went into the trash can...along with that brass.

Good luck, and enjoy your search.

I have a lot of 10s and for under 1200 ish the colt is the best 10 in a
1911. Kimber quality is spotty at best. I will buy a rock island when I see one without a rail. If you can justify the price, the nighthawks and Wilsons are nice, maybe someday I will. The Glock or Smith really is the best 10mm imho however. Have you looked at the 10xx series smiths.

Dan Wesson CBOB and Dan Wesson Razorback both in 10mm. I have both and they are amazing guns.

I also had a RIA 10mm and it was very problematic. Ended up selling it.

Dan Wesson or Fusion.

I have a Dan and a Baer 10mm. Since Baer won't make one today, I would get another Dan if I needed it.

I also have a Fusion 10mm on order. Should be ready by late November. There is a 6 to 9 month wait on a Fusion build and you're looking at $2K+ on price.

If I had the money I would go with the Fusion 10mm. After that it would probably be between a Dan Wesson or a Colt Delta Elite.

I had a Delta. Spent a ton of money to give it all the "bells and whistles." Due to circumstances beyond my control, I had to replace it.

Now I have a Kimber Eclipse Custom II. I like it fine. Fit and finish are as they should be. Frankly, better than my Delta.
Changed out the firing pin stop, to a EGW flat FPS. Went to an extra power firing pin spring and a 20# variable recoil spring. Added XS Big Dots.
Works like it should light or heavy loads.
I'm not a Kimber fan boy. It seems like a decent gun for the money. MIM doesn't bother me. I don't like the IDEA of a plastic main spring housing, holding up fine, though.

So I have experience with these two only.
The Colt will always have more "pride in ownership."
Unless you like the Colt the way it comes? It's expensive to modify it.
The Kimber comes pretty much like "I" wanted, out of the box.
The Kimber has a ramped and supported barrel. The Colt does not.

It's the chamber support that matters most, to me. If you want to run HOT loads? You need chamber support. And if you don't want to run HOT loads? Why bother with 10mm's idiosyncrasies? Go with a .45.

As mentioned before, 10mm is a reloading cartridge. (however in the recent panic, it's one of the few consistently available calibers) If you are willing to load for it, it's great.

I do not find even HOT loads to be harsh. I consider, the power of, 10mm to be on par with .357 mag. If you fire max loads of comparable energy through service size platforms (say .357=GP100 4" & 10mm=1911 5"), I feel that 10mm had less perceived recoil. This is a platform issue, yes. But, I think puts felt recoil in perspective. Sure it has more recoil than a .45acp. It's got allot more energy, too.
My son has been enjoying "full house" 10mm loads (200gr @ 1200+fps), since he was 10. It's still his favorite gun to shoot. He literally has hundreds of said rounds through it.

I would have considered a Dan Wesson, but at the time Kimber is what I could find.

If I were starting over?
I would give serious consideration and research to the new RIA.

If I had my way? Ruger would make a SR1911 in 10mm...I guess i'm voting other!

I voted other. I own an IAI Javelina Longslide and it's super fun. The downside is that they haven't been made in over a decade.

I've owned or STILL own almost all of the noted guns. The Kimbers are nice, the Dan Wessons are definitely nicer... However, my Fusion longslide is the finest firearm I own and the epitome of 10mm goodness.

orionengnr said:

As far as the Glocks go, I was considering a G20. Then, one day I picked up some 10mm brass off the floor. I was ecstatic (see above). Then I started looking the cases over. They were notably of round at the base--bulged. They went into the trash can. The more I read about Glocks, the more people I see stating that this is de riguer if you shoot full-power loads from a Glock barrel.

That idea went into the trash can...along with that brass.

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Just get an aftermarket barrel. Problem solved!

If you don't reload, 38 Super is probably not for you.

Powerful cartridge.
Dunno about ammo avail.

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Good thing he didn't ask about ammo availability.

I voted for Kimber. I think the Eclipse II is just awesome. However, I admit my opinion is based on looks, not experience.

I've been really happy with my Fusion longslide.

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If you have any interest in double stack the STI Perfect 10 is a good one as well, but I don't shoot it as much as the Fusion.

hariph creek said:

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The Kimber has a ramped and supported barrel. The Colt does not.

It's the chamber support that matters most, to me. If you want to run HOT loads? You need chamber support. And if you don't want to run HOT loads? Why bother with 10mm's idiosyncrasies? Go with a .45.

As mentioned before, 10mm is a reloading cartridge. (however in the recent panic, it's one of the few consistently available calibers) If you are willing to load for it, it's great.
....

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Basically, What he said. I would avoid any 10mm that does not have a ramped barrel.

At 37,500psi, the Ten is a high pressure cartridge (for a semi-auto). If you are going to have a 10, you will want to reload. If you reload you want your cases to make it thru several reloading cycles without failing.

Throated chambers (like a Colt Delta) are marginal in terms of support. They will work ok for factory new ammo with virgin brass, but I worry about them with reloaded brass.

From what I understand the Kimber and Dan Wesson 1911's have fully supported, ramped barrels. I would look at one of those.

If you google 'delta elite case support' or the like, you should find a number of discussions on the topic, along with comparative photos showing the issue therewith. Not sure what aftermarket barrels might be available to improve the situation.

While you specifically said you didn't care for EAA or the guns it offers, you may still want to consider the Tanfoglio Witness Hunter--EAA doesn't make any guns as far as I know, and Tanfoglio makes a number of extraordinary ones, IMO. The reason I still suggest a look at the Hunter is: all steel, single action only, double stack, 6" fully supported barrel and dead nuts accuracy. In spite of being a double stack, it doesn't feel the least bit fat to me, and I have average/medium hands with relatively short fingers. This is about as much a 1911 design as you can get and not be a 1911. It is beautifully made and finished, but of course 'unique' in terms of sights, trigger and of course the way the slide rides inside the frame, not on the outside.

If it's still thanks but no thanks to the Witness Hunter and has just gots to be a more 'true' 1911, then only based on comments of those who hang around the 10mm crowd, it's been the Fusion line that I've heard the most of, all positive. What I think is real nice there is that you can get pretty much anything you want at what I think are semi-custom prices. I have an upper limit as to what I think any handgun is worth, and many custom 1911s are way beyond that. Fusion seems to retain some sanity while offering some beautiful guns--all of them in 10mm, or just about. That would be my first choice, but I don't own one and never fired one.

As for not reloading, 10mm ammo, when available at all, is comparable in price to any other full-bore auto pistol ammo: $0.75 a round is possible with Underwood, and even lower prices can be found on ammo that doesn't exist. I don't see 38 Super being any more available or even remotely less expensive than 10--I wouldn't plan on price being a differentiator here. I will say that 38 Super in a longslide 1911 is fun, but 10 is funner.

Now, you didn't mention any particular purpose to which you'd put the gun, so that might be useful to folks. If you were considering a Delta I assume this isn't a carry gun, but I'm among those who find 10mm to be just the most perfect and versatile auto pistol cartridge devised, and I carry it every day--just not in a 1911. I would truly enjoy a CCO format 1911 in 10 for that purpose--if I didn't already have a Glock 29 to fill that role. Again, Fusion comes to the rescue with gorgeous options in the smaller 1911s.

Go 10--you'll be glad you did. When you do get into hand loading, the options for that cartridge abound.