Thoughts on the 10mm Auto

Stay at the starting loads or bump up just barely enough to guarantee good function. I had a delta and the pisspoor barrel support is a major concern that frustrated me to a point that I traded it away to a brand new 686-6. I liked the gun, but the whole thing is a calamity.

The guns are nice, but personally I would not want another Delta. I would buy a different brand though, or if I had my delta back I might buy a fully supported barrel from somebody other than the jumping jackass.

I loaded 180 gr Berrys truncated cones in mine, and I used AA7. I liked it, but the cases were one time use guppy bellied trash. I killed a buck at about 7 yards with it while I owned it. That was essentially in my grandpas back yard, and I had the flu so I wasn’t walking far.

I've got a Delta Elite, carried it quite a bit and shot a deer with the Hornady 155 XTP which made holes in tissue bigger than a quarter (.95)
In before someone posts the incorrect blanket generalization that 10mm is overpenetrative for SD.
https://www.luckygunner.com/labs/10mm-auto-self-defense-ammo-ballistic-gel-tests/
In Lucky Gunner tests Hornady 155 XTP 14'' / .68 and Hornady 180 XTP 16.9'' / .64 - 10mm overpenetrates mythbusted right there.
Gel is good for comparison, but may not reflect effect of increased KE (IMO) like me documenting > .95 holes in tissue from a bullet that expands to .68
I've gone from carrying 1911's to Glocks currently; but 10mm is still carried, Glock 20SF with 155 XTP.

The hotter loads have proven to be too much for 1911's. The original Smith 1006 series of guns were tanks and could handle the power as will the Glocks. I think that if you stay with most factory loads or lower end handloads you'll be OK. You'll get performance a little better than 40 S&W. You probably don't want to shoot any of the hot factory loads from DoubleTap or Buffalo Bore. Or if you do, you'll probably need to go to a heavier recoil spring.

I have a Glock 20 and 29 that I carry when hiking in bear country loaded with 200 gr DoubleTap loads at 1300 fps. I don't carry the 10's for general use though. I have complete confidence in a 9mm or 45 stopping 2 legged threats. I tend to just shoot mid-level loads for practice and range shooting. My Glocks both function just fine with 40 S&W. Not something I do on a regular basis, just enough to prove it works. But good to know if in a pinch and can't find 10mm ammo. I can't say if that will work with other pistols, but I've never heard of anyone having an issue doing it with Glock.

spraay said:

What other sort of ammo do you all like in this caliber?

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Anything full power is good. I like the sig ammo for factory ammo. Also underwood, double tap & buffalo bore.
Xtreme penetrators are good and underwoods 165 grain gold dot loading is a great cartridge- it's what I carry in my g20

I mostly only use my handloads with mine (200 grain XTP over AA#9) as it's extremely accurate and fun to shoot.

I like 10mm as a woods gun but prefer calibers I can shoot faster/easier for defensive purposes.

Congratz spraay, I would love to have a Delta Elite! I have a 10mm Kimber, as it's on our roster here in California. I have found that my 10mm 1911 is more content when it's fed truncated cone bullets. It seems to always lock the slide back early on RNFP designs. Keep your loads reasonable & your pistol will thank you. Be safe.

You have a very nice pistol. I caught the 10mm bug about 10 years ago and still learning. Very versatile cartridge. Try 180g Berry’s with Blue Dot. Power Pistol also works well with this cartridge. Load for it and enjoy it. You will be surprised how versatile this cartridge is.

I'm a huge Blue Dot fan in the 10mm, and Longshot comes in 2nd. I mostly load up 180gr PC cast bullets, with some 195 PC cast. I'm still trying to get XTPs to play nice in my 10mms.

Congrats on your new pistol, it looks nice; saw it in the pictures thread.

I was an early adopter of 10 mm when the Bren Ten came out in 82/83. I then picked up one of the first Deltas in 85(?). I never had an issue with it, but sold it out of fear when I heard that they had issues with frame cracking. Colt fixed the problem pretty quick.

I waited until the SS models model like yours came out and picked one up, and then a second one a few years ago.

They both work great. I’ve never had any brass problems caused from the barrel ramp. But then I don’t try to make super max mega magnum reloads either.

Enjoy!

I do not own a Delta Elite buy I just recently bought the Springfield Trp long slide. I love shooting this gun. The only issue I have is try to recover my brass. It will eject brass several lanes over or depending distance I shoot will eject brass to the top of the roof. Have not reloaded yet as I am having difficulty recovering the brass.

I am a HUGE 10mm fan.
I have 2 Delta Elites. I have a blued DE (1987) and a SS DE(2010 ish). The newer DE shoots better and I am more comfortable shooting hotter loads in it then the older one. I fitted several Wilson Combat parts into me SS DE to make it a better shooter, but, now I don't carry it because of the modifications.

Reinz said:

I was an early adopter of 10 mm when the Bren Ten came out in 82/83. I then picked up one of the first Deltas in 85(?).

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I fired and bought my first 10mm in 1990, I now have 14 in my safe.

sparkyv said:

I'm a huge Blue Dot fan in the 10mm....

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Same here, it's my main powder for fast loads. I do 13 grains behind a 155 grain XTP and get a bit over 1450 fps. I have a Ruger SR1911 in 10mm and it handles the hot loads just fine. I had a 2nd gen G20 for many years and it also did well, I just never warmed up to the Glock, though.

For shooting 180 and 200 grain bullets, both Blue Dot and Accurate #9 work well and push that big 200 to about 1150 fps. I prefer the lighter 155 grain bullet at the higher velocity; I also shoot a lot of .40S&W and use that same bullet in those loads.

I broke the lower bbl lug on my SR1911-10, so now I shoot more tame loads in it. For my spicy loads, I use my M610 anymore.

I've shot the G20, and had the opportunity to buy it outright, but I too never did warm up to it.

bangswitch said:

I have a Ruger SR1911 in 10mm and it handles the hot loads just fine. I had a 2nd gen G20 for many years and it also did well, I just never warmed up to the Glock, though.

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sparkyv said:

I broke the lower bbl lug on my SR1911-10, so now I shoot more tame loads in it. For my spicy loads, I use my M610 anymore.

I've shot the G20, and had the opportunity to buy it outright, but I too never did warm up to it.

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I used to not understand the reasoning for shooting auto cartridges in a revolver. Then I shot the Smith Model 610. I can’t put my finger on it, it just so sweet to shoot. It has become my favorite revolver to shoot now. And I LOVE using moon clips now !

I never warmed up to my Glock 20 either. I only kept it for the firepower, but I never shoot it.

tommy.duncan said:

I am a HUGE 10mm fan. ................
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I fired and bought my first 10mm in 1990, I now have 14 in my safe.

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Haha, I totally relate. That 10 mm bug bit me hard in the early 80’s. I used to buy every 10 mm gun that came out. But it seems the variety has exploded in the past 8-10 years and my wallet can’t keep up anymore.

jmr40 said:

The hotter loads have proven to be too much for 1911's. The original Smith 1006 series of guns were tanks and could handle the power as will the Glocks. I think that if you stay with most factory loads or lower end handloads you'll be OK. You'll get performance a little better than 40 S&W. You probably don't want to shoot any of the hot factory loads from DoubleTap or Buffalo Bore. Or if you do, you'll probably need to go to a heavier recoil spring.

I have a Glock 20 and 29 that I carry when hiking in bear country loaded with 200 gr DoubleTap loads at 1300 fps. I don't carry the 10's for general use though. I have complete confidence in a 9mm or 45 stopping 2 legged threats. I tend to just shoot mid-level loads for practice and range shooting. My Glocks both function just fine with 40 S&W. Not something I do on a regular basis, just enough to prove it works. But good to know if in a pinch and can't find 10mm ammo. I can't say if that will work with other pistols, but I've never heard of anyone having an issue doing it with Glock.

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How is the 10mm hot loads compared to hot loads for the 9mm and 40 SW in recoil?

Noticeable, but quite manageable.

Aim1 said:

How is the 10mm hot loads compared to hot loads for the 9mm and 40 SW in recoil?

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Another, from the first, 10MM fan here. I had an early Bren Ten, then a succession of 10MM revolvers and semi-autos, including a Delta. I used the "real" 10MM factory ammo, and equivalent hand loads in my guns. My Delta had the least case head support of any 10MM semi-auto I'm aware of. The 10MM case is a strong one, so never had a case actually blow. But I was concerned enough about all that unsupported brass hanging out over the barrel throat, to have BarSto fit one of the ramped 10MM barrels they'd started making. I much preferred my Kimber 10MM, with the very well supported factory barrel.

I'm a long time 19111 guy, but I always felt my 1911s got beat up pretty good with the real 10MM ammo. I still like 1911s, and the 10MM cartridge, just not in the same gun

I had several S&W 10XX guns, a Glock, etc. The S&Ws became my favorites. Like the Glocks, they handle the real 10MM ammo without any durability issues, and without resorting the extra heavy recoil springs, dual recoil springs, buffers, etc.
Meant to add that hot 10MM has recoil way in excess of the hottest 9MM +P+ I've ever used. The .40, in heavy Buffalo Bore type loads, is closer but the difference between heavy .40 and heavy 10MM loads is, as sparkyv indicated, "noticeable"...

My original Delta Elite was my woods gun since 1987. Back then it shot mostly 175gr Silver Tips @1250fps, or PMC 170gr hollow points @1200fps, as they were most readily available. They are both still made today. My Delta was always, I thought, a beautiful gun with it's ivory grips, was never banged or scratched up with carry, and so to keep it rather pristine, I put it in the safe and went to a Glock 29 in the early 2000s. I shoot mostly DT 200gr controlled-expansion HPs out of it, in the woods, nowadays.

Any of you 10mm guys shoot a Grand Power?

I have a Glock 20SF, and after a little work with it, I like it. I invested in a better trigger and a fiber optic front sight. The 180 grain loads I use are not too hot, but give me a step up from .357 mag power in a high-capacity auto. I carry it in the woods with confidence.
My only experience with 1911's in in .45ACP, which is what God and John Browning intended.

I have a Lone Wolf Timberwolf large frame (w trigger mods) with a 6" Dasan G21/41 slide and a 6" Storm Lake 10mm conversion (yes it's a franken-gun, but it works well). It's my preferred woods gun, and one of my favorites overall. I reload most of what I shoot. I use Montana Gold 155gr FMJ & HP and 180 gr FMJ & HP for loads.