Colt Delta Elite 10mm Opinions

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Badger Arms

Badger Arms

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Colt Delta Elite 10mm UPDATE w/Photos

I have the opportunity to buy one. I don't want anybody to cry, so I won't post the price. What would you pay for one? What is your opinion of the gun? Anything to look out for?
 
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If I found one cheap enough, I would buy one. I doubt I'll ever find one cheap enough, though, since they all seem to be running in the $750 range, used.

The Elite series Colts worked well. I'm not the world's biggest fan of the 1911s, though, in general, but I never heard a Delta Elite owner with a complaint (that wasn't ammo price-related!).

If I ran across a Delta Elite in VG shape for under $400, I'd buy it. That's just me, though. Market value is a lot higher.
 
if it was in good shape and for a decent price, I'd buy it. Problem is, most Deltas I've seen are all commanding prices far higher than the Glock 20 or 29.
 
Good gun

I've had one of these for about 3 years - it's the Delta Gold Cup 10mm in stainless. I bought it slightly used for $800. It works very well, and is quite similar to the .45 caliber Gold Cup in accuracy and feel. I did have a trigger job done by a gunsmith, as the trigger seemed a little heavy to me when I got it - it is now 4 lbs. on the nose.

If it were a regular Delta Elite (not the Gold Cup) I would probably pay $700 in excellent condition.
 
A good reason to show mine...:D

I do not remember what I paid for it new in 1987. ($500 maybe?)
833434DE10mm.jpg
 
$500 In 1987 Sounds about right. I picked one up for that price in that time frame at a gun show in Odessa, TX. Looked exactly like the one above, including the plastic trigger. My gun has been modified extensively from the above picture. It is accurate, powerful and reliable.
 
Paid 8 OTD for mine a couple months ago. Practically NIB. I'm just now seeing barrel hood wear after 100 rounds so it had not been shot much before.

I love mine
 
I paid $550 for my pre-enhanced with slight holster wear on the bluing, a Cassul trigger and a "buff and fluff" trigger job + transfer costs. Seemed like a good deal to me and I've really enjoyed the gun so far.

Working on it has been funner than shooting it I think. I've set it up for full power loads with light bullets which it shoots very well. I've installed a stainless safety, grip screws and mag release to compliment my home-made grips and the aluminium trigger.

I still don't have a load for it I'm completely happy with. Need to bump up the power just a hair but the accuracy potential is quite good and now that I'm seating the bullets to the correct depth my feeding issues have disappeared.

If you haven't already check out Sean's 10mm page. It's an excellent resource.
 
in good condition $750 is fair price, not great fair.

But I really like my Delta, I really can't understand why anybody would sell one, I wish I had two or three.
 
Got it! Cleaned up nice. Won't tell the price as I intend to sell it after shooting. Don't need a 10mm, but it'll be nice to shoot it and still make a profit. I'll post pictures tomorrow. Stainless, pre-enhanced, standard safety, aftermarket grips (Unkle Mike's?) blued magazine. Only real flaws were some deep scratches in the frame where some knucklehead couldn't figure out how to properly install the slide stop... grrrr... But, it did come with a large box meant for a Colt revolver... funny.
 
I just bought a LNIB Delta Elite (blued) for $700. I don't think that's a great price, but it was on the low end of what I was seeing. $750 to $800 seemed to be the most common price range, with a few higher and a few lower.

This is my second Delta Elite, and looking back I never should have sold the first one :banghead:

Next stop... APW for the gunsmithing and chrome plating :)
 
Just went out & did some target shooting with my Delta Elite goldcup. I have owned for 15 yrs or so now finally finished off the 500rd case I bought with the gun. Real heavy user here. I use PMC 170gr JHP & this ???? will not feed realiably at all. I can't stick a clip in & shut the slide & not have it jam on the top round. I mean I'm talking 3 out of 4 times it will jam:banghead: I know 1 of the clips, the spring is a little weak it won't feed the rounds properly. But it seems like this might be a tad absurd not to be able to load the damn clip. Is this a common problem with JHP. Suggestions?
 
I'm sorry Rich, but it sounds like your gun just isn't up to par. I think you better sell it to me right away and save yourself from any further frustration :D
 
Bought mine new in '87 for $425. Love it to this day, and wouldn't part with it. Shoot mostly own reloads. When shooting factory, it's mostly PMC 170 gr HP and 200 gr solids. Spits them both out with equal aplomb.
 
I'm talking 3 out of 4 times it will jam .... Is this a common problem with JHP. Suggestions?
Click to expand...

IIRC, Colts of the period didn't really care for JHP's. Some would feed but most wouldn't. I believe the correction was a throat and polish job.
 
Just went out & did some target shooting with my Delta Elite goldcup. I have owned for 15 yrs or so now finally finished off the 500rd case I bought with the gun. Real heavy user here. I use PMC 170gr JHP & this ???? will not feed realiably at all. I can't stick a clip in & shut the slide & not have it jam on the top round. I mean I'm talking 3 out of 4 times it will jam I know 1 of the clips, the spring is a little weak it won't feed the rounds properly. But it seems like this might be a tad absurd not to be able to load the damn clip. Is this a common problem with JHP. Suggestions?
Click to expand...

Here is my suggestion: PMC 10mm ammunition sucks balls. Get some good JHPs and try them out before you blame the gun. The PMC crap would jam the Glock and Witness 10mm guns that I used to have, and they would work with EVERYTHING else I could find, no matter how cheap, as long as it wasn't PMC.

The 2 Delta Elites I've owned would feed hollowpoints without modification.
 
Shot the gun today. It was about 35 degrees out with a light wind. Recoil was mild and compared to 45 Auto +P ammo. The first shot from the gun cut the "X" out of the target and the rest grouped all in the black safe two flyers that were me flinching. I even kept a running count thinking I had three flyers but I only counted two... wonder if the other shot missed the target? Anyhow, no problems whatsoever with the PMC 170gr TMJ ammo I shot through it. I loaded 9 rounds in the mag and one in the pipe each time I shot it. Wonderfully pleasant gun to shoot and placed the brass in a nice pile about 15 feet to the right.

I had the hardest time with the ice though. Snow at the Army range was melting and thawing so there was a pool of ice to stand on. Very unnerving. Although I love this gun, my accurized 1991A1 will continue in the role of full-sized king of my gun safe. Here's photos for what they are worth. Notice where somebody ineptly scratched the frame while trying to reinstall the slide stop. BAD BAD people hurt guns like this.

26690Colt_Delt_Elite.JPG


26690Colt_Delt_Elite2.JPG
 
rich2u

Sounds like a junk gun. You shouldn't stand for that. Shoot me an email and I'll buy it from you cheap :)
 
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