S&W R8 vs Colt Delta Elite

[Palladan44]

Which would you choose and why....?
Smith and Wesson R8
Or Colt Delta Elite

-Ones a revolver, ones a semi auto.
-Both made by respectable companies.
-Both hold almost identical mag. capacity (8)
-Almost exact same price point. ($1600-1800)
-Rounds with terminal performance that are very similar (in my opinion, 10mm and 357 magnum have far more in common power wise than they have differences)
-Ammunition costs about the same
-Similar barrel lengths and similar sight radius

Both of these guns have crossed my mind, but I've never purchased either....yet.
I have investment elsewhere equally in both calibers, so that doesn't matter to me. I also own a number of Colt and S&W firearms. I have love for both companies....I don't sway one side or the other..

 

[mcb]

I agree ballistically speaking very similar. It comes down to are you a revolver shooter or a semi auto shooter, a S&W fan or a Colt fan.

 

[Heir Kommt Die Sonne]

Colt Delta Elite. the Original 10mm 1911

 

[Pat Riot]

S&W 327 TRR8

I prefer revolvers.

Edit: Also, the R8 offers a lot more flexibility in ammunition for target practice, plinking, hunting, self protection, etc.

 

[JCooperfan1911]

Delta Elite all day, especially a blued one.

 

[hemiram]

Nether would be anything I would buy, but if I had to choose, it would be an R8.

 

[WestKentucky]

Deltas are not all they are cracked up to be. In a powerful semiauto you want a well built and well designed gun. The delta may be well built but the design is not safe for hunting level loads. The ramped barrel leaves the bottom of the chamber unsupported and even light loads gives the brass a bulge similar to a Glock smile. Powerful hunting loads may do more than bulge.

To those delta elite fanboys… the gun is pretty, but it’s release was a total drag race turned into a cluster. Several manufacturers pushed to be first to market. Colt had an advantage in that they had a line building 1911s in 45acp. 10mm and 45 have very similar OAL so all they really had to do was develop a magazine, make barrels, and tweak the springs and extractor. They WERE first to market by taking manufacturing development shortcuts and being satisfied with good enough rather than fixing the remaining flaw in an unsupported chamber with a high pressure round.

Don’t trust me though, go to google and look up pictures. They also left a sharp square hole on the frame that caused stress fracturing but that’s been fixed. I had a thread about all this a few years back. If I can find it I will link it.

R8 is a well developed platform with modern materials. The important bits are still steel and nothing was rushed or halfway done.

 

[JTQ]

The delta may be well built but the design is not safe for hunting level loads.

Probably true.

Of course this isn't 1990, 10mm ammo has changed and so has the Delta Elite.

By the way, taking out the names, does this sound like the Glock G22?

... but it’s release was a total drag race turned into a cluster. Several manufacturers pushed to be first to market. ... very similar OAL so all they really had to do was develop a magazine, make barrels, and tweak the springs and extractor. They WERE first to market by taking manufacturing development shortcuts and being satisfied with good enough rather than fixing the remaining flaw in an unsupported chamber with a high pressure round.

Anybody afraid of a current G22 blowing up?

 

[WestKentucky]

https://www.thehighroad.org/index.php?threads/delta-elite-buldge.798901/

My old thread on brass bulging. This was watered down factory ammo. No way I would touch off full tilt “hunting” ammo in it.

 

[WestKentucky]

Probably true.

Of course this isn't 1990, 10mm ammo has changed and so has the Delta Elite.

By the way, taking out the names, does this sound like the Glock G22?

Anybody afraid of a current G22 blowing up?

Your right, but they STILL have not fixed it. Most other (cheaper, better) brands have redone the 10mm 1911 to be fully supported. Colt is stubborn and lazy. As for the glocks, it’s still fairly common to hear about a ruptured case blowing the mag out and breaking the frame in some way. It’s not common, but it’s enough of a problem to highlight a flaw and illustrate that the company values profit higher than customer safety or they would spend the money to fix it. No thanks.

 

[Old_Grouch]

Colt is stubborn and lazy.

Hopefully that will change now that they are owned by an actual gun company that has a long track record of making high quality guns rather than being owned by a holding/investment company that had no real interest in the product or customers.

 

[hairtrigger]

Think about a Dan Wesson in place of the Colt
Then it is an easy choice for me, and I do own a couple of the 1990s Delta Elites

 

[jdh]

Both, but I have in the pair what either one will cost you now.

 

[GarrettJ]

Which would you choose and why....?

You don’t state your intended purpose.

For a carry gun, a 1911 is flatter and more comfortable to haul around than an N-Frame revolver. Reloads are faster, and follow-up shots may be quicker.

In a hunting gun, I may give the revolver the nod.

For a fun/range gun, take your pick.

 

[chicharrones]

I don't want to add 10mm ammo to my existing ammo selection, so the S&W R8 would win out. I've had the pleasure of firing an R8 on several occasions, it seems like a fine revolver for home defense.

 

[bannockburn]

Not really interested in the R8 and like member "hairtrigger" mentioned, something like a Dan Wesson Specialist, Razorback, or Bruin, would seem to be better choice to me in a 1911 chambered for the 10mm.

 

[Boomholzer]

To those delta elite fanboys… They also left a sharp square hole on the frame that caused stress fracturing but that’s been fixed....

...Don’t trust me though, go to google and look up pictures.

One can also read from more reputable sources starting with the frame issues. Amazing.
Always be aware of fanboys, they'll take your lunch money.

 

[WestKentucky]

https://www.rkguns.com/rock-island-m1911-a1-gi-standard-10mm-auto-full-size-pistol-51508.html

If your just wanting a 10mm 1911 then this is the ticket. I have one ordered since they finally came back to being in stock. It’s pretty basic but it’s a really solid pistol and the reviews are very positive.

 

[mcb]

You should really get both a Coonan 357 Magnum semi-auto and a S&W 610 10mm revolver.

 

[GarrettJ]

You should really get both a Coonan 357 Magnum semi-auto and a S&W 610 10mm revolver.

I may have done something similar...

 

[Heir Kommt Die Sonne]

I may have done something similar...

View attachment 1027929

I love your Desert Eagle

 

[A C]

Deltas are not all they are cracked up to be. In a powerful semiauto you want a well built and well designed gun. The delta may be well built but the design is not safe for hunting level loads. The ramped barrel leaves the bottom of the chamber unsupported and even light loads gives the brass a bulge similar to a Glock smile. Powerful hunting loads may do more than bulge.

To those delta elite fanboys… the gun is pretty, but it’s release was a total drag race turned into a cluster. Several manufacturers pushed to be first to market. Colt had an advantage in that they had a line building 1911s in 45acp. 10mm and 45 have very similar OAL so all they really had to do was develop a magazine, make barrels, and tweak the springs and extractor. They WERE first to market by taking manufacturing development shortcuts and being satisfied with good enough rather than fixing the remaining flaw in an unsupported chamber with a high pressure round.

Don’t trust me though, go to google and look up pictures. They also left a sharp square hole on the frame that caused stress fracturing but that’s been fixed. I had a thread about all this a few years back. If I can find it I will link it.

R8 is a well developed platform with modern materials. The important bits are still steel and nothing was rushed or halfway done.

Emphasis upon "cracked."

 

[Palladan44]

Emphasis upon "cracked."

Thanks for this info.
I enjoy 10mm for its full capabilities, and not to have a warm 40 S&W. I load most of my10mm stuff warm. I consider the data from Alliants website for Blue Dot and Power Pistol to be warm...im guessing the hunting loads you describe are approximately in the this same ballpark.

 

[Palladan44]

So what is the actual deal with the Colt Delta Elite? Are they the semi automatic version of a Smith and Wesson Model 19 (a 357 mag built on a 38 frame)
Where the CDE is a 10mm built on a 45 frame.
357 is double the pressure of a 38 and 10mm is more than double the CUP of 45s?
I see the issue here.

 

[GarrettJ]

Where the CDE is a 10mm built on a 45 frame.
357 is double the pressure of a 38 and 10mm is more than double the CUP of 45s?
I see the issue here.

Not quite double. And while pressure is a component, it’s not the whole story.

The SAAMI pressure limit for .45 ACP is 21,000 PSI.
The SAAMI pressure limit for 10mm is 37,500 PSI.

But if pressure was the whole issue, why don’t we hear about breaking all of those 9mm 1911s? That cartridge has a SAAMI limit of 35,000 PSI for standard pressure, and 38,500 for 9mm+P.

The case head diameter (how many square inches the internal pressure is exerted on) plays a big part as well. Obviously the 10mm case head size falls somewhere in between 9mm and .45 ACP.

The real issue is the notch created by the cut out for the slide stop. It cracks from the corner, up through the slide rail. Once it does, the cracking stops, as there is nowhere else for the crack to go. Colt’s solution was to just cut out this area all together. I’ll post some photos when I have a chance.

But the gun is not going to blow up in the hand. This issue is greatly overblown. Yes, a crack can happen. No, it’s not going to limit the gun’s useable lifespan.