Thoughts on 10mm 1911

[FL-NC]

I shot one years ago, and it wasn't pleasant at all. Maybe because when I am holding a 1911 and fire it, I expect it to feel like a 45. Its pricey to fire, and its my understanding that the Glock 20 is the only 10 mm that does well over years of shooting, but its just something I heard. I had a Delta Elite, unfired NIB from 1988 that I sold to a friend about 6-7 months ago.

 

[someguy2800]

Always wanted a 10mm 1911. I shot a friends and was expecting it to be a brute but the recoil didn't feel any different than a 45 1911 to me, and it was absolutely nothing compared to 357 magnum in my 4" sp101. I could see a 10mm 1911 being good fun with full power ammo.

 

[harrygunner]

There are plenty of hyperbolic statements about the 10mm on the 'net.

The recoil, as mentioned, is about the same as a +P .45 ACP.

I have two 1911's in 10mm and a Glock 29. The 1911's are my EDC. Great round.

 

[wojownik]

Trade completed for the NIB Colt Delta Elite. Slide not even racked. Initial observations - this is one of the nicest finished Colt's I've had, and definitely the tightest fitting.

The upgrades in the modern DE are much appreciated, now that I've been fondling the thing all day - my other 1911 are very traditonal, so the beavertail and bump extension on the grip safety, and the Novak-style low profile sights make for a nice change.

The most dangerous thing on this Colt right now are the sharp edges on the slide. Yeah, got my first finger slice on the razor sharp edge of the slide. Really sharp.

Looking forward to taking this to the range.

 

[RecoilRob]

Trade completed for the NIB Colt Delta Elite. Slide not even racked. Initial observations - this is one of the nicest finished Colt's I've had, and definitely the tightest fitting.

The upgrades in the modern DE are much appreciated, now that I've been fondling the thing all day - my other 1911 are very traditonal, so the beavertail and bump extension on the grip safety, and the Novak-style low profile sights make for a nice change.

The most dangerous thing on this Colt right now are the sharp edges on the slide. Yeah, got my first finger slice on the razor sharp edge of the slide. Really sharp.

Looking forward to taking this to the range.

Are they still using the composite recoil spring guide...that serves as a buffer and is consumable? My very early Delta needed a new one about every 1500 rounds or sooner when shooting mostly full tilt ammo.

 

[Rodentman]

I have a DW 1911 in 10mm that runs great and has manageable recoil with my mid-level reloads. It's a great round. The G40 with red dot is a treat too.

 

[wojownik]

Are they still using the composite recoil spring guide...that serves as a buffer and is consumable? My very early Delta needed a new one about every 1500 rounds or sooner when shooting mostly full tilt ammo.

dual recoil spring system with a polymer guide rod

 

[CDW4ME]

Mine had the dual spring, plastic rod.
After about 300 rounds I thought I would be proactive and get a replacement to have on hand for when time came.
I couldn't find one available, annoying considering it would eventually need replacement with enough shooting.
I like things certain, I replaced the factory unobtainable assembly with a single 23# spring and FLGR.
Ran 100 rounds to ensure reliability and was happy, easy to acquire replacement spring now.

 

[DannyLandrum]

Had a Delta Elite - hated it / sold it. Overpriced, lame sights.

Get a Rock Island Armory / Armscor, or a Tanfoglio (CZ clone) - good stuff Maynard, and a lot more capacity if you choose (2011 style, known to Armscor models as "HC").

Dan Wesson is also very good.

 

[ATLDave]

its my understanding that the Glock 20 is the only 10 mm that does well over years of shooting, but its just something I heard.

Yeah, I too have heard a lot of wrong stuff. There are several makes of pistols that stand up just fine to "years" of 10mm shooting (although round count, not age, is far more relevant).

 

[DannyLandrum]

"It's my understanding that the Glock 20 is the only 10 mm that does well over years of shooting"

Yep, you heard wrong. In fact, that statement is very wrong in at least 3 ways:

1. It implies other 10mm won't stand up to many thousands of rounds - incorrect
2. Depending upon how you define it, the Glock cannot and does not "do well" for even 1 shot, as anything that horribly unergonomic (i.e. grip angle) is incapable of "doing well", in my view, relative to the much much higher quality competition such as Dan Wesson, Tanfoglio etc. In addition, their crappy guide rods will often crack after less than 100 rounds on a new gun - first hand experience. I would say that's not "doing well" for more than the tiniest, shortest time frame, let alone the long term.
3. If anything, of course - plastic framed guns like the Glock and Witness polymer will not hold up over the long haul like steel guns (1911s, Witness steel, 610, etc), so it's exactly backwards - that's just the fundamental nature of the primary materials used which cannot be overcome by any amount of koolaid.

 

[SDGlock23]

I have heard of 10mm's causing 1911 frames to crack, but is that due to the higher pressures of the 10mm itself or were they just bad guns? I don't really have a dog in the fight but the only 10mm 1911 I ever owned (a Kimber....yeah should have known) was a complete POS. I think the Glock 20 handles 10mm recoil better and will, without a doubt, last many, MANY thousands of rounds, some would argue that it's more reliable as well. I'm not saying a 1911 won't last a long time, all I'm implying is that with either one, you're going to have to put a lot of ammo through one (a lot of $$) to wear them out.

 

[ATLDave]

I have heard of 10mm's causing 1911 frames to crack, but is that due to the higher pressures of the 10mm itself or were they just bad guns?

Frames don't contain pressure. There's no direct relationship. Moreover, 9mm and 40 have SAAMI pressures of 35K, with 9mm +P at 38K PSI. 10mm maxes at 37.5K PSI. The 10mm is not a particularly "high-pressure" round relative to other service calibers other than .45ACP (which is a fairly low pressure round).

I know this is getting rather far afield, but I think a lot of people have misunderstandings about the effect of pressure in guns.

10mm's have more recoil than 9mm's because they are generally throwing a much heavier projectile at comparable speeds, and more than a 45 because they are throwing projectiles, often of roughly comparable weight, much faster. That extra recoil force is what taxes various components of 10mm pistols. There are several guns that will stand up well to a pretty high volume of this recoil. It is not true that only Glocks fall into that category.

 

[Sean Smith]

Delta Elites cracking is an issue from like the 1980s lol.

They made a trivial change to the frame and it went away.

 

[lsudave]

I've heard of Delta Elites cracking, but those weren't the only guns chambered in 10mm.

I've heard plenty of good things about both the S&W 10xx guns and the Star pistols taking that rd and never having a problem. Both were made quite stout.

 

[RecoilRob]

The VERY early batch of Delta's with the slide lock hole did experience some cracking right over the hole, so they cut that out and made it a slot....and this took care of it. I got the very first Delta in these parts after placing the order as soon as they were announced....and it has the slot, so DE's with holes are very, very rare.

One thing that DID help their reputation of being 'fragile' is the composite guide rod/buffer that deformed after a few thousand rounds...or less. This was intended to be a sacrificial part and when I asked my LGS to get me some replacements he called Colt and they sent him a half dozen on the house. For some people if they need to do ANYTHING to the gun in its' lifetime it's a POS, and the 1911 platform firing the 10mm should be treated with a bit more care than your normal 45.

My Delta now has at least 12,000 rounds through it...used it to compete in the old IPSC at my club in Florida, and the only wear showing is from the hammer wearing either side of the disconnector slot in the bottom of the slide. Other than that and the aforementioned guide rods it's been totally reliable. I did modify the ejector to cut down the exiting empties from obital to sub-orbital so I had a chance to find them for reloading. And now that I think about it, the ejection port needed a bevel because it was dinging the brass...but that's common on 1911's so no dig at the pistol. I still have the first DE and also a second nickle one...kind of like them.

 

[Crowman]

I am pretty much a revolver guy (357, 44 & 45). Now kinda branched out for another woods carry gun...Well, I hung my 10 mm Auto hat on the Ruger SR1911. I liked the supported chamber, recoil spring / guide rod arrangement and the heavy bell-end barrel. Plus, it is a real shooter, eats heavy BB loads like tic-tacs. Also Ruger does not make junk...at least their revolvers are brick S - - - House strong, & will still be functional when the only thing left living are cockroaches. I am happy so far...

 

[d'zaster]

Delta Elite, G20 and Kimber Eclipse custom. The Kimber had to go back for some rework (their service was top notch but I was disappointed to have to send it back...). The DE has had a variety of upgrades and the G20 is running ZEV kit. All three run great and but the 1911s are more accurate.

 

[someguy2800]

3. If anything, of course - plastic framed guns like the Glock and Witness polymer will not hold up over the long haul like steel guns (1911s, Witness steel, 610, etc), so it's exactly backwards - that's just the fundamental nature of the primary materials used which cannot be overcome by any amount of koolaid.

All of that is BS. The polymer frame just holds some pins and the rails. As a 1911 fan, there is way way way more areas to wear in a 1911 or CZ than a Glock. They will go forever with practically no maintenance or parts replacement.

 

[wojownik]

I can honestly say ... I love this Delta Elite. First time to the range this week.

Best trade I've made in a while - BNIB. Here it is below, last picture before heading off to the range to make it ... no longer BNIB.

 

[wojownik]

Update ... ran a bit of 10 mm through my DE, both Remington and S&B. Very manageable recoil, this pistol is going to be a keeper. My only negative comment is that this pistol has the worst trigger pull of any 1911 in my collection. I'll see if it smooths out after a bit more use, if not, going to need a minor amount of work to get the trigger to feel like it should in a pistol like this.

 

[harrygunner]

Congrats on the 10mm. Good to see all the threads about that round.

 

[vba]

I've owned a Delta Elite since 1998. Never experienced a single issue with it.

You have to shoot it...

 

[wojownik]

You have to shoot it...

I've put thousands of rounds through my old Series 80 ORM, my Colt Commander, Series 70, and Colt WW1 reissue. Not a single issue with these. Ever. Anticipating similar performance with this Delta Elite.

 

[vba]

I've put thousands of rounds through my old Series 80 ORM, my Colt Commander, Series 70, and Colt WW1 reissue. Not a single issue with these. Ever. Anticipating similar performance with this Delta Elite.

Sorry, I do believe you, was just interjecting some humor...hence the smiley.