Delta Elite info wanted

[Jerome Howard]

Hello all!

This weekend I am picking up a LNIB Colt Delta Elite, blued.

Anything I should know about this pistol?

Any limitations or things to watch for?

Do you recommend Shok Buffs?

Magazine recommendations?

Thanks

JH

[stumbler]

Check the slide where the firing pin safety plunger is. Early DE's had a problem with peening.

[stans]

Anything I should know about this pistol?

Yes, they were great pistols in an awesome caliber, why Colt refuses to bring them back is a mystery wrapped in an enigma boxed in a paradoxical riddle.


Any limitations or things to watch for?

As said before, the area next to the disconnector relief is thin and can become peened. I took out all the Series 80 stuff on my stainless Delta, one less thing to go wrong.


Do you recommend Shok Buffs?

On the 10mm, yes. Ditch the plastic recoil spring guide rod and put in a steel rod. On the 10mm I do like a CP Bullets (I think they are the best and much better than Wilson's) shock buffer and a full length guide rod with a 22 pound recoil spring for full power loads and an 18 pound spring for FBI reduced loads.



Magazine recommendations?

The factory Colt mags are hard to beat, mine have been 100% reliable, even when feeding empty shells (nice parlor trick). Metalform made them for Colt and Metalform is still making them under their own name.


Now if you really want to tune your Delta Elite, go to this website, I think the advice given here is most excellent.

10mm Tech Notes (http://www.geocities.com/mr_motorhead/10tech.html)

Welcome to the brotherhood of the 10mm.

[Jerome Howard]

Thanks guys!

This is the one I am getting. It will also come with some Spegel grips and a regular 1911 guide rod. It is like new. I'll slap up some pics after I have it.

http://img2.imgspot.com/u/04/309/19/dew2.jpg

I like the look, with the Commander hammer, but full size slide of a Govt Model.

[stumbler]

Please post a range report. I think it is interesting when people write up their impressions of a firearm. Thanks

[Jerome Howard]

Is there a spring that will work for all loads?

Excuse dumb question.......

[stans]

Not really. 10mm ammo ranges from loads that barely equal 45 ACP 185 grain JHP's to loads that exceed anything in 45 ACP +P, so you will need two different recoil springs. I have tried a 22 pound spring with the 180 grain FBI loads, ejected cases just dribbled out of the ejection port or got caught by the slide and crushed. Dropping down to an 18 pound spring made my Delta reliable with the FBI type ammo.