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AR15.COM
7/23/2008 7:40:58 AM EDT
OK, I have an old Colt Delta Elite 10mm.

I am thinking of converting it to 40 S&W by just adding a barrel or 45ACP by adding a new slide and barrel.

Does this sound feasible?  The Colt Delta Elite was built on a Colt Series 80 frame.

Dave
7/23/2008 8:23:33 AM EDT
[#1]
40 would be a lot simpler to convert.

45 will require a new ejector and maybe  a new feed angle for the feed ramp.
7/23/2008 11:39:51 PM EDT
[#2]
Yup, did what you are intending to do. Never could get the 45 side to function right. On my Delta frame, seems like Colt cut the "ramp" longer to accomondate the 10mm round. I would just add the 40 barrel.
7/24/2008 12:32:59 PM EDT
[#3]
As much as I love to tinker, I think I'd either trade the gun for a .45 or sell it outright and buy the one I want.  Deltas have a following, and even pretty rough specimens go for some decent coin.



If you decide to swap top ends, you'll need to replace the ejector to work with .45.  No changes to the frame should be needed for .40.
7/24/2008 4:06:14 PM EDT
[#4]
The .40 S&W conversion is the easiest.  The feed ramp makes it extremely difficult to successfully convert to .45 ACP.

There are 3 other possibilities, 4 if you count the 9x25mm Dillon.  357 SIG is possible, though I went through a lot of trouble to make mine work.  While sloppy, the 10mm  breechface will also work reasonably well with 9mm Parabellum, and .38 Super.

Not sure I would trust the latter 2 for anything serious, but I have done it, and had no problems.  It is possible that some extractor tweaking will be necessary, as well as a lighter recoil spring and appropriate magazines.

Lots of fun!
7/25/2008 8:59:49 AM EDT
[#5]
Well after talking with Colt Manufacturing I found out that a Colt Delta Elite conversion from 10mm to 40 S&W is OK to do.  If i decide to do it I will need the following parts:

Barrel
Recoil Spring
Ejector/Extractor
Magazine

They, unfortunately, did not provide any other information, such as part numbers.

I am hoping I can find a place where I can get these parts fairly cheap.  I plan to keep the orginal parts in case I want to switch it back or sell it.

Dave
7/25/2008 10:17:18 AM EDT
[#6]
I had a .45 slide machined for the 10mm ejector so I could just swap the top ends out.  Works fine, but I only shoot ball with the .45 top.

I have two other 1911s in .45 that see more use than the conversion now.
9/8/2008 2:01:00 PM EDT
[#7]
Here are the mods I have made on my Delta Elite so far.

Cool handgrips and a compensator.



Dave