Posted: 9/2/2009 5:15:39 PM EDT
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I just got one of the new Colt Delta Elites after waiting for quite a few years - ever since I handled one at the Shot Show when they were first officially introduced. I've got 3 other Colts and love them to death: Series 70 repro, New Agent, and Lightweigh Commander. Sorry, no pics. I don't have a camera handy.
I've had it for about a week and been playing with it. I was a bit concerned since it seemed like it would hang up with hand cycling and snap caps. I fully expected that it would require a trip back to Colt. I ordered 3 Wilson 10mm mags. I was also disappointed with the Wilson mags - they didn't run very smooth and the followers hung up when I was playing with them. The OEM Colt mags were much better. When I order more mags it'll be Tripp Cobras to see how they are. In Wilson's favor, the mags didn't give me any trouble when I was shooting and the followers seemed to smooth up a little. I ordered up a sampler pack of DoubleTap ammo's 10mm. I can't find any locally. It arrived yesterday, so today after work I made at pit-stop at the local range to try out my new toy. I hand cycled some of the rounds first. The FMJ rounds gave me some trouble and the JHPs were spotty at best. They would jam into the lip of the barrel and refused to feed. I was not optimistic. After 3 flawless Colts I should've known better. At the range, I put down 50 rounds of FMJ first. No problem. I then proceeded to put downrange 105 rounds of assorted JHP, from 135grn, 155grn, 165grn, 230grn. I was real concerned about the 165grn as the hollowpoint reminded me of the old 200grn 45 ACP Cor-bon flying ashtray rounds. They were vey large and not shaped for easy feeding. I had no trouble with any of the JHP I fired either. So far, 155 rounds downrange (105 of them being assorted JHP rounds) and no problems. The only issue I had is that those high-powered loadings caused me to develop a bit of a flinch. I could feel the recoil up into my teeth. The 135grn was moving at over 1600fps according to DoubleTap and the fireball out of it was impressive. The heaviest recoil was the 165grn ones though. The gun obviously needed some break-in/smoothing-in. Now it hand cycles everything smoothly. Anyway, I'm happy. It's a good pistol and ate everything I threw at it. Accuracy seemed good, but I didn't shoot well enough to really get a good feel for it. All I need is an ambi-safety for a leftie like me and I'm good. |
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Back in 1988 I switched from carrying my Colt Gold Cup to carrying a stainless Delta Elite ........ Only ammo readily available at the time was Norma 170 gr JHP. While the ballistics were impressive the recoil was PUNISHING to put it mildly. Further after only 250 rounds my Delta was showing some peening from the abuse. I sold it and went back to carrying my Gold Cup in 45acp. I personally think the 10mm is too much for a good choice as a defensive cartridge. Just my .02  |
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Quoted:
Back in 1988 I switched from carrying my Colt Gold Cup to carrying a stainless Delta Elite ........ Only ammo readily available at the time was Norma 170 gr JHP. While the ballistics were impressive the recoil was PUNISHING to put it mildly. Further after only 250 rounds my Delta was showing some peening from the abuse. I sold it and went back to carrying my Gold Cup in 45acp. I personally think the 10mm is too much for a good choice as a defensive cartridge. Just my .02
I agree with you to a large extent. I prefer .45 acp for most stuff. But this is going to be a hunting sidearm or maybe even a hunting primary if I want to handgun hunt. It's also going to be my backpacking/camping pistol. It's probably too much for defense against people, but it should be more useful for woods critters. The one good thing about the caliber is that you can have it as low as 40 S&W or past 357 magnum. |
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Quoted: Quoted: Back in 1988 I switched from carrying my Colt Gold Cup to carrying a stainless Delta Elite ........ Only ammo readily available at the time was Norma 170 gr JHP. While the ballistics were impressive the recoil was PUNISHING to put it mildly. Further after only 250 rounds my Delta was showing some peening from the abuse. I sold it and went back to carrying my Gold Cup in 45acp. I personally think the 10mm is too much for a good choice as a defensive cartridge. Just my .02 I agree with you to a large extent. I prefer .45 acp for most stuff. But this is going to be a hunting sidearm or maybe even a hunting primary if I want to handgun hunt. It's also going to be my backpacking/camping pistol. It's probably too much for defense against people, but it should be more useful for woods critters. The one good thing about the caliber is that you can have it as low as 40 S&W or past 357 magnum. Sounds like a good one and "Good Luck" with your hunting !  |
