The 1911 platform has more than a century of use to back its reliability and performance. Of course, it’s come a long way since the day John Moses Browning designed it because modern 1911s definitely benefit from current-day advances in technology. The Colt Delta Elite is one fantastic example of the ideal combination of classic design and modern enhancements. This handgun was designed with aesthetic appeal and performance in mind.
What is the Colt Delta Elite?
The Colt Delta Elite is a 1911 platform handgun that was first created by the renowned gun maker in 1987. It’s chambered in 10mm, making it a somewhat less common chambering for the 1911. The Colt Delta Elite wasn’t the first commercial pistol chambered in 10mm to hit the market — that goes to the Bren Ten — but it was the second, and it was the first to be a success. This handgun was designed by the Colt Manufacturing Company as a modified series 80 — more on that later — and launched in the aftermath of the 1986 FBI Miami Shooting (if you’re unfamiliar with that, it’s a great idea to read up on it). The first generation of the gun was produced between 1987 and 1996, then there was a gap where it was pulled from production. The second generation entered production in 2009 and continues to be made today.
Why a 10mm 1911?
The question of why this is a 1911 in 10mm is a lot more relevant due to the age of the original design; after all, this gun has almost 40 years behind it. In 1987, 10mm was an unknown cartridge, unlike today when it’s become way more popular among hunters and some defenders. Two of the leading theories as to why the Colt Delta Elite came out in 10mm are the newness of the cartridge — it was launched in 1983 and backed by the late Col. Jeff Cooper — and the fact that a character in the popular TB show Miami Vice was using a 10mm. For whatever reason, Colt decided it was a potential trend they wanted to jump on, and it’s a good thing. If they hadn’t, who knows what might have become of the 10mm, considering the way the Bren Ten crashed and burned.
What are the Colt Delta Elite specifications?
The second generation Colt Delta Elite is a government-sized 1911, which means it’s a full-sized handgun. It has a five-inch barrel and full-size frame and is a modernized version of the series 80 1911. In the world of 1911s, there are series 70 and series 80 pistols, with the latter being the newer design. The series 80 1911s have features like a standard barrel bushing, a half-cock shelf on their hammers, and a metal lift as part of their safety mechanism. They’re also made to be more drop-safe and have a flat mainspring housing. There are other differences, but that gives you a general idea.
This gun is designed as a defensive use pistol. It has a heavy metal frame, which is fantastic for mitigating felt recoil and muzzle rise. Grips are the classic composite black style with the Delta medallions at the center. Serrations are located at the back of the slide for easier manipulation. The gun has the standard 1911 safety mechanisms such as a grip safety and external thumb safety. Those controls and the magazine release are simple to operate with no need to adjust your grip. Other features include a skeletonized trigger and hammer, upswept beavertail grip, and standard Novak white dot sights. The gun has a capacity of 8+1.
How does it shoot?
Over an extended period with the Colt Delta Elite, I’ve put quite a bit of ammo through it. Factory loads used include Barnes VOR-TX 10mm 155-grain TAC-XP, Hornady 10mm 155-grain XTP, and Sinterfire Special Duty 10mm 125-grain HP Frangible. This gun has been used for everything from range time to hunting to carry.
As someone with fairly large hands, I find this gun a comfortable fit and feel. The composite grips are firm but have enough give to feel good during live fire regardless of the load being used. The weight and balance of the gun make it easy to stay on target. Rapid follow-up shots are simple to accomplish thanks to the flat shooting of the gun. The factory sights work well and I’ve found no reason to replace them. If you want tritium or fiber optic you’d have to swap them out for aftermarket options.
The slide serrations are aggressive enough to make racking the slide easy, even if your hands are wet. This is an accurate gun that produces groups under two and a half inches at 25 yards — when you shoot mindfully from the bench, or while prone — and rings steel at 50 yards. Unsurprisingly, it’s a gun that does like to be cleaner — that isn’t a shock for a 1911 of this design — but even so, it runs quite well when it’s filthy. It’s reliable, accurate, and had no problem cycling 500 rounds flawlessly as part of a carry test.
As for hunting, that’s an area where the Colt Delta Elite really shines. Due to it being carry-sized, I prefer to holster it for handgun hunting. At 40 or so yards it drops feral hogs with a single shot, and it does so consistently. This is a great gun for hunting, whether it’s being used as your main gun on hogs and deer or as a backup. There’s nothing quite like a good 10mm for hunting.
Should you get a Colt Delta Elite?
There’s a big push for competition style and custom 1911s, but there’s something to be said for a classic. The Colt Delta Elite is extremely well-made and reliable. It has great fitment thanks to the Colt team’s attention to detail and it’s a modernized design that’s stood the test of time. If you want a classic appearance and favor larger calibers like the 10mm that inarguably outperform the 45 ACP, the Colt Delta Elite is an excellent choice. There’s a reason this gun has been trusted by countless shooters for years, both in its first and second-generation runs.
If the capacity of this gun has you hesitating, remember that you can easily carry a spare magazine as desired. 8+1 isn’t bad capacity at all, considering that until the micro 9 market exploded in recent years, greater capacity wasn’t nearly as common as it is today. Considering this is a 10mm, the capacity is pretty good, but it does make sense if you want more.
Overall, the Colt Delta Elite is well worth adding to your gun collection. 10mm doesn’t recoil as significantly as many people believe and it’s certainly effective on target. This gun is a great blend of the classic 1911 and the impressive performance of the 10mm, all with fantastic accuracy on paper or game. Handgun hunters and self-defenders alike can benefit from owning a Colt Delta Elite.
