warmandfuzzy Delta feelin....

[Mwinter]

2 Colt Deltas inbound....one appears to be an gorgeous little-used blued Enhanced (slanted cocking serrations) and the other a standard with aftermarket finish, both from online auctions.

After examining both and having a smith look 'em over, I'm going to order some springs and guiderods from McNett....
I'm hoping they're both shooters with no work needed. I plan on keeping the enhanced mostly as is, with trigger/grips/spring/rod the only mods made. The other one will likely be sent to Robar for complete de-finish and NP3 bath, after I get a magwell, trigger, and ambi safety put on locally (possible duty gun; definitely a plinker and practical/pin comp gun).

After shooting my .45 TRP with Winchester's TERRIFIC 185gr FMJ round, I confirmed once again that (especially in a steel-framed fullsize 1911) my tolerance for recoil and muzzle flip peaks with a 180-200gr pill at about 1050fps or so. 230gr ball, esp. warmer stuff like Lawman and the Speer/Win LE duty rounds simply generates a type of recoil that I don't enjoy and don't shoot well.
Since that's the case, a 10mm 1911 seems like a helluva ideal gun for me...and what better 10mm 1911 than a good ol'd Colt.

These Deltas will be getting fed plenty of the 190gr FBI/X load, factory target ammo from PMC, Remington and Federal, and a wee bit of DT's 'hot-stuff'.

Any ideas/input from you guys who currently shoot your Delta's a lot?

[Mwinter]

nobody? ;P

[MicD.]

MWinter,

I use my SS Delta for IDPA and IPSC, so I get decent trigger time with it.

I have two, Stainless and Blue, both the pre-enhanced version. Both have had some custom work done, upgraded parts like extractors, ejectors, hammers, sears, triggers, trigger job, beavertails, etc. The blue has a BarSto bull barrel, the SS, the factory barrel.

I just got the blue one back and have only put 30 or so rounds through it. I definately notice a difference in recoil, the weight of the bull helps keep the muzzle down, or so it seems. I am running warmer loads, 180gr @1200fps.

I have the factory arched MS on the SS and a regular snakeskin Brown on the blue. I think I prefer the regular after shooting both today. I will change the SS one out.

I would have trigger job, same guy did mine, and they feel exactly the same, right around 3.5lbs.

I had a Heinie magwell put on the blue one and really like it. I will probably go to a Brown magwell with regular MS housing for the SS.

I am currently running 18.5 lb recoil springs. I bought two 20lb springs to try out as well.

Anway, i would recommend trigger a trigger job and a bull barrel for sure. I personally like the full beavertails versus the factory ones so YMMV there. I also like the newer look of 1911's versus the retro look, so that influenced some of my parts changes.

Hope you enjoy the Deltas. I saw you were bidding on another one as well, good luck. hopefully my ramblings help you out.

[redwinger]

i have a box stock non enhanced DE that i dearly love.box stock natuarly!

[Mwinter]

which of these parts (for 45acp 1911) will 'drop-in' or install with minimal smithing on a stock Colt Delta 10mm?
and which manufacturer on the small parts (Ed Brown, Wilson, CMC?)
Thanks

ambi safety
slide stop
plunger tube
extended mag catch
beavertail
guide rod
mag well
trigger
mainspring housing
shock-buffers
Harts recoil reducer

[agtman]

Mwinter:

Ed Brown parts have worked out well on my Delta. The ones I used are listed here (after the review of Vic Tibbets' work):

http://bren-ten.com/agtman-delta/id4.html

On the ammo, you seem cautious about the felt-recoil generated by the high-performance stuff. Really, in a 1911, a lot depends on how it's set-up. When my Delta was stock, it had significantly more felt-recoil than after Tibbets' customized it with the EB parts.

Regardless, you might want to try Winchester's 175gn STHP load. Though Winchester claims its velocity is 1290fps, more recent chronograph data indicates that it's closer to 1200fps, less from barrels under 5". I've shot this in a number of 10mm pistols and the recoil isn't bad at all, IMO. Plus, it's VERY accurate.

Another 10mm load that's far from abusive recoil-wise is Georgia Arms' "Shear Power PLus" 180gn Gold Dot HP @ 1150fps. Accuracy's been great in my DE. (In comparision, ProLoad's 180gn GDHP load is a bit warmer @ 1200fps). Between the STHP and the GDHP, the GD is the better defensive HP, IMO.

Also, since you mentioned a 200gn load @ 1050fps, you might try some of Hornady's factory 200gn ammo using their 10mm XTP. It's spec-ed right @ 1050fps. I've shot this load quite a bit in years past. It's accurate and uses a heavy penetrating bullet. This would be a decent cold-weather defensive load without an unreasonable kick.

[Clyde]

Mwinter
I just did a trade to get my first Delta. And dropped it off at the gunsmith last night to ad some character.

* FlatTop and serrate Slide
* Slide cuts & Install Heinie Sights
* Lower and flair Ejection port
* Replace Safety
* Wilson Grip Safety
* Undercut and checker Front Strap (25lpi)
* Addition of Welded Mag Well
* Flat main spring housing (25lpi)

Soon After trigger group will be changed out

Ammo - Lots of Home Rolled, Believe I'll be looking at DT also

:cool: :cool: :cool: :cool:

[Mwinter]

AGT: thanks for the Ed Brown recom; I like the idea that top-name parts will work in my new acquisitions.
As for my "taste" in recoil, I don't think cautious is the word...."wuss" maybe? ;f

I just don't like using lots of any load that has tons of muzzle flash/blast/flip, since it can and does detract from the speed and consistency of my shooting. I regularly shoot ProLoad, DT, etc. thru my G20 and used to do the same thru my 610 before I sold it--however after a box or 2, those loads are just plain unpleasant to me. For hunting, plinking, etc. they're great, but I simply won't be training with them. It is for this reason I often carry a 9mm (I know, I know....)--it is simply very very easy, comfortable and cheap to do a LOT of practice with.

My Deltas will be used certainly for off-duty carry, competition, etc. and (if they prove to be absolutely reliable with no "quirks" --no high hopes since it is a 1911-pattern gun) I may be using one on duty as well. I prefer duty/carry loads that I can buy plenty of, practice with, and find cheap loads that dupe the felt recoil, etc. The Federal 190gr load WOWED me in gel tests, I have a case or 2 at present, and is very comfortable to shoot and accurate. I wouldn't mind at all shooting 500 or even 1000rds in a class with that round or one in that "range" of felt recoil...the same is not true for some of the DT stuff and other higher-powered loads.

My 'vision' I basically making at least one Delta into an NP3'd "TRP in 10mm"....I shoot my 45 TRP well and the damn thing simply will not jam--a shock to me, esp. with little cleaning and 17 types of ammo and counting. The commonality will help with my muscle memory and consistency between duty, off-duty, and target 1911s.

Ammo-wise I don't care for the STHP due to wide variances between lots I've chronied, bright flash and not much LE testing data. The XTP is a fav, if only for Hornady's apparently high QC.

[agtman]

Mwinter:

Then, based on your last post, I'd suggest the following ammo for use as carry/duty/off-duty loads in your DE:

* stick with Federal's 190gn "X" load - decent bullet, mild recoil and, yes, it's been very accurate in my Delta too;

* or, try shooting a few hundred rds of GA's 180gn GDHPs and see if that suits you;

* or, try shooting a few hundred rds of Hornady's 200gn 10mm XTP (@ 1050fps) and see if that works for you.

Maybe use the 190gn load as a warm-weather carry load (since you like it), and use the 200gn XTP as a cold-weather load, for better penetration, if the recoil is acceptable.

A good recoil-duplicating practice/training/qualification load for either Federal's 190gn OR Hornady's 200gn load is the easily obtainable and reasonably inexpensive 200gn CCI/Blazer FMJ load - it's a heavy FMJ bullet in the same recoil & energy range (1050fps/490fpe).

For GA's 180gn GDHPs, you could use GA's own 180gn 10mm FMJ "practice" load (@ 1100fps) or Remington/UMC's 180gn FMJ ammo which is loaded to the same specs as GA's GDHP, i.e., 1150fps/528fpe. "Felt-recoil" for purposes of training or quals should be identical.

HTH. :)

:cool:

[Mwinter]

50rds each of:
155gr Winchester FMJTC Match----verrrrry accurate, soft shooter
190gr 'x'---accurate and 'just-right' recoil
180gr Rem/UMC FMJ----BARF! HUGE flash/blast/report

I shot my new-to-me enhanced Delta with a CMC mag and 2 MecGars....after the first 60rds or so, the gun would fail to extract on the 3rd or 4th round in the mag...never in the first round though (??)

In it's defense, I shot it 'cold' with no cleaning or lube, just an overall inspection and it was getting awful gunky inside towards the end.

Short version: I luv it!

I left it with the 'smith for a detail strip/clean/polish and then it'll probably have a few Brown parts installed. If the 2nd gun is anything like this one, I'll be buying a third :cool:

The factory Delta grips are great; I'll be trying out a few diff kinds when I get her back though.

As for the 190gr load...I attended an ATK ballistics lab and ran that load thru some of the tests....it outdid everything there, penetrating an even 16" in bare gel (just right for me) and expanding to around .71 (hte other 9/40/45 rounds were maxing out at about 12-14", but expanding a little more). The only JHP load that out-penetrated it was DT's 9x25 115gr GDHP, which dang near went thru both blocks of gel (over 30") and fully expanded--that's a LOT of drilling power ;f