Colt Delta Elite Review: Steel-Frame 10mm 1911 Earns High Marks

The short version: Gun University's Karen Hunter has fired the Colt Delta Elite a number of times and rates it highly as a range gun and an enthusiast's 10mm 1911, though not as an everyday carry pistol.

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The Delta Elite arrived in 1987, putting 10mm Auto in a Government-size 1911, and after gaps in production it is back with refinements. The current pistol has a stainless steel frame, a 5-inch barrel, 8+1 capacity, Novak three-dot sights, a dual recoil spring assembly, a skeletonized trigger, an undercut trigger guard and an extended beavertail. A Rail Gun version adds an accessory rail.

Her main finding is that the 35-ounce steel frame turns 10mm recoil into a firm push rather than a sharp snap, and the beavertail allows a high grip for better control. She had no feeding problems or malfunctions in her sessions, but she is careful to say she does not own one and has not done long-term endurance testing or documented benchrest groups, so she makes no group-size claims. She also advises confirming that hard-cast and flat-nose loads run in your own gun.

The downsides: the standard model has no rail and is not optics-ready, the factory grip texture may be too mild for wet hands, and it is heavy for all-day carry. It also costs more than many polymer 10mm pistols with more features. Her report card gives an A+ for reliability and an A- each for shootability, accuracy and ergonomics, and lists an overall A, while her closing remarks call it a solid A-.

Key specs

• Caliber: 10mm Auto
• Action: single action only
• Capacity: 8+1
• Barrel: 5.0"
• Weight: 35 oz empty
• Frame: stainless steel
• Sights: Novak-style three-dot

Summary by GunWinner based on reporting by Gun University. Deal links are affiliate links; GunWinner may earn a commission. Prices change quickly, so confirm at checkout.