{"id":61486,"date":"2016-08-01T15:47:51","date_gmt":"2016-08-01T19:47:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.gunsamerica.com\/blog\/?p=61486"},"modified":"2026-09-03T18:08:14","modified_gmt":"2026-09-03T23:08:14","slug":"colt-10mm-delta-elite-classic-10mm-1911-full-review","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/colt-10mm-delta-elite-classic-10mm-1911-full-review\/","title":{"rendered":"2 &#8211; Refresh &#8211; Colt 10mm Delta Elite: A Classic Magnum-Powered 1911\u2014Full Review"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-yoast-seo-estimated-reading-time yoast-reading-time__wrapper\"><span class=\"yoast-reading-time__icon\"><svg aria-hidden=\"true\" focusable=\"false\" data-icon=\"clock\" width=\"20\" height=\"20\" fill=\"none\" stroke=\"currentColor\" style=\"display:inline-block;vertical-align:-0.1em\" role=\"img\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\"><path stroke-linecap=\"round\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\" stroke-width=\"2\" d=\"M12 8v4l3 3m6-3a9 9 0 11-18 0 9 9 0 0118 0z\"><\/path><\/svg><\/span><span class=\"yoast-reading-time__spacer\" style=\"display:inline-block;width:1em\"><\/span><span class=\"yoast-reading-time__descriptive-text\">Estimated reading time: <\/span><span class=\"yoast-reading-time__reading-time\">18<\/span><span class=\"yoast-reading-time__time-unit\"> minutes<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Colt Delta Elite helped keep the 10mm Auto alive when the cartridge looked destined for obscurity. Four decades later, the 10mm market is packed with higher-capacity, optics-ready competition, but this stainless steel 1911 still has something the new kids cannot manufacture overnight: history, character, and one seriously entertaining trigger finger.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Editor\u2019s Note:<\/strong> <em>We have refreshed this original Colt Delta Elite review for 2026 with current 10mm market context, updated pricing guidance, comparisons with the Glock 20, Smith &amp; Wesson M&amp;P 10mm, and Dan Wesson 10mm 1911s, plus an updated buyer\u2019s verdict. The author\u2019s original testing, specifications, photographs, captions, and conclusions remain the backbone of the article.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-yoast-seo-table-of-contents yoast-table-of-contents\"><h2>Table of contents<\/h2><ul><li><a href=\"#10mm-2026\" class=\"clickTracking\" campaign=\"colt-10mm-delta-elite-classic-10mm-1911-full-review\" title=\"2 - Refresh - Colt 10mm Delta Elite: A Classic Magnum-Powered 1911\u2014Full Review\" data-level=\"2\">The 10mm Is Back With a Vengeance in 2026<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#comparison\" class=\"clickTracking\" campaign=\"colt-10mm-delta-elite-classic-10mm-1911-full-review\" title=\"2 - Refresh - Colt 10mm Delta Elite: A Classic Magnum-Powered 1911\u2014Full Review\" data-level=\"2\">Colt Delta Elite vs. Glock 20, S&amp;W, and Dan Wesson<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#history\" class=\"clickTracking\" campaign=\"colt-10mm-delta-elite-classic-10mm-1911-full-review\" title=\"2 - Refresh - Colt 10mm Delta Elite: A Classic Magnum-Powered 1911\u2014Full Review\" data-level=\"2\">The Cult of the 10mm Meets the Colt Delta Elite<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#specs\" class=\"clickTracking\" campaign=\"colt-10mm-delta-elite-classic-10mm-1911-full-review\" title=\"2 - Refresh - Colt 10mm Delta Elite: A Classic Magnum-Powered 1911\u2014Full Review\" data-level=\"2\">Colt Delta Elite 10mm Specifications<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#new-era\" class=\"clickTracking\" campaign=\"colt-10mm-delta-elite-classic-10mm-1911-full-review\" title=\"2 - Refresh - Colt 10mm Delta Elite: A Classic Magnum-Powered 1911\u2014Full Review\" data-level=\"2\">The Colt Delta Elite 10mm Enters a New Era<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#shooting\" class=\"clickTracking\" campaign=\"colt-10mm-delta-elite-classic-10mm-1911-full-review\" title=\"2 - Refresh - Colt 10mm Delta Elite: A Classic Magnum-Powered 1911\u2014Full Review\" data-level=\"2\">How Does the Colt Delta Elite 10mm Shoot?<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#why-10mm\" class=\"clickTracking\" campaign=\"colt-10mm-delta-elite-classic-10mm-1911-full-review\" title=\"2 - Refresh - Colt 10mm Delta Elite: A Classic Magnum-Powered 1911\u2014Full Review\" data-level=\"2\">Why Buy a 10mm 1911 Instead of .45 ACP?<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#ammo\" class=\"clickTracking\" campaign=\"colt-10mm-delta-elite-classic-10mm-1911-full-review\" title=\"2 - Refresh - Colt 10mm Delta Elite: A Classic Magnum-Powered 1911\u2014Full Review\" data-level=\"2\">Feed the Beast: 10mm Ammo Makes the Delta Elite Work<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#verdict\" class=\"clickTracking\" campaign=\"colt-10mm-delta-elite-classic-10mm-1911-full-review\" title=\"2 - Refresh - Colt 10mm Delta Elite: A Classic Magnum-Powered 1911\u2014Full Review\" data-level=\"2\">Should You Buy a Colt Delta Elite in 2026?<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#related\" class=\"clickTracking\" campaign=\"colt-10mm-delta-elite-classic-10mm-1911-full-review\" title=\"2 - Refresh - Colt 10mm Delta Elite: A Classic Magnum-Powered 1911\u2014Full Review\" data-level=\"2\">Related Reads from GunsAmerica Digest<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1086\" height=\"724\" src=\"https:\/\/www.gunsamerica.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/thumb_DSC02074_1024.jpg\" alt=\"Stainless Colt Delta Elite 10mm 1911 from the original GunsAmerica review\" class=\"wp-image-61491\" srcset=\"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/thumb_DSC02074_1024.jpg 1086w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/thumb_DSC02074_1024-150x100.jpg 150w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/thumb_DSC02074_1024-400x267.jpg 400w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/thumb_DSC02074_1024-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/thumb_DSC02074_1024-1024x683.jpg 1024w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1086px) 100vw, 1086px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">The <a href=\"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/10mm\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"clickTracking\" campaign=\"colt-10mm-delta-elite-classic-10mm-1911-full-review\" title=\"2 - Refresh - Colt 10mm Delta Elite: A Classic Magnum-Powered 1911\u2014Full Review\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">10mm<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/1911-colt\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"clickTracking\" campaign=\"colt-10mm-delta-elite-classic-10mm-1911-full-review\" title=\"2 - Refresh - Colt 10mm Delta Elite: A Classic Magnum-Powered 1911\u2014Full Review\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Colt Delta Elite<\/a> has a history dating back to the 1980s, but is still as viable today as ever.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<h2 id=\"10mm-2026\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">The 10mm Is Back With a Vengeance in 2026<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The funniest thing about revisiting this review in 2026 is that the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.colt.com\/product-category\/commercial\/pistols\/delta-elite-series\/\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"clickTracking\" campaign=\"colt-10mm-delta-elite-classic-10mm-1911-full-review\" title=\"2 - Refresh - Colt 10mm Delta Elite: A Classic Magnum-Powered 1911\u2014Full Review\">Colt Delta Elite<\/a> no longer needs to explain why anybody would want a 10mm. The cartridge won that argument while nobody was looking. What was once the peculiar obsession of a small cult now has factory pistols from nearly every direction, with polymer frames, optics cuts, compensators, double-stack magazines, hunting-length barrels, and enough ammunition choices to make the old days look downright primitive.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Glock 20 remains the workhorse answer, delivering 15+1 rounds in a polymer-framed pistol that has become nearly synonymous with backcountry 10mm use. Smith &amp; Wesson brought the cartridge back into the M&amp;P family with 15+1 capacity, optics-ready slides, and modern striker-fired ergonomics. Dan Wesson attacks the problem from the opposite direction with premium 1911s for shooters who want fine machining, traditional controls, and are comfortable paying accordingly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">That leaves the Delta Elite in an interesting place. It does not win the capacity contest. It does not arrive as the most aggressively optics-ready pistol in the category. It is not trying to be a plastic wilderness appliance. It is still a stainless steel Colt 1911 chambered for the cartridge it helped drag into commercial legitimacy. For the right buyer, that is precisely the point.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"comparison\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Colt Delta Elite vs. Glock 20, S&amp;W, and Dan Wesson<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table><thead><tr><th>Pistol<\/th><th>Platform<\/th><th>Capacity<\/th><th>Barrel<\/th><th>Best Fit<\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td>Colt Delta Elite<\/td><td>Steel 1911<\/td><td>8<\/td><td>5 inches<\/td><td>Classic 10mm 1911, range, field use, collectors<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Glock 20<\/td><td>Polymer striker-fired<\/td><td>15+1<\/td><td>4.61 inches<\/td><td>High-capacity woods and general-purpose use<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Smith &amp; Wesson M&amp;P 10mm M2.0<\/td><td>Polymer striker-fired<\/td><td>15+1<\/td><td>4 or 4.6 inches<\/td><td>Modern ergonomics, optics, backcountry use<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Dan Wesson Specialist 10mm<\/td><td>Steel 1911<\/td><td>8+1<\/td><td>5 inches<\/td><td>Premium 1911 fit, finish, and features<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If capacity is everything, the polymer guns make the arithmetic ugly for the Colt. Fifteen rounds is more than eight no matter how much walnut, stainless steel, history, or John Moses Browning incense you burn over the calculator.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">But handguns are rarely purchased by spreadsheet alone. A 1911 gives you a slim grip, a straight-pull single-action trigger, familiar manual safety, a low bore relationship to the hand, and more than a century of institutional muscle memory behind the basic design. If those things matter to you, the Delta Elite makes a much stronger case.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Current Delta Elite pricing varies considerably with availability and seller, but by 2026 new examples are commonly encountered around the low $1,000s into roughly the mid $1,300 range. That puts the Colt well above mainstream polymer 10mms but generally below the premium Dan Wesson end of the 1911 market. The original $1,099 MSRP from our test gun is preserved below for historical reference.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"history\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">The Cult of the 10mm Meets the Colt Delta Elite<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">When the chance came up to review the Colt Delta Elite, I was fully prepared to demand trial by combat if another writer tried to jump the rotation. As a card-carrying disciple of the Cult of the 10mm, I was extremely motivated to get my hands on the gun that can be credited with saving my favorite cartridge. While I am not normally a 1911 fan, even though I carried one to war once, I was more than willing to shelve my combat Tupperware for a few weeks and play with this stainless steel work of art.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1200\" height=\"763\" src=\"https:\/\/www.gunsamerica.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/Consecutive-Brens.jpg\" alt=\"Bren Ten pistol representing the early history of the 10mm Auto cartridge before the Colt Delta Elite\" class=\"wp-image-61487\" srcset=\"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/Consecutive-Brens.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/Consecutive-Brens-150x95.jpg 150w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/Consecutive-Brens-400x254.jpg 400w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/Consecutive-Brens-768x488.jpg 768w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/Consecutive-Brens-1024x651.jpg 1024w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">The CZ 75-inspired Bren 10 was an early attempt to bring the 10mm to the market, but ultimately failed where the Delta Elite later succeeded.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It seems we can\u2019t discuss anything 10mm without talking about the <a href=\"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/bren-ten\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"clickTracking\" campaign=\"colt-10mm-delta-elite-classic-10mm-1911-full-review\" title=\"2 - Refresh - Colt 10mm Delta Elite: A Classic Magnum-Powered 1911\u2014Full Review\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Bren Ten<\/a> from way back in 1983. I\u2019ll make mine short and sweet. All you really need to know about the Bren is that it was a CZ 75 knock-off design, with an authority no less than Col. Jeff Cooper endorsing the CZ 75 design as a sound combat pistol, and the Czechs were still commies then. At that time, it was widely held that Americans viewed a pistol as a fighting tool while Europeans viewed a pistol as a decoration for their officers. The Colt Delta Elite is still in production, and the Bren Ten is a museum piece. I think that sums this up nicely. And yes, I am aware we are friends with the Czech Republic now. I went there a few years ago to import gunpowder. The 80s were a different time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">So with the Bren Ten being an abysmal failure, the 10mm cartridge also seemed destined for the bone pile of wildcat cartridge hell. The cavalry, rather ironically, came in the form of Colt Manufacturing Company. In 1987 Colt succeeded in building a 1911 pistol chambered for the 10mm, providing the cartridge a leap to commercial viability. Colt named this pistol the Delta Elite.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"900\" height=\"598\" src=\"https:\/\/www.gunsamerica.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/GetImage-copy.jpg\" alt=\"Factory Colt Delta Elite 10mm stainless 1911 showing the retro styling of the modern production pistol\" class=\"wp-image-61500\" srcset=\"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/GetImage-copy.jpg 900w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/GetImage-copy-150x100.jpg 150w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/GetImage-copy-400x266.jpg 400w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/GetImage-copy-768x510.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 900px) 100vw, 900px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">The newly produced Delta Elite 10mm from Colt captures the retro charm of the 80s-era design. <em>Image courtesy of Colt.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<h2 id=\"specs\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Colt Delta Elite 10mm Specifications<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Original review specifications:<\/strong> These are the exact specifications published with the pistol tested for the original article. The $1,099 MSRP is retained as historical pricing rather than presented as current 2026 retail pricing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table><tbody><tr><th>CHAMBERING<\/th><td>10mm<\/td><\/tr><tr><th>BARREL<\/th><td>5 inches<\/td><\/tr><tr><th>OA LENGTH<\/th><td>8.5 inches<\/td><\/tr><tr><th>WEIGHT<\/th><td>35 ounces<\/td><\/tr><tr><th>GRIPS<\/th><td>Composite<\/td><\/tr><tr><th>SIGHTS<\/th><td>Novak Carry with dots<\/td><\/tr><tr><th>ACTION<\/th><td>Single-action<\/td><\/tr><tr><th>FINISH<\/th><td>Stainless steel<\/td><\/tr><tr><th>CAPACITY<\/th><td>8<\/td><\/tr><tr><th>MSRP<\/th><td>$1,099<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Why Did Colt Call It the Delta Elite?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Why is it named that? Does Delta mean 10 in Greek? Not exactly. The 80s was also a different time for information. The Cold War was in full swing, and we didn\u2019t hand out slaps on the wrist for mishandling the classified stuff. We sure as hell didn\u2019t let someone lose control of mountains of it and then become a major political party&#8217;s presidential candidate either, but I digress. I can tell you we only wanted two things back then: #1, to say NO to drugs and #2, to be Delta Force guys canoeing some Tango\u2019s forehead during an aircraft assault, between days we spent flying fighter jets and shooting down Mig\u2019s belonging to fictional but vaguely Russian-sounding Republics.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1086\" height=\"724\" src=\"https:\/\/www.gunsamerica.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/thumb_DSC02195_1024.jpg\" alt=\"10mm Auto cartridge compared with 40 S&amp;W ammunition during the Colt Delta Elite review\" class=\"wp-image-61496\" srcset=\"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/thumb_DSC02195_1024.jpg 1086w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/thumb_DSC02195_1024-150x100.jpg 150w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/thumb_DSC02195_1024-400x267.jpg 400w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/thumb_DSC02195_1024-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/thumb_DSC02195_1024-1024x683.jpg 1024w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1086px) 100vw, 1086px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">The 10mm round (taller round, and far left) delivers a good deal more power than the .40 S&amp;W round (next to it).<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1086\" height=\"724\" src=\"https:\/\/www.gunsamerica.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/thumb_DSC02183_1024.jpg\" alt=\"Colt Delta Elite 10mm synthetic grip panel with the classic Delta medallion\" class=\"wp-image-61494\" srcset=\"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/thumb_DSC02183_1024.jpg 1086w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/thumb_DSC02183_1024-150x100.jpg 150w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/thumb_DSC02183_1024-400x267.jpg 400w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/thumb_DSC02183_1024-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/thumb_DSC02183_1024-1024x683.jpg 1024w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1086px) 100vw, 1086px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">The classic delta logo of the pistol is emblazoned on the synthetic grip panels.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The United States was obsessed with counter-terrorism, at least partially because it was so new. I can\u2019t say for certain that was Colt\u2019s marketing angle on this, but it certainly seems plausible. And the nice thing about naming your gun after a bunch of black ops sneak ninjas, they won\u2019t exactly send out a press release saying they aren\u2019t involved. Either way, the name stuck, and now Delta Elite instantly conjures Stainless 1911 in 10mm. Was it ever actually used there? I don\u2019t know; I wasn\u2019t in Delta Force. Somebody send Larry Vickers an email and ask.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"new-era\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">The Colt Delta Elite 10mm Enters a New Era<\/h2>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1086\" height=\"724\" src=\"https:\/\/www.gunsamerica.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/thumb_DSC02071_1024.jpg\" alt=\"Colt Delta Elite 10mm cooling after a string of fire during range testing\" class=\"wp-image-61490\" srcset=\"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/thumb_DSC02071_1024.jpg 1086w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/thumb_DSC02071_1024-150x100.jpg 150w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/thumb_DSC02071_1024-400x267.jpg 400w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/thumb_DSC02071_1024-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/thumb_DSC02071_1024-1024x683.jpg 1024w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1086px) 100vw, 1086px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">The Delta Elite proved to be an impressive performer for the author. It is shown here cooling down after a string of fire.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">So, here we are 30 years later, and the Delta Elite is still going strong. Obviously, there is enough of a following that they are still producing them. How do our modern editions stack up? In a world where every gun company under the sun builds a 1911, Colt still stands out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Since the original publishing date of this review about a decade ago, that statement has become even more interesting. There are far more 10mm pistols competing for attention now than there were in 2016. What has not changed is the Colt\u2019s basic appeal. It is still the name most closely tied to the survival of 10mm in a traditional 1911 package.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">To start with, this gun is just pretty. Colt did an absolutely amazing job of contrasting matte and shiny stainless steel. The contrasted black grips, trigger and sights make the gun very visually appealing. The trigger pull is crisp, with a clean break like you would expect from a 1911. Colt also put in a grown-up-sized extended beavertail safety, which is a nice touch. That has traditionally been the first thing I change on a 1911. Toss the baby-sized one and add in an extended for more reliable engagement.<\/p>\n\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/colt-delta-elite\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"clickTracking\" campaign=\"colt-10mm-delta-elite-classic-10mm-1911-full-review\" title=\"2 - Refresh - Colt 10mm Delta Elite: A Classic Magnum-Powered 1911\u2014Full Review\" style=\"display:inline-block;text-decoration:none;font-weight:700;line-height:1;border-radius:9999px;background:#eef4ff;color:#1849a9;border:1px solid #d8e0f0;padding:10px 16px\">\n  \ud83d\uded2 Check Current Price for Colt Delta Elite on GunsAmerica\n<\/a>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It comes with a flat, serrated mainspring housing, which fit my hand well. The front strap is smooth, but that is easy enough to change aftermarket if you are so inclined and easier to add after the fact than to remove, so no points off from me on that one. Classic rear serrations make running the slide by hand a breeze. I would say correcting malfunctions, but I didn\u2019t have any. The rubber grips help dampen some of the recoil and are cut with a diamond pattern to add some grip.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1086\" height=\"724\" src=\"https:\/\/www.gunsamerica.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/thumb_DSC02217_1024.jpg\" alt=\"Colt Delta Elite 10mm firing during range testing and showing controllable recoil\" class=\"wp-image-61499\" srcset=\"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/thumb_DSC02217_1024.jpg 1086w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/thumb_DSC02217_1024-150x100.jpg 150w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/thumb_DSC02217_1024-400x267.jpg 400w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/thumb_DSC02217_1024-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/thumb_DSC02217_1024-1024x683.jpg 1024w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1086px) 100vw, 1086px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">While powerful, the author found the Delta Elite to be very controllable.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<h2 id=\"shooting\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">How Does the Colt Delta Elite 10mm Shoot?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">How does it shoot? I was pretty impressed. The 10mm round is snappy, that is for certain. But nothing like a true magnum caliber revolver. Even my hottest round tested was manageable. If you have a proper grip on the gun, you can still sling this monster quickly. Accuracy was excellent, as you would expect from a 1911 at this level of quality.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">That remains one of Colt\u2019s best arguments against the modern polymer competition. Weight is not always the enemy. At 35 ounces, this all-steel pistol has enough mass to help turn full-power 10mm from something obnoxious into something you can actually enjoy shooting. A Glock or M&amp;P gives you more cartridges before the reload. The Delta Elite gives those cartridges a substantial chunk of steel to push against.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"why-10mm\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Why Buy a 10mm 1911 Instead of .45 ACP?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">So why would you buy this over a 1911 in .45 ACP? In my mind, it boils down to two reasons. First, 10mm is much better against large game if that is a concern in your area. In Idaho, we have black and grizzly bears as well as mountain lions that are known to attack dogs and people. A <a href=\"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/10mm-ammo\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"clickTracking\" campaign=\"colt-10mm-delta-elite-classic-10mm-1911-full-review\" title=\"2 - Refresh - Colt 10mm Delta Elite: A Classic Magnum-Powered 1911\u2014Full Review\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">10mm loaded<\/a> to the top end approaches .41 Magnum capabilities, and blows .45 ACP out of the water.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">What would I rather have to stop a charging grizzly? Probably a Barrett .50 BMG and some friends, but that isn\u2019t always practical to carry. I prefer automatics to revolvers, so 10mm is the best choice for me. And anything that will stop four-legged predators will work even better on two-legged predators. A 180-grain jacketed hollow point moving at 1,220 fps will absolutely make someone think twice about invading your home.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1086\" height=\"724\" src=\"https:\/\/www.gunsamerica.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/thumb_DSC02208_1024.jpg\" alt=\"Extended beavertail grip safety on the Colt Delta Elite 10mm 1911\" class=\"wp-image-61498\" srcset=\"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/thumb_DSC02208_1024.jpg 1086w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/thumb_DSC02208_1024-150x100.jpg 150w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/thumb_DSC02208_1024-400x267.jpg 400w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/thumb_DSC02208_1024-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/thumb_DSC02208_1024-1024x683.jpg 1024w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1086px) 100vw, 1086px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">The author appreciated the inclusion of an extended beavertail grip safety on the pistol.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1086\" height=\"724\" src=\"https:\/\/www.gunsamerica.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/thumb_DSC02196_1024.jpg\" alt=\"Colt Delta Elite 10mm controls showing the familiar 1911 thumb safety slide stop and magazine release\" class=\"wp-image-61497\" srcset=\"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/thumb_DSC02196_1024.jpg 1086w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/thumb_DSC02196_1024-150x100.jpg 150w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/thumb_DSC02196_1024-400x267.jpg 400w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/thumb_DSC02196_1024-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/thumb_DSC02196_1024-1024x683.jpg 1024w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1086px) 100vw, 1086px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Anyone who has used a 1911 will be right at home with the controls of the Colt Delta Elite 10mm.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">10mm Versatility Is Still the Cartridge\u2019s Secret Weapon<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Second, versatility. The 10mm will do a great many things if you reload your own ammo. You can go full power bear deterrent, \u201c10 FBI\u201d load for more dainty hands, and load anything from 155- up to 220-grain hardcast. Whatever sport you play, 10mm will do it well. Super-fast target rounds? Check. Hunting deer? 10mm is one of the only approved rounds for handgun hunting in many places. Power factor for USPSA or IDPA? 10mm is awesome.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">I prefer heavy and slow to make my power factor for sports, as it tends to be more reliable for me. And I have seen a couple of catastrophes from attempted 200-grain 40 S&amp;W. 10mm gives you more case dimension to play with, which ultimately makes it capable of more things. Anything .40 Slow and Weak will do, 10mm will do better.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">One thing reloaders should watch today is primer size. Traditional 10mm brass commonly uses large pistol primers, but small-primer 10mm brass is also in circulation, so sort your cases before you start feeding the press. If you are in the prepper\/survivalist camp, the wider availability of factory 10mm ammunition today is also a very different world from the one this cartridge occupied when the Delta Elite first appeared.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"ammo\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Feed the Beast: 10mm Ammo Makes the Delta Elite Work<\/h2>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1086\" height=\"724\" src=\"https:\/\/www.gunsamerica.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/thumb_DSC02067_1024.jpg\" alt=\"Hornady Critical Duty and SIG Sauer Elite Performance 10mm ammunition used in the Colt Delta Elite review\" class=\"wp-image-61489\" srcset=\"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/thumb_DSC02067_1024.jpg 1086w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/thumb_DSC02067_1024-150x100.jpg 150w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/thumb_DSC02067_1024-400x267.jpg 400w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/thumb_DSC02067_1024-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/thumb_DSC02067_1024-1024x683.jpg 1024w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1086px) 100vw, 1086px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">The author ran a selection of Hornady Critical Duty and Sig Sauer Elite Performance ammunition through the pistol.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A real victory today is the commercial loadings available in 10mm. Not that long ago, factory 10 was difficult to find. Now many manufacturers feature it in the lineup. That observation from the original review has aged exceptionally well. The 10mm ammunition shelf is vastly healthier than it was during the cartridge\u2019s lean years, with loads covering practice, personal defense, hunting, and deep-penetration backcountry roles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Our Hornady 175-grain FlexLock Critical Duty load used in testing is an excellent defense round, featuring all Hornady\u2019s lethality science poured into a ready-to-go package for you. One thing about a defense round built by a company with a long tradition of hunting bullets is that they know exactly how to inflict trauma. The FlexLock bullet features a patented Flex Tip design that will not clog, and an ultra thick jacket to core interlock band to ensure high weight retention.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1086\" height=\"724\" src=\"https:\/\/www.gunsamerica.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/thumb_DSC02086_1024.jpg\" alt=\"Colt Delta Elite 10mm pistol during the original GunsAmerica range test\" class=\"wp-image-61492\" srcset=\"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/thumb_DSC02086_1024.jpg 1086w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/thumb_DSC02086_1024-150x100.jpg 150w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/thumb_DSC02086_1024-400x267.jpg 400w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/thumb_DSC02086_1024-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/thumb_DSC02086_1024-1024x683.jpg 1024w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1086px) 100vw, 1086px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">The author put the Colt Delta Elite through its paces and got some very good results with it on the range.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">I cannot say enough good things about the Sig Sauer Elite Performance line of ammunition. I never thought I would see the day Sig was in the ammo business, but they seem to be doing it very well. The velocity and standard deviation numbers on this ammo are staggering. It has a 1,220 fps average velocity, which is screaming for 180 grains of lead, and 8 fps standard deviation that has a huge influence on accuracy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The thing I like absolutely best, they make an FMJ and a JHP with identical ballistics. Anything that saves a couple of bucks on training ammo is a win with me, especially in the world of large pistol primer brass. Sig is obviously an up-and-comer in the ammo world, and I am expecting good things from them. I will be leaning on Sig ammunition for testing in the future, and I bet they perform just as well in other calibers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Where the Colt Delta Elite Wins and Where It Gives Ground<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The modern 10mm market makes the Delta Elite easier to judge because buyers now have genuinely different choices. The Glock 20 makes a brutally practical argument with 15+1 capacity, a lighter polymer frame, a deep aftermarket, and decades of 10mm credibility. If I wanted a pistol to get rained on, bounced around the truck, and carried through the woods without making me emotionally attached to every scratch, that sort of design has obvious appeal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Smith &amp; Wesson M&amp;P 10mm M2.0 pushes the modern argument even further with 15+1 capacity, contemporary grip ergonomics, and optics-ready configurations. The world has moved toward red dots, and pretending otherwise would be like insisting the pager is coming back because somebody found a mint one in a drawer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Dan Wesson is the more direct philosophical rival. If you are already committed to an all-steel 10mm 1911 and have a larger budget, pistols such as the Specialist offer a more premium route with modern feature sets and tighter high-end positioning. That is a different price bracket, though, and it misses the intangible reason a lot of people want the Colt in the first place. It says Colt on the slide, it says Delta Elite on the box, and that matters to people who understand where 10mm came from.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"verdict\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Should You Buy a Colt Delta Elite in 2026?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Overall, the Colt Delta Elite was a joy to review. If you are in the market for a 10mm, this is an excellent choice. I spent most of last summer in Okinawa working with the Marines, who happened to be issued Colt 1911s in .45 ACP. Like those guns, this one would be a formidable sidearm. This is the gun that stormed both Omaha Beach and Tarawa, defended the 38th Parallel and ran recon in Vietnam. Still in use by military units and elite SWAT teams today, and available in the best auto caliber ever dreamed of for a pistol, the Colt Delta Elite is a real winner.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1086\" height=\"724\" src=\"https:\/\/www.gunsamerica.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/thumb_DSC02182_1024.jpg\" alt=\"Colt Delta Elite 10mm showing contrasting matte and polished stainless steel surfaces\" class=\"wp-image-61493\" srcset=\"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/thumb_DSC02182_1024.jpg 1086w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/thumb_DSC02182_1024-150x100.jpg 150w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/thumb_DSC02182_1024-400x267.jpg 400w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/thumb_DSC02182_1024-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/thumb_DSC02182_1024-1024x683.jpg 1024w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1086px) 100vw, 1086px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">The pistol features a contrasting matte and polished finish that the author found very appealing.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1086\" height=\"724\" src=\"https:\/\/www.gunsamerica.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/thumb_DSC02060_1024.jpg\" alt=\"Colt Delta Elite 10mm stainless 1911 configured from the factory for defensive and field use\" class=\"wp-image-61488\" srcset=\"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/thumb_DSC02060_1024.jpg 1086w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/thumb_DSC02060_1024-150x100.jpg 150w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/thumb_DSC02060_1024-400x267.jpg 400w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/thumb_DSC02060_1024-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/thumb_DSC02060_1024-1024x683.jpg 1024w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1086px) 100vw, 1086px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">The pistol comes from the factory ready to go with all the features you need for a good self-defense or hunting pistol.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>2026 verdict:<\/strong> The conclusion still holds, but the reason for buying one has sharpened. If your only goal is maximum 10mm capacity per dollar, the Colt is not the rational winner. A Glock 20 or M&amp;P 10mm gives you almost twice the ammunition on board and a much more modern starting point for optics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If you specifically want a 10mm 1911, though, the Delta Elite remains one of the defining guns in the category. It is slimmer in the hand than the big double-stack polymer guns; its single-action trigger is still one of the great pleasures in pistol shooting, and the all-steel frame makes the cartridge more civilized than the caliber\u2019s reputation might suggest.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Then there is the part the comparison chart cannot measure. The Delta Elite was there when 10mm desperately needed a serious manufacturer to believe in it. The cartridge is enjoying its revenge tour now, surrounded by modern pistols with red dots, fifteen-round magazines, and polymer everything. The Colt does not have to pretend it invented the party. It helped keep the lights on until everyone else arrived.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Colt Delta Elite 10mm Pros &amp; Cons<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Pros:<\/strong> Classic Colt 1911 heritage, all-stainless steel construction, crisp single-action trigger, excellent original test accuracy, manageable recoil, extended beavertail, familiar 1911 controls, handsome matte and polished finish, and one of the strongest historical connections to the 10mm cartridge.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Cons:<\/strong> Eight-round capacity trails modern 15+1 polymer pistols, factory optics support is less convenient than newer designs, the pistol is heavier than polymer alternatives, and current pricing puts it above mainstream striker-fired 10mm options.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Who Is the Colt Delta Elite 10mm Really For?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Buy the Delta Elite if:<\/strong> you want a real Colt 1911, specifically want 10mm, value an excellent single-action trigger and slim steel frame, appreciate the cartridge\u2019s history, and would rather own something with personality than the highest capacity number on the shelf.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Look at the Glock 20 if:<\/strong> capacity, simplicity, lower weight, aftermarket support, and backcountry practicality matter more than traditional 1911 character.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Look at the Smith &amp; Wesson M&amp;P 10mm if:<\/strong> you want 15+1 capacity, modern striker-fired ergonomics, and an easier path to a slide-mounted optic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Look at Dan Wesson if:<\/strong> you want to stay with a 10mm 1911 but are shopping farther into the premium end of the market and are willing to pay for it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"related\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Related Reads from GunsAmerica Digest<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/mith-wesson-adds-the-10mm-auto-to-its-mp-pistol-line-review\/\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"clickTracking\" campaign=\"colt-10mm-delta-elite-classic-10mm-1911-full-review\" title=\"2 - Refresh - Colt 10mm Delta Elite: A Classic Magnum-Powered 1911\u2014Full Review\">Smith &amp; Wesson M&amp;P 10mm M2.0 Review<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/smith-wesson-mp-2-0-10mm-review\/\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"clickTracking\" campaign=\"colt-10mm-delta-elite-classic-10mm-1911-full-review\" title=\"2 - Refresh - Colt 10mm Delta Elite: A Classic Magnum-Powered 1911\u2014Full Review\">M&amp;P 2.0 10mm Review: Big Power, No Brick Feel<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/loaded-bear-dan-wesson-bruin-10mm-long-slide-full-review\/\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"clickTracking\" campaign=\"colt-10mm-delta-elite-classic-10mm-1911-full-review\" title=\"2 - Refresh - Colt 10mm Delta Elite: A Classic Magnum-Powered 1911\u2014Full Review\">Loaded for Bear: Dan Wesson Bruin 10mm Long Slide<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/tag\/10mm\/\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"clickTracking\" campaign=\"colt-10mm-delta-elite-classic-10mm-1911-full-review\" title=\"2 - Refresh - Colt 10mm Delta Elite: A Classic Magnum-Powered 1911\u2014Full Review\">More 10mm Reviews and News from GunsAmerica Digest<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The Colt Delta Elite helped keep the 10mm Auto alive when the cartridge looked destined for obscurity. Four decades later, the 10mm market is packed with higher-capacity, optics-ready competition, but this stainless steel 1911 still has something the new kids cannot manufacture overnight: history, character, and one seriously entertaining trigger finger.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":36,"featured_media":61492,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_specdata_upc":"","_specdata_placement":"manual","footnotes":""},"categories":[7,226,694,859,36,860],"tags":[722,615,4678,102,108,621,620],"featured":[],"hunt365":[],"class_list":["post-61486","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-gunsamerica-authors","category-clay-martin","category-gun-reviews","category-gun-reviews-handguns","category-reviews-pistols","category-semi-autos","tag-10mm","tag-615","tag-colt-delta-elite","tag-feature-articles","tag-guns","tag-pistol","tag-tactical"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v28.5 (Yoast SEO v28.5) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Colt Delta Elite 10mm Review and 2026 Buyer Guide<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"The Colt Delta Elite helped save 10mm. In 2026, does this stainless 1911 still deserve a spot beside Glock, S&amp;W and Dan Wesson?\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/colt-10mm-delta-elite-classic-10mm-1911-full-review\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"2 - Refresh - Colt 10mm Delta Elite: A Classic Magnum-Powered 1911\u2014Full Review\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"The Colt Delta Elite helped keep the 10mm Auto alive when the cartridge looked destined for obscurity. 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