Question for someone familiar with a Colt 10mm

My Desk | 01/24/2013 | Abathar

[Abathar]

I was hoping someone was familiar with the Colt Delta Elite 10mm and could tell me if this is a decent investment or not. I am thinking of buying my neighbors that he was going to put on the market asking $750 for, it comes with about 400 rounds of Hornady ammo also.

It looks to be in really nice condition, he told me he bought it new and hadn't put 100 rounds through it. My biggest question is how does the 10mm stand up against the .45, and is that a ridiculous price or not? I really love the feel of it, he has the original grips for it but Pachmayr rubber grips on it now.

It is also stamped on the side "Gold Cup", but I really don't know what that means. It has the bright finish which I'm really not too keen on but other than that it seems to function quite well.

[Abathar]

Thanks for any input -

[I cannot think of a name]

That’s a terrible, terrible buy.

You should have your neighbor contact me immediately.

(Hint - unless it has been modified or shot out, “Colt Gold Cup” anything is worth more than that. And with full power ammo, 10mm was to equal .41 Mag - or so said Col Cooper.)

[Tijeras_Slim]

Smoking hot deal. 10mm is a bit hotter than .45 ACP, it was originally intended to be the auto version of the .41 Mag. Most stuff is loaded lighter these days with some exceptions like Double Tap Ammo.

Gold Cup was the competition target version of the government model.

I’d be all over this.

[Joe 6-pack]

Excellent deal...especially with the ammo. I have one and wouldn’t trade it. Go to Wilson and invest in some nylon shock buffers (they’re cheap) to avoid pounding on the frame. He’ll probably still have the original one from the factory in it.

[Resolute Conservative]

I had one for a while when the Delta Elite first came out. I liked shooting it but the factory loads were too hot and the bullets will over penetrate and not expand. You need to load a heavier bullet with just a tad slower velocity unless you routinely shoot at cars or through metal doors.

That said it is a fine weapon and I like it better than a .45 but I opted to go with .40 and .357 Sig instead.

[Coffee... Black... No Sugar]

for the price comparison shop it on gunbroker or auction arms websites (the ebays of weaponry). then you be the judge.

[ßuddaßudd]

I would in a heart-beat,,, plus 400 rounds? It would make a great trade item for something I really want...
jump on it before he changes his mind

[Nervous Tick]

>> unless you routinely shoot at cars or through metal doors.

That got a lol. Although, the day may be coming...

[SampleMan]

Only downsides that I see are:
1. You pay a premium for the “Colt” name
2. 10mm is somewhat a Beta-max in the auto-mag selection of chamberings. Its ballisticly fine, but you'll have a harder time finding ammo than with a .40.

But it appears to be a good deal.

[DCBryan1]

You should RUN, not walk to him RFN and buy it. Ammo alone is worth over $250.

[GladesGuru]

Buy it at once!

It is a good investment, a good shooter, and an excellent defense weapon.

With Bammy doin’ the Libtard/GunGrabber Shuck n Jive, that gun will be an outstanding investment. Adding to its value is the lack of a paper trail.

[petro45acp]

SMOKING HOT DEAL!

Get some dies and roll your own ammo. Save every speck of brass you shoot.

SMOKING HOT DEAL!!!

[Abathar]

Thanks for the info. He is hurting for money is why he is selling it, I really don’t know much about the Colt frames other than the .45 and this looks/feels exactly the same as others I’ve handled. I am a revolver man usually, that is what I mostly have now so I know how to check fit and function with those but not too sure on automatics.

He also told me the springs in the mags might have to be replaced, I guess he left them all loaded and he said they feel “soft” now. I’ve never replaced them in any mags I have but he told me someplace like Brownells could get them for me still and it was easy to do.

[ImJustAnotherOkie]

Having owned a Colt Gold Cup in .45 for many years I can say it is a stout precision weapon with close tolerances. I would guess that holds true for all calibers. You can tweak the trigger, but it was always a little picky about ammo. Cheap CCI and TulAmmo steel casings wouldn’t feed. 10mm ammo is not nearly as common and cheap as .45 or 9mm.

I just looked at some ballistics charts and the 10 comes out 8% ahead of the .40 and about 10% ahead of a .45 and about 10% less than a .357.

I’d think about why he was selling it. Is it fun or a little heavy on recoil. Any accessories? Try it out, see what you think.

A typical Gold Cup .45 goes for a little over $1000. Check Armslist.com for some price estimates.

[DCBryan1]

IF the slide finger grooves are verticle, then its 1st gen. If the slide finger grooves are slanted forward, its 2nd gen. 2nd Gen guns can handle hotter ammo.

[Abathar]

Cool, thanks for that tip!

[Georgia Girl 2]

10 mm ammo is really hard to find. A .40 cal or 45 ACP is a much better choice. Personally I would go with a Springfield Armory .40 XDM.

[ImJustAnotherOkie]

Springs in the mags are bad? That is the problem with 7-8rd mags you have to keep them fully loaded. If you have a double stack 15-17 you can keep 10 inside for long term storage without the springs failing.

[petro45acp]

If replacing springs, look for ISMI silicon-chrome. Replace recoil and firing pin together!

As a revolver guy, you are acquiring the equivalent of a high quality S&W from their heyday (50s 60s)!

[Sender]

The only possible negative to this deal is that 10mm ammo is not plentiful. Regardless, get it if you can.