Delta Elite - Reloads

[Rvrrat14]

I?ve got a close friend that recently acquired a 1989 Delta Elite.  He?s inquired about reloading for his 10mm.

I?ve had no issues loading for my G20.   I also have a MechTech and again, No issues.  I currently load cast Lee 401-175-TC powder coat and 180gr XTP using No. 9.  I don?t load nuclear, but like a stout load for hogs.   These loads have both worked well for that purpose.  His desire is a woods gun.

XTP is 13 - 14 gr No. 9 @ 1180fps max  @ 1.257 OAL
Cast PC is 12.5 - 13.6 No. 9 @ 1250fps max and 1.245 OAL

No signs of pressure on either load.  For cast I?d slug the barrel on the DE, first.

I read some of the concerns about the DE/10mm.   I?m looking for some general insight into what to expect and barrel characteristics of the DE.  Any words would be appreciated.
Thanks!

[Graybeard]

I have a blued DE from 1988. It was my first 10mm and I bought it new. There's a little less case head support than a lot of newer 10mm 1911s, but probably no less than your G20. I've loaded up to Underwood levels and a little beyond and fired them from this gun with no issues.

At the time these were introduced the only factory ammo was from Norma and those were some pretty hot loads. Your friends DE should handle the loads you described just fine, although I would do a work up looking for overpressure signs out of common sense. A little primer flattening is pretty normal in hotter loads, as is some slight case bulging at the case head. If you can't fix the case bulging with a pass through sizing die, you've gone too far.

Mine has served me well for many years. I hope your friend's does the same.

[tommac919]

At the time these were introduced the only factory ammo was from Norma and those were some pretty hot loads.

Norma were pretty good loads but can still be duped today;


Pull-Downs of the NORMA ammunition has shown some variations in the powder charge weights in the documentations listed. Below is a list of the 10mm ammo as made by NORMA.

200gr JTC @ 1200 fps 635 Ft/Lbs Norma Ref #11001
170gr JHP @ 1300 fps 636 Ft/Lbs Norma Ref #11002
165gr JHP @ 1400 fps 719 Ft/Lbs Norma Ref #11002 (Sample labeled as 165 gr was 170gr)

[Graybeard]

Yup, when the gun the OP mentioned was made the Norma factory ammo was pretty hot, especially when compared to much of the factory ammo today. That was my point in saying his buddy's DE should have no problems. Thanks for chiming in. If I'm not mistaken, Jeff Cooper collaborated with Norma in developing that ammo as his goal was a 200gr bullet @1200fps.

You are totally correct in that these numbers can all be duplicated safely today. I would agree that with a careful workup you can go even farther. As long as his gun is in good shape, it should be fine. I've done it with mine.

[The_Shadow]

These are SPEER loads published tested for the 10mm Delta Elite before SPEER #12 came out

[The_Shadow]

Colt barrel in the rear Witness Match in the front

[Rvrrat14]

Colt barrel in the rear Witness Match in the front

Wow!  Thanks Shadow!   My G20G3 looks like the one on the right, kinda.   Much more support than previous models and I?ve never seen a ?smile?.

I have yet to hold the DE, so I?m not sure what I?ll find.   He hasn?t said anything about throating/polishing in the chamber area.

My workups for G20 are listed in the OP.   After 45 some odd years of reloading, I kinda like to cover all bases and err on caution.

My loads are couple thousand less than max, I would imagine.

[Rvrrat14]

I have a blued DE from 1988. It was my first 10mm and I bought it new. There's a little less case head support than a lot of newer 10mm 1911s, but probably no less than your G20. I've loaded up to Underwood levels and a little beyond and fired them from this gun with no issues.

At the time these were introduced the only factory ammo was from Norma and those were some pretty hot loads. Your friends DE should handle the loads you described just fine, although I would do a work up looking for overpressure signs out of common sense. A little primer flattening is pretty normal in hotter loads, as is some slight case bulging at the case head. If you can't fix the case bulging with a pass through sizing die, you've gone too far.

Mine has served me well for many years. I hope your friend's does the same.

Thanks for the heads-up Graybeard.   Not going near Underwood, et al Nukes.  I would imagine, as some have stated, that if the cartridge has a SAAMI max pressure, the industry has to follow it when manufacturing firearms (In Merica).   

[sqlbullet]

Colt proof tests every single barrel.  Those are rounds loaded to 50,000 to 54,000 psi. 

Early Delta Elite guns suffered from frame cracking where the "D" cut for the slide stop pawl to pass through the frame.  The fix was to just machine out the material above the D cut.  Can't crack what's not there.  But the bigger take away is the Colt engineers knew the frame was over-engineered enough that removing metal was no big deal.

There is much ado about nothing with the Delta Elite and pressure.  Stay close to the pressure spec and you will be fine.

[Rvrrat14]

Colt proof tests every single barrel.  Those are rounds loaded to 50,000 to 54,000 psi. 

Early Delta Elite guns suffered from frame cracking where the "D" cut for the slide stop pawl to pass through the frame.  The fix was to just machine out the material above the D cut.  Can't crack what's not there.  But the bigger take away is the Colt engineers knew the frame was over-engineered enough that removing metal was no big deal.

There is much ado about nothing with the Delta Elite and pressure.  Stay close to the pressure spec and you will be fine.

Pressure Spec you state is the SAAMI max spec?

[sqlbullet]

SAAMI max pressure is 37,500 PSI.  This is the ceiling for load data in reloading manuals.

Proof loads are 130% to 140% SAAMI max which is the 50K to 54K values.

[FWP]

I have a 1988 DE. I have put a lot of 1988 vintage Norma through it with no issues. In fact the Norma ammo was all you could get in 1988.

My normal load is 10.3 grains of Blue Dot and a 170 grain lead SWC bullet. It is very accurate in all my 10MMs. 

[Rvrrat14]

I have a 1988 DE. I have put a lot of 1988 vintage Norma through it with no issues. In fact the Norma ammo was all you could get in 1988.

My normal load is 10.3 grains of Blue Dot and a 170 grain lead SWC bullet. It is very accurate in all my 10MMs.

Thanks for that FWP.   
I load a Lee 401-175-tc for my Glock 20.   Glad to hear your experience.  I use No 9 exclusively for my 10mm loads.  No more than book max which is still over 2500psi below max. 

[tommac919]

My normal load is 10.3 grains of Blue Dot and a 170 grain lead SWC bullet. It is very accurate in all my 10MMs.

It does seem the sweet spot for BD is 10.4 and 180 gr ... also my most accurate load
but not a hot load...more medium+

[Kenk]

Have been loading 10.4gr BD under 180gr XTP or HAP for a number of years, and have yet to find a more accurate load, not to mention the awesome fireball in low light conditions 😀