Colt, Kimber, Dan Wesson, Remington???

[Tomcatt]

I have three 10mms. An original blued Delta, a pre CZ Razorback and a Kimber Eclipse. All have been great shooters and are trouble free.
Tomcatt

[Mike D]

Yurei,

You've identified a few 1911s.  I'm a 1911 koolaid distributor so I'm gonna share my thoughts.

First 10mm 1911 was one of the first RIA's off the boat.  I even gave CTD the business to get one from that first shipment.  It was stolen from my truck earlier this year, but it was 100% reliable.  As delivered, it did require hiking boots to comfortably retrieve spent brass.  This was improved with some spring tuning.

I replaced it with a Silverback that's been in my hand or on my hip for the past couple weeks.  I love Dan Wesson's firearms.  This one is my favorite of all the DWs I've molested.  I will admit I'd like a Bruin for a range toy/hunting piece, but ... I don't own pistols I won't carry so the full size 1911 is where I need to be.  I've typed all this even though you don't think you can stretch the budget.  I typed it 'cause Dan Wesson is deservedly proud of their firearms.  Their QC inspection is beyond stringent.  The release the guns that they don't think are perfectly finished as "Blems" or blemished guns.  I bought one like this.  I do not have a warranty on the finish, and I have a piece of paper with red circles around both sides of the dust cover.  Dan Wesson claims it's pitted.  I can't see the flaw outside in full sun.  I was happy to get the blemished but 100% functional gun for less than $1400.  Regarding the reports of galling ... IMO, the majority of the problems are the result of less than careful commissioning.  They don't come out of the box ready for the range.  There is shipping preservative to remove and smart shooters aren't shy with the lube on their points stainless to stainless contact.

Yes, the Remington is what was the Para.  I dunno much from Remington, but the feedback is positive.

I don't do Kimber, but I don't do any 1911 without series 70 fire controls.  I will say that they sure can make a pretty gun.

I'm not up to date on the updated Delta Elites, but the fact that Colt finally offers it with a bevertail grip safety is a good sign.  I'm pretty sure I will still have to for Talo to commission a run of DEs with series 70 fire controls before I can look at a new one.

At any rate, I highly recommend Dan Wessons; I think Rock Island Armory is a good value proposition.  Don't worry about the issues with stainless steel - they are the same issues anything that rubs stainless on stainless will exhibit - the good news is that preventive maintenance basically eliminates the concern is a decently tooled firearm.

Other than the new Remington that I know nothing about I agree on all points in this post.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

[gehlsurf]

Along with a few others have suggested, I have a RIA 10mm TAC, 10mm in bull barrel, 4.25 inch barrel, I love it! Especially for the price.  I plan on using it as a hunting gun mostly, had bottom rail as well.  In FL, over 50 yard shot is rare, so 4.25" barrel seems fine to me.  I think it's a great product for the money, and you can get parts cheap and easy, even on EBAY.  it's accurate as hell, and a great piece to build from.  Look them up on google, and all I found was good reviews, accuracy, tight slides, etc.  And, again, it's a great bargain, it's kind of the work horse or F150 of the 10mm group in my eyes, if you scratch it, drop it, etc.  You won't cry at cost of replacement parts.

Just a thought for a second 10mm.

[gehlsurf]

Almost forgot, Rok Island Armory has a ramped bull barrel, probably part of the reason for the reliability in them, so plus point on that

[Buddy10mm]

I've owned a Witness Steel, a Witness Match Elite, a G20, and a DW Razorback.  I still own the Razorback.  It has seized up on me once - but I'm pretty sure it was my fault in not lubing it up.  The G20 was great, but... it was a Glock.
I loved both the Witnesses, but they came at a time when I needed cash for medical bills.  Of them all, I've loved my Razorback the most.  As long as I take care of it, it takes care of me.  When I pony up for another 10mm, I'd lean towards a Rock Island for a cheaper 1911 to carry in the desert, or something polymer (please... don't tell anyone I just said that).

[TSP45ACP]

Pick up a Colt Delta Elite and have a ramped/fully supported bbl fitted.  I had a Clark Customs fitted to my Delta......and now I shoot Underwood whenever I want to.

[yfdcap]

I currently have 4 1911's in 10mm. Two Delta's and two Dan Wesson's (Razorback and Silverback).  I have owned others but these are my keepers.  They have all been great guns.  Most of the problems I have seen others have with 1911 10mm's is not tuning them to the ammo they are using. If you are going to use hot ammo you will need to work with it and find the right spring combo.  If you do not, you will probably break parts and or where the gun faster. I am talking hot ammo.  Off the shelf for the most part will be trouble free.  As a side note, I lap my tight 1911's in with Semi Chrome or Mothers mag polish before ever shooting them.  I take the gun completely apart, put some of the polish on the rails and cycle the slide a hundred or two times while watching TV.  I then clean it very well, lube it and reassemble it.  This has worked great with my Dan Wesson's as well as a couple Les Baers (probably the tightest 1911's made).  I love the 1911's.  If you are willing to work with them a little they are very reliable and will give you many years of service. 

[Peter10mm]

Take look at the Tanfoglio line that EAA imports. I think they offer more 10mm firearm models than the rest of the industry combined. These pistols are based on the time proven CZ pistol design, and from what I understand is based on the Browning High Power. And their full size frame carries 14 rounds in the Mec-Gar magazines, readily available at reasonable prices. Most of those others, especially 1911 based, offer only single stack 8 or so.

I have 2 Tanfoglio steel framed models including the 6 inch Witness Hunter (under $1,000). That is a fantastic shooting gun but big because of 6 inch barrel and heavy being all steel (a good thing for 10mm). I also have a Full Size steel Witness (~$500) which I used as a starter 10mm to see if I wanted to get into that caliber. Also a great shooting pistol. If I were to start fresh again I would go for the Witness Elite Match right from the start. Adjustable sights and lighter trigger are a bonus.

While Glock is popular my opinion and (limited) experience is the polymer frame and polymer trigger has nasty vibration and recoil when shooting powerful/max loads. The pistol is OK for lighter and standard factory load ammo. Steel smooths it all out, which really helps with enjoyment of shooting lots of high powered 10mm. Glock may offer lots of aftermarket upgrades but with Tanfoglio Witness you don't need any of that except a stiffer recoil spring for max loads and, of course, more magazines. My shooting buddy's $600 Glock is now an over $1,000 Glock with all the upgrades, but is still polymer frame.

[sqlbullet]

I too think highly of the Witness line of guns.  The only drawback is they are quite heavy and large for their capacities.  This makes for better shooting, but in a carry gun it is  a trade off.  My Para P16/10mm is just a bit smaller, and just a bit lighter and has +2 rounds.  The polymer framed variants would be lighter, but still are big guns.

I would also comment that they share very little with the P-35, AKA Hi Power/High Power.  They are visually similar, but internally the only thing they share is a variation of the linkless cam to lock/unlock the action.  And most modern auto-loading pistols have some variation of this same action.

If you want a steel gun, it is indeed hard to beat the EAA line.

[Peter10mm]

Yes I overstated the Hi-Power similarity. The barrel lock-up is similar and I think that lends itself to less barrel rotation compared to the more modern and simpler barrel lock-up pistol. Better accuracy?And it, like the CZ design, is significantly different than the 1911 designs. I was trying to draw that fundamental difference when comparing Tanfoglio to the Dan Wesson, Kimber, Colt, RIA, Para, etc models. Tanfoglio is not a 1911 design and that includes Tanfoglio being a double stack magazine for greater capacity.

Thanks for helping me clarify that.