Problem with used Delta Elite

Red_Eagle · March 6, 2010, 09:30 PM

I got a used colt Delta Elite at a gun show today for $800. It was really dirty and oily. I cleaned it ral quick, got most of the big stuff and headed to the range. Other than a few FTLs it was ok. Most of the problems I think may be the reloads I was using that I bought at the gun show. Well when I got home I was playing with it and found that if you try to fire it when the safety is on, and then take the safety off, the hammer drops to the half cock position. Is that normal or did I pay for a defective gun?

Red_Eagle · March 6, 2010, 10:05 PM

Will the 10mm slide work on any 1911 or only the Elite?

DnPRK · March 6, 2010, 11:17 PM

I'd bet someone tried to give it a trigger job and botched the sear/hammer engagement. The quickest fix is to adjust sear spring tension by slightly bending the left leg to add more pressure and test it again. If that doesn't fix it, then purchase a match sear by Wilson, Nowlin or Ed Brown from Brownells.com

1goodshot · March 7, 2010, 07:28 AM

I would take it to a good gunsmith,sounds like someone messed with it.

apr1775 · March 7, 2010, 08:38 AM

Quote:

Will the 10mm slide work on any 1911 or only the Elite?

It should. Normally a 10mm will have a different ejector mounted to the frame than other 1911's, but other than that, they should interchange.

Your pistol may just be dirty inside, or someone may have gotten carried away with a custom trigger job. The easiest and safest way to remedy that would be to replaced the sear and hammer with "drop-in" replacement parts. Inexpensive and easy to do for a mechanically skilled person. Also check the sear spring as mentioned above; a friend of mine once had an unexpected discharge do to that.

Red_Eagle · March 7, 2010, 08:57 AM

I had the frame apart last night.It looks like there's some metal missing from the thumb safety. Would that be causing this?

goodspeed(TPF) · March 7, 2010, 12:52 PM

Quote:

Other than a few FTLs it was ok.

Whazzat mean? Please explain "FTL".

Quote:

I had the frame apart last night.It looks like there's some metal missing from the thumb safety. Would that be causing this?

Yes it could.

drail · March 8, 2010, 12:12 AM

At the very least you are going to need to buy and fit a new thumb safety. It really needs to be checked out carefully by someone who understands 1911s. It sounds like someone did not understand how to fit a safety or just grabbed one out of their parts box and stuck it in there.

Red_Eagle · March 8, 2010, 12:09 PM

FTL: Failure to lock

velocette · March 8, 2010, 06:35 PM

With all due respect, you need to take or send the pistol to a gunsmith that understands 1911s. There is something wrong with your pistol and that something can be a safety problem, as in your personal safety. Do not fire it, get it checked out.
At the least, you have a safety / sear / hammer problem and possibly more.
After you get the problems corrected, you will have an excellent firearm, one to be used and enjoyed.

Roger

March 6, 2010, 09:30 PM	#1
Red_Eagle Senior Member Join Date: February 3, 2007 Location: Western NY Posts: 598	Problem with used Delta Elite I got a used colt Delta Elite at a gun show today for $800. It was really dirty and oily. I cleaned it ral quick, got most of the big stuff and headed to the range. Other than a few FTLs it was ok. Most of the problems I think may be the reloads I was using that I bought at the gun show. Well when I got home I was playing with it and found that if you try to fire it when the safety is on, and then take the safety off, the hammer drops to the half cock position. Is that normal or did I pay for a defective gun? __________________ My Calibers: 22 Hornet, 223 Rem, 22-250, 243 Win, 270 Win, 280 Remington Ackley Improved, 30-30, 308 Win, 30-06, 300 Winchester magnum, 7.62x39mm, 380 Auto, 9mm Parabellum, 38 Special, 357 magnum, 40 S&W, 10mm Auto, 45 GAP, 45 Auto, 12 & 20 Guage

March 6, 2010, 10:05 PM	#2
Red_Eagle Senior Member Join Date: February 3, 2007 Location: Western NY Posts: 598	Will the 10mm slide work on any 1911 or only the Elite? __________________ My Calibers: 22 Hornet, 223 Rem, 22-250, 243 Win, 270 Win, 280 Remington Ackley Improved, 30-30, 308 Win, 30-06, 300 Winchester magnum, 7.62x39mm, 380 Auto, 9mm Parabellum, 38 Special, 357 magnum, 40 S&W, 10mm Auto, 45 GAP, 45 Auto, 12 & 20 Guage

March 7, 2010, 08:57 AM	#6
Red_Eagle Senior Member Join Date: February 3, 2007 Location: Western NY Posts: 598	I had the frame apart last night.It looks like there's some metal missing from the thumb safety. Would that be causing this? __________________ My Calibers: 22 Hornet, 223 Rem, 22-250, 243 Win, 270 Win, 280 Remington Ackley Improved, 30-30, 308 Win, 30-06, 300 Winchester magnum, 7.62x39mm, 380 Auto, 9mm Parabellum, 38 Special, 357 magnum, 40 S&W, 10mm Auto, 45 GAP, 45 Auto, 12 & 20 Guage

March 8, 2010, 12:09 PM	#9
Red_Eagle Senior Member Join Date: February 3, 2007 Location: Western NY Posts: 598	FTL: Failure to lock __________________ My Calibers: 22 Hornet, 223 Rem, 22-250, 243 Win, 270 Win, 280 Remington Ackley Improved, 30-30, 308 Win, 30-06, 300 Winchester magnum, 7.62x39mm, 380 Auto, 9mm Parabellum, 38 Special, 357 magnum, 40 S&W, 10mm Auto, 45 GAP, 45 Auto, 12 & 20 Guage

March 8, 2010, 06:35 PM	#10
velocette Senior Member Join Date: May 25, 2007 Location: South Florida Posts: 924	With all due respect, you need to take or send the pistol to a gunsmith that understands 1911s. There is something wrong with your pistol and that something can be a safety problem, as in your personal safety. Do not fire it, get it checked out. At the least, you have a safety / sear / hammer problem and possibly more. After you get the problems corrected, you will have an excellent firearm, one to be used and enjoyed. Roger __________________ Trigger control + Breath control + Sight alignment = Gun Control. http://www.hrpclub.info/ NRA Smallbore Prone Master, High Power Master

March 6, 2010, 11:17 PM	#3
DnPRK Senior Member Join Date: August 24, 2001 Location: LC, Ca Posts: 1,917	I'd bet someone tried to give it a trigger job and botched the sear/hammer engagement. The quickest fix is to adjust sear spring tension by slightly bending the left leg to add more pressure and test it again. If that doesn't fix it, then purchase a match sear by Wilson, Nowlin or Ed Brown from Brownells.com

March 7, 2010, 07:28 AM	#4
1goodshot Senior Member Join Date: November 11, 2001 Location: chandler,az Posts: 929	I would take it to a good gunsmith,sounds like someone messed with it.

March 8, 2010, 12:12 AM	#8
drail Junior member Join Date: February 2, 2008 Posts: 3,150	At the very least you are going to need to buy and fit a new thumb safety. It really needs to be checked out carefully by someone who understands 1911s. It sounds like someone did not understand how to fit a safety or just grabbed one out of their parts box and stuck it in there.