Desert Eagle .50ae -- A Few Questions - Page 2

mySig229 · July 23, 2012, 04:01 PM

I grant you it's a slick piece, but I would much rather get a S&W 500. The Eagle is a well built beast, but cost, rarity, the fact you hold a fiat in your hands to shoot...I'll take the Smith. Lol

Azrael-AoD · July 23, 2012, 05:31 PM

After going to my local federal firearms dealer, I decided to get a S&W 1911SC E Series scandium frame (black version). The gun is glorious, and would be a nice piece to CC.

I will get my .50 Desert Eagle next.

--or if I magically win some money, I'll get a Nighthawk instead. BUT I WILL GET A DE SOMEDAY!

'88Scrat · July 23, 2012, 06:33 PM

I beleive your questions have already been answered but here is my $0.02 anyway.

I have a .44 Desert Eagle with a .50AE barrel; it is very convenient, want to change calibers? Simply change barrel and mag, bolt is the same for both .44 and .50AE.

You won't be disappointed with one. Despite their reputation as expensive paper weights they are very fun. And unbeknownts to the unitiated one of the most accurate pistols I have ever shot, I even won a small little tournament at my local range with mine. The guy I beat in the final was using some kind of Kimber 1911.

The .50AE recoil is comparable to a .44 Mag revolver. The recoil springs in Desert Eagles are huge. This also probably why they (particularly the .44 versions) love super love the super hot loads. Using not so hot loads can cause failure of the slide to return to battery after each shot. That said I have NEVER had a malfunction with the .50AE barrel attached. Also remember not to limp wrist.

As far as ammo I find that the Hornady .50AE loads work very well. I would keep your eyes open at your next local gun show, sometimes you can find .50AE ammo as cheap as $1.00 a round. I also suggest getting a .44 barrel for yours sometime in the future, your wallet will much appreciative of it.

But the most important thing is that you are satisfied with what you want out of it regardless of what others may say.

Enjoy your new hand-cannon.

'88Scrat · July 23, 2012, 06:36 PM

Oh just now saw that you went in another direction (you beat my post by 120 seconds

). Still you'll enjoy that 1911 as well.

Azrael-AoD · July 23, 2012, 07:02 PM

If I was a bigger guy, I'd absolutely buy the Desert Eagle first. I say it like that, because, I doubt I could carry that monster.

The desert eagle, despite it's 'reputation', is my favorite handgun. If I could carry it, I would buy it before the 1911.

If someone had a DE in the crowd during 'you know what', and was above average in wielding that hand cannon... Well, you know, I think the impact from getting hit by a .50ae round would most likely break a few bones, and a few other nasty side-effects.

I WILL get the Desert Eagle eventually, but, I think it's safest for me to have a reliable carry after that 'incident' in Colorado.

Smit · July 23, 2012, 09:37 PM

Also keep in mind that having a .50 cal gun, you are going to have troubles finding places to shoot it. None of the ranges around me allow anything higher than a .44 to be shot.

Deja vu · July 23, 2012, 11:04 PM

The desert eagle is a great gun. The only down side I have ever seen is that you cant shoot cast bullets from it because of the gas system.

The gun us very accurate, very powerful and very fun. The only other down side is that you can shoot lots of ammo and then suddenly realize that you just shot $250.00 of ammo in one sitting.

Skans · July 25, 2012, 09:17 AM

The Desert Eagle is a quality firearm. It gets a lot of poo-pooing because 1) It's the Hollywood gun of choice and 2) it has little if any practical applications. But, hey, I can rattle off many more guns that are just as impractical - starting with uber-tacticool semi-auto .223 rifles.

TacticalDefense1911 · July 25, 2012, 11:52 AM

I know that our local range is having a heck of a time getting 50AE for their Desert Eagle rental gun. If you plan on shooting this gun in any volume I would suggest as others have suggested and start reloading for it.

power5 · July 25, 2012, 12:16 PM

Not sure of the difference of a 44mag to .50ae Ballistics but I am sure you could find similar ballistics at a substantially lower price in the .44 mag. So unless you really need the .50AE I would look for a 44mag DE.

I would still grab a DE over the S&W. It may be a beauty but its still just a 1911. You mention CCW with the S&W. You also mentioned only being able to afford the DE now because of some excess cash. These statements do not go together. You will not CC a $1400 1911. Have you ever looked at someones CC piece? They are not good looking weapons after a while. They get beat up and lots of holster wear. I do not think you will be too fond of your beautiful 1911 after some holster wear.

Sorry but either of your $1400 options are not going to be CCW guns. Obviously the DE is not a CCW due to size and weight. Buy the DE but I would get the .44 so you can actually shoot it.

July 23, 2012, 06:33 PM	#28
'88Scrat Senior Member Join Date: July 11, 2011 Location: Kansas Posts: 204	I beleive your questions have already been answered but here is my $0.02 anyway. I have a .44 Desert Eagle with a .50AE barrel; it is very convenient, want to change calibers? Simply change barrel and mag, bolt is the same for both .44 and .50AE. You won't be disappointed with one. Despite their reputation as expensive paper weights they are very fun. And unbeknownts to the unitiated one of the most accurate pistols I have ever shot, I even won a small little tournament at my local range with mine. The guy I beat in the final was using some kind of Kimber 1911. The .50AE recoil is comparable to a .44 Mag revolver. The recoil springs in Desert Eagles are huge. This also probably why they (particularly the .44 versions) love super love the super hot loads. Using not so hot loads can cause failure of the slide to return to battery after each shot. That said I have NEVER had a malfunction with the .50AE barrel attached. Also remember not to limp wrist. As far as ammo I find that the Hornady .50AE loads work very well. I would keep your eyes open at your next local gun show, sometimes you can find .50AE ammo as cheap as $1.00 a round. I also suggest getting a .44 barrel for yours sometime in the future, your wallet will much appreciative of it. But the most important thing is that you are satisfied with what you want out of it regardless of what others may say. Enjoy your new hand-cannon. __________________ BOOM

July 23, 2012, 06:36 PM	#29
'88Scrat Senior Member Join Date: July 11, 2011 Location: Kansas Posts: 204	Oh just now saw that you went in another direction (you beat my post by 120 seconds). Still you'll enjoy that 1911 as well. __________________ BOOM

July 23, 2012, 09:37 PM	#31
Smit Senior Member Join Date: February 18, 2012 Posts: 310	Also keep in mind that having a .50 cal gun, you are going to have troubles finding places to shoot it. None of the ranges around me allow anything higher than a .44 to be shot. __________________ "Vegetarian, an old Indian word for bad hunter."

July 23, 2012, 11:04 PM	#32
Deja vu Senior Member Join Date: March 14, 2010 Location: Border of Idaho & Montana Posts: 1,750	The desert eagle is a great gun. The only down side I have ever seen is that you cant shoot cast bullets from it because of the gas system. The gun us very accurate, very powerful and very fun. The only other down side is that you can shoot lots of ammo and then suddenly realize that you just shot $250.00 of ammo in one sitting. __________________ Shot placement is everything! I would rather take a round of 50BMG to the foot than a 22short to the base of the skull. all 21 of my guns are 45/70 govt 357 mag, 22 or 12 ga... I believe in keeping it simple

July 23, 2012, 04:01 PM	#26
mySig229 Senior Member Join Date: July 19, 2011 Posts: 107	I grant you it's a slick piece, but I would much rather get a S&W 500. The Eagle is a well built beast, but cost, rarity, the fact you hold a fiat in your hands to shoot...I'll take the Smith. Lol

July 23, 2012, 05:31 PM	#27
Azrael-AoD Junior Member Join Date: July 17, 2012 Location: Minnesota Posts: 11	After going to my local federal firearms dealer, I decided to get a S&W 1911SC E Series scandium frame (black version). The gun is glorious, and would be a nice piece to CC. I will get my .50 Desert Eagle next. --or if I magically win some money, I'll get a Nighthawk instead. BUT I WILL GET A DE SOMEDAY!

July 23, 2012, 07:02 PM	#30
Azrael-AoD Junior Member Join Date: July 17, 2012 Location: Minnesota Posts: 11	If I was a bigger guy, I'd absolutely buy the Desert Eagle first. I say it like that, because, I doubt I could carry that monster. The desert eagle, despite it's 'reputation', is my favorite handgun. If I could carry it, I would buy it before the 1911. If someone had a DE in the crowd during 'you know what', and was above average in wielding that hand cannon... Well, you know, I think the impact from getting hit by a .50ae round would most likely break a few bones, and a few other nasty side-effects. I WILL get the Desert Eagle eventually, but, I think it's safest for me to have a reliable carry after that 'incident' in Colorado.

July 25, 2012, 09:17 AM	#33
Skans Senior Member Join Date: November 20, 2008 Posts: 6,243	The Desert Eagle is a quality firearm. It gets a lot of poo-pooing because 1) It's the Hollywood gun of choice and 2) it has little if any practical applications. But, hey, I can rattle off many more guns that are just as impractical - starting with uber-tacticool semi-auto .223 rifles.

July 25, 2012, 11:52 AM	#34
TacticalDefense1911 Senior Member Join Date: April 4, 2006 Location: Ohio Posts: 1,254	I know that our local range is having a heck of a time getting 50AE for their Desert Eagle rental gun. If you plan on shooting this gun in any volume I would suggest as others have suggested and start reloading for it.

July 25, 2012, 12:16 PM	#35
power5 Senior Member Join Date: April 21, 2012 Posts: 101	Not sure of the difference of a 44mag to .50ae Ballistics but I am sure you could find similar ballistics at a substantially lower price in the .44 mag. So unless you really need the .50AE I would look for a 44mag DE. I would still grab a DE over the S&W. It may be a beauty but its still just a 1911. You mention CCW with the S&W. You also mentioned only being able to afford the DE now because of some excess cash. These statements do not go together. You will not CC a $1400 1911. Have you ever looked at someones CC piece? They are not good looking weapons after a while. They get beat up and lots of holster wear. I do not think you will be too fond of your beautiful 1911 after some holster wear. Sorry but either of your $1400 options are not going to be CCW guns. Obviously the DE is not a CCW due to size and weight. Buy the DE but I would get the .44 so you can actually shoot it.