Desert Eagle .44 shooters ONLY: What ammo do you use?

TXAZ · May 11, 2018, 02:44 PM

If you have a Desert Eagle in .44 Mag:
1) What ammo do you use?
2) Amy ammo feed issues?
3) what model (I, XIX, XX)?

Thanks!

**44 AMP** · May 11, 2018, 05:34 PM

1) My handloads
2) no
3) Mark I

Sevens · May 11, 2018, 06:20 PM

Unmm not sure which Mark. Was new in maybe 2010. Only ever sent handloads through it. My favorite load (and it never MALF'd) was the 240gr Nosler JHP over 21.1gr Alliant 2400.

Fun to shoot, accurate, quality, reliable. Zero feed issues. I hated chasing down ejected brass. Cartoonishly large, heavy, gangly and in my opinion... one of the dumbest looking and most unattractive handguns I'd ever owned, and absolutely sellable so it went away with no regrets.

It's most definitely a damn good handgun and Hollywood has made it legendary, but even though I enjoyed every round I ever sent out of it... just wasn't for me.

KEYBEAR · May 11, 2018, 06:42 PM

I bought one in around 2002 I think . I shot only reloads 240gr. Winchester bulk Bullets and 240gr. lead . Only powder I used was W231 and W 296 . Had to send it back after two or three years got a new barrel and springs , Great Shooter

Rembrandt · May 12, 2018, 02:31 PM

Have a stainless frame model, 6" & 14" barrels.

1) Use both reloads and factory ammo.
a) Reloads are 240 gr XTP's, 20.1 gr of 2400 powder.
b) factory Winchester 240 gr, hollow soft points
c) Winchester white box for plinking.

2) No ammo feeding issues.

3) Mark XIX

44caliberkid · May 12, 2018, 03:00 PM

Mark I. Winchester white box, 240 gr. JSP and Remington 180 gr. JHP. Both from Walmart, both work 100% of the time. The lighter bullet has less recoil and I usually leave the mags loaded with those, in case SHTF.

TXAZ · May 12, 2018, 04:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 44caliberkid

Mark I. Winchester white box, 240 gr. JSP and Remington 180 gr. JHP. Both from Walmart, both work 100% of the time. The lighter bullet has less recoil and I usually leave the mags loaded with those, in case SHTF.

This one 44caliberkid?

GarrettJ · May 12, 2018, 05:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TXAZ

This one 44caliberkid?

That's what I mostly shoot for factory ammo. Otherwise it's a 240 gr JHP with H110 or AA#9 powder.

Quote:

Originally Posted by KEYBEAR

... I shot only reloads 240gr. Winchester bulk Bullets and 240gr. lead . Had to send it back after two or three years got a new barrel and springs...

Yeah, shooting lead bullets will do that. The lead clogs the gas system, and it's almost impossible to clean out. Stick with JHP and JSP bullets with the Desert Eagle.

KEYBEAR · May 12, 2018, 07:01 PM

GarrettJ No lead does not clogs the gas system . The gas system is very easy to clean
It is the lube that clogs (as you say)the System very easy to clean out .

**44 AMP** · May 12, 2018, 11:22 PM

Not sure about the later marks, but I know you can clog the gas system of a Mark I to the point neither a gunsmith nor the factory can clean it. (ok, maybe the factory won't even try...)

Saw it happen in the early 90s, a .44 DE owner clogged his gun, local gunsmith (and a good one) couldn't get it cleared. Gun went back to the maker (IMI, if I remember right), and came back with a new barrel assembly, and the bill for the same.

If you've plugged the DE gas system, and cleared it, great for you! I prefer to avoid that as much as possible. I only use jacketed bullets in my DEs (.357 & .44) no lead, no plated. No gas system issues to date. .357 is from the later 80s, .44 was bought new Feb 1990.

I may not be doing everything right, but so far, it seems I'm not doing anything drastically wrong....

44caliberkid · May 13, 2018, 06:03 AM

Yes, that's the one.

Japle · May 14, 2018, 01:37 PM

1) Handloads:
Hornady 240 gr JHP/24.0 gr WW296/WLP primers/Starline brass = 1330 fps.
Hornady 180 gr JHP/29.0 gr WW296/WLP primers/ Starline brass = 1615 fps.
I haven’t fired a centerfire factory load in decades.

2) 100% function and excellent accuracy. Oddly enough, both shoot to the same POI at 50 yds. I like putting clay birds on the berm at 60 yds and busting them. I rarely miss.
The gun’s a pussycat to shoot; plenty of recoil, but zero pain. I’m pretty much immune to recoil after all these years of shooting powerful handguns, but I don’t care for pain.

3) Mark XIX.

TXAZ · June 20, 2018, 02:12 PM

Thanks gentlemen. I purchased 5 different types of rounds to test:

Winchester JSP and HSP cycled 5/5 times.

PMC TCSP FTE'd 2/5 times.

PMC Starfire SFHP cycled 5/5 times.

Hornady FTE's about 30% of the time out of 20 rounds.

So thanks to 44 cal kid and Garrett, I'm sticking with the Winchester ammo.

Jbar4Ranch · June 20, 2018, 06:15 PM

XIX w/.44 and .50 AE barrels. I use a 240 grain jacketed bullet and upper end loads of 296 or H110 with the .44 mag barrel.

Quote:

Originally Posted by KEYBEAR

GarrettJ No lead does not clogs the gas system . The gas system is very easy to clean
It is the lube that clogs (as you say)the System very easy to clean out .

There are three 90º bends in the gas vent... how is it very easy to clean??

DMacLeod · July 1, 2018, 06:22 PM

Was shooting Remington 240 grain until I had a squib.

Now I shoot Federal 240 gr

no hand loads

Mk XIX

Model12Win · July 1, 2018, 07:03 PM

The Federal 240 grain worked well in the .44 Deagle I shot one time.

44caliberkid · July 1, 2018, 07:23 PM

The people who designed and built it said don't use lead bullets. That's good enough for me.

jackstrawIII · July 1, 2018, 07:59 PM

I have the XIX. I shoot super cheap factory reman stuff from Freedom or something like that. They run great. Never a problem.

Skans · July 3, 2018, 08:54 AM

Anything jacketed and full-power. Mine didn't like aluminum cased ammo.

**44 AMP** · July 3, 2018, 03:15 PM

Quote:

Mine didn't like aluminum cased ammo.

They don't.

I would also caution Coonan shooters to avoid Blazer (and any other) aluminium cased rounds. Rims tear off/tear through, very easily.

What works ok with shorter semi auto cases, and in revolvers just seems to fail with the longer magnum cases in semi autos.

May 11, 2018, 02:44 PM	#1
TXAZ Senior Member Join Date: September 5, 2010 Location: McMurdo Sound Texas Posts: 4,322	Desert Eagle .44 shooters ONLY: What ammo do you use? If you have a Desert Eagle in .44 Mag: 1) What ammo do you use? 2) Amy ammo feed issues? 3) what model (I, XIX, XX)? Thanks! __________________ Cave illos in guns et backhoes

May 11, 2018, 05:34 PM	#2
44 AMP Staff Join Date: March 11, 2006 Location: Upper US Posts: 28,813	1) My handloads 2) no 3) Mark I __________________ All else being equal (and it almost never is) bigger bullets tend to work better.

May 12, 2018, 11:22 PM	#10
44 AMP Staff Join Date: March 11, 2006 Location: Upper US Posts: 28,813	Not sure about the later marks, but I know you can clog the gas system of a Mark I to the point neither a gunsmith nor the factory can clean it. (ok, maybe the factory won't even try...) Saw it happen in the early 90s, a .44 DE owner clogged his gun, local gunsmith (and a good one) couldn't get it cleared. Gun went back to the maker (IMI, if I remember right), and came back with a new barrel assembly, and the bill for the same. If you've plugged the DE gas system, and cleared it, great for you! I prefer to avoid that as much as possible. I only use jacketed bullets in my DEs (.357 & .44) no lead, no plated. No gas system issues to date. .357 is from the later 80s, .44 was bought new Feb 1990. I may not be doing everything right, but so far, it seems I'm not doing anything drastically wrong.... __________________ All else being equal (and it almost never is) bigger bullets tend to work better.

June 20, 2018, 02:12 PM	#13
TXAZ Senior Member Join Date: September 5, 2010 Location: McMurdo Sound Texas Posts: 4,322	Thanks gentlemen. I purchased 5 different types of rounds to test: Winchester JSP and HSP cycled 5/5 times. PMC TCSP FTE'd 2/5 times. PMC Starfire SFHP cycled 5/5 times. Hornady FTE's about 30% of the time out of 20 rounds. So thanks to 44 cal kid and Garrett, I'm sticking with the Winchester ammo. __________________ Cave illos in guns et backhoes

July 1, 2018, 07:59 PM	#18
jackstrawIII Senior Member Join Date: July 20, 2016 Location: Upstate NY. Posts: 901	I have the XIX. I shoot super cheap factory reman stuff from Freedom or something like that. They run great. Never a problem. __________________ In God we trust.

May 11, 2018, 06:20 PM	#3
Sevens Senior Member Join Date: July 28, 2007 Location: Ohio Posts: 11,756	Unmm not sure which Mark. Was new in maybe 2010. Only ever sent handloads through it. My favorite load (and it never MALF'd) was the 240gr Nosler JHP over 21.1gr Alliant 2400. Fun to shoot, accurate, quality, reliable. Zero feed issues. I hated chasing down ejected brass. Cartoonishly large, heavy, gangly and in my opinion... one of the dumbest looking and most unattractive handguns I'd ever owned, and absolutely sellable so it went away with no regrets. It's most definitely a damn good handgun and Hollywood has made it legendary, but even though I enjoyed every round I ever sent out of it... just wasn't for me.

May 11, 2018, 06:42 PM	#4
KEYBEAR Senior Member Join Date: January 11, 2012 Location: Indiana Posts: 1,059	I bought one in around 2002 I think . I shot only reloads 240gr. Winchester bulk Bullets and 240gr. lead . Only powder I used was W231 and W 296 . Had to send it back after two or three years got a new barrel and springs , Great Shooter

May 12, 2018, 02:31 PM	#5
Rembrandt Senior Member Join Date: August 10, 2002 Posts: 2,108	Have a stainless frame model, 6" & 14" barrels. 1) Use both reloads and factory ammo. a) Reloads are 240 gr XTP's, 20.1 gr of 2400 powder. b) factory Winchester 240 gr, hollow soft points c) Winchester white box for plinking. 2) No ammo feeding issues. 3) Mark XIX

May 12, 2018, 03:00 PM	#6
44caliberkid Senior Member Join Date: May 15, 2017 Location: Iowa Posts: 1,098	Mark I. Winchester white box, 240 gr. JSP and Remington 180 gr. JHP. Both from Walmart, both work 100% of the time. The lighter bullet has less recoil and I usually leave the mags loaded with those, in case SHTF.

May 12, 2018, 07:01 PM	#9
KEYBEAR Senior Member Join Date: January 11, 2012 Location: Indiana Posts: 1,059	GarrettJ No lead does not clogs the gas system . The gas system is very easy to clean It is the lube that clogs (as you say)the System very easy to clean out .

May 13, 2018, 06:03 AM	#11
44caliberkid Senior Member Join Date: May 15, 2017 Location: Iowa Posts: 1,098	Yes, that's the one.

May 14, 2018, 01:37 PM	#12
Japle Senior Member Join Date: October 12, 2004 Location: Viera, Florida Posts: 1,340	1) Handloads: Hornady 240 gr JHP/24.0 gr WW296/WLP primers/Starline brass = 1330 fps. Hornady 180 gr JHP/29.0 gr WW296/WLP primers/ Starline brass = 1615 fps. I haven’t fired a centerfire factory load in decades. 2) 100% function and excellent accuracy. Oddly enough, both shoot to the same POI at 50 yds. I like putting clay birds on the berm at 60 yds and busting them. I rarely miss. The gun’s a pussycat to shoot; plenty of recoil, but zero pain. I’m pretty much immune to recoil after all these years of shooting powerful handguns, but I don’t care for pain. 3) Mark XIX.

July 1, 2018, 06:22 PM	#15
DMacLeod Senior Member Join Date: February 19, 2008 Location: Maine Posts: 425	Was shooting Remington 240 grain until I had a squib. Now I shoot Federal 240 gr no hand loads Mk XIX

July 1, 2018, 07:03 PM	#16
Model12Win Junior member Join Date: October 20, 2012 Posts: 5,854	The Federal 240 grain worked well in the .44 Deagle I shot one time.

July 1, 2018, 07:23 PM	#17
44caliberkid Senior Member Join Date: May 15, 2017 Location: Iowa Posts: 1,098	The people who designed and built it said don't use lead bullets. That's good enough for me.

July 3, 2018, 08:54 AM	#19
Skans Senior Member Join Date: November 20, 2008 Posts: 11,132	Anything jacketed and full-power. Mine didn't like aluminum cased ammo.