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Old July 6, 2013, 10:43 AM   #1
TNT
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.44mag Desert Eagle

After years of hearing about it I finally got to fire one and now I want one man that thing is a creation of beauty
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Old July 6, 2013, 11:01 AM   #2
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I love the the .50 ae desert eagles they are just beautiful guns not really a self defense gun atleast not to me as it really is to powerful to comfortably control..but it is just one of those things you would just love to have to admire and occasionally show off at the range..but i cant justify the price for a gun thats more of a show piece than anything else..
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Old July 6, 2013, 12:30 PM   #3
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I want to eventually get a Desert Eagle in .44 Mag, which I think is probably the best overall use of that platform from a practical standpoint.

And none of this gold bling finish "Driving a Hummer while wearing a suit or military outfit" posing nonsense. Basic black, thank you very much.
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Old July 6, 2013, 12:40 PM   #4
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The black is nice but i prefer stainless on that gun myself..ive saw those gold ones and while they do look very nice they tie back into my first response it is simply a overpriced show gun nothing more..
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Old July 6, 2013, 01:01 PM   #5
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Anniversary Desert Eagle line....

I handled a massive DE 24K gold model in .50AE about 2 weeks ago.
You need some serious muscles & upper body strength to work that slide!
Even the young male sales clerk said; "no dice"
If I had tons & tons of $$$ Id buy a NIB Desert Eagle .50AE in 24K then get a second new Desert Eagle in .44magnum with a .50AE barrel.
The gold model would be a safe queen & the .44 Desert Eagle would be treated with Metalife SS C or NP3 Plus; www.robarguns.com with a few treated magazines.
The Ti gold model Desert Eagle is cool too.
Magnum Research and the Desert Eagle pistol line will have a major anniversary soon. The series has been in the USA nearly 30 years.
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Old July 6, 2013, 01:02 PM   #6
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If I were to get one I would get it in .357 magnum. Much cheaper and easier to shoot.
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Old July 6, 2013, 01:21 PM   #7
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The biggest, heaviest .357 ever. For a gun of that size, cost and weight, might as well take advantage of the recoil absorbing qualities and have a true hand cannon (.44 Mag) that is easy to shoot, instead of a .357 that is even easier.

No one said operating a DE would ever be cheap!
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Old July 6, 2013, 03:57 PM   #8
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My best friend came through on a trade for a MKVII .44
I put HOGUE & TRIJICON parts on it.
LOVE this firearm!

IMI Desert Eagle shown with the Ruger SuperRedhawk .44:




I think a .357 would be a LOT of fun to shoot in this platform.
BIG and heavy, yes, but probably sweet to shoot because of that.
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Old July 6, 2013, 08:10 PM   #9
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Fun to shoot, but I'll keep my Red Hawk 44 thanks.


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Old July 6, 2013, 09:01 PM   #10
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New format, fitness center membership...

Id add that the newer Desert Eagle series has a mag release that can be converted for right or left hand shooters.
It includes a cool 1913 type rail too so you can add a laser dot or scope.

Magnum Research Inc should include a free gym membership for 12mo with each new Desert Eagle pistol. You'd need big muscles to soak up the recoil or work the pistol safely.

Clyde
PS; FWIW; I did see a prisoner escort officer use a blue steel DE in a reality show re-enactment, .
I also recall a funny scene in the 1990s era NBC crime series; In the Heat of the Night, where Chief Gliespie(Carrol O'Connor) handed the Bubba police character his huge Desert Eagle sidearm. The actor who played Bubba breaks character and has a expression like; "What the ___?"
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Old July 6, 2013, 11:18 PM   #11
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The thing I don't like about them is that you really can't shoot to many lead rounds out of them. It plugs the gas ports. Other than that I love mine ! To me the 44mag has more punch then the 50! In both 6in and 10in barrels.

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Old July 7, 2013, 01:19 AM   #12
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I like the smaller frame Desert Eagle that was .357 only. That would be the one I'd own.
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Old July 7, 2013, 08:31 AM   #13
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I have heard that about the bullets of not using lead through them. I was curious if makes a difference if the lead is hard? when I was younger my dad got me hooked on the .44mag I own two right now the Eagle would just be like a wow factor and a addition to my addiction to .44mags It shot very nice it was comfortable and very pleasant to shoot
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Old July 7, 2013, 12:10 PM   #14
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I got my first Desert Eagle the year they came out (1984?) or very close to that. .357 Magnum (all that was offered at first). WOW!

Got a .44 Magnum in 1990. Bigger WOW!

OK, they aren't for everyone, no matter what Hollywood has decided. Not well suited to the general range of usual handgun uses, but then they were never meant to be. They are a specialty piece, and never intended to be anything else.

People who complain about that just don't get it. Too big, too heavy, too expensive, etc...

That's you opinion, and you're welcome to it. The Desert Eagle is in a different class of handgun than most others. Comparing the Desert Eagle to any non-magnum autopistol is an unfair comparison.

Forget the fact that Hollywood fell in love with the dramatic size and looks of the Desert Eagle, pretending they are just a pistol that looks good in the camera viewfinder and ignoring reality. That's what Hollywood does best, ignoring reality. (although I will admit, watching Pam Anderson handle those big guns in Barb Wire was a visual treat...)

Forget the "DEagle" in the video games. Again, reality is quite different. The only real thing the Desert Eagle in video games and movies does is create a potential market for the real gun. And a lot of people who do finally get one, sell it afterwards, because reality isn't quite what they see on the screen.

I have had two of the .357s, and one .44, and still have the .44. I should have kept at least one of the .357s....oh well...

My gun is today called a Mk I although it was made before there were any "Mark" numbers. I have handled some of the newer guns, and the only noticeable differences are some changes to the safety lever, slide release lever, and a built in scope rail.

4.25 pounds empty! Add a full magazine of 8 .44 Mag rounds and the weight increases noticeably! On the other hand, recoil is similar to a .45auto with snappy loads. Blast, however is not.

My experience is that once you get past their quirks (which are many) the Desert Eagles are accurate reliable pistols, provided they are held the right way, and fed ammo they like. They are NOT even remotely omnivores, and can be sensitive about feeding when held wrong.

The magazines need to "float" for proper feeding. A "cup & saucer" type hold is a bad idea. Feeding malfunctions can result from pressure on the magazine base plate. It does take more effort to rack the slide than on a duty class auto, but this is to be expected, considering what you are dealing with.

With a multiple lug rotating bolt and gas operation, the Desert Eagle is radically different from all of the Browning tilt barrel lockup variations out there. The gas system is unique, and the Desert Eagle's huge muzzle silhouette is a result of that. Gas is ported from just ahead of the chamber, travels down a tube (inside the barrel assembly) almost to the muzzle, where it turns 180 degrees to act against the gas piston. Unlike most other gas operated guns, the user cannot disassemble and clean most of it. Only the expansion chamber and piston can be cleaned by normal methods. SO it is rather important that one NOT use ammo that will clog/plug the barrel port.

Lead bullets even hard cast ones can do this. It's not just the lead, but also the bullet lube and powder residue that can cause problems. Original manuals were very specific about which ammo to use, and only that ammo could be relied on for reliable functioning.

Other ammo can work, including handloads, but one must experiment to find what is reliable, and what isn't. It was also "commonly" known that (at least in the early days) Hercules 2400 powder was not recommended by the makers, due to the possibility of unburned powder clogging the gas system.

Right there, a huge segment of the common magnum ammo is unsuitable for the Desert Eagle. Again, it is a specialty piece, not a general use pistol.

I said it was fair to only compare the Desert Eagle with other pistols in the same class. And having a collection of all the magnum autos, I can do that.

Compared to the other magnum autos, Auto Mag, Wildey, LAR Grizzly, & Coonan , the Desert Eagle has some advantages, and some ..issues. A larger grip than most of the others, if you wear a size 9 glove its manageable, but not comfortable. Heavier than most of the others. Stock sights are fixed (drift for windage) while the Grizzly, Wildey and Auto Mag came with fully adjustable sights standard, on the DE they are an aftermarket option.

Very finicky about ammo, and the total prohibition against shooting lead bullet ammo (and I would avoid jacketed bullets with exposed lead bases as well) means it is more difficult to feed than some of the others.

Balance that against the fact that the DE is chambered in commonly available calibers, even though you do need to be picky about which loading you choose. SO, brass is easy to get, unlike .44AMP or .45 WinMag.

The one thing that the Desert Eagle has managed that none of the other magnum auto pistols did is staying power. Its not the best possible design (IMO), but it does work, and has sold well enough to remain on the market. No doubt Hollywood & video games have helped with that part of its success.

If you've got questions about any of the magnum autos, I'll answer the best I can. Also, I don't do the .50. Not that there is anything wrong with it, I just made a decision not to bother with it, as my needs and wants are met with .44/.45 cal guns and I don't need another caliber to tool up for...
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Old July 7, 2013, 12:16 PM   #15
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Old July 7, 2013, 09:09 PM   #16
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^^^^

That blast reminds me of one of the 16-inch guns firing on an Iowa Class battleship!!
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Old July 8, 2013, 08:23 AM   #17
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My opinion on the Desert Eagle is that if you've ever wanted one, then buy one and shoot it. Get it out of your system. Most will shoot it a handful of times and then put it away for a long time or sell it. A few actually like the Desert Eagle as a range gun.

I have a black .44 magnum. Bought the XIX version I think in the late 90's. I think I've fired about 200 rounds through it - 4 boxes of ammo. I bought it because I thought it would be banned and wanted one before something like that happened. This was during the Clinton era ban - there was a push to ban some handguns based on weight but this was really directed to "assault pistols". Still, I thought the DE could be next.

I have kept the DE in my collection because I like the design, it is a well made gun, it is actually pretty accurate, and if I take up reloading, I might shoot it more often. But, I have to be honest, I am no longer all that intrigued by the Desert Eagle.

Last edited by Skans; July 8, 2013 at 08:40 AM.
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Old July 8, 2013, 08:33 AM   #18
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My son has the 50 and he really likes it. I had the opportunity to shoot one in .357 and it was a lot of fun. I have to say the 50 is a real handful. The .357 is a lot softer shooting.
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Old July 9, 2013, 04:09 PM   #19
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Sometimes you find a gun where there is a perfect match between shooter and gun. For me it is the Desert Eagle 44 magnum. I had a .357 in the Eighties and was made an offer on it that I couldn't refuse. This century, a handful of years back, I acquired a .44 magnum. While I loved the .357 this gun just sang to me. When my shooting buddies see me pull it out of my bag they know that I am going to be doing some real shooting. I don't give a darn about Hollywood and video games, this gun and I just click.
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Old July 9, 2013, 04:31 PM   #20
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I've owned a lot of guns. And a lot of handguns. But I've never owned a DE. I've thought about it a few times but the urge always passed before it was serious. BUT.... if I was going to get one... I would go straight to the big boy. Why not just get the .50 AE? I have plenty of .44 Magnums already.

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Old July 9, 2013, 04:57 PM   #21
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Quote:
I would go straight to the big boy. Why not just get the .50 AE? I have plenty of .44 Magnums already.
50 AE is too expensive to shoot - anywhere from about $1.20 - $2.00/round. 44 magnum is bad enough, but doable. Besides, with an XIX, I can buy a 50AE barrel and magazine and shoot 50 AE on the same frame if I wanted to. The one I really wanted was the Cor Bon 440.
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Old July 9, 2013, 07:30 PM   #22
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The primary function of the Desert Eagle is to stimulate the imaginations of those who can't look at it and recognize right away that it is much too clumsy and awkward to ever be good for any practical purpose other than bragging rights.







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Old July 9, 2013, 11:34 PM   #23
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Quote:
50 AE is too expensive to shoot - anywhere from about $1.20 - $2.00/round. 44 magnum is bad enough, but doable.
I realize this isn't true of everybody that shoots the big Magnums (although I can't imagine it...) but I don't consider "the cost of factory ammo" since I quite literally never, ever shoot any of it. Why would I? I would have never mastered a .357 Magnum and then moved on to the bigger ones all those decades ago if I could only shoot one box of factory ammo on odd occasions.

So I realize that jacketed .50 AE slugs are going to cost more than .429" ones for .44 Magnum, but I don't think the difference will be THAT substantial.

**** I was curious so I went to look. Graf's lists .500" jacketed slugs for between $24 and $32 per 50. Not like buying surplus .224" bullets but I could afford to shoot off a couple magazines on occasion. Starline brass is $34 a hundred.

Gregg
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Old July 10, 2013, 12:33 AM   #24
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I like DE's as a spectacle. Impressive to look at, hold and shoot, but I wouldn't own one: the expense and lack of rolls beyond range fun would see to that.

But as I said they are spectacular to behold!!

Somehow, muzzle-flare seems too big an understatement for this picture (taken at my local range and used on their homepage!) :

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Old July 10, 2013, 11:57 AM   #25
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Something usually overlooked....

While I do believe that the majority of people who buy a Desert Eagle these days do it for the bragging rights, or the coolness factor, for use as a range toy, or even as a safe queen, there is one thing that the Desert Eagle does that is usually overlooked.

And that is that it gives you an alternative for handgun hunting. If you want to hunt anything bigger than small game with a handgun, you have basically two choices, revolver or single shot.

There are people out there (believe it or not) that just do not like the feel of heavy recoil in revolvers or single shots. Everybody has a preference, and some people make that part of their purchase requirements.

(probably not many, but I know some do...)

For instance, my Father, who was a handgun enthusiast and hunted until the last few years of his life, did not own a single action revolver. Not in any caliber. He didn't like the "feel" of the grip shape. He was fine with the shape of a DA revolver grip, and with autopistols. S&W N frames were his favorites for hunting (.357 & .44).

And, I can see some reasoning behind this. Personally, when it comes to the feel of heavy recoil I'd rather shoot an autopistol frame (that fits) than a DA revolver grip, and there is a limit to my comfort with the SA grip style too.

I have SAs (including Bisley grip), DAs, autos and a Contender in .44 or .45 cal cartridges that can generate all the recoil I find acceptable, and then some. The least punishing to shoot at upper recoil levels are the autos, for me, at least.

Taken as a replacement for a rifle (carbine), the Desert Eagle is smaller and lighter. Big and heavy for a handgun, yes, but much shorter and lighter than a carbine.

Few people look at a Contender and whine about how it is "just a range toy", etc. And while significantly lighter, a 10" or 14" Contender .44 Mag is long and awkward to maneuver in a house clearing situation (leaving completely aside the fact that its a single shot).

I think the reason the DE gets so much poor response is that it looks basically like an overgrown service pistol. And many people seem to feel it should behave like one (only more powerful). And when they learn the reality, that there is no free lunch, despite what Hollywood constantly shows us, they get turned off to the gun.

Being a big movie and video game star helps sales, but its kind of like meeting a movie star you've admired for some time, and finding out that in person they're ...not quite as nice as you thought they would be...
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