SW 460 or Desert Eagle?

[heavybarrel73]

So I've been thinking about getting an obnoxiously loud and powerful handgun for ****s and giggles and these two seem to be the most fun. I own/have owned a decent variety of 9mms and .45s but no revolvers yet. Anyone own both? Any recommendations or horror stories?
Please regale me with your tales of hand cannon ridiculousness.

[81turbota]

I have a .50 DE, it definitely fits the bill as an onbnoxious hard hitting toy. I shoot factory Hornady ammo through mine which is loaded hot and I find it pleasant to shoot.

The largest revolver I own is a 6.5" Smith pre-29 44 magnum, and with magnum loads it is less pleasant than the DE due to the wood grips. I only ran one box of 44 through it, 44 special otherwise. I have shot .460 and .500 S&W revolvers with full house loads and they make the DE feel like a toy. 3" non ported barrel .500 magnum is no joke.

Quite a bit of the felt recoil of the DE is absorbed as the action cycles. That isn't the case for revolvers, all of that energy is going into your hand.

FWIW, my DE runs flawlessly. Apparently some don't, I've had comments from RO's like "wow, a DE that made it through a full mag". I don't know if it's BS or not.

[CodyGT46]

What about a Magnum Research BFR revolver in .30-30 or .45-70? If you're just going for giggles. Never shot one, but hey instead of a rifle with a revolver cartridge you get a revolver with a rifle cartridge, sounds like a win to me! My friend's dad had a .44 Magnum Desert Eagle and while it was quite a sight to behold to handle and look at it when pulling out of the safe, never got to shoot it.

[heavybarrel73]

Haha if I got a 460, I think it would be the 8 inch version with the compensator. Definitely not ready fire a stubby one.

I also don't have the biggest hands in the world so I think the Deagle is going to be a bit hard to hold onto. But if the recoil is as mild as you say, it might be worth trying out sometime. Might have to wait till I'm back in Vegas or something before i get a chance to try one out.

as for the BFR... I can't believe you can shoot a .45-70 out of a 7.5 inch barrel. That must be one hell of a fireball. Not sure if I'll miss the recoil because i'm blinded or miss the fireball because I'm getting knocked on my ***.

I have a .50 DE, it definitely fits the bill as an onbnoxious hard hitting toy. I shoot factory Hornady ammo through mine which is loaded hot and I find it pleasant to shoot.

The largest revolver I own is a 6.5" Smith pre-29 44 magnum, and with magnum loads it is less pleasant than the DE due to the wood grips. I only ran one box of 44 through it, 44 special otherwise. I have shot .460 and .500 S&W revolvers with full house loads and they make the DE feel like a toy. 3" non ported barrel .500 magnum is no joke.

Quite a bit of the felt recoil of the DE is absorbed as the action cycles. That isn't the case for revolvers, all of that energy is going into your hand.

FWIW, my DE runs flawlessly. Apparently some don't, I've had comments from RO's like "wow, a DE that made it through a full mag". I don't know if it's BS or not.

[81turbota]

If you're in the LA area you're more than welcome to shoot mine. You are correct, it's big and blocky. It feels like you're holding a 2x4.

The recoil is stout, but in the "big boy" calibers I find 50 AE to be the mildest.

[Franklincollector]

Both, they are total different from one another. I have a DE and two 460s, the 14 inch and a 3.5 inch. I've never once though about the DE while shooting either of the 460s, or vice versa

[Fiveohmike]

500 Magnum, go big or go home.

[Win231]

I recommend a BFR in 460 or 500 caliber. Much more versatility & power range than a D.E. I suggest the BFR over the S&W. I've owned S&W in both calibers. Neither held up & both needed repair after 150 rounds. Apparently, Smith & Wesson figured no one would shoot them much.

[jjs1025]

I'd go with the S&W 460.. I have one and love it. You can also shoot 454 Casull, and 45 Long Colt. 3 guns in one! I recently shot 5 shots from a DE .50 350 grain and I think my 460 300 grain kicks more!
Enjoy whatever you choose and have fun!

[Slixxster]

Get both, I don't have a 460 but have the 500 and DE 50ae. Both are fun to shoot. If your a indoor range guy the DE is the way to go. It will turn heads with the loud sonic boom. But just make sure you have friends around to pick up your brass if you reload. My 500 is a beast if it's own and the recoil hits like a hammer but is manageable.

[Sutcliffe]

I'd go for the Smith

I'm mostly a revolver guy and not sure how useful the DE would be for anything but a bright, shiny range toy.

[FiveSeven]

Had S&W 500 at one point in time. .......The funnest handgun I ever shot, I could shoot it all day if I had that much money to spend on its ammo.
If you think/feel recoil is to punishing In it, you need to give up your man card.

[erik_26]

I have a 500 S&W and a .44 Mag Taurus.

I have shot friends 50 AE Desert Eagles.

Here is a breakdown

• 500 S&W - From $1K to $1.5K used to new, about $1.80 or more per round. Very accurate gun, if you don't anticipate the recoil and a very nice light SA trigger. Extremely loud. Will attract attention at public ranges. Folks will ask to shoot it. Did I mention, almost $2 a round (factory)? I am a large man with big paws. I am sure there are much tougher guys on here than I. But after about 20-rnds, my pocket book and wrist is about done for the day with that gun. Easy to clean and maintain.
  
• Desert Eagle - There is the initial cost, $1K to $1.5K used to new. Plus, there is a conversion kit, to get you from .44 Mag to .50 AE. So that is another I think $600. The grip on this gun is large. Very large. I have huge paws and I am telling you, this grip is large. 50 AE is every bit of expensive as .500. You will get pretty much the same loudness and attention as the .500. The Desert Eagle can be bought and customized to look as simple or as gaudy as you wish (flat black to Gold and just about everything in between). The recoil is reduced because of the semi-auto action of the firearm. You could probably shoot it all day as long as your pocket book could take it. There are different generations of the Desert Eagles. I don't know which on is the best. I know that a Desert Eagle isn't as simple to clean/maintain as a .500 S&W revolver and I think some Desert Eagles are known to have problems. I know that if you don't convert or you decided to shoot the .44 Mag, you will need hot loads so that the gun cycles properly.

Now, with all that, there is a reason the .500 S&W and Desert Eagles come up for sale frequently. People want them has a 'range toy' or as a 'look at me' piece or 'just for **** & giggles' but quickly learn they are expensive to shoot with any regularity. The .500 will beat you up every time you go to the range. Either one will probably be living 99% of its life in your safe, taking up space and occupying cash that could have been spent on other things.

Don't get me wrong. Some people love either and both. Most don't.

I reload for my .500 which is a huge savings. But still, even with lighter loads, it is still expensive and a little savage.

[captainsavaho]

500 SW 8 inch - kicks a mule, but love it
50AE Desert Eagle - Awesome Fireballs but a little
problematic on Ammunition

454 Cassull RUGER 2.5 - BEATS THESE 2 in cool factor,
Muzzle blast and WRIST PAIN!!
Love all of them but 454 C FTW!

[JTROKS]

One thing about the DEagle, everyone wants to shoot it especially women. I think it was made famous by the movie Charlie's Angels. When I take the DEagle out shooting I get a woman or someone's boyfriend inquiring about it more than any of my revolvers. The females hate the abnoxious blast of my Ruger SRH in 454, but they enjoy watching and shooting the DEagle.

Need Hollywood to get a leading lady flaunt ultra magnum revolvers.