Stupid Desert Eagle Question

[bk23103]

Admittedly, it would be pretty cool to carry this thing on your hip. I wonder how many people have been involved in shootings with a DE?

[IVC]

Desert Eagle is a lot of fun. If you're down this way, send me a PM and you can try it out.

Mine is a 50AE with the .44 conversion. If I had to do it again, I wouldn't get the conversion. Of the three calibers, only 50AE is rimless, so it's the one that will feed out of magazines the best.

DE is not "finicky" if you hold it properly. It doesn't have to be a "death grip," just firm enough that it doesn't recoil into the sky. The slide is massive and cycles slowly. You can easily see it move, unlike smaller pistols. The grip has to stay firm throughout the cycle, which is the correct technique anyways.

I've never had gas port getting blocked, but then I have never used non-jacketed ammo or shot it a lot, so I'm not going to claim it's a non-issue, just that I've never seen it fail when shot by experienced and strong shooters.

As a side issue, I had my low-kicking USPSA gun (Tanfoglio Limited Elite) in .40 shot by a smaller lady and she managed to make it not cycle because she couldn't hold it firm enough during the recoil.

Finally, DE is an inherently accurate design because the barrel doesn't move. Similar to how S&W 41 and some other competition .22s are designed.

Is it a range toy? Sure is. Is it fun? Absolutely. Should you have one if you like it? No question.

[krb]

The Desert Eagle is a stupid gun to own. It's loud, heavy, not truly reliable in .44Mag (although mine seems to be "wearing in" after a couple hundred rounds), ammo is expensive. The bottom of the slide is serrated, which means it'll slice into your hand if you have a high grip and meaty hands.

It's also about the must fun gun you can own. I put a few rounds through it every time I go shooting.

NRA Endowment Member?

"No... it says 'Welcome to Jaimaica, Mon! Have a nice day!'"

(Your tagline asks for Member Endowment jokes...I assume everyone knows the leadup to the punchline. I assume nearly all of us was a fourth-grade boy at some time.)

[krb]

Admittedly, it would be pretty cool to carry this thing on your hip. I wonder how many people have been involved in shootings with a DE?

I bet no one has been involved in shootings with a DE.
First you squint at the guy like you have a poop in your pants, Dirty Harry style.
Then you slowly reach into your shoulder holster.
Then you sloooooowly pull out your DE.
When the BG sees the DE he runs away. Probably don't have to keep it loaded. Just give them the Dirty Harry look and pull it out.

[krb]

Desert Eagle is a lot of fun. If you're down this way, send me a PM and you can try it out.

Mine is a 50AE with the .44 conversion. If I had to do it again, I wouldn't get the conversion. Of the three calibers, only 50AE is rimless, so it's the one that will feed out of magazines the best.

DE is not "finicky" if you hold it properly. It doesn't have to be a "death grip," just firm enough that it doesn't recoil into the sky. The slide is massive and cycles slowly. You can easily see it move, unlike smaller pistols. The grip has to stay firm throughout the cycle, which is the correct technique anyways.

I've never had gas port getting blocked, but then I have never used non-jacketed ammo or shot it a lot, so I'm not going to claim it's a non-issue, just that I've never seen it fail when shot by experienced and strong shooters.

As a side issue, I had my low-kicking USPSA gun (Tanfoglio Limited Elite) in .40 shot by a smaller lady and she managed to make it not cycle because she couldn't hold it firm enough during the recoil.

Finally, DE is an inherently accurate design because the barrel doesn't move. Similar to how S&W 41 and some other competition .22s are designed.

Is it a range toy? Sure is. Is it fun? Absolutely. Should you have one if you like it? No question.

Hi.
Where are you located? I'm in the San Fernando Valley, around Encino. If you're around here, I'll bring ammo and lunch!
Keith

[BigFatGuy]

>The slide is massive and cycles slowly.

He's not kidding. I've been able to brass-check the gun while firing it, as it recoils backwards.

[desertrider]

The Desert Eagle is a stupid gun to own. It's loud, heavy, not truly reliable in .44Mag (although mine seems to be "wearing in" after a couple hundred rounds), ammo is expensive. The bottom of the slide is serrated, which means it'll slice into your hand if you have a high grip and meaty hands.

It's also about the must fun gun you can own. I put a few rounds through it every time I go shooting.

LOL! This response just described me!

I'm loud, heavy, not reliable (bad hip and knee), and expensive (eat/drink a lot).

Must be why I own one in 44 mag. Oh, I agree, it is fun as heck to shoot and and is one of my favorite range toys. It's accurate, loud, throws a massive fireball, and fits my paws perfectly.

Granted, I can't think of a practical reason to own one that any number of other handguns couldn't do better as far as shooting goes.

I still don't see parting with my Deagle any time soon.

Since when is owning something just because it's fun and you like it a bad thing?

[splithoof]

i have a DE, .50AE and made by IMI in Israel. It is fun to shoot, for those with some experience with large handguns. It is also, IMO, one of the worst guns ever in terms of ergonomics. The safety lever is difficult at best, and slide mounted, with a sharp point exactly where it should be flat. Almost impossible to operate the safety with the firing hand only; to my mind that takes it out of the predator-defense category where the energy of the .50AE is most useful.
You might consider going with a large revolver in .454 Casul; that way you could shoot hot .45 Colt loads through it for practice, and have a large handgun that is so much more user friendly and can get the same job done.
Because of it's poor ergonomics, the DE is about the last gun I'd want for backup in bear country, for reasons stated above.

[Tasty]

A DE is a pistol that I've always kinda wanted, but never could justify. And that's sayin something because I have bought some really outlandish things with absolutely zero reason behind it other that "I wanted it".

Best of luck on your decision OP. I'm sure if you end up getting one, you'll love it.

[BigFatGuy]

Do you remember Robocop? He goes to the range, starts shooting his automatic pistol, and the cops all stop shooting and come to look?

That happens every time you fire a DE. You'd get less attention bringing a beautiful woman to the range in a short skirt and heels.

[BigFatGuy]

Since when is owning something just because it's fun and you like it a bad thing?

NEVER! I just wanted to be clear that there is no LOGICAL reason to buy one. :-)

[Dribear]

Go for the gold plate or Zebra stripes to be a baller. Haha

I used to play the crap outta Counter-strike. I also am a huge fan of the movie ' Harley Davidson and the Marlboro Man '
So, a DEagle will be a 'movie gun ' I will add to my collection one day.

[Soginator]

Get the bling versions, because you are getting this for an "lol, look at how big this is" reaction. The springs in the gun are super tight at first. I'd lock it back for a couple of weeks before taking it out. Otherwise it is going to be about as functional as a hi point. You're still gonna get the occasional jam, and that won't go away til post 500ish rounds, which if we are being honest most owners never get to. So my 2 cents is to buy used and save yourself some money, and that way you don't have to worry about the break in time as much.

[Opoponax]

Admittedly, it would be pretty cool to carry this thing on your hip.

At an indoor range I used to go to, one of the guys who worked there used to strut around with one of those light bronze colored Desert Eagle on his hip. He was at most about 5'3" and 120 pounds after a big lunch. He looked ridiculous but it always put a smile on my face.

So I guess it was a good thing.

[tbc]