DE44 problem

[gmmuhas]

Hi all, I recently purchased a Desert Eagle XIX .44mag took it to the range a month later to shot a few rounds out of it. The accuracy of the piece is not bad at all, however, there is a problem that would occur quite often. After firing a round the slide moves back, the bolt ejects the case and slides closes back loading the next round in. Unfortunately the slide does not close completely all the way for you to hit the pin. I would push the slide in with my thumb to fully close it. I've asked a couple of folks and they think it's either the springs or it's a magazine problem. I've shot about 200 rounds that day with 225gr and 240gr ammo; After 4 to 5 shots the slide would fail to close; I took it home strip it completely to clean it. Any one here with a DE44 that have encountered something similar? Plz help! Much appreciated!

[edwardm]

Pistol is not returning to battery. Disclaimer: I don't own a DE, but I frequently shoot the one my boss has and I have a little experience with return to battery failures.

In short, you're probably limp-wristing it. While I don't have the problem when shooting 44, I do have the problem when shooting 50AE out of the DE. I have to lock my shoulders and elbows, tense every muscle in my hands and forearms and lean well into the shot to prevent a limp-wrist-induced FTRB. Physics really kicks your *** with that pistol, especially when you don't have the mass to keep the recoil in check and if you don't have large enough paws to manhandle it. I'm 5'8", 155 or so. Boss is 6'3" and closer to 250. Do the math.

I would work on that premise, first, before assuming it's a mechanical malfunction. I don't know if you're on the smaller side (like me) or a big beastly guy, but if you can, find a shooter with some mass and bulk and have him (or her!) try, just to see. If they can't stop the FTRB, then it might be time to send it in for some work. Or if you are a big person, and can't stop the FTRB, then just send it back.

[stilly]

When I have my DEagle at the range and it starts having closing issues, it is because it is dirty. You need to clean it out after about 100 shots. Really it can go about 200-250 before it gets bad but EVERY problem that I have had has been from not cleaning. EVERY problem with the exception of my slide stop killing the slide has been fixed with either different hold or cleaning. You can test this by locking it open and looking into the chamber. If you see white flecks here and there then it is prolly that they are putting pressure against the brass shell and as a result, acting like shims to prevent the next round from dropping in all nice and smooth like. I get this a lot after shooting numerous batches of Blue Dot and H-110. I take it home, Clean it up and it is good for another two-three weeks before I have to clean it out again.

I have put over 1600 rounds through my DEagle since last May.

If you are holding it and shoot it while pressing UP on the mag you will cause it to PAUSE at the end of the cycle before it reverses and slides forward to go into battery again. The reason is because the magazine is applying the breaks to the bottom of the slide/bolt.

If you are shooting it and it magically locks the slide open, it is because your hand/thumb hit the slide STOP lever.

OR, in my case it was because I had a third party slide stop lever that ground a tooth into the slide stop notch and as a result the slidestop no longer stopped the slide.

Have fun shooting your DEagle. They are hella fun to shoot and very accurate for such a beast.

If you have not yet done so you need to get the Hogue rubber grips with the finger grooves in them. They are nice and make the gun fit more hands.

Also, if you have not yet done so, you will need to become a reloader so that you can continue to keep it happy and fed while only paying $9.00 per box of 50 rounds.