DE - all it's cracked up to be??

[P95Carry]

I still have a degree of lust for a Desert Eagle - but wonder if it is misplaced or not. There is much appeal to this weapon ... but - does it walk the walk??

Whether in .50 or .44mag .... what are pro's and con's?? And how much might it cost to find out for myself??

 

[Black Snowman]

If you can shoot one before you buy I highly recommend it. These are a love/hate gun. The triggers aren't great for a single action. Their heavy, the .50 is very expensive to feed, even if you reload. However, there isn't much more fun to me than going to town with 7 .50 AE rounds one right after the other even if it did just cost me almost 2 bucks even if I can find all the brass.

I got a .44 Mag barrel for mind to make it cheaper to feed and to fill my desire for a .44. I find the recoil to be snappier on the .44 but there's much less barrel rise. The wide backstrap and large mass of the gun makes recoil very tame. I can shoot 3-4 rounds of full power .50 AE loads one handed before it starts to sting.

If you want to hunt the 10" barrelled versions are going to be more accurate and give you signifigantly better velocity. There's a good 3 feet of flame that comes out of the barrel on full power .50 AE loads with H-110.

So, if you like loud noises and big flashes it's a ton of fun. If you want a bulseye gun this is NOT it. Althouth there is a .357 Mag 14" Sillouette barrel for the Mk. VII from CDNN.

If you want a gun that's cheaper to feed and still a lot of fun don't pass up the .357 Mag. It was origionally designed in this calliber and shoots almost like a .22 with it. It can be shot very fast and very accurately and comes right back down onto target. Very fun and sounds like a .44 Mag going off.

YMMV and all the usual disclaimers

 

[James Bondrock]

I don't own one, but ...

It's a toy ... but a fun toy! If you want the .44 Magnum, be aware that it is only designed to function with jacketed bullets loaded to full power (but not to exceed the pressure/velocity of factory loads). Medium velocity loads will not cycle the action, and unjacketed lead bullets, I am told, will clog up the gas ports and turn it into a single-shot. As strictly a practical matter, you will get better accuracy and more flexibility with loads with a revolver of the same caliber, but practicality does not always guide our purchasing decisions.

 

[Kamicosmos]

I like mine. Mark I two tone in .357.

If you enjoy shooting that .454, you'll love the DEs. Of any caliber.

 

[P95Carry]

Hmmm ... well thx a lot for feedback .. much appreciated ..... I think tho it leaves me in a sorta teeter-totter state!!

Cost will I think be one prohibitive factor - but then the ''hand cannon freak'' in me wants BIG!! OTOH ... the valid mention re using only jackets is a downer - tho inherently logical .... cos I make my big stuff more affordable thru reloading and using cast bullets.

Oh well . have to see ... maybe I hope I don't see one at gun show today ... temptation might be severe ... until that is, I realize what it might do to my pocket book!!

Thx again.

 

[clubsoda22]

It's a fun gun to occasionally rent, but it's not something i'd buy.

 

[Black Snowman]

Yes, fully jacketted bullets are a must although I've heard some people have had success using extremely hard cast lead with an excellent lube like Precision Bullets. Casting your own would be rough. I found that the copper coated bullets can't handle the guns either. I get leading with Rainiers in .44 Mag and Kamicosmos had the same experiance with the .357 Rainiers.

They also tend to like the heavy bullets. I use bulk Remington 240 gr soft points in my .44 barrel. All my Desert Eagle loads are made with H-110. Tried 2400 in the .44 and didn't like it. Too dirty, too much unburnt powder and didn't reliably cycle the slide.

Expensive to shoot, even in the .357 Mag. Not so much because it's expensive to load for, especially if you buy in bulk, but because it's so easy to shoot it SO MUCH

 

[ZekeLuvs1911]

It is not something that is easy to just pick up and shoot. However, I like it and it has the power and accuracy to match most guns. Anyone telling you otherwise don't know how to shoot one or never shot one at all. Here are some pics of my Desert Eagle in Bright Nickel .44 Mag. Shoots as well as most of my guns including the Wilsons, Colts, Kimbers, Brownings, H&K, and Berettas that I have. The only annoyance is the cost of ammo to feed this beast.

 

[10-Ring]

They are niche guns, but FUN TO SHOOT! They do tend to be on the big side, long-ish SA trigger & sometimes finicky w/ ammo, but loads 'o fun! IF you can find the right deal on one & you really want one, get it!

 

[George Hill]

I have a feeling that one day I will own one in .44 Magnum... but I am not sure why.

 

[Black Snowman]

Nobody has mentioned cost yet. My Brother bought mine in a Springfield, MO gun shop used for $600 and paid $50 for a 2nd magazine and $44 for 40 rounds of IMI ammo plus taxes. At the time it was a phenominal deal and it's still a good price. That's what I typically see well-worn ones or MK VII in the less desireable calibers for at gun shows.

 

[Snaps]

I love my .50AE

It's not really a practial thing I dont' think. But if you just want one it's a fun (Expensive) toy.

I had wanted one for a long time but could never make up my mind to order one. :But as soon as I saw my polished chrome one in teh store I knew I had to have it... Probably about a year later I'm still glad I got it.

 

[Edward429451]

My brother used to have one. It's fun and impressive to pull out on the range and all that but the practicalities were slightly lacking. Lead bullets the big one. The other consideration is the mags limit your OAL. I can't remember if that became an issue in loading for my brother's as that was before I started loading the 300g bullets. I do remember that my RH was always a tad more accurate than the DE.

Decisions, decisions.

 

[Feanaro]

It's the kind of gun that I would not normally buy. If someone were to give it to me or if I could finally finish off my "want" list of guns and had a little extra cash, yeah maybe. It's just too big, odd and expensive to be practical. But it is fun.

 

[P95Carry]

Thx for the further input .. I guess in a way - Feanaro - has about nailed it.

I did see one at the show today but - it was one of those ''gold'' finish deals ... IMO spoiled the look! Oh and - way too much $$$'s.

I think if totally honest - I am probably gonna get all the fun I want outa my 44 mag and .454 SRH's .... and the raging Lunatic.

The DE will (probably inevitably) stay on ''the list'' but be relegated to near bottom spot a while longer yet!

Thx again

 

[Sven]

Is that "High Chrome" a factory option?

 

[Ridgeway]

I bought my DE slightly less than a month ago and I couldn't be happier with it. It is just pure fun to shoot of 8 quick rounds of .44mag.

BTW I paid $1171 after taxes etc(standard blk finish, 6 in. barrel).

 

[P95Carry]

Hmmm .....

BTW I paid $1171

I am glad you are pleased .... and am sure I would be too - except ...... that sorta bill makes me think I may yet, if funds ever permit ... get me a ''Bushy'' first ..... just have to save a bit more from that figure I think.

 

[WonderNine]

Hmm....I'd love to have 3 DE's.

One of the smaller MKI's in .357 black finish.

One of the .50AE's in nickel finish.

And one of the .50AE's in hard chrome finish.

 

[Black Snowman]

It one of those guns where you want to wait to find a "deal" on one. It's not practical enough to "need" one. If I were you I'd get a nice rifle first. Even as much as I love my DE.