Desert Eagle .50AE for home defense???

[CowboyUp8]

As of right now I'm packing an .50 Eagle in a pistol safe under my bed. Fortunately, I have yet to use it. But if a situation arose where I would have to take it into action, would this gun be an unwise choice? My only other options as of this moment are a ORIGINAL Colt M1911 from 1918, a S&W .38 sp, and a S&W M500. I am looking into getting a SIG GSR 1911 and decking it out with a M6 light/laser, but until then, is this the best decision? I can handle it quite well, squeezing off all 7 rounds into a paper plate size target in about 4-5 seconds (at around 25 feet). But nevertheless, I am unsure as to whether I am best suited with this as my first line of defense. Can I get some opinions here....?

 

[pauli]

as long as you can shoot it well and trust its reliability, it's no worse than any other handgun for the role. that still puts it way behind a shotgun or rifle, but that's not what you asked

 

[Moonclip]

If you feel comfortable with it, use it but excessive blast, flash and recoil and penetration compared to you 38spl and 45acp handguns would probably have me using the 1911 with Remington 185 gr or 230 gr jhp in the standard loadings(not Golden Sabre, the standards ones are rounded for reliable feeding in older guns) .

BTW do you handgun hunt? I never met anybody with a S&W 500 and a 50ae DE!

 

[Gixerman1000]

I own a DE mk-XIX in 50ae and IMO, I would just use the 38spl until I got the GSR, if it was an emergency or if it was all I had, sure I would use the DE and I trust that I could get the job with it but it's not an ideal personal / home defense handgun.

I never met anybody with a S&W 500 and a 50ae DE!

50ae
500mag
454 casull

 

[Moonclip]

Do you handgun hunt then? You know, you are one of the only people on this site that has a collection that might make me jealous!

 

[Gixerman1000]

Do you handgun hunt then? You know, you are one of the only people on this site that has a collection that might make me jealous!

Thank you.

I handgun hunt (/ hunt in general) sometimes, over the years I have taken deer with the 50ae, 454, 44, 41, 357, 10mm and 40sw, but I don’t really buy a gun to hunt with, I just buy it because I like it and then hunt with it because it’s there so why not, does that makes sense lol.

 

[KC&97TA]

I'd be more worried about over penatration ... at close range and inside a home

 

[Oleg Volk]

You could always load it with ratshot

 

[MICHAEL T]

I'd use the 38spl other way to much inside house If 45 in good shape be even better

 

[WillBrayJr]

There's nothing wrong with using a Desert Eagle for personal defense, thats why the Desert Eagle is chambered for 357mag. 50AE is alittle much

 

[ArmedBear]

Just keep some good tactical ear muffs next to it.

BTW I hope you don't live in an apartment or condo, or even a housing tract.

 

[TMM]

if you have nothing else, it's ok. but since you DO have somthing else, use it. the .38, that is. it's a perfect indoor SD gun.

the .50 is too big, noisy, and the flash will probably temporarily blind you... the only 2 things you have with that for SD is that you can control it and there's intimidation factor (there's somthing about a DE muzzle that is very imposing...)

~TMM

 

[saberstitch]

I would agree with the .38. I have a DE 50 and also a SW 500. I wouldn't want to fire either off indoors without ear protection, much less in the dark. I think the concussion alone would dissable the attacker and you. I also have a 357 DE and have fired it a few times without earmuffs. It wasn't too bad.

 

[RyanM]

Strange that people say a .50 AE is too loud, too flashy, has too much recoil, and overpenetrates, but then they'll probably turn around and recommend a 12 gauge shotgun on some other thread in a couple days.

 

[noresttill]

Strange that people say a .50 AE is too loud, too flashy, has too much recoil, and overpenetrates, but then they'll probably turn around and recommend a 12 gauge shotgun on some other thread in a couple days.

but a 12 gauge shoots a bunch of little things. I guarantee that a 50 AE will penitrate more than 00 buck. I think the shot is the best SD gun.

 

[RyanM]

Actually, buckshot will often penetrate deeper than you'd think. 00 buckshot can plow through 3 interior walls and still be lethal. Maybe even 4, if you're unlucky. 00 shot can penetrate 18" or more of tissue. Especially the reduced-recoil, buffered, harndened and plated stuff, since there's less shot deformation.

 

[middy]

(there's somthing about a DE muzzle that is very imposing...)

You think it could be the half-inch diameter hole in muzzle?

 

[slopemeno]

A .50 Desert Eagle will feel much louder feeling than a 12ga with low recoil buckshot. Whats the peak pressure at the time the shot/bullet leaves the muzzle? The shotgun has to be much lower pressure. Plus the flash will be less for sure. I fired a 12ga, 20" BBl, high base in the dark in fenced area with no hearing protection and it wasnt that bad. The flash was about 6" long x3" wide. I would go with the .38spl.

 

[gunguy05]

I guess if that was all that you had..... But it like (is) taking a cannon to a gun fight.. Why not use the 38. Much easier to maneuver, and the ammo is much cheaper to shoot, assuming that you practice. Just my opinion

 

[Moonclip]

Shotgun is a long gun and is easier to shoot for many than a 50ae and it has a longer barrel so the vlast is not so close to your ears. Actually, I know someone who used to open carry a 44mag DE. G1000, at least you do hunt, I can't use that excuse when I buy yet another gun I really don't need though I recently got my hunting license. Now I guess I will be forced to buy a handgun larger than 44mag though I resisted doing so for years!

 

[S&W620]

First, beautiful guns. Second, a DE 50AE for home protection?? Only as a LAST resort. Overpenetration would be a BIG problem from that gun. Third, beautiful guns!!!!!!!!!

 

[backlash]

I'd be more worried about over penatration ... at close range and inside a home

I was thinking the same thing

 

[dasmi]

If I were you, I'd use the .38. As others have said, the blast, and noise of a .50AE going off indoors must be incredible, to say the least.

 

[Gixerman1000]

beautiful guns.

Thanks

 

[noresttill]

I wasn't saying that 00 buck is the best round to use, I was trying to name the most powerful. The DE, while neat, would overpenitrate.

In low light, home invasion situation the shot will not miss (could possibly be a downside too if cramped situation though). But since you have the 38, shoot what you got.