Desert Eagle barrel with external bump

[JB111]

Hey all, new member to the forum.

I just bought a new desert eagle 50ae and I don't know if I have a problem or not..

I got it home, lubed it, shot it a few times using Hornady's 300gr hollow points, cleaned it, lubed the barrel for storage and then put it up. A few days later a friend of mine stops by and wants to try it out. I take it out, run a patch through the barrel to wipe out excess clp, then a snake for good measure. He shoots it a few times using the same ammo and after he leaves I clean it, spray some clp in the barrel and run a few patches to wipe off excess and that's when I notice it.

There is a lump on the outside of the barrel. It is on both sides, but more prominent on the right side so that is the side I took pictures of. The bump is not all the way around, just on the sides. Thinking the barrel was bulged I start looking at the bore, there is no ring or anything that would be indicative of a bulge, nice clean and smooth through and through. No apparent defects.

I have another desert eagle and it does not have any lumps and a friend who has one checked his and he does not have any either, so my question is this, is my barrel bulged or is it a manufacturing defect of some sort or just the way it was made and I'm overthinking it?

 

[Jim Watson]

I'd push a tight patch through, feeling for a jump at the lump.
If resistance was smooth, I would dismiss it as a cosmetic flaw.

 

[JB111]

Thanks for the advice, I pushed a few tight fittings patches through and they were tight all the way through. I think I'm going to write it off as a cosmetic defect.

 

[Blue68f100]

You may want to contact the mfg and send them the pictures and see what they say. But it does look like a cosmetic error from machining the side of the barrel. Looks like the cutter was bumped out instead of maintaining a straight cut.

 

[doubleh]

Is it accurate? If so I wouldn't worry about it. I bought a single action pistol long ago. I overlooked a slight bulge on the barrel. It is accurate, I still have it and ignore that little bulge because it causes no problem..

 

[JB111]

Is it accurate? If so I wouldn't worry about it. I bought a single action pistol long ago. I overlooked a slight bulge on the barrel. It is accurate, I still have it and ignore that little bulge because it causes no problem..

This is a brand new gun, should be no bulge. I personally believe it is just a cosmetic defect but kind of sucks I didn't notice it in the store. I sent magnum research an email with the pictures but no reply as of yet. If it comes to it I will just re barrel it.

Also, I know a lot of people have no problem with shooting through a bulged barrel, and I have been guilty of it in the past as well, but after seeing a 30-06 come apart due to a hotter than normal round through a bulged barrel, I tend to lean to the cautious side, especially with high pressure calibers.

 

[JB111]

Checked my email this morning and was surprised to have gotten a reply from Magnum Research. They said the perceived "lump" on either side is from the way they polished the barrel and was normal, which was basically what I expected but still good to hear it from them directly.

 

[MachIVshooter]

They said the perceived "lump" on either side is from the way they polished the barrel

I don't think so. If you put micrometers to it or throw it under an optical comparator, you'd find it's several thousandths proud. More like they tried to polish out a significant machining flaw.

It won't affect function, but I personally would not tolerate such a cosmetic defect on a $2k pistol.

 

[JB111]

I don't think so. If you put micrometers to it or throw it under an optical comparator, you'd find it's several thousandths proud. More like they tried to polish out a significant machining flaw.

It won't affect function, but I personally would not tolerate such a cosmetic defect on a $2k pistol.

I dont really like it either but there isnt much I can do about it because I doubt Magnum Research would cover the costs of sending it in or for a replacement barrel and Im not ready to sink another 800 dollars for a new barrel on a brand new gun.

I was more worried that it was potentially damaged from the factory and may pose a safety hazard if fired. As long as it is safe and accurate I can tolerate it until I get over the butthurt of spending over 2 grand on a handgun with a glaring cosmetic flaw that I somehow managed to not see in the store. I was blinded by the shiny I guess.

I will probably re barrel it one day if I can find another vented barrel, I didnt see them listed on their website, just standard version which is also out of stock for every finish when I looked.