Desert Eagle So Bad?

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Sapanther

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I just saw a post on the Over-Rated thread mentioning the Desert Eagle.

cpttango30 said
"I picked other. because I hear every day all over the web people bragging about the stinking Desert Eagle. I am so sick of hearing about this pistol it makes me sick to my stomach."

I didn't want to derail that thread so I figured I would make my own. I see posts such as this all the time. In fact, I have never seen a Pro-Desert Eagle stance. My question is this. Is it possible that instead of being over-rated, the claim that it is over-rated itself is ..... over-rated? I will admit, my experience on gun forums is somewhat limited, but every refrence I have seen about it, have been about how over-rated it is.

<shrug>

Just curious
 
I love my DE. It is what it is. it is big and heavy and expensive. but its just another piece in the collection. I dont think its Glock-Ugly tho:neener:
 
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I look at the Desert Eagle as the NASCAR of the gun world; it's big, it's heavy, it's expensive. It requires special attention to detail in cleaning and maintenance. It requires "high performance fuel" for reliable operation.
And it does one thing and one thing only; make loud noises and hot brass (ok - two things)
There's nothing wrong with them at all; they're actually pretty fun to shoot. But they have a fanboy following (see Hollywood and Counter Strike) that tends to grate on people's nerves.

All that being said I'd love to have one in .357 Magnum in the bright polished hard chrome finish. If you're gonna' go flashy... GO FLASHY!
 
They are definitely overrated. It's not a good combat handgun, mostly because of its massive size and weight, and limited magazine capacity. Neat range toy, though.
 
I've shot a DE in .44 and .50. Recoil is pretty mild due to the excessive weight. However, if I'm going to carry something that big and heavy, it's going to be a rifle.

Really, what's it good for besides the "pimp" factor? Too big and way too heavy to carry holstered. Probably not as accurate as a good big bore revolver and certainly not as accurate as my Contender.

If you want to impress your other mall ninja friends, I guess you might want to get one.
 
I've wanted a DE in .44Mag for a long time. :D

BUT...

Everytime I decide it is time to get one and ask about them or search the various gun forums on it I don't see anything but negative feedback. There's nothing worse than buying a new gun and having it fail for some reason or other that is not my fault. :cuss:

Where there's smoke there's :fire: as the saying goes and getting burned isn't pleasant for anyone.
 
I do believe QuarterBoreGunner is correct, its the fanboyism that turns people off to these guns.

Nothing more obnoxious than some Counter Strike playing wannabe Mall Ninja extolling the virtues of the "Deagle". Just want to smack them (after you make them pull their damn baggy pants up).


I've shot a couple Desert Eagles, one in .44mag and one in .50AE, they were fun pistols and pretty darn accurate. I wouldn't try to CCW one, nor carry it in the bush as a bear gun, but it would be a fun range gun.

But honestly, for what they cost there's other expensive toys that I'd get more enjoyment out of.
 
I recently acquired a DE Mk I in .357 magnum. I'm way too old to be affected by the video game craze, and have admired this pistol from afar since it first came out in the 80s. Of all the handguns I have ever shot, this one feels like they were using me for the model when they designed it. It like me, bigger than most, heavier than most, etc. Oh yeah, more powerful than most. :evil:

I bought it because I have always wanted one, not because I thought I would be cool. Cool is not the first adjective that springs to mind for those who meet or know me. :p I love shooting it, but I am going to have to get my reloading stuff working a lot sooner than I had anticipated if I want to go on shooting it like I have been.
 
I think the problem is that as fanboyed and hyped as the Desert Eagle is, it's going to be overrated unless you can actually shoot down the Death Star with it (one-handed while flipping, of course*).

I've heard that in addition to being a neat range toy it's also a worthwhile tool for certain kinds of pistol hunting, which makes sense to me.

*the shooter flipping, although it'd be okay if it were the Death Star flipping, too
 
it's also a worthwhile tool for certain kinds of pistol hunting
Click to expand...
Mmmmm...ok not a hunter here, but I'd say it's a bit too heavy for easy packing while hunting. I'd rather have a good (read: Freedom Arms Field Grade .454) heavy caliber revolver. Ok so yeah maybe the follow-up shot isn't as fast but if it's your main hunting gun, it's going to be more accurate.
 
Sapanther

A friend of mine has one, and every so often he'll bring out for a range session. First thing you'll notice, besides the obvious, is that it's going to be an expensive range session, because I believe that you're suppose to use only factory jacketed ammo through it (somebody correct me if I'm wrong). The next thing you'll notice is that even though it's heavy (52 oz.), the weight, combined with the gas system, makes shooting this gun a really fun proposition. Would I buy one? No, not really. I don't have any useful purpose for it; it seems to be just a really expensive toy to me.
 
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Not a bad gun, just not a combat pistol due to finicky ammunition in its caliber. Also, while the recoil didn't bother my 5'2" girlfriend, it jammed twice due to limp-wristing. However, it literally BENT my wrist on the first two shots, forcing me to use my weak hand and a deathgrip hold - no jams for me.
 
I shot one. It was fun. I might buy one. If I got to the gun store with enough money to buy one though id probably walk out with something that I would like to shoot more.
 
I have on in .50AE. There's nothing wrong with it. Never had any issues with it. You want to know why people always post negatively on it? It's a very well known pistol. It's used in Hollywood and video games a lot, making it even more popular and well known. People don't like it being so well known, so they bad mouth it. Kind of like Glocks, you love them or hate them. Most people who hate them, hate them because they're "mainstream".

So what if it's too big and heavy to be a combat handgun....do you buy your handguns just because they're "combat" handguns? If you want one, buy one. It's impractical, but does everything you have to buy be practical?
 
i've shot the DE 44.. and it's pretty nice.. it is heavy, but then again look at the design..

it's a distinctive design, and it's been over used in movies, etc.. it's like having a Zero Halliburton briefcase, people expect mounds of money or drugs to be inside..

it would be nice for hunting.. especially with the extended barrel and a nice scope.. i think it would be really silly to own, just to take to the range.. what a waste.. it would be just fine to hunt with..

yes, a good hunting rifle would be cheaper.. but it's not a DE 44.. :D
 
If Illinois ever allows us to hunt deer with a semi automatic handgun I will buy a 10" Barrel .44 Magnum Desert Eagle.
Until that time comes, I have no real need for one.
 
I agree with loki.fish. I guess it is really an opinion thing. Some people love them and some people hate them. I have never shot one but would like to.
 
I own a .357 mag version. Was my father in law's pistol, and inherited it when he died.

The gun will only reliably work with full power 158 gr jacketed bullet loads. As mentioned is big and heavy. Grip is just almost too big for me. Just doesn't seem to have the degree of fit and finish to justify the pistols high price.

The gun makes up for it's failings by working fantastic with proper ammo. Is extremely accurate.........uhmmm.......looks cool. Uhmmm....... can't think of any other good points!

A big, burly, heavy, gas-operated semi-auto magnum pistol. My inherited .357 DE is a superb pistol, just not something I would have bought for myself.

I think it could be a basis for a cool automatic pistol caliber tactical carbine! carbine
 
My .44 magnum is a very fun gun to shoot. Hmmm, imagine owning a gun because it's fun to shoot. That's purpose enough to me.

It has become a gun that is cool to mock, and annoyingly so. It's all kinda weinie-ish. The price also sets people off and there's a whole lot of different stuff going on with that one.
 
It's really expensive to obtain and shoot, but I'd keep one if it was given to me. Already own a capable .357, it's cheaper to obtain a good .44Mag revolver (and reload for it). But geez, the Desert Eagle is just spiffy. Heavy as crap, but spiffy.

And no, I wouldn't think of one in .50AE--I'm not a "gamer fanboy," .44Mag would be plenty fine for my purposes, if I were to own one.
 
It all depends on what you want the gun to do. Are you looking for something practical, either as a combat handgun or a hunting gun? You'll probably be disappointed, especially in the "combat" department. If you want something that is oddball and different and fun to shoot, you'll probably be quite happy.

I agree that the gun suffers from some seriously ignorant fanboyism.

Mike
 
If I was going to buy a large, heavy, real expensive but extremely unique semi auto pistol, I think I'd buy a Mateba over a Desert Eagle.
 
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