Magnum Research Desert Eagle Fun!

[The Glockodile]

Had some handicapped Deagle fun in .44 Magnum today at 16 meters... 4 inch targets, 10" barrel on the left, 6" barrel on the right, ignore the 9mms towards the upper right.

1. I couldn't keep my sight picture still because of how nose heavy, er, awesome this pistol is.

2. This Deagle is a hodgepodge of different parts... When I pieced it together, all I had for the front sights were what Kahr Arms had for sale... Which were for the newer iterations of this pistol (front sights now made much taller), making the pistol shoot really low... Like bye - bye chronograph low, as others have put it in another Forum!



It's difficult estimating one's hold when keeping the featureless, black front sight above the level of the rear sight, obscuring the target at the same time!

3. I didn't have proper ammunition, just underloaded Blazers... The gun cycled most of the time with the 10" barrel (longer dwell time), but was a total pain to use with the 6" barrel. FTFs, FTEs, and all sorts of malfunctions, make up whatever tactical acronym you please.

But still, it was a fun .44 Magnum day!

 

[The Glockodile]

Here's how annoying the situation is.

Top picture - older Desert Eagle with the current front sight from Kahr installed. The blade's too tall. The pistol points low.

Bottom picture - new front sight on top, old front sight at bottom. If they were of equal height, both front sights would be touching.

Magnum Research Customer Support informs me that the newer Desert Eagle Slides have rear sight dovetails that have been set higher than previous, necessitating the higher front sights.



From my measurements, older front sights have a blade height of 0.2095", while newer ones have a height of 0.2605".

In addition - they indicate that "the newer front sights are meant to be filed down for adjustment." Baloooneeey!

 

[The Glockodile]

I've looked for examples of the older front sights, and came up dry.

Is there an approach any of you would recommend to get these horrible new front sights in spec?

I already had a "gunsmith" have a go at a few, even bluing his work afterwards...

 

[The Glockodile]

...well, both the height and countour were horribly wrong - despite having provided instructions in writing!

 

[JT-AR-MG42]

I'll take a look through my spare parts and measure a few if I didn't pitch 'em out.
All my DE's use Millett's adjustable rear sights with the Millett red or white ramp fronts.



There is no doubt the factory sights are more durable than the Milletts, but I rarely throw my guns around like in the
movies or video games.

Magnum Research Customer Support

Now that is a funny statement.
Maybe the new owners (Kahr?) provide service and knowledge, but I sure never got either from MR when they were
running things in Minnesota.

JT

 

[The Glockodile]

That's a niiice earlier Israeli model you have there, from prior to the advent of the barrel cross - slots and weaver rails!

They had slightly different cuts for the sight dovetails, if I remember correctly...

 

[The Glockodile]

Now that is a funny statement. Maybe the new owners (Kahr?) provide service and knowledge, but I sure never got either from MR when they were running things in Minnesota.

JT

They were quite helpful - the salesperson was in direct communication with one of their technicians, helping me out in mixing and matching parts (some of the assemblies had to be pieced together) for me to cobble together a few "MC" spec pistols. They also dug out the last available 10" "MC" barrels in .357 and .44 Magnum - I had to resort to Gunbroker and eBay for mere phosphated examples in .50AE, and sent those I found over to Ford's Custom Gun Refinishing (the same outfit that did the finishes for Magnum Research) to have them chrome plated.

"MC" being Matte Chrome.

Took me something like a year and a half to get everything done...

 

[mattmcg]

I remember going to the range as a kid after the first DE in 50 A&E was released. This guy a few lanes down (an outdoor range) was shooting an absolute cannon! My buddies and I all took notice and had to saunter over to ask what the heck the thing was. The owner proudly showed his stainless beauty and then made it safe and handed it over to me. I looked it over and was in awe. He then offered for me to shoot it. I was a bit intimated at the time (I was like 18 years old) but took him up on it and proceeded to experience the full force of that gun. Never will forget that day and always vowed to add one to the collection but never did get around to it.

Nice pistol BTW!

 

[The Glockodile]

Thanks!

 

[JT-AR-MG42]

Found a few of the factory take off sights. Most of these came off MKI or MKVII slides
and the bases all measure the same at .360 in the dovetail.

The rear sights measure .435 from the bottom of the dovetail to the top of the sight,
though one of them comes in at .450 .

Ramp fronts for the 6" barrels read (same measuring system) .345 while
the square face (think patridge) front sight from 10" barrels measure .310.

While looking through the DE misc. box these sights were in I did find three more sets
of Milletts I had forgotten, so it was a win digging out the old sights.

Not real sure why they put all those slots on the barrels of the newer guns. Maybe saving weight!
When the MKXIX came out for the 50, two slots were enough as pictured on the 10" .50 and .440 barrels at the top of this old picture.


JT

 

[The Glockodile]

Nice collection there!

The older designs without the rails or cross - slots were always more aesthetically pleasing...

 

[AzShooter1]

You had fun and that's the most important thing. I remember shooting my first DE, a 50AE and the feel of the recoil is still in my memory. I never did own one but over the years I've shot a few. I'm very impressed with them and never experienced a failure.

My friend collects them and has 5. It's always fun when he comes to the range.

Good luck with yours. It' beautiful.

 

[The Glockodile]

These Desert Eagles have been a “special” bunch for me as far as historical trivia are concerned...

I got the last new 10” MC suffix barrels in .357 and .44 Magnum from Magnum Research, and the last two sets of Carbide dies in .50AE from RCBS

 

[GarrettJ]

MRI’s approach to sights has always been haphazard. They seem to take a one-size-fits-all approach across all calibers. You end up with a sight height that may work well for one caliber, and not at all for the others. And then they randomly change going forward.

I have some sights that I’ve had to weld up taller then reshape in order to get it to hit near point of aim.

Dawson Precision sells several heights of sight for these things. I ended up putting one of their really tall front sights on my 6” .50 barrel and it works much better now.

 

[The Glockodile]

Dawson Precision sells several heights of sight for these things. I ended up putting one of their really tall front sights on my 6” .50 barrel and it works much better now.

It did not occur to me - getting sights with a specific height.

That just didn't cross my mind! Thanks for the info, I'll look them up.

On that note - are you aware of any rear adjustable sight setup that fills the entire width of the slide?

Many of them look too small and appear out of place.

 

[GONRA]

GONRA never purchased one until they came out in .44 MAG.
Per American Rifleman recommendation, gotta Timmney Trigger job.
(No longer available as far as I no!)

Shoots like a TARGET PISTOL!
Got 4 more mags, tons of handloading components......

 

[GarrettJ]

On that note - are you aware of any rear adjustable sight setup that fills the entire width of the slide?

Many of them look too small and appear out of place.

Well, sort of. There is the adjustable sight that MRI sells on their website. It has a plate that seems to blend in ok with the slide. But then the actual sight is still just an appendage hanging out there waiting to get broken off.

That’s my issue with any of the adjustable sights I’ve seen. None look terribly durable.

That is why I stick with the factory fixed rear sight and will find an appropriate front sight for the correct POI. Otherwise you’re constantly messing with the adjustable rear when every time you swap barrels.

 

[The Glockodile]

Sight Base to Top, Older (Shorter): 0.3135”, 3 samples
Sight Base to Top, Newer (Taller): 0.3645”, 3 samples and 0.3640”, 1 sample

 

[The Glockodile]

To echo what someone else mentioned on Amazon.com...

"Contacted Magnum Research and was told that due to so many changes done over the years to the frame of the Eagle that the rear sights are not all the same."

Dawson Precision apparently only has Front Sights WITH a Fiber - Optic insert for U.S. - made barrels - no option for regular serrated blades.

Magnum Research has these Tritiums from Truglo, not sure which pistols they'd fit.

 

[The Glockodile]

Sight Base to Top, Newest (Tallest): 0.4355", 2 samples

See how they grow!