Tell me about the Desert Eagle 50AE

[Phantom Warrior]

I've shot a Desert Eagle in .50AE. Once, but enough to get a feel for them. First, big. Long and wide and tall. It's a huge gun. Two, HEAVY. You bring this gun up like a normal pistol and your arms start to droop. I had to consciously remember to hold it up straight. I'm sure you get used to it, but this isn't a normal gun. Three, recoil. It isn't painful, but that muzzle sure flies way up into the air when you pull the trigger.

Other notes, the ammo is tricky to get. It's not impossible, but you sure can't buy it at Walmart. Plus the stuff is expensive too. And I've heard there are mag and lube issues that interfere w/ carrying. This is second hand, but I guess if you smack the magazine when you draw it can cause it to fail to feed. And the lube apparently doesn't stand up to heat (body heat) well.

If you want "gonzo plinking," as the IMI ads put it, then a Freedom Arms 83 big-bore revolver is an infinitely more graceful (and American made) piece of artillery.

If you check the webpage of Magnum Research it lists their address as:

Magnum Research, Inc.
7110 University Avenue N.E.
Minneapolis, MN 55432

Google (or Yahoo!, in my case) "history of Desert Eagle" and you will find out that Magnum Research developed the Desert Eagle in 1981 but had cycling/feeding problems. They turned to Israeli Military Industries (IMI) for technical assistance, fixed the problems, and started selling the Desert Eagle in 1983. IMI helped design it, but the Desert Eagle is still an American pistol.

 

[atek3]

t3h d34g13 1$ t3h 0wnZ0r.

This message is brought to you by millions of CS players everywhere.

 

[gazpacho]

A loaded DE50 weighs about the same as a 4# mallet, right? Tell him to buy a pair, stick them in his belt, and walk around with that for a day. Personally, I'd buy a pair of full auto mini-uzis instead. Much higher WOO-factor.

 

[Phantom Warrior]

atek3, it took me a second...but that's funny. Thanks

 

[P. Plainsman]

Magnum Research developed the Desert Eagle in 1981 but had cycling/feeding problems. They turned to Israeli Military Industries (IMI) for technical assistance, fixed the problems, and started selling the Desert Eagle in 1983. IMI helped design it, but the Desert Eagle is still an American pistol.

Fair enough. Thank you for the correction, PW.

 

[Kevlarman]

I've handled a .44 Mag Desert Eagle, and I must say recoil was surprisingly light for what I was shooting. Amazing muzzle flash too:

 

[Warbow]

Not that this is helpful, but...

Earlier this year a guy was at the range and had a nice collection of pistols. One was a Desert Eagle in .44 Magnum. He was shooting in the booth right next to me, and there's no wall, just a screen to catch brass. When he started shooting the Desert Eagle it surprised the hell out of me, to say the least. I couldn't stand at my booth and had to step back while he was shooting it because the concussion from the muzzle blast was too uncomfortable. (This was with doubled up hearing protection, both foam plugs and 31 NRR muffs, too. ) It was pretty cool.

 

[Gixerman1000]

I have one in 50 ae, a mark XIX, real fun to shoot but expensive to feed, I killed a dear last year with mine from about 35 yards, he didn’t even take a step he just dropped.

It does get a lot of attention at the range

Here is a pic of me with the DE in action.

 

[Gixerman1000]

and here is one of my friends with the DE, It was the first time he shot it, so he was a little scared of it,,,,,,,,,,well honestly he still is

 

[Snake Eyes]

I'll always remember an exchange I saw on a TV show about movie guns (I just can't remember the name of the program):

Prop Gun Wrangler: "Directors are all in love with the Desert Eagle. They think it's the cooles thing ever"

Interviewer: "What kind of guy carries a DE?"

Prop Gun Wrangler: "A wanker"

 

[The_Antibubba]

Some need compensators, and some just need to compensate

Edmond,

Does your friend really want to drop $1200 dollars for a handgun he can't control? On the few occasions I do see 50AE ammo, it's about $50 for twenty rounds.

There's a joke about a nerd who gets a date with a model, and takes her to a party. He sees everyone staring and whispering, and his ego swells, but the're all saying the same thing: "What is she doing with him?"

If he insists on getting one, take heart in the knowledge that you'll be able to buy it off him for half-price, after he goes to the range a few times!

 

[Logan5]

Pretty much. I'm 5'11, and I can't hide the Desert Eagle anywhere. Not even in winter; it's just a giant lead pig range toy. Don't get me wrong, I like it a lot, but I like Steyr-Hahns and Roth-Steyrs too, mainly because they're wierd. It's something to get if you love the bizzare, or if you have certain handgun hunting needs, but it's not fun or affordable to shoot so much, and it's certainly not for carry IMO. It's kind of a heartbreaker to miss with, because you're probably going to be doing better than a buck a shot, I hardly ever shoot mine. If a rogue elephant ever shows up in my backyard, I feel fine having sunk the money into .405 Win ammo.

 

[Edmond]

Does your friend really want to drop $1200 dollars for a handgun he can't control? On the few occasions I do see 50AE ammo, it's about $50 for twenty rounds.

That's what I keep telling him. But he's the impulsive/big thing type of person. Something comes along and he'll lust for it bad until something else comes along. He would get something without first hand experience. Like, "I want a Viper cause it has a V10." He doesn't even know anyone who has driven a Viper.

He's experienced very little when it comes to guns and cars but he just seems to assume that bigger is better. "9mm? That's too small for me."

 

[The_Antibubba]

The Brooklyn bridge has been in my family a long time...

Some people are unable to learn from the mistakes of others. You tried.


And remember what I said about a half-price Desert Eagle!

 

[AmmuNational420]

I don't personally own a .50AE DE but I have probably put close to 800 rounds through 3 different guns, it is by far my favorite pistol. I'm a short guy, 5'9" pushing 250 lbs. not all muscle either, and I don't have a problem with the recoil on the DE. As bulky as those bullets are the gun is extremely accurate, and the rotating bolt is awesome. I've shot a few of the other DE models too, but I absolutely hate that gawky gold finished DE. It makes me cringe every time I see one... The black/black is truly beautiful, as well as the Black/Silver and the Black/Nickel.
I will say that this gun takes some time to get used to, at least 50 rounds or so...but I absolutely love this gun. If I don't get a Barret next, then it will be a .50AE DE... Of course I also am in love with the new .50/.22 Dual Reciever AR-15, that is a beautiful rifle...

 

[Ktulu]

A friend of a friend let me shoot his. I was unimpressed, but considering the cost of the ammo very grateful.

On the other hand, it looks real cool in movies and I own the n00bs with it in CS.

"I see your gun says "replica" on the side. Mine says "Desert Eagle point five oh."

 

[arinvolvo]

...and the fact that MY gun says, desert eagle, point five oh...should precipitate your balls into shrinking...along with your presence...now F off.

i love that movie.

 

[birdv]

Their is a 6'6'' 325lb guy in dallas that conceals one.

I still would not carry it. One of the guys I take hunting has 4 DEs and they are all super heavy and they need to be that heavy for the recoil.

You can shoot it with one hand, but it is really a two handed weapon.

 

[W Turner]

An FFL friend of mine has a DE in .50AE that he bought used a few years ago. I asked him why would he buy such an impractical gun....he just said "It's the only thing I don't have yet." Sad thing is he wasn't lying.

Anyway, a few months after buying it, he was at an IDPA match when some guy noticed it in his range bag and started going on and on about how nobody could shoot DE's accurately and how they are such a POS. My friend didn't argue with the guy, he did something better. He went to the MD and got it cleared to shoot the DE in the "Novelty" class.

He didn't win the match, but he whipped the loudmouth soundly. The funny thing is that the loudmouth was a good sized (6'/200lbs +). My friend is 6'1" and weighs about 140 when he is fully clothed and soaking wet.


W