Do I really want a Desert Eagle? **Quick range report on post 85**

Master-G

Master-G

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So midwinter cabin fever is setting in and against my better judgment I'm thinking of picking up a .44 Mag Desert Eagle that a site sponsor has for a half-decent price.

I've been casually interested in them since they first came out in the eighties but never really looked into them. It's one of those guns i sort of feel like I should try before I get too old to.

It'd be for range fun only, not competition or anything else. I know they're big, but I had no problems with my small hands with an H&K Mk23. I know it's expensive to shoot but it'd be only a few times a year probably. I'm more concerned with functionality issues like fussy reliability or part breakage. Are they worth it for the fun factor or more trouble than they're worth?

***Feb 19 update: I ordered a black-finished .44 Magnum from P&D. Stainless or chrome would've been nice but the price on this was too good to pass up. I'll report back once it arrives. Thanks for your help!

***March 18 Update: Quick range report on post 85
 
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I had a 44 for a few months and had nothing but issues with it.

Every other shot the extractor wouldn't eject the spent casing - replaced the extractor and that didn't solve it. As well, the slide wouldn't go all the way forward when the extractor was functioning correctly. I replaced every spring in the gun, and continued to have this issue.

I found it as a waste of time and money.

YMMV
 
go big or go home, get a 50. I've had mine for almost 20 something years now I guess. More than 10,000 rounds through it and one spring change. It gets a bit pissy these days if it's not lubed up good, but beyond that is awesome
 
I have owned two of them, one was a very early model that was .44 mag only, and the later production model was .44/.50.

Nothing but problems with the early gen model, the mid gen model shot reliably so long as you didn't weak wrist it.

Overall... useless guns, but insanely fun and very eye catching at the range, it's rare that you take it to the range and don't have people oohing and ahhing over it, wanting to shoot it.

They are heavy and virtually impossible for all but oar handed trolls to get a grip on that feels ergonomic... it pretty much sits like a 2x4 in your hand and you have to move your hands to hit the slide and mag release, but despite that, the trigger isn't bad and recoil isn't unmanageable providing you can handle any other centerfire pistol calibre. Never had much of a problem getting comparable accuracy to any semi with it providing you take your time and don't get a flinch.

Long story short, you should satisfy your curiosity and get one. If you decide it is too much, they hold resale value fairly well. Get a new gen model and you'll be the gunny at the range! You may as well get the .50 barrel/ magazines as well, loads of fun and cost is reasonable if you shoot it mainly in .44mag then put a box of .50 through it at the end of the day.
 
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Master-G said:
So midwinter cabin fever is setting in and against my better judgment I'm thinking of picking up a .44 Mag Desert Eagle that a site sponsor has for a half-decent price.

I've been casually interested in them since they first came out in the eighties but never really looked into them. It's one of those guns i sort of feel like I should try before I get too old to.

It'd be for range fun only, not competition or anything else. I know they're big, but I had no problems with my small hands with an H&K Mk23. I know it's expensive to shoot but it'd be only a few times a year probably. I'm more concerned with functionality issues like fussy reliability or part breakage. Are they worth it for the fun factor or more trouble than they're worth?
Click to expand...

I've fired the 44 and the 50, both friends guns, I gotta say there is not much appeal for me and in fact my friends didn't keep there's long either. Personally I would spend my money on something else.
 
Save your money I had to have one when they came out in 44 mag many years ago.It was so heavy and hard to shoot accurately that I desided to sell it.Fast forward 28 years and I bought another one shot one magazine through it and sold it same problem as the first one I just forgot how hard it is to shoot accurately it was like holding a brick.one good thing is that they never jammed
 
they are so much fun to shoot and quite accurate! agreed that it is an absolutely ridiculous fire arm but its sooooooo fun! love throwin toonies down range!
 
I was thinking about one a few years ago as well, as I wanted something overpowered and ridiculous, just for fun. Got to fire one, and as it didn't fit my hand very well (though it was fun), I decided to go with a 460v revolver instead. Now THAT thing's fun!
 
I bought one new in .50AE around 3 years ago. I have only shot Hornady 305 grain JHPs through it and have never had any issues whatsoever. It's a blast to shoot and quite a handful to manage, but I love it.
 
Thanks for the replies so far. Much as I'd love a .50 AE model the .44 Mag model I'm eyeing is probably $800-$900 less than a new .50.
 
I had a .44 for about a month... took it to the range and it didn't impress me. Sold it on the EE pretty quickly after. Not practical at all, had more fun shooting my 9mm and .40. If that's your thing, go for it.

Awkward to shoot, bad ergonomics, expensive ammo... I couldn't justify keeping it. Sold it and got something else I liked better.
 
its a good gun. as good as any. just make sure you get a .44 or .357. if you get a .50 it will just sit and we will end up seeing it on the EE in a few months. .50s are way to expensive. your better off getting a .44 and then if you like it enough buy a .50 barrel for it later.
 
The 357 version is fun and accurate.
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Bought one off a buddy of mine a few years back - he got it new, probably 10-12 years ago. Neither of us had any issues with it - seems really solidly built. It is a handful and as has been mentioned, if you don't keep your arm/wrist locked, the slide will close on an empty chamber. If you're re-loading, rather than getting factory ammo - you'll want to load a little on the hot side - H110 or 296 will keep the pressures up where it likes them. The 50 AE is the round the gun was originally intended for, so that would give it the cool factor, but I've found that .44 "Dragon Loads" have no problems amusing anyone who shoots it. Probably wouldn't pay north of 2K for one, but if you can get your hands on a nice used one, at a price you're happy with - get it. If you later decide that it's no longer fun - you'll have very little trouble getting your money back out of it, as was mentioned - they still enjoy some popularity.
 
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