Opinions on the MRI Baby Eagle and any alternatives you might suggest...

Maple Leaf Pilgrim

Maple Leaf Pilgrim

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Hey all,

I am currently looking for an IDPA legal pistol and have been looking at the MRI Baby Eagle pretty closely. I have heard both good things and bad from people who really know thier stuff. I was recommended a CZ for IDPA by a person who really knows guns, but the CZ 75SP-01 I like (looks a LOT like the Baby Eagle) is not IDPA legal.

So now I go to you, the competitiors (IDPA, IPSC, et all) to help in my search for a good IDPA gun in either the Standard Service Pistol or Enhanced Service Pistol classes in 9x19mm.

Much appreciated!
 
I've had a Baby Eagle which has been used for IPSC for about 1.5 years now. No problems to report, using factory or reloaded ammo.
 
omen said:
I've had a Baby Eagle which has been used for IPSC for about 1.5 years now. No problems to report, using factory or reloaded ammo.
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May I ask a few questions?

Being the presumptuous prat that I am... I'll ask them now. ;)

How is the overal durability of the firearm? I have heard that a few examples have had slide failures right underneath the ejection port.

How easily do you find it tracking when you bring it up to aim?

How does the gun handle recoil and rapid fire?

What would you figure the cost range is that I can expect in regards to purchasing the pistol new/used?
 
Shawn, be careful with regard to the weight of the pistol. With an empty mag insterted, the max weight in SSP is 39 oz. and in ESP it is 43 oz.

Secondly, I can't recall if the Baby Eagle has a full length dust cover. If it does, then it's not allowed in ESP.
 
Dragoon said:
Secondly, I can't recall if the Baby Eagle has a full length dust cover. If it does, then it's not allowed in ESP.
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It has a full length dust cover. :(

Did anyone know that these things are made by Tanfoglio? I never knew until Mr. Tanfoglio mentioned it offhand at this year's SHOT show.
 
Freedom Ventures said:
It has a full length dust cover. :(

Did anyone know that these things are made by Tanfoglio? I never knew until Mr. Tanfoglio mentioned it offhand at this year's SHOT show.
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Really? I didn't realize Tanfoglio had a factory in Israel (my baby eagle is made by Israeli Military Industries, Isreal) ;)


Maple Leaf Pilgrim said:
How is the overal durability of the firearm? I have heard that a few examples have had slide failures right underneath the ejection port.
How easily do you find it tracking when you bring it up to aim?
How does the gun handle recoil and rapid fire?
What would you figure the cost range is that I can expect in regards to purchasing the pistol new/used?
Click to expand...

It's being used by a 5'2" female shooter who's doing fairly well with it. The only technical problem we've seen is that an after-market front sight came loose during a match a couple of weeks back, and had to be replaced afterwards, but that's not the gun's fault (bad timing, in the middle of the provincials, but hey, falls under "#### happens :redface:").

A lot of what you ask for it very personal, and deals more with how the gun fits your hand, rather than overall design characteristics... it is definitely "good enough" for ipsc/idpa/etc competition; if it fits your hand, and is allowed in whatever division/class/etc you want to use it in, it's up to you to choose whatever fits/feels best for YOU...

a new baby eagle is about $900, I think (it IS more expensive than a corresponding CZ-75), mags are about $50-$60 each, I think? So price wise, it is SLIGHTLY more expensive than a CZ.. If the choice was BE vs SP01, I'd say SP01, no question, but BE vs CZ-75, I'd say BE. Lots of people have had various misc, random problems with CZ pistols (myself included), but I've never seen any issues with my baby eagle. Plus, it has an amazing trigger right out of the factory...

(std disclaimer - I'm talking about MY gun, an IMI made baby eagle).
 
omen said:
Really? I didn't realize Tanfoglio had a factory in Israel (my baby eagle is made by Israeli Military Industries, Isreal) ;)
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Your gun was made in Italy. IMI commissions Tanfoglio. The only thing IMI about it is the barrel. There's a reason FRT describes Tanfoglio as having built "other" brands of guns...but hey - I'm sure you know far more than I. ;)
 
omen said:
hmmm... even with a "Made in Isreal" right on the frame?

uuhhmmm.. huh?? :confused:
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That really means "Assembled in Israel" or "Finished in Israel." Kind of like driving a G.M. product "made in Canada" with a Japanese...or Sweedish...or whatever engine in it.
 
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Dragoon said:
Shawn, be careful with regard to the weight of the pistol. With an empty mag insterted, the max weight in SSP is 39 oz. and in ESP it is 43 oz.

Secondly, I can't recall if the Baby Eagle has a full length dust cover. If it does, then it's not allowed in ESP.
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Hey Mass,

I looked into the IDPA legalities of it and it seems to be allowed in SSP from what I have read. I will double check the info and let you know if you would like.

Regards,

Shawn.
 
I just Googled the Baby Eagle ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jericho_941 )and the specs list it at 1092 grams which by my calculation is 38.5 oz. That would seem to make it IDPA SSP legal.

However, it doesn't say if that includes an empty magazine or not and the IDPA criteria (39 oz. maximum for SSP) is with an empty mag inserted. If 1092 grams is without a magazine, then I'm sure it would be over the SSP maximum with the mag in the gun. (I just weighed an empty CZ75 mag and it weighed 3.1 oz.)

The full length dust cover would also take it out of IDPA ESP and CDP Divisions.

300px-Jericho_941F.jpg


Therefore, I wouldn't recommend acquiring one for IDPA competition.
 
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Yeah, MRI quotes the weight as 38.6 oz with one empty magazine, so that's sounds pretty close. I have been thinking about it, or a BHP, or a Sig, I was just exploring bringing something unique to the matches... Maybe I'll go with a Sig instead...
 
Thanks one and all, your input has led me to think that while the Baby Eagle is a pretty good gun, it does seem to skirt the rules pretty closely. So in what I feel to be an ethical move, I will not purchase a Baby Eagle for IDPA as it does seem to be a bit too close to "gamism" or "rules-lawyering" for my comfort.

Once again, my thanks for your input and the conversation that came about in regards to the gun, I learned some pretty interesting stuff in the replies. :)
 
My first post-22cal handgun was a 9mm Baby Eagle that I bought while I lived in Finland. It was a beautiful gun and ran non stop. I wish I had tried harder to bring it back to Canada.

Its been a couple of years, but I recall being told the parts were manufactured in the Tanfoglio plant in Italy and the gun was assembled in Israel.

Cheers,

O'Kelly's Boys
 
Dragoon said:
So what are you getting instead?
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Right now I am looking at something a bit cheaper to run (9x19mm), probably a factory refurbished Sig P226. Of course if I win the lotto I'll be looking at one of those Sig Elites, the P226 or P229 (Questar has some special for Canada ones coming in) would be pretty cool... So... anybody have a line on some refurbs? :D

[EDIT]Okay... scratch the P229 Elite from Questar idea... ported barrel...
 
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