Desert Eagle .50AE Having Trouble Cycling Reloads

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Gobc

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Hi All,

I'm wondering if anyone can give me some insight on why my desert eagle in .50AE is struggling to cycle my reloads.

When the pistol fires, the slide ejects and feeds, but stops short about 3-5mm. I have to knock it in battery. I tried firing 5 rounds of Hornady factory rounds, and they all fed. This makes me think my reloads are the problem.

I'm shooing a .50 300 gr plated bullet, 31 - 33gr H110. 31gr, according to the spear manual would be a really light load. I believe most of my loads are 31gr, i just recall trying some 33gr in the past.

I checked the brass size, most cases are around 1.278"-1.284"ish. I checked my case overall length of several loaded rounds, and measured 1.578-1.582". Spec says1.580". I think my case overall length is good, but I could try seating the rounds a little deeper.

My pistol is always cleaned and lubed after ~75 rounds. (filthy running gun btw). I do have over 1000 rounds on the pistol. The internet say's that it's recommended to replace your recoil springs at this point. I don't think this is an issue as factory ammo is working fine. However, I'm not opposed to doing this.

I gave it another cleaning, and did my best to clean the gas piston and around the area. Gun is nicely oiled up as usual.

Things I plan on trying

1) trim cases by about 0.01"
2) increase seating depth around 0.01" as well

Any thoughts or ideas are appreciated.
 
Gobc said:
can give me some insight on why my desert eagle in .50AE is struggling to cycle my reloads.
Click to expand...

Gobc said:
31gr, according to the spear manual would be a really light load.
Click to expand...
You have answered your own question right here. The load is too light.

The DE is gas operated. It won't like light loads. The slide is coming back just far enough to strip the next round but doesn't have enough forward momentum to overcome the friction of stripping the round out of the mag and feed it into the chamber.

Choose a much hotter load and the problem will go away.
 
Gobc said:
Hi All,

I'm wondering if anyone can give me some insight on why my desert eagle in .50AE is struggling to cycle my reloads.

When the pistol fires, the slide ejects and feeds, but stops short about 3-5mm. I have to knock it in battery. I tried firing 5 rounds of Hornady factory rounds, and they all fed. This makes me think my reloads are the problem.

I'm shooing a .50 300 gr plated bullet, 31 - 33gr H110. 31gr, according to the spear manual would be a really light load. I believe most of my loads are 31gr, i just recall trying some 33gr in the past.

I checked the brass size, most cases are around 1.278"-1.284"ish. I checked my case overall length of several loaded rounds, and measured 1.578-1.582". Spec says1.580". I think my case overall length is good, but I could try seating the rounds a little deeper.

My pistol is always cleaned and lubed after ~75 rounds. (filthy running gun btw). I do have over 1000 rounds on the pistol. The internet say's that it's recommended to replace your recoil springs at this point. I don't think this is an issue as factory ammo is working fine. However, I'm not opposed to doing this.

I gave it another cleaning, and did my best to clean the gas piston and around the area. Gun is nicely oiled up as usual.

Things I plan on trying

1) trim cases by about 0.01"
2) increase seating depth around 0.01" as well

Any thoughts or ideas are appreciated.
Click to expand...
No issues at all cycling AE .50 factory loads at all…..
 
Another plunk test vote here. Different bullet shapes seated at the same depth may cause some brands to touch the rifling and others will be fine.

Test your round in your barrel. It should spin freely after the ‘plunk’.
 
Simply drop a completed cartridge into the chamber. It should sit free and somewhat loose, not on top of or into the rifling. If either situation is encountered a shorter COAL is highly recommended.
 
As "I Don't Care About You" said - the DE's don't like light (or even moderate) loads. I have a .44 Mag and a 50 AE - and they both will cycle fine with "stout" loads - not so much, with "average" loads. When I originally tried more moderate loads, the slide reacted exactly the way that I D C A Y said. Same thing will happen if you "limp wrist" it.
Being a gas operated system, is also the reason why the DE's get more grungy than a recoil operated one. "Nature of the beast", as it were.
Re-read your post and it doesn't seem that the aforementioned is your issue. As some have mentioned, the "plunk test" may reveal the issue. I have had similar "Fail to go into battery" with other semi auto HG's. Now that my last reloading step is running the cartridges through a "Factory re-sizing" die - that no longer happens.
 
Last edited:
Gobc said:
Hi All,

I'm wondering if anyone can give me some insight on why my desert eagle in .50AE is struggling to cycle my reloads.

When the pistol fires, the slide ejects and feeds, but stops short about 3-5mm. I have to knock it in battery. I tried firing 5 rounds of Hornady factory rounds, and they all fed. This makes me think my reloads are the problem.

I'm shooing a .50 300 gr plated bullet, 31 - 33gr H110. 31gr, according to the spear manual would be a really light load. I believe most of my loads are 31gr, i just recall trying some 33gr in the past.

I checked the brass size, most cases are around 1.278"-1.284"ish. I checked my case overall length of several loaded rounds, and measured 1.578-1.582". Spec says1.580". I think my case overall length is good, but I could try seating the rounds a little deeper.

My pistol is always cleaned and lubed after ~75 rounds. (filthy running gun btw). I do have over 1000 rounds on the pistol. The internet say's that it's recommended to replace your recoil springs at this point. I don't think this is an issue as factory ammo is working fine. However, I'm not opposed to doing this.

I gave it another cleaning, and did my best to clean the gas piston and around the area. Gun is nicely oiled up as usual.

Things I plan on trying

1) trim cases by about 0.01"
2) increase seating depth around 0.01" as well

Any thoughts or ideas are appreciated.
Click to expand...
Years ago berry’s had a run of plated bullets that were undersized. have you checked bullet diameter
 
Ditto light loads are not your friend. If you are holding the pistol even a bit loose that is an issue too. The springs are likely fine, just not being compressed enough to use their full energy to return the slide fully. Light loads and/or a weak grip prevent full compression of the recoil springs. Double check that the gas system is clean, plated bullets may be losing some of their plating that is plugging up the system.
 
Did the plunk test. I found it to be inconclusive. I kind of felt that the bullet might have been touching the rifling. I ending up seating them bullet a few 0.01" farther.

Ordered a RCBS 50cal bullet puller. I plan on pulling the ammo and checking the powder loads.

I use H110, any opinions on this powder? Spear manual says max load is 34.5 gr. I'm going to load to like 34.3gr.
 
Gobc said:
Did the plunk test. I found it to be inconclusive. I kind of felt that the bullet might have been touching the rifling. I ending up seating them bullet a few 0.01" farther.

Ordered a RCBS 50cal bullet puller. I plan on pulling the ammo and checking the powder loads.

I use H110, any opinions on this powder? Spear manual says max load is 34.5 gr. I'm going to load to like 34.3gr.
Click to expand...
Plunk, then try to spin the round while it’s sitting in the chamber.

It should spin freely.
 
Gobc said:
Did the plunk test. I found it to be inconclusive. I kind of felt that the bullet might have been touching the rifling. I ending up seating them bullet a few 0.01" farther.

Ordered a RCBS 50cal bullet puller. I plan on pulling the ammo and checking the powder loads.

I use H110, any opinions on this powder? Spear manual says max load is 34.5 gr. I'm going to load to like 34.3gr.
Click to expand...
I had the same issue as you, with some of the .45ACP rounds I was loading (in 1911's). Slide cycled fine, but would sometimes not go fully into battery - needed a push with my thumb to close that last eight of an inch. Got myself a "Lee factory Crimp Die" and it would squeeze the mouth of the case and bullet to the proper size - something the regular crimp dies weren't doing. That solved the problem. Should be able to pick one up for less than $50.

I use H110 (and W296), if I want a hotter load for larger caliber magnums. With the amount that you plan on using, that should be more than enough to cycle the slide adequately.
 
Your issue sounds like your crimp die isnt set. The plunk test is checks the " seat" into the chamber with properly head space.
Whick is based of the front rim of your 50ae. To much crimp and , round seats into the chamber to far,= light primer strikes and inconstant pressures .
Not enough crimp. Your rim hangs up on the chamber walls. Not seating into battery
Taper crimp dies are perfect.
they provide the front lip you need for rimless pistol cartridges. While tapering the ouside edge to head space off the chamber , and feed reliably
 
Gobc said:
I kind of felt that the bullet might have been touching the rifling. I ending up seating them bullet a few 0.01" farther.
Click to expand...

If the bullet was touching rifling then seating longer can cause issues. Use your load data and seat to recommended OAL. Bullets should not touch rifling.
 
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