Lifespan of a Desert Eagle

I don't recall ever hearing of someone wearing one out and can't find any information on the topic of predicted service life.

My thought is that if you can afford the ammo and range fees to wear one out, the cost of a new gun probably won't be a blip on your radar.
 
You might talk to the people who make them. See if they have an idea.

If you buy the ammo, I'd be willing to try...:D (if you're also willing to compensate me for my time, costs, and any medical bills...:rolleyes:)
 
You have a few threads asking about lifespan of handguns. In 45 or so years of shooting them I have yet to wear one out.

If you have the time and money for ammo to wear one out , consider your self lucky and get it repaired or replaced.

Buy what you like and enjoy it. Our life is usually shorter than our firearms life.
 
Couple of decades back, back when ammo was about 1/3 the cost it is today (or LESS!) one of the big name speed shooters of the day was interviewed, and he said he "wore out" 2 or three 1911s each year in practice.

Asked how much he shot a year, he said about 80,000.

The interviewer asked, "80,000 rounds?" and he replied, "No, not rounds, Dollars!"

You can screw up a Desert Eagle shooting the wrong ammo. I imagine you could "wear one out" but I'd expect the cost of ammo needed would pay for a new car... and then some. :D
 
I had one in 44 Remington Magnum for years and "Maybe" fired 300 rounds through it. I don't think many folks can wear one out.
 
Probably a long time if it's a .50 AE. It's a novelty handgun that few can control. I haven't seen one at the range in over twenty years, so I suspect that most are collecting dust.
 
Have a .357 and a .44 Magnum. Passed on the .50, never had a reason or want to tool up for yet another caliber.

My guns are the originals. now called Mark I, the .357 dates from the mid 80s and I bought the .44 new in Feb 90.

If you can manage the size of the grip and the 4lb+ weight of the piece they are actually quite accurate and recoil is surprisingly mild. Full house .44 mag feels like a snappy .45acp and recoil of the .357 is more blast than anything else. With a bit of practice its amazingly easy and fast to shoot and be on target. OR at least it is for me. ;)
 
I have a Mark I in 44 Magnum. I’m just guessing but probably has 500+ rounds through it, completely trouble free. The manual is very detailed about cleaning and service intervals, and they do recommend changing the recoil springs at 3000 rounds or every two to three years. My pistol is 30+ years old and I’ve never replaced the springs.
 
Correct me if wrong, but a clog gas port would crack the frame?

Not specific to longevity though as this could happen at any round number. But you did ask about the frame.
 
Correct me if wrong, but a clog gas port would crack the frame?
Click to expand...

I don't see how that could happen. The gas port is in the barrel just ahead of the chamber, if it gets clogged, no gas will enter the system, so all will just stay in the barrel.

I suppose you could calculate and find a difference in total gas pressure against the bolt as the bullet moves down the barrel if no gas is going into the gas system, but I seriously doubt it will be anything significant to the massively overbuilt Desert Eagle.

Unlike recoil operated guns, there is no movement of the barrel and slide on the frame when locked together. There is no "moving mass" of barrel & slide on the frame that could be accelerated by higher than normal pressure resulting in greater recoil force and moving parts slamming into the frame harder.

I have a couple of gas operated guns where the gas system can be turned off. This does not result in any noticable increase in anything other than felt recoil changing slightly due to the mass of moving parts not moving.
 
Plugged port though, no?

I think it is or was on Kahr's Desert Eagle website that the gas ports cannot be cleaned and can lead to frame damage.

Someone asked. I'm recalling it can happen, but offered I could be wrong.
 
I feel no worse for being the only one that brought something to the question on durability :)

As I said, I was open to being corrected. It isn't the frame. It is stated by Magnum Research as the barrel or slide.

To "you can't afford to wear one out." If you shoot non recommended loads from MR, sounds easy.
 
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