Magnum Research Desert Eagle .44 Mag
- Thread starter Beaner
- Start date
Steve Smith
New member
I've heard negative feedback about putting a pistol thread on a rifle forum...anyone else?
Oh, I guess I should also say a token "Welcome."
BTW, I've shot several DE's, and I think they're pretty useless for things other than getting looks at the range. You asked.
Oh, I guess I should also say a token "Welcome."
BTW, I've shot several DE's, and I think they're pretty useless for things other than getting looks at the range. You asked.
Art Eatman
Staff in Memoriam
"Desert Eagle'. Hmmm. That's not a revolver, is it? 
Guess where...
Art
Guess where...
Art
Big, heavy, steel-framed pistol.
Gas-operated autoloader, with a rotary locking bolt not unlike the M-16/AR-15. Too heavy to import into California, due to their onerous ban on handguns weighing more than 52 ounces.
The gun was actually intended as an IHMSA winner, using magnum revolver cartridges to reliably knock over the 50 pound steel silhouettes out to 200 meters. This was done with a minimum of recoil and a quick follow-up to the next silhouette in the bank at each range.
I have a very early Desert Eagle 94-digit serial number), in .357 Magnum. It's a bit fussy in ammo preferences, doing best with my handloads moving a 158gr jacketed bullet close to 1600fps.
The .44 Magnum Desert Eagles are a lot less fussy about their ammo, most 240gr factory fodder cycles them just fine.
They have a convoluted gas system, and tend to blow powder residue back towards the shooter, since the gas piston is actually part of the front of the slide, moving back towards the shooter. This also makes for a dirty gun after 50-100 rounds, depending on ammo of course.
Wouldn't sell mine for the world, though!
Gas-operated autoloader, with a rotary locking bolt not unlike the M-16/AR-15. Too heavy to import into California, due to their onerous ban on handguns weighing more than 52 ounces.
The gun was actually intended as an IHMSA winner, using magnum revolver cartridges to reliably knock over the 50 pound steel silhouettes out to 200 meters. This was done with a minimum of recoil and a quick follow-up to the next silhouette in the bank at each range.
I have a very early Desert Eagle 94-digit serial number), in .357 Magnum. It's a bit fussy in ammo preferences, doing best with my handloads moving a 158gr jacketed bullet close to 1600fps.
The .44 Magnum Desert Eagles are a lot less fussy about their ammo, most 240gr factory fodder cycles them just fine.
They have a convoluted gas system, and tend to blow powder residue back towards the shooter, since the gas piston is actually part of the front of the slide, moving back towards the shooter. This also makes for a dirty gun after 50-100 rounds, depending on ammo of course.
Wouldn't sell mine for the world, though!
Blackhorse
New member
A friend of mine left me his 44 DE for about 4 years while he was away, thought it was the biggest piece of crap I've ever shot, it was heavy, had the muzzle blast from hell and could never get any accuracy out of anything I tried to use in it. If it wasn't for Hollyweird I don't think they would have much of a following. By the way with the sights he had put on it he had over 1000 tied up in that boat anchor. my 2 cents
hksigwalther
New member
Very heavy, front to back dimension of grip is a bit long.
My Mk VII has worked great. It does have the 14" barrel on it (no longer offerred) so putting it under the rifle forum isn't too much out of the question. (Topped with a Leupold M8 4X.)
My Mk VII has worked great. It does have the 14" barrel on it (no longer offerred) so putting it under the rifle forum isn't too much out of the question. (Topped with a Leupold M8 4X.)
How long are the new s/n's? 188 digits? Edward429451
Moderator
My bro had a DE for awhile. We did a side by side at the range with it and my Redhawk.
Recoil was less pronounced with the DE with similar loads.
The Redhawks accuracy shamed the DE.
The DE's versatility was limited. Cant shoot shotloads, except singleshot. Cant shoot lead due to the gas system, cant shoot light loads due to the springs. Heavy as a boat anchor, no holsters.
In short, a revolver in .44 is ten times the gun at less than 1/2 the price of a DE, and Ruger makes the best one. YMMV.
Recoil was less pronounced with the DE with similar loads.
The Redhawks accuracy shamed the DE.
The DE's versatility was limited. Cant shoot shotloads, except singleshot. Cant shoot lead due to the gas system, cant shoot light loads due to the springs. Heavy as a boat anchor, no holsters.
In short, a revolver in .44 is ten times the gun at less than 1/2 the price of a DE, and Ruger makes the best one. YMMV.
Never bought a .44 for the purpose of shot loads...
Neat idea, though.
Revolver people buy their guns for specific reasons. Autopistol people do, too. When I bought my Desert Eagle it wasn't for shotshells or cast bullet loads. I do shoot cast bullet loads through my S&W Model 629, but there's no way on Gawd's green earth I'd run my 629 through an entire IHMSA match.
As for holsters, just gotta look, this is where I got the leather for mine:
http://www.magnumresearch.com/
Neat idea, though.
Revolver people buy their guns for specific reasons. Autopistol people do, too. When I bought my Desert Eagle it wasn't for shotshells or cast bullet loads. I do shoot cast bullet loads through my S&W Model 629, but there's no way on Gawd's green earth I'd run my 629 through an entire IHMSA match.
As for holsters, just gotta look, this is where I got the leather for mine:
http://www.magnumresearch.com/
Gewehr,
you should check your facts.
http://justice.hdcdojnet.state.ca.us/safeguns/safeguns_new.taf
The Desert Eagle 44 mag can be imported to California.
Bowser.
you should check your facts.
http://justice.hdcdojnet.state.ca.us/safeguns/safeguns_new.taf
The Desert Eagle 44 mag can be imported to California.
Bowser.
Yup, just not mine. But I stand corrected!
A chink in Kalifornia's armor - they finally added the Desert Eagle to the importable list. Wish they'd do us all a favor and add the Mark I and Mark VII versions, as well as the other calibers to include the .357 Magnum, .41 Magnum, .440 Cor-Bon, and .50 Action Express. But it's a start. Still, when I get my assignment to Edwards AFB this fall, I can't bring my .357 Mark I into the state.
And I thought I didn't have to worry about Kalifornia's gun bans after I left there in 1999. Bummer. Looks like the gun storage folks in Nevada are getting my business, with the AK's, AR's, BM-59, M14NM, and Desert Eagle going there...
A chink in Kalifornia's armor - they finally added the Desert Eagle to the importable list. Wish they'd do us all a favor and add the Mark I and Mark VII versions, as well as the other calibers to include the .357 Magnum, .41 Magnum, .440 Cor-Bon, and .50 Action Express. But it's a start. Still, when I get my assignment to Edwards AFB this fall, I can't bring my .357 Mark I into the state.
And I thought I didn't have to worry about Kalifornia's gun bans after I left there in 1999. Bummer. Looks like the gun storage folks in Nevada are getting my business, with the AK's, AR's, BM-59, M14NM, and Desert Eagle going there...
CastleBravo
New member
I got to handle one of the elusive "lightweight" alloy frame .44 Magnum DEs a while ago... I almost wish I bought it, the thing almost felt manageable. 