Man, that's a LOT of gun!
Finally busted my cherry on the Desert Eagle this morning. Went to the range for a short session since it was the first time in ages (last Summer, before the job change), with 100 rounds of .45 Blazer and a box of 20 of the .50AE. In no particular order:
* Yeah, that's a big heavy chunk of metal. I would imagine it would feel like carrying around an engine block to lug this thing for very long. However, in action it's not really noticeable, not in a negative way. As you'd expect, the inertial weight helps to handle the heavy recoil. It didn't feel heavy to shoot, just solid. And even the oversize grips weren't a problem, and I don't have the biggest hands. I would imagine it might be otherwise for someone with delicate sized hands, however.
* Yes, that's one hella cartridge. I was somewhat nervous about it, having heard scare stories of people planting the front sight in their foreheads, etc. etc., not to mention just the size of that hole in the end of the barrel is pretty impressive. So, yeah, it was stout, but not THAT bad. Certainly not as jarring as a .308 in a T/C Contender (someone had told me otherwise). I think it's safe to say that I wasn't limpwristing it, given the strain in my shoulder joint after one box. {G} This would be a good one to practice ki/chi with: "Keep weight underside; draw ki from center of earth and extend through arm to horizon..."
* For all that, it was quite accurate and I was pleased with how easy it was to control. At 30 feet, not warmed up and having never shot either this gun or this cartridge before, I was able to put 15 or so out of 20 rounds into a paper plate, and none of the rest missed the cardboard backing (about 15x24). OK, not exactly Carlos Hathcock or Rob Leatham, but for a beginner I was quite pleasantly surprised.
* Makes an impressive noise, too, not to mention the jet of flame from the barrel. Sounded as loud as the 12-guage in the other lane, and makes those sparks from the .45 seem wimpy. For that matter, after shooting 3 mags of this stuff, shooting the .45 was like nothing.
* I did have one malf, a double-feed on about the 3rd or 4th round. Cleared easily and never happened again. Not sure what the cause was.
* It's probably just as well that it's as expensive as it is punishing to shoot. Any cheaper and I'd be tempted to do more shooting than is probably good for my joints. Any less jarring and it could get pretty expensive. Did I mention this thing is FUN? (I did save my brass, in case I run into a reliable reloader or decide to get into it myself.)
* Very easy to take down and to clean. Need to find a boresnake in .50, though.
* Score: 9/10. If it was both cheaper and less punishing, it'd be a 10. As it is, no complaints whatsoever.
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Finally busted my cherry on the Desert Eagle this morning. Went to the range for a short session since it was the first time in ages (last Summer, before the job change), with 100 rounds of .45 Blazer and a box of 20 of the .50AE. In no particular order:
* Yeah, that's a big heavy chunk of metal. I would imagine it would feel like carrying around an engine block to lug this thing for very long. However, in action it's not really noticeable, not in a negative way. As you'd expect, the inertial weight helps to handle the heavy recoil. It didn't feel heavy to shoot, just solid. And even the oversize grips weren't a problem, and I don't have the biggest hands. I would imagine it might be otherwise for someone with delicate sized hands, however.
* Yes, that's one hella cartridge. I was somewhat nervous about it, having heard scare stories of people planting the front sight in their foreheads, etc. etc., not to mention just the size of that hole in the end of the barrel is pretty impressive. So, yeah, it was stout, but not THAT bad. Certainly not as jarring as a .308 in a T/C Contender (someone had told me otherwise). I think it's safe to say that I wasn't limpwristing it, given the strain in my shoulder joint after one box. {G} This would be a good one to practice ki/chi with: "Keep weight underside; draw ki from center of earth and extend through arm to horizon..."
* For all that, it was quite accurate and I was pleased with how easy it was to control. At 30 feet, not warmed up and having never shot either this gun or this cartridge before, I was able to put 15 or so out of 20 rounds into a paper plate, and none of the rest missed the cardboard backing (about 15x24). OK, not exactly Carlos Hathcock or Rob Leatham, but for a beginner I was quite pleasantly surprised.
* Makes an impressive noise, too, not to mention the jet of flame from the barrel. Sounded as loud as the 12-guage in the other lane, and makes those sparks from the .45 seem wimpy. For that matter, after shooting 3 mags of this stuff, shooting the .45 was like nothing.
* I did have one malf, a double-feed on about the 3rd or 4th round. Cleared easily and never happened again. Not sure what the cause was.
* It's probably just as well that it's as expensive as it is punishing to shoot. Any cheaper and I'd be tempted to do more shooting than is probably good for my joints. Any less jarring and it could get pretty expensive. Did I mention this thing is FUN? (I did save my brass, in case I run into a reliable reloader or decide to get into it myself.)
* Very easy to take down and to clean. Need to find a boresnake in .50, though.
* Score: 9/10. If it was both cheaper and less punishing, it'd be a 10. As it is, no complaints whatsoever.
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