In the interest diversity (of opinion), I’m going to present a different take on the Desert Eagle line of firearms. Cliches are easy to find on the net and even in this forum and it's easy to get a false impression of the nature of this fine firearm unless and until you've fired one.
Because I believed a lot of the bull, I’m going to add my own two cents as a relatively new member of the Deagle Owners Club (Gen 1 .44 Mag, Blue Finish) In the interest of correcting misinformation and sharing aspects of what is undoubtedly my new favorite gun to shoot, I thank you for your attention in advance.
Deagle Cliché’s that are true:
1. The Deagle may be too big to carry. Yes, it is for everyone but Big Daddy45 that is. It weighs a little too much to be a one-handed shooter even in .357. Further, it’s a single action but you can’t effectively carry it cocked and locked because the very heavy safety combined with the over sized beaver tail (remember-everything is oversized on the Deagle) prevents the easy 1911 draw/safety flip we’ve all perfected.
2. The Deagle is expensive to run. Yes, even with .357, unless you reload, you won’t get nearly the fun you should/could out of it as you watch it plough through 50 round boxes of ammo one after the next at roughly $25-$50 per box.
3. The Deagle’s tendency to over penetrate makes it difficult to use as a defensive weapon. Yes, if you intend to use this for any sort of self defense, it’s probably better that you live in the woods because rounds from a deagle, even the .357 tend to just keep going through the target, through the wall, out the door and around the block, where they stop for ice cream before searching for innocent kitty cats.
My Thoughts:
1. It’s not the uncontrollable recoil-monster you may think it is. I’ve now shot all three size (though most of my experience is with the .44) and I have to say, I was surprised at how mitigated the recoil is. The hottest .357 rounds feel like 9m in an M9, the .44 rounds are comparable to .40s from a P229 and the .50’s feel like a .357 out of a 4” SW wheel gun. Why? Well, as I’ve said, it’s very heavy and that just eats up recoil. BUT, it also has what amounts to a huge rotating rifle bolt with a direct gas system similar to an AR. The massive spring and heavy weigh make everything manageable.
2. It’s really all about the ammo. When I got the Deagle the first box of ammo was 250grain Winchester JHP. It was a handful to say the least. I used both hands and while the shots weren’t painful, they were a little difficult to control. I was left thinking, “ok, this is a fun range gun that’s about it.” Later I returned with 180 JHPs and wow what a difference. My accuracy improved immensely. I was dead nuts on at anything less than25 yards and as the day went on, I was shooting 3-4MOA at 50 yards. Sure, it’s not a tack driver, but let’s face it, how often do you shoot in self defense from 50 yards? Also, with a .44 mag, shot placement is a teensy bit less important than it is with, say, a 9m. Further, it was a pleasure to shoot. I mean, I was having a blast. I could have shoot 1000 rounds and gone home feeling fine albeit broke.
3. Go big or go home. Sure, lots of guys have the .357 and I haven't anything bad to say about it. I considered it too for a while because I wanted one that was cheaper to shoot and let's face it, I was a little put off by the .44 mag round that had put a hurting on my hand in some smaller wheel guns. I never considered the .50 due to the cost and lack of reloading set up currently. The thing is, depending on the model, you can buy an extra barrel and convert. As I've already told you, I found the recoil to be strong but pleasant. Not at all the bounce of a .44 mag 629. The three reasons I see for the .357 were obviated by some consideration.
1. The .357 is easier to control (followup shots) than the .44
Well, I found out that the .44 really isn't bad at all. A negligible advantage.
2. .357 is cheaper to shoot than .44
Yes, but not that much.
3. .357 won't over penetrate like the .44.
Well, no not like the .44 but it will still over penetrate and I'm not sure this is the idea home defense weapon anyway so since it's going to be a range gun for most folks. Who cares?
Under the right circumstances (read: never gonna happen) I would LOVE this as a defensive weapon. It’s incredibly powerful and with the right load it turns “cover” into “concealment” pretty damn fast. The only drawback is, as I said, the issue of bringing it to bear effectively in a fight and the low (8 round) capacity. But, there are plenty of 1911 fans sporting 8 rounds and feeling fine about it..
Because I believed a lot of the bull, I’m going to add my own two cents as a relatively new member of the Deagle Owners Club (Gen 1 .44 Mag, Blue Finish) In the interest of correcting misinformation and sharing aspects of what is undoubtedly my new favorite gun to shoot, I thank you for your attention in advance.
Deagle Cliché’s that are true:
1. The Deagle may be too big to carry. Yes, it is for everyone but Big Daddy45 that is. It weighs a little too much to be a one-handed shooter even in .357. Further, it’s a single action but you can’t effectively carry it cocked and locked because the very heavy safety combined with the over sized beaver tail (remember-everything is oversized on the Deagle) prevents the easy 1911 draw/safety flip we’ve all perfected.
2. The Deagle is expensive to run. Yes, even with .357, unless you reload, you won’t get nearly the fun you should/could out of it as you watch it plough through 50 round boxes of ammo one after the next at roughly $25-$50 per box.
3. The Deagle’s tendency to over penetrate makes it difficult to use as a defensive weapon. Yes, if you intend to use this for any sort of self defense, it’s probably better that you live in the woods because rounds from a deagle, even the .357 tend to just keep going through the target, through the wall, out the door and around the block, where they stop for ice cream before searching for innocent kitty cats.
My Thoughts:
1. It’s not the uncontrollable recoil-monster you may think it is. I’ve now shot all three size (though most of my experience is with the .44) and I have to say, I was surprised at how mitigated the recoil is. The hottest .357 rounds feel like 9m in an M9, the .44 rounds are comparable to .40s from a P229 and the .50’s feel like a .357 out of a 4” SW wheel gun. Why? Well, as I’ve said, it’s very heavy and that just eats up recoil. BUT, it also has what amounts to a huge rotating rifle bolt with a direct gas system similar to an AR. The massive spring and heavy weigh make everything manageable.
2. It’s really all about the ammo. When I got the Deagle the first box of ammo was 250grain Winchester JHP. It was a handful to say the least. I used both hands and while the shots weren’t painful, they were a little difficult to control. I was left thinking, “ok, this is a fun range gun that’s about it.” Later I returned with 180 JHPs and wow what a difference. My accuracy improved immensely. I was dead nuts on at anything less than25 yards and as the day went on, I was shooting 3-4MOA at 50 yards. Sure, it’s not a tack driver, but let’s face it, how often do you shoot in self defense from 50 yards? Also, with a .44 mag, shot placement is a teensy bit less important than it is with, say, a 9m. Further, it was a pleasure to shoot. I mean, I was having a blast. I could have shoot 1000 rounds and gone home feeling fine albeit broke.
3. Go big or go home. Sure, lots of guys have the .357 and I haven't anything bad to say about it. I considered it too for a while because I wanted one that was cheaper to shoot and let's face it, I was a little put off by the .44 mag round that had put a hurting on my hand in some smaller wheel guns. I never considered the .50 due to the cost and lack of reloading set up currently. The thing is, depending on the model, you can buy an extra barrel and convert. As I've already told you, I found the recoil to be strong but pleasant. Not at all the bounce of a .44 mag 629. The three reasons I see for the .357 were obviated by some consideration.
1. The .357 is easier to control (followup shots) than the .44
Well, I found out that the .44 really isn't bad at all. A negligible advantage.
2. .357 is cheaper to shoot than .44
Yes, but not that much.
3. .357 won't over penetrate like the .44.
Well, no not like the .44 but it will still over penetrate and I'm not sure this is the idea home defense weapon anyway so since it's going to be a range gun for most folks. Who cares?
Under the right circumstances (read: never gonna happen) I would LOVE this as a defensive weapon. It’s incredibly powerful and with the right load it turns “cover” into “concealment” pretty damn fast. The only drawback is, as I said, the issue of bringing it to bear effectively in a fight and the low (8 round) capacity. But, there are plenty of 1911 fans sporting 8 rounds and feeling fine about it..
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