That’s a real handful
Dick Eussen on a more-than substantial pistol
Clint Eastwood’s alter ego Dirty Harry would probably have used a Desert Eagle .44 Magnum pistol instead of a revolver had one been available, though he later did use a .44 Auto Mag as Inspector Harry Callahan. While it was the brainchild of Bernard White the original pistol was invented, patented and marketed by Magnum Research and manufactured and developed by the Israel Military Industries in 1984, chambered in .357 Magnum. It had a 10-round magazine.
Desert Eagle models
Mark I
This is the original model chambered first in .357 Magnum and later in .44 Magnum, varying from later versions by the ‘teardrop’ shape of its safety button. It has a single-step slide release which differs in operation in later models.
Mark VII
An improved version of the Mk.I, it arrived in 1990 with new features including a redesigned safety lever, slide release and adjustable trigger. Available in .357 and .44 Magnums, it was later bolstered by the .41 Magnum, .440 Cor-Bon and.50 AE.
Mark XIX
This is the current model based on the original platform and has most of the features of its two predecessors, as well as scope rails and the ability to switch barrels for other calibers (newer models have Picatinny rails and a redesigned safety). All .357 and .44 Magnum versions of the Mark XIX have fluted barrels except the .50 AE. It’s also available in .429 DE, though the .41 M and .440 CN have been dropped.
History
In 1986 the Mk.I became available in .44 Magnum with a nine-round magazine. Fitting the huge case required a new magazine, designed to hold the large-rimmed case to prevent it from being snagged behind the rim of the lower one. This resulted in a big magazine and huge synthetic rubber grip which tames recoil considerably. The current Mark XIX is available in several finishes, colours and case-hardening including 24-carat gold. Buyers also have a choice of stainless steel, while the powerful .50 AE is an improved design to cope with increased recoil. From the outset the Desert Eagle was made with precision and robust engineering. The long recoil gas-operated design captured the imagination of shooters worldwide, with initial demand outpacing production when buyers were lining up for a self-loading .357 Magnum.
The .44 Magnum chambering was an instant success and was followed up by more powerful cartridges when IMI introduced the .50 Action Express (AE), and later the super-fast .429 Desert Eagle (DE), a necked down .50 AE and both among the most powerful rounds that can be fired in a handheld pistol. In the US, both the .429 DE and .50 AE are extremely popular with hunters and gun enthusiast who can tolerate the brutal recoil, though as one hunter said after killing a charging grizzly bear at four paces, he never noticed the recoil! The previously available .41 Magnum and .440 Cor-Bon have been dropped from the line-up.
At the range
Original .357 and .44 Magnum Mk.I Desert Eagle’s may be old hat, but produce one at a pistol range and they attract instant attention. It’s huge, weighty and bulky compared to normal-sized 9mm pistols (or even a .357 Magnum revolver), which begs the question: What’s it good for?’ Well for a start it’s fun to shoot if you don’t mind self-punishment, as a magazine of full-power loads has most shooters aching by the end of a session. The downside is ammunition is expensive, while the gas-operated system is subject to fouling and needs regular cleaning, especially the gas port and springs. To operate consistently full-power loads are recommended, though Desert Eagles are challenging in recoil and extremely noisy.
A friend of mine owns an early model Mark.I in .44 Magnum which is huge compared to my 9mm Model 1911 Browning and weighs considerably more. Even though I have medium-sized hands, the grips are comfortable and do help tame the recoil. I like the material they’re made from which provides a soft non-slip handhold, while the huge beaver-tail prevents the strong hand from sliding up under recoil. It’s best fired with a two-handed hold.
Sights
Accurate 50-75mm groups from a rest at 25m are common with full-power rounds. It’s fitted with mil-spec combat sights though hi-viz options can be used. Desert Eagle sights are black which is fine if shooting white targets, though black sights fade when placed on black targets. When shooting with black sights on black targets against a white background, sight a pistol in to shoot in the X centre of the black but set the front sight so it sits directly under the target, not on it.
Black sights aren’t solely a Desert Eagle problem as every maker has them, though custom hi-viz and similar sights are now appearing on many brands and it’s easy to fit a scope or red dot sight as the barrel is dovetailed to accept them with the correct mount. The sights are set for 25m and apart from side horizontal adjustment (with a drift), no other alterations are possible.
For a large pistol the controls are easy to operate, being within reach of thumbs and fingers when holding it. The single-stack magazine spring-loaded release is positive with the slide stop positioned where it should be for instant access and, when the slide is open and released, the bolt slams home with authority. The barrel release button makes it simple to dismantle the pistol for cleaning and in the Mark XIX for switching barrels, either longer tubes and/or different calibres.
Action
Arrival of the Desert Eagle created some excitement, as at that point most pistols used the time-proven tilting barrel Browning system, though some rotating barrel designs were present. But the Desert Eagle varied in that it uses a reversed spigot to operate the rotating slide. The venting of gas operates the piston, the slide is pushed back, opens and returns to battery picking up a round from the magazine and the pistol is cocked and ready to fire. The rotating bolt locks the four huge lugs with the extractor fitted between those lugs. The pistol is single-action and fitted with a firing pin blocker and sear disengagement ambidextrous thumb-operated safety lever on both sides of the slide.
When the last round’s fired the bolt remains open, held in position until the bolt release is operated to close it and make safe. Pulling back the big bolt to cock the gun is surprisingly easier than with most 9mm pistols. The bolt and its operating system are large and heavy, which of course is needed for the powerful rounds but also helps tame the considerable recoil.
Cleaning
The advantage of the Desert Eagle design is it’s simple to strip with the barrel having its own calibre- specified gas operation system. Yes you can have different barrels for the Mark XIX and, with a simple switch-over, one of the big butt-kicking rounds or a longer barrel. You’ll also need a new magazine to cater for the .50 AE, something not possible with the .357 Magnum as the bolt head size is different, but the new pistol uses the same bolt face for the .44 Magnum, .429 DE and.50 AE, marvellous if you can convince your state or territory police you have needs.
Once stripped the parts are easily cleaned, including the gas ports and other gunk traps without special tools, just basic gun-cleaning gear. The gas-operating system does collect brass shavings and powder gunk and, if neglected, the it will break down. With current-model Desert Eagle pistols you’ve a choice of black or stainless-steel finishes, case-hardening, polished chrome, brushed chrome and burnt bronze. It’s fitted with a Picatinny rail but only the stainless-steel barrel has muzzlebrake ports.
Summary
The Desert Eagle isn’t for everyone, especially in larger calibres, though the .357 Magnum has merits in that recoil is tamed better than other self-loaders due to its weight and the gas recoil system. These pistols are expensive with prices ranging from $3500 for the .357 Magnum to $4200 for larger calibres and even second-hand ones fetch above the $3000 mark. Supply is limited and I suspect for firm orders only.
Remember large pistol calibres require training and learning, though you do grow to love them regardless of the noise and recoil. Of course if you’re up for more punishment than the .50 AE you can always move to the next level – the .500 Smith & Wesson – but that’s another story.
SPECIFICATIONS
Pistol: Desert Eagle
Calibre: .357 Magnum, .44 Magnum, .429 DE, .50 AE
Weight: 1.78kg (.357M unloaded)
Length: 267mm
Barrel length: 152.4mm
Sights: Combat, sight-line radius 210mm
Accessories: Cleaning rod with brass brush and patch holder, combination gas cylinder cleaning tool, bolt guide pin extractor and firing pin disassembly tool.
Optional accessories: 250mm and 350mm barrels, target-style and adjustable rear sights, extra magazines