The Desert Eagle
Table of Contents
Hey all, we here at True Shot Academy are going to go over the Desert Eagle. This iconic handgun has cemented its reputation among shooters for its performance and due to its placement in popular culture. Our goal with this blog post is to provide a brief overview of the Desert Eagle while delving into its history, traits, features, and more. Without further ado, let’s talk about the Desert Eagle.
What is the Desert Eagle?
The Desert Eagle is an iconic semi-automatic handgun which has been prominently displayed in multiple forms of media. The pistol has appeared in everything from the Metal Gear Solid series to Miami Vice and The Matrix. Desert Eagle pistols are typically chambered in large bore, magnum handgun cartridges such as .357 Magnum, .44 Magnum, .429 DE, and .50 AE to name a few. The handgun feeds from a single stack magazine and operates in a single action capacity. .357 chambered pistols hold 9 rounds, .44 chambered pistols hold 8 rounds, and .429 DE and .50 AE pistols hold 7 rounds.
In a departure from established handgun operation methods, the Desert Eagle utilizes a gas operated system rather than a Browning style tilting barrel system. Much like a rifle like the AR-15, the Desert Eagle features a distinct bolt face and star chamber. During the firing cycle, gasses are vented out via a small hole in the barrel ahead of the chamber. These gasses then travel through a tube into a cylinder and interact with a piston at the front of the slide. This facilitates the gas operation and cycling of the slide under recoil. During this process, the bolt head rotates and locks into and out of place during the firing cycle. This operation is similar to established rotating bolt designs.
Barrels can easily be swapped by depressing a button and rotating a lever. This allows for an end user to convert an existing Desert Eagle pistol into different calibers. Some conversions can be accomplished just by swapping the magazine and barrel of the pistol. This is the case with both .44 Magnum and .50 AE. If one wanted to convert a Desert Eagle to fire .357 Magnum ammo, the barrel, magazine, and also bolt will need to be swapped. Kahr currently sells the conversion kits necessary to convert the caliber of an existing Desert Eagle pistol. Older kits from before Magnum Research’s acquisition by Kahr can also be found and utilized with Desert Eagle pistols.
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Who Makes the Desert Eagle?
Since its existence, manufacturing of the Desert Eagle pistol has taken place in numerous places. The pistol was designed from 1979 to 1982 with production beginning in 1983. The initial design and production of the pistol was done by Magnum Research Inc. in the United States. Prior to 1995, manufacturing of the pistol and refinement of the design was done by Israel Military Industries (IMI) in Israel.
After 1995, production of the pistol shifted to Saco Defense in Saco, Maine, bringing production back to the United States. This relocation was short lived, as production was moved back to Israel just three years later in 1998. At this point, IMI’s commercial small arms branch, Israel Weapon Industries (IWI) began to produce the pistol. Production would remain in Israel until December 2009 when Magnum Research Inc. brought production of the pistol back to the United States yet again. This time, manufacturing took place at Magnum Research Inc.’s facility in Pillager, Minnesota. One year later, in 2010, Magnum Research Inc. was acquired by Kahr Arms and remains under the company’s umbrella today.
What Caliber is the Desert Eagle?
The Desert Eagle has been chambered in numerous calibers since its introduction. Initial models were offered in .357 Magnum with .44 Magnum offerings following close behind. The pistol was also available chambered in .41 Magnum. These early chamberings allowed the handgun to take advantage of two of the most common and respected magnum handgun calibers of the day. 1988 saw the introduction of the iconic .50 Action Express, or .50 AE, by Action Arms. This iconic big bore cartridge would act as the parent cartridge for the .440 Cor-Bon in 1998 and the .429 DE from Magnum Research Inc. in 2018.
Are Desert Eagle Pistols Still Available?
One can still purchase modern production Desert Eagle handguns from Magnum Research/Kahr. The pistols are available in a number of finishes such as brushed chrome, black, gold, and even gold tiger stripe options. Different variants such as lightweight and long barreled models are available in addition to the standard models. Most modern offerings feature rail sections on the top of the barrel which allow an end user to mount an optic.
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Are Desert Eagle Pistols Expensive?
Generally speaking, these types of pistols tend to demand a premium price tag. This is due in part to the fact that these pistols feature a mostly metal construction and utilize unique components and mechanisms. The premium price holds true for both old production and modern production Desert Eagle pistol offerings. Simply put, Desert Eagles are not cheap pistols, customers are ultimately paying for the unique manufacturing process and research needed to produce the pistol.
Conclusion
All in all, the Desert Eagle is a well-known and iconic magnum pistol which is popular among shooters and pop culture enthusiasts. We here at True Shot Ammo carry a wide range of ammunition which is appropriate for use in Desert Eagle pistols. Whether your Desert Eagle is in .357 Magnum, .44 Magnum, or .50 AE, we have a wide range of ammunition for sale to accommodate your needs. As always, happy shooting.
Need bulk ammo? At True Shot Ammo, we have a wide variety of handgun ammo and rifle ammo available to purchase. Please visit our website trueshotammo.com, call us at (888) 736-6587, or you can email us at sales@trueshotammo.com for more ammo options.
