Desert Eagle .50AE - Ownership

[A-R]

I have had the opportunities to shoot DE pistols in 357, 44 and 50 calibers.

The 357 shoots like a 9mm, maybe a bit tamer. The weight absorbs all the kick.
The 44 is also a pleasure to shoot. Very manageable recoil and as accurate as a handgun can be.
The 50 packs quite a kick, but it is not painful. Just hold on tight, or else it may hit your head. Spits out impressive fire rings. Definitely draws some spectators on any range.

I have considered acquiring one when the 44 Mag version became available. Some of the things to consider when shooting these:
1. It throws it's cases away. Not an issue on a clean range where they can be found, but field use would mean sacrificing a case for every shot. Not ideal for a hunting handgun (where allowed). This alone convinced me to go for a 44 revolver. More versatile and just as accurate. Kicks more though.
2. Due to the gas system on the DE, you are limited to jacketed bullets. CMJ may be fine, but cast lead is a definite no no. The lead will block up your gas channel and getting it cleaned may be a mission. (My 357 and 44 revolvers run solely on affordable cast bullets.)

On the 50, the same conditions apply, plus the local availability of ammo or reloading components is a real challenge. A friend, who owned a 50 for a while, had to import bullets from the US. This really limits it's usability.

So what is a DE pistol good for?
1. Bragging rights. Un-bag it at the range and you draw a crowd. One should sell tickets to the spectators. Also, do show it to all your friends when they visit you.
2. Turning cover into concealment. Well, that is if you don't have a proper rifle and the DE is immediately available, with ammo off course...
3.
4.

Well, that's about it. I'm not aware of any sport shooting disciplines where a DE would be a good choice. Allowed maybe, but not competitive.

Of the lot, I think the 357 is about the most useful. Jacketed bullets and cases are available and affordable. If you loose a case, it's not a big deal, so you can afford to shoot it more.

Handgun owners generally fall into 3 categories:
1. Those who enjoy shooting. They are usually sports shooters and their (multiple) guns have accumulated high round counts.
2. SD-only oriented owners. They have 1, maybe 2 handguns, carry a lot and shoot a little. All of them could benefit from more practise.
3. Collectors and hoarders. The difference is in the fact that a collector has a defined theme, the hoarder just likes guns.

My personal opinion is that a DE fits into the hoarder category. You buy it because you want it. Practicality is not a consideration.

[Tango Sierra]

Some great comments and valuable info - thanks.

* My local range is a field. We do peg a large tarp to the grass to catch brass but depending on one's movements and the pistol's ejection pattern, it doesn't catch everything.
* I had not considered the implications of fouling the gas system with cast reloads.
* Upon closer inspection it seems the only two outlets that sell .50AE locally are showing out of stock and at NZD 5 / ZAR 50 a squeeze and with the USD / NZD exchange rate unfavourable, probably won't be available again in a hurry.

I kind of fall into category 1 and both of 3. My go-to pistol is the Shadow 01 but also like to shoot other random stuff. A .50AE was always going to be a silly idea but not having readily ammunition really makes it a non-starter. Unfortunately the .357 ones are the same price as the .50AE and there are far cheaper .357 options out there, so I guess this will have to be placed into the "bad idea" basket and just wait for someone to rock up with one at a range.

[FNBROWNING]

Grip is big, feels ungainly. Cast bullets an issue with gas port. There are far better and more enjoyable revolvers if you want a large caliber.

[Toxxyc]

If you want a looker, what about a Taurus Raging Bull with like a scope or RDS? You can even hunt with it.

[mic]

Yes, but a Taurus raging bull is NOT a 50AE Desert Eagle.......

I say if you want to own the 50, then buy it. Happiness can be bought....

[shooty]

I dont think Cast bullets will be an issue. Just use powder coated cast and not plain lube cast.

I just think its one of those Bucklist items to own. But when you have and the thrill is gone your stuck with it.

[ror123]

Buy it and make it work! Brass and dies is basically the only real requirement.

I got a 4" 500, because the heart knows better than the logic of the mind and yes it was worth it.

Reloading is your friend, and powder coated projectiles makes it worth while.

Have fun, it's just something else to own and have the privilege of shooting

[wave.jaco]

I own a .44 Mag DE with a 10 inch barrel. I have always wanted the .50 AE, but I soon realised that I will have the challenge of sourcing bullets to load for it (as others have pointed out here, cast bullets is a big no with the DE, unfortunately).

The DE is a very expensive handgun, so you will be serious when you decide to fork out the cash for one. I got mine at a seriously ridiculous good price about 10 years ago (basically the price of a Gen 6 Glock today), which made it one of those once in a lifetime buys. I have never regretted it for a single moment! Sure, it doesn't go to the range that often (maybe twice to 3 times a year), but it is most certainly not wasting space in the safe either. Every time I open the safe and see this queen, it gives me a big smile on my face. It's just a thing of beauty!

Everything that everyone said in terms of their experience with a DE is on par. I would maybe contest the fact about the brass getting thrown away - I have never had an issue with this, although it was nearly always at an indoor range. The one outdoor range session I had with it wasn't a problem at all when it came to picking up the brass.

It is a HEAVY and BIG pistol. I literally cannot push the mag release with my shooting hand thumb while holding it normally while shooting. Its weight most certainly tames the recoil a lot. Make no mistake, it really barks, but it is surprisingly manageable to shoot. I once shot a .44 Mag revolver - I won't volunteer to do it again, it was unpleasant. The DE - an absolute pleasure to shoot! Trust me, if you pick up your 9 mm pistol directly after shooting the DE, you will hold it dead still on target

From a practical perspective, I think the .44 Mag is the sweet spot - slightly more expensive to shoot than .357, but most certainly a very capable shooter nonetheless, without the difficulties of sourcing .50 AE bullets. It is most certainly a very accurate pistol indeed. The trigger is phenomenal!

I intend to use mine for hunting Warthog or possibly Impala at some stage at relatively close to medium range (I personally won't take a chance with distances further than 50 m with it) when the opportunity arises. The usual loads are 245 gr FMJ bullets. I had a few malfunctions with it, but that was due to me loading the rounds a bit light (keep in mind that heavy slide with dual springs needs to be cycled) and having the COL a bit off. I also got some 300 gr CMJs a while ago that I still want to load and experiment with. That bullet weight with the 10 inch barrel means serious business!

One day I will hopefully buy a .50 AE barrel to go with my .44 DE, but that will just be "because I want one". Even with mine in .44 Mag, I consider it as one of those unpractical guns to own, but this is not a reason to shy away from owning one in any case. Not all things in life are meant to be practical. It ALWAYS brings a smile on my face when I shoot it and I have never regretted purchasing it one single bit. I doubt that I will ever sell it (although it is somewhat of an insurance policy if SHTF financially). I will keep it so that my children can also enjoy it one day. When/if I get the .50 AE barrel, I will make it work. It will be a novelty, not a regular shooter - there's nothing wrong with that.

You can have nice things and don't always need to justify it to the nth degree. Buy it, enjoy it, make it work, appreciate it, be happy!

[riversun2k]

I actually own a .50 AE Desert Eagle myself — I bought it at the auction during Huntex 2024. If you attended that event as well, you probably know the one I’m talking about.
Believe me, this pistol won’t really “give” you anything practical, but somehow it brings a certain sense of peace and satisfaction.
It’s one of the heaviest, biggest, and probably most attention-grabbing handguns out there — and honestly, it’s something worth owning.

1. In South Africa, factory ammunition for it is almost impossible to find. However, if you’re willing to take the time to reload your own ammunition, the brass and bullets themselves are actually relatively easy to source. The more difficult part is probably finding the right powder loads datasheets, so you’ll need to do some research. But if you’ve already decided to seriously get into it, that probably won’t be a major problem.
2. As for recoil — yes, it is significant. If you “limp wrist” it, there’s a big chance the second round will jam. But even for me, as a relatively midsize Asian guy, I can still shoot it one-handed continuously; the only thing that really drops is the accuracy.
3. I personally wouldn’t carry it as a backup hunting sidearm. A large-caliber revolver is probably more practical for that role. The Desert Eagle is simply too heavy, even compared with big revolvers.
4. In the end, I think passion and collecting are the real reasons to own one. At first I also considered the .357 and .44 versions of the Desert Eagle, but then I realized that regardless of caliber, I would never actually carry it daily or use it as a truly functional firearm. So why not try a caliber I didn’t already own? After all, compared to the overall price of the pistol, the cost of a reloading die set is relatively small.

[Tango Sierra]

The 50 was always going to be expensive but with the additional reloading set up costs (I don't reload) it just wasn't going to work. So decided on something that made a bit more sense and having not previously owned a revolver, picked up a 1982 manufactured Smith & Wesson 586 (no dash) in .357 Magnum: