General Facts
- TYPE
Pistol - ORIGIN
Israel - NICKNAMES
- - DESIGNED
1979 - 1982 - DESIGNER
Magnum Research - PRODUCTION
1982 - present - PRODUCERS Israel Weapon Industries (2005 - present)
United States - Saco Defense (1996 - 2000) - QUANTITY
Unknown - UNIT COST
Unknown - CHARACTERISTICS
Very powerful for a pistol
Larger magazine size than revolver
Easy to change between calibers
Rugged and reliable
Very large and heavy
Strong recoil despite weight
Expensive to produce
Pistol grip too large for most users
Introduction
The Desert Eagle is a pistol of Israeli origin. It was developed in the early 1980's in the United States for civilian use. It is one of the very few pistols firing powerful magnum ammunition. Due to its size and power it has achieved a cult status and has been featured in many movies.
Design
The Desert Eagle is a huge single action pistol. In order to fire powerful magnum ammunition the Desert Eagle uses a gas operated mechanism usually found in rifles. It has a fixed exposed barrel with gas tube below it which pushes back the slide that consist only of the bolt carrier and two rails. This makes it easy to change the caliber since only a new barrel and magazine are required.
Firepower
The Desert Eagle is usually chambered for .357 Magnum with a 9 round magazine or .44 Magnum with 8 round magazine. The largest caliber available is the .50 Action Express with 7 round magazine. Uncommon calibers are .41 Action Express and .440 Cor-Bon. When fitted with a longer 10 inch barrel and optics the Desert Eagle can be used at ranges well beyond that of standard pistols.
Users
The Desert Eagle was developed for civilian use, mainly in the United States. Law enforcement and military use is virtually non-existent.
Desert Eagle Mark VII
The Desert Eagle Mark I and Mark VII are were the first Desert Eagle models to be produced. The Mk VII is a Mk I with adjustable trigger and later evolved into the Mark XIX.
Desert Eagle Mark I: Original production model available in .357 Magnum and .44 Magnum.
Desert Eagle Mark VII: Improved production model available in .357 Magnum, .41 Action Express and .44 Magnum. The Mk VII in .50 Action Express was a further improved model with Weaver sight rail that would serve as the basis of the Mk XIX.
| Type | Pistol |
|---|---|
| Caliber | .357 Magnum |
| Magazine | 9 round box |
| Operation | Gas operated, rotating bolt |
| Fire selector | 0-1 |
| Rate of fire | Semi-automatic |
| Barrel length | 152 mm |
|---|---|
| Rifling | polygonal right hand 355 mm twist |
| Muzzle velocity | ? |
| Stock | - |
| Length | 269 mm |
| Width | 32 mm |
| Height | 142 mm |
|---|---|
| Weight | 1.766 kg |
| Sights | Iron sights, post front and notch rear, 215 mm sight radius, optional optical sights |
| Remarks | - |
| Type | Pistol |
|---|---|
| Caliber | .44 Magnum |
| Magazine | 8 round box |
| Operation | Gas operated, rotating bolt |
| Fire selector | 0-1 |
| Rate of fire | Semi-automatic |
| Barrel length | 152 mm |
|---|---|
| Rifling | polygonal right hand 457 mm twist |
| Muzzle velocity | ? |
| Stock | - |
| Length | 269 mm |
| Width | 32 mm |
| Height | 145 mm |
|---|---|
| Weight | 1.897 kg |
| Sights | Iron sights, post front and notch rear, 215 mm sight radius, optional optical sights |
| Remarks | - |
| Type | Pistol |
|---|---|
| Caliber | .50 Action Express |
| Magazine | 7 round box |
| Operation | Gas operated, rotating bolt |
| Fire selector | 0-1 |
| Rate of fire | Semi-automatic |
| Barrel length | 152 mm |
|---|---|
| Rifling | polygonal right hand 483 mm twist |
| Muzzle velocity | ? |
| Stock | - |
| Length | 267 mm |
| Width | 32 mm |
| Height | 149 mm |
|---|---|
| Weight | 2.05 kg |
| Sights | Iron sights, post front and notch rear, 215 mm sight radius, optional optical sights |
| Remarks | - |
Desert Eagle Mark XIX
Desert Eagle Mark XIX started out as a Mark VII in .50 Action Express with Weaver rail mount on top of the barrel. This version was later renamed Mark XIX and became available in more calibers and finishes, including gold paint.
Desert Eagle Mk XIX: Current production model available in .357 Magnum, .44 Magnum, .440 Cor-Bon and .50 Action Express.
| Type | Pistol |
|---|---|
| Caliber | .357 Magnum |
| Magazine | 9 round box |
| Operation | Gas operated, rotating bolt |
| Fire selector | 0-1 |
| Rate of fire | Semi-automatic |
| Barrel length | 152 mm |
|---|---|
| Rifling | polygonal right hand 355 mm twist |
| Muzzle velocity | ? |
| Stock | - |
| Length | 273 mm |
| Width | 32 mm |
| Height | 159 mm |
|---|---|
| Weight | 1.998 kg |
| Sights | Iron sights, post front and notch rear, 215 mm sight radius, optional optical sights |
| Remarks | - |
| Type | Pistol |
|---|---|
| Caliber | .44 Magnum |
| Magazine | 8 round box |
| Operation | Gas operated, rotating bolt |
| Fire selector | 0-1 |
| Rate of fire | Semi-automatic |
| Barrel length | 152 mm |
|---|---|
| Rifling | polygonal right hand 457 mm twist |
| Muzzle velocity | ? |
| Stock | - |
| Length | 273 mm |
| Width | 32 mm |
| Height | 159 mm |
|---|---|
| Weight | 1.998 kg |
| Sights | Iron sights, post front and notch rear, 215 mm sight radius, optional optical sights |
| Remarks | - |
| Type | Pistol |
|---|---|
| Caliber | .50 Action Express |
| Magazine | 7 round box |
| Operation | Gas operated, rotating bolt |
| Fire selector | 0-1 |
| Rate of fire | Semi-automatic |
| Barrel length | 152 mm |
|---|---|
| Rifling | polygonal right hand 483 mm twist |
| Muzzle velocity | ? |
| Stock | - |
| Length | 273 mm |
| Width | 32 mm |
| Height | 159 mm |
|---|---|
| Weight | 1.998 kg |
| Sights | Iron sights, post front and notch rear, 215 mm sight radius, optional optical sights |
| Remarks | - |
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