desert eagle 05 by Article Announcement
Published Date: 24/09/06
The Desert Eagle is a fearsome American designed handgun that has become something of a legend amongst firearms. Commonly talked about in music, seen in movies, television shows, and in video games, it is one of the most popular large bore handguns in America. Gas operated and capable of firing .357 or .44 magnum rounds, or even .50 caliber cartridges, it is an intimidating sight, and probably way more powerful that it needs to be.
The Desert Eagle was designed by the company Magnum Research, Inc. in 1979. At the time, Magnum Research, Inc. was based in Minnesota; today they have manufacturers in Maine and Israel where most of their production takes place now. The Desert Eagle was the first successful design for a gas-operated handgun. Previously, gas operation was seen only in rifles, and handguns operated using a recoil or blow back system. Even the bolt used in the Desert Eagle looks more like a rifle bolt, being almost identical to the bolt seen in the famous M-16 assault rifle. The gas operation of the Desert Eagle is what allows it to use larger and more powerful rounds.
Not only can the desert eagle fire larger cartridges, it can very easily convert between them. Going from .357 magnum to .50 caliber is as simple as changing the barrel, bolt assembly and magazine, a process that can be done in less than a minute. It also comes with a variety of barrel sizes, which all have built in scope attachments.
Even though it enjoys a kind of celebrity status in the world of handguns, there are several drawbacks of the Desert Eagle. Firstly, made almost entirely out of steel, the gun is certainly not light, and is not balanced well. It is sturdy, and built to last, but it takes some getting used to. More importantly, it has an unforgiving recoil, especially when firing .50 caliber cartridges. An amateur user can easily be injured if not prepared.
Lastly, the Desert Eagle is one of the most expensive handguns in its class, and so are its cartridges. The fame the gun holds also makes it one of the most coveted and most therefore expensive. If your intention is home defense or hunting, a less powerful handgun is more than likely sufficient.
Regardless of its drawbacks, the Desert Eagle has an almost cult following to it. Most Desert Eagle owners swear by them, and will vehemently defend their gun of choice in the face of criticism.
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