[Review] Desert Eagle Mark XIX .50AE
Is the Desert Eagle in .50 AE worth its iconic status? We hands-on review one for accuracy, ergonomics, value, and more. Somehow our wrists don't hurt.
PRS/NRL22/Brutality/2-Gun Competitor. Career firearms writer. Former Boy Scout
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Iconic guns are rare.
Some gain their fame in combat, like the M1 Garand. Others because of their mechanical rocket surgery, like the AEK-971.
But some get their name from just being badass.
We've looked at lessor forms of the Desert Eagle before, but this time we're looking at the real thing in all its glory--the Desert Eagle in .50 Action Express.
Does it live up to the legendary name? It is a must-have for your gun safe? Johnny took it out to the range and found all the answers, make sure to take a look at the video!
If you like that kind of content, make sure to subscribe to the Pew Pew Tactical youtube channel for more!
The Legend
Desert Eagles are one of the most recognizable firearms today. And they've achieved that status totally through being popular in media.
My love of the Desert Eagle, like many people's, comes from videogames. From CS: Source to Call of Duty, the "Deagle" is a wildly popular choice because it's big, it's cool, and it's shiny.
And it looks super badass when you clear the opposing team using just your trusty Deagle.
Add in the fact that over 500 movies have featured good guys and bad guys using the Desert Eagle and it's easy to see why it's so popular.
But is it any good in real life?
Range Report
Normally, you would assume that the .50 cartridge the Desert Eagle uses would be a wrist breaker, much like the .500 S&W.
But really there is some extra magic in this hand cannon that most people don't know about--it uses a gas operating system to radically reduce recoil.
With a bolt much like you'd see in an AR-15 and a star lug chamber, the Desert Eagle actually requires a good amount of force to unlock. Providing that force is a gas piston tapping gas from the barrel.
This slows the unlocking of the gun and makes for a much smoother and softer recoil impulse.
The end result is that you can take it to the range and mag dump without needing to chow down on ibuprofen like they're Skittles.
What Comes In The Box
Prepare to be a little disappointed.
For a price tag as high as this, you'd think Magnum Research would take care of you.
Desert Eagles do come in a nice box, perfect for hanging over the mantel to flex on guests.
But inside the box is a bit of a letdown.
Only one magazine comes with your gun and while that is technically enough, it isn't really.
Sure you get some other stuff like a tool and paperwork and a sticker, but a second magazine would have really been nice.
If you want to get your own you can, but like everything else about this cannon -- they are not cheap.
Reliability
A huge beast of a gun is no good if it isn't reliable, thankfully the Desert Eagle is... if you use it correctly.
Because of the force of the cartridge and the design of the gas system, one thing the Desert Eagle will not forgive is weak wrists.
While most auto-loading pistols require a good grip, this beast requires locked elbows and a white-knuckle grip.
As long as you have the grip down, this gun runs.
Some lube in the action helps things stay moving and improves longevity, but the pure power of the cartridge also helps overcome any stickiness that might be caused by carbon or dirt.
Accuracy
Cabbage and game fear the Desert Eagle. While the iron sights are decent, they aren't really much to write home about.
If you really want to squeeze accuracy out, throw an optic on top of the integrated Picatinny rail and you have one mean shooter.
Even without an optic, the Desert Eagle is a good shooter. But follow-up shots are harder due to the recoil. Still, that first round will go basically exactly where you tell it to.
Practical Applications?
Looking awesome isn't practical?
Okay, really--it has very limited actual applications.
As a CCW, it isn't even legal in many jurisdictions and we wouldn't recommend it even if it is legal in yours due to the incredible weight and size of the gun.
For home defense there is a long list of guns better suited, take a look at our Home Defense Overpenetration Study for more details.
If you're going to try to find a practical reason to get a Desert Eagle, hunting is your only option. But really, it does hunt well.
Grab one in .50 AE, .44 Mag. or .429 DE, put your favorite optic on it, and you have a very capable hog or turkey gun.
Ammo To Feed The Beast
Even the coolest of firearms are totally useless without ammo to send through them.
Thankfully, the .50 AE actually has some good load options from major brands, but none of it is cheap. There is simply no such thing as ".50 AE plinking ammo".
On the cheap side, you're looking at $1.40 a shot unless you want to reload.
If you do want to reload, you can drop the price a little. But once you factor in dies and such, the savings will take a long time to actually see.
By The Numbers
Reliability: 4/5
This could easily have an asterisk next to it, as a lot of folks complain about feed issues. But again, my experience was solid. Don’t limp wrist, and the Eagle runs.
Ergonomics: 7/5
Not sure if this should be a 0/5 or an 11/5. Maybe both. It takes two hands to use the safety. The grip feels like a Yeti mug. The slide is a monstrosity. And I love it all.
Accuracy: 4.5/5
The long history of guys using these successfully for hunting in pistol-only states. It’s accurate, but you’re gonna need a bipod.
Customization: 3/5
Some models have rails, so there are options for you. And of course, you can swap out the barrel and change your caliber. But after this, options are thin.
Value: 2/5
If laughter is the best medicine, this gun is a vitamin B shot to your left butt cheek. You can’t put a price on fun. Well, you can. It’s well over $1500.
Overall: 4/5
It feels weird to give a rating on a gun that is literally incomparable to anything on the market. It’s a showstopper.
Parting Shots
The Desert Eagle Mark IXI in .50 Action Express doesn't have a lot of real applications. But this is a gun you buy because you want to be able to say you have one. Price is high but so is reliability if you have the strong wrists to back it up.
As fun as it is to shoot, be ready for some wallet hurt when you take it to the range to show off.
But if you really want a good reason to get one, T-Rex defense and turkey hunting are solid reasons.
What is your favorite instance of the Desert Eagle in popular media? Do you have one that you've hunted with? For some more awesome hand cannons, take a look at the Ruger Super Redhawk or the smaller brother of the .50 AE...the Desert Eagle in .429 DE.
