The Desert Eagle .44 Magnum is not for those looking for the easiest path, and that’s exactly what makes it so appealing, especially for hunters.
This gun will never be found in an article about concealed carry. It's a large hunk of metal, weighing more than 4 pounds empty and measuring nearly 11 inches long and just over 6 inches tall.
The Desert Eagle’s silhouette is recognizable even to non-gun people, thanks to frequent movie appearances, where its larger-than-life aesthetics fit the Hollywood mindset. For those new to the world of big-bore handguns, it's worth noting that Desert Eagle handguns are manufactured by Magnum Research, Inc., which is a subsidiary of Kahr Firearms Group.
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Currently available "Deagles," as many refer to them, are the DE Mark XIX, the 429 DE, DE Case Hardened, and the lighter-weight DE L6 and L5 models. Magnum Research also produces 9mms in its Baby Eagle III series.
The Desert Eagle is a semi-automatic, gas-operated, single-action pistol with ambidextrous safeties. The 1911 connoisseur will find the Desert Eagle’s safety opposite from what they are used to, with fire being up and safe being down.
The chamber is chrome-plated for easy cartridge extraction, and the barrel rifling is polygonal. This type of rifling is also found on early-generation GLOCKs and current HK handgun barrels.
For me, it was a no-brainer to choose the .44 Magnum Desert Eagle, even though more powerful chamberings are available, such as the .429 DE (Desert Eagle) and .50 AE (Action Express). Although it is no longer the king in terms of pure power, the .44 Magnum remains the established benchmark for handgun hunting cartridges.
For the majority of hunters, except those with extensive experience, cartridges designed to exceed the .44 Magnum in power can create significant challenges because of increased recoil and muzzle blast.
The .44 Magnum, combined with today’s modern bullets, represents a strong baseline for hunters in terms of power, lethality and shootability. That includes me.
Why the Desert Eagle .44 Magnum Is Different
Any hunting handgun should be evaluated as a system. That system is made up of sights, cartridge and firing platform.
The open sights on the Desert Eagle are fixed, with adjustable target sights available as an option. The standard open sights are quite good and allow for solid shooting up to 50 yards.
The wide rear notch, combined with a thin front sight, allows daylight to be observed on either side of the front blade.
This gives the shooter a better opportunity to gauge exact sight orientation, especially when compared to the “combat” style dot sights found on most semi-automatic handguns.
The flatter trajectory of the .44 Magnum also eases the task of shot placement past 30 yards. The literature shipped with the Desert Eagle states that the pistol is sighted in for 100 yards from the factory.
The sights may very well be, but for me, I run out of game-taking accuracy with open pistol sights at about 40 yards.
Anecdotally, it was no problem smacking Echo Valley Training Center’s steel targets at 100 yards with the .44 Magnum Desert Eagle’s iron sights.
The catch is that ringing steel and cleanly harvesting an animal are two different things. The unique sound of a 240- or 300-grain bullet striking steel is satisfying, yet it doesn’t tell you enough about where that shot would have landed on an animal’s vital organs.
The lesson: Upgrade your sights or get closer. Better yet, do both.
Desert Eagle .44 Magnum Sights, Optics and Accuracy
The Desert Eagle has a barrel and slide configuration that allows for optics to be mounted on the barrel’s rail. The Desert Eagle uses a rotating bolt at the back of the slide that locks into the barrel, keeping the barrel stationary.
This is an accuracy-enhancing feature because the barrel is locked in place and does not take part in the recoil and cycling of the pistol.
In that regard, the Desert Eagle has more in common with rifle actions than most other pistols. It also provides a stable scope platform.
I mounted a 2x Leupold optic on the Desert Eagle .44 Magnum with “see-through” scope rings. My prior experience with see-through rings on rifles has mostly been negative.
On a rifle, see-through rings force the shooter’s head into unnatural contortions to use the scope because of the height necessary to allow access to the iron sights.
My revelation with a scope-equipped Desert Eagle is that the see-through concept makes far more sense on a handgun than it does on a rifle. The large eye relief associated with a handgun scope allows for a much easier transition between open sights and the optic.
No cheek weld is necessary with a scoped handgun. Therefore, one can quite easily obtain the desired sight picture by slightly tilting the head and hand one way or the other.
Handgun hunting is a close-range proposition. I have found that open sights are desirable from point blank to 20 yards, where maximum field of view and quick target acquisition matter most.
At 35 yards and beyond, and no farther than 100 yards for me, a scope is a real advantage. It maximizes the hunter’s effective range when combined with a field-expedient rest like a a backpack, tripod or a conveniently placed tree.
Accuracy is impressive with the optic-equipped Desert Eagle. Two-inch groups at 50 yards are typical. The Desert Eagle’s adjustable single-action trigger is another advantage.
Ammo and Hunting Loads
One aspect of the semi-automatic Desert Eagle that may give some hunters pause is that jacketed bullets are recommended. This is due to the polygonal rifling and gas-operated mode of operation. Right there, deep-penetrating hard-cast lead bullets are ruled out.
Do not despair. There are many worthy jacketed bullets available that are more than equal to the task of harvesting game cleanly.
My handloading came in clutch here with Nosler 250-grain Partition-HG bullets. The 6-inch-barreled Desert Eagle produced more than 1,200 fps with that bullet.
My practice load, built around a 240-grain Nosler JHP, produced 1,300-plus fps with equal accuracy and, conveniently, no shift in point of impact from the 250-grain Partition-HG hunting loads.
As always, any handload should be checked against current published load data before use.
One pleasant surprise was the velocities I chronographed surpassed those of my longer-barreled .44 Magnum revolvers.
This comes from the polygonal rifling, better bullet obturation and the fixed breech. Magnum Research literature points out that the gas pressure lost between a revolver’s cylinder and forcing cone gap is more than the gas siphoned off to operate the Desert Eagle’s action. My chronograph supports this claim.
A hunter who does not handload doesn’t have to accept anything subpar, either.
Many fine factory loads exist from Black Hills Ammunition, Winchester, Buffalo Bore and Hornady. A hunter will find a wide range of factory-loaded bullets on the market, spanning 200- to 300-grain options.
Plus, it's almost un-American for a sporting-goods retailer not to have a box of .44 Magnums on the shelf.
The Desert Eagle produces only moderately felt recoil. While recoil is greater than a 9mm or .45 ACP, the .44 Magnum Desert Eagle would not be labeled harsh or severe in the least.
It's a proper mix of power and size, not to mention ammunition availability at a reasonable price.
READ MORE: Why Every Hunter Should Try Handgun Hunting
Hunting With the Desert Eagle .44 Magnum
Hunting with the Desert Eagle .44 Magnum has proved challenging, yet very rewarding.
It is nice to move over and through thick terrain with both hands free while the Desert Eagle rides in a bandoleer-style shoulder rig. The increased freedom of movement is appreciated. Once I’m in a stand, the Desert Eagle nestles nicely in my lap.
The key to success is shooting from a supported position so the optic can be maximized for accuracy.
I am committed to hunting with the Desert Eagle on more deer and hog trips during upcoming seasons, even if the terrain is not always conducive to its effective range.
I’ll just have to sharpen my scouting and stalking skills. That was the point of handgun hunting with the Desert Eagle to begin with.
Magnum Research Desert Eagle .44 Magnum Specs:
- Caliber: .44 Magnum
- Action: Semi-automatic, gas-operated
- Barrel: 6 inches
- Overall Length: 10.75 inches
- Weight: Approximately 70 to 72 ounces empty, depending on model/listing
- Sights: Fixed irons; optics rail; 2x Leupold optic used for review
- Capacity: 8-round magazine
- MSRP: $1,878