Baby Desert Eagle

[Soul Assassin]

After a year with my Glock model 22, I decided for a change...after doing much research I was interested in Magnum Research's Desert Eagle .45 ACP single/double action semi auto.

I've fired around 150 rounds through this weapon and can say it has become my favorite self defense handgun.

 

[Quiet]

The MRI Baby Eagle/IMI Jericho 941 series are great CZ-75 clones.

My only compliant with them is it's slide mounted safety.

After many years of using a 1911, I'm biased to believe that a frame mounted safety is far superior in ease of use than a slide mounted safety.

If the MRI Baby Eagle/IMI Jericho 941 series had a frame mounted safety, I would recommed it over the CZ-75 & EAA Witness series.

 

[kjeff50cal]

I have a EAA Witness Polymer Full Sized .45 ACP for about 2 months now. Love it BUT when I saw the steel BE in .45 ACP it was like having a Camaro and lusting after a Corvette. The sleek lines and the same pointablity abeit heavyer (the Baby Eagle weighs about the same as my Witness loaded). The two guns share the same magazines though and when I get some money due me well........ The EAA will have company.

 

[Soul Assassin]

Compared to the "passive" safties on My Glock model 22, the slide mounted safety just gives me more peace of mind...just a personal thing. It disingages the trigger and moves the firing pin away from the hammer, it just feels like I have more control over how safe the firearm is. Just my preference.

The IWI Baby Eagle also feels good in my hand, fits well and with a clip in it feels balanced. It has amazingly low recoil for a .45.

I also like the combat sights, I'm still dialing it in but to me it seems like a very well engineered single/double action semi-auto.

It's (to me) very easy to field strip and clean, my only bitch is that I've had two jams using steel jacket ammo, so I'm using brass now and have had no problems. It could be a break in thing.

The price was right also, just under 500 dollars.

 

[MrTuffPaws]

I would consider one if they were not so dang heavy. It would pull my pants down, not matter the belt.

 

[LoadedDrum]

My first pistol was a Glock 22. I could never shoot it very well. I got a pair of Baby Eagles (9's not 45's however). They were some of the sweetest shooting pistols I have ever owned. However, the slide mounted safety did them in for me. I found my self accidentally tripping it when racking the slide. That is a big no-no for me. So now I have CZ's which shoot just as well but have features more suited to my needs like a slided mounted safety, and stock night sights.

 

[Whirlwind06]

I have the 9mm compact BDE. All steel 3.5 inch barrel, I like it a lot. Great shooter. It is heavy though. But all that steel sucks up the recoil nicely.
I also like that it fits into some of my 1911 holsters.

 

[nrawling]

I have one that I use as much nightstand and winter carry gun. It's heavy, to be sure, but it is accurate, reliable and it feels good in my hand. The trick to carrying it is a good holster (I use a Don Hume), a strong belt, and weather that permits a suitable cover garment.

I will never part with mine.

 

[SeanSw]

Which holster is being used for the Baby Eagle? I would like to own one but this is an oddball gun if you're trying to buy accessories.

I have only handled two examples of this gun. One which I wasn't allowed to function test, at a gun show. The second is the full size steel framed 9mm which I purchased NIB. It functioned 100% out of the box but the DA trigger left something to be desired.

It required a detail strip and polishing of internalsalong with a combo pack of Wolf mainspring before I would call the DA trigger fair. Out of the box it was probably a 20lbs. mainspring, and I settled on 15lbs for range use. After the added work and expenditure my pistol now has a trigger roughly equal to the DA trigger from 2 box stock CZ's. They were a CZ-75 and the Sp-01. The single action is good but you can feel a large amount of hammer camming in double action. I'd like to buy a spare hammer and attempt to resolve this issue myself in the future.

Even with a 15lbs. mainspring there has never been a FTF . There were 2 FTEs caused by unfamiliar hands after switching to a heavier recoil spring, but no other malfunctions. All 4 magazines were ordered directly from Magnum Research and hold 16 rounds comfortably, not 15 as advertised.

My friends look forward to the shared range days when they can put a box of 9mm through my Baby Eagle and put away their more expensive German and Swiss pistols. People tend to shut up about their big name .45s when they immediately shoot better using an ergonomic 9mm.

 

[Whirlwind06]

Which holster is being used for the Baby Eagle? I would like to own one but this is an oddball gun if you're trying to buy accessories.

http://www.bianchi-intl.com/product/Prod.php?TxtModelID=100

Bianchi Professional, I like that it has a sweat shield. Keeps the hammer and safety from digging into my side.

I had bought one of these for a compact 1911. It works great, perfect fit. I also have a tuckable holster, which I can't think of the name that also fits nicely.

I would think that a holster for a CZ or EAA would fit the BDE too. I just happened to have these on hand and they worked.

 

[bb21]

Beagle

I guess most have the same opinion I do about the slide mounted safety, I own a Baby Eagle in 9mm, mine has the frame mounted safety, which I love. Mine was a steal New without original box and only one mag for $280. It has had no failures since I polished the feed ramp, also the newer models may not have polygonal barrels, you may want to verify that. This was my first handgun and I am glad I bought it, it shoots great, and recoil is almost non-existent. I think the CZ-75 is an excellent platform and I would not over look them as well, but my understanding is the CZ-97 is a bit larger in the grip area than the Beagle, you may want to handle both. To me the CZ's are a bit cleaner and tighter than the Baby Eagle, but that can vary from gun to gun depending on when it was manufactured.
Good Luck and Be Safe!

 

[Mikhail Konovalov]

As the proud owner of a 9mm Jericho 941 (The Baby Eagle's true name, no matter what Magnum Research says.) full-size, slide-mounted safety/decocking lever, I congratulate you on your purchace. It is indeed a fine weapon. The ergonomics are without equal in the realm of Wondernines. Not to mention the huge rear sight can double as a charging handle, haha.

I've had mine for several years, and so far I've only had one (Magazine-related, stupid 10-rounders.) failure of any kind. Watch out, though. Those little buggers are infectious. I've been itching for a 941F now for a while. It happened to me, it can happen to you! My only complaint with the Jericho family is the lack of holster selection, though I hear tell that Tanfoglio holsters work just fine. (Testimonials?)

Take care of her, and hope she never has to take care of you.

 

[gunsmithgirl]

I own a .45 baby eagle.It has proved to be a reliable gun, and it is small and compact (well not the most compact, but smaller than my 1911) and unlike the witness it is real metal not polymer! ( I hate polymer ). But all in all I still prefer my 1911.

 

[enderle01]

I have decided the baby eagle .40 full size all metal that ive got is the one gun i have no intention of selling. it has been very reliable.........after the breakin period, and is a pleasure to shoot and not to mention gorgeous.