Desert Eagle Trouble

[kppodd]

Hi:

DESERT EAGLE people out there - need advice

I rented a used DE44CA at a local range, thinking to buy. LOVED IT!
BUT the slide won't stay open after the last round. I can *make* it stay open manually with an empty magazine in, but it won't stay open after *shooting* the last round. Asked the range attendant why this may be, and he said it's probably dirty or the ammunition is not right. I don't think I believe it. The gun was clean. I had a box of 50 rounds from Magtech, 240 gr. JSP, and the problem happened every time I emptied a magaize. Why is this happening? Can it be fixed?

KP

 

[highorder]

Welcome to THR.

Considering the location of the slide stop, I'll bet you are riding the stop with your thumb, holding it down.

 

[Josh Aston]

You could be riding the slide release lever with your thumb, so check your grip. If either of your thumbs is near the slide release, move it out of the way. If it's not that, then possibly a faulty magazine follower, so try a new mag. If that's not it then the slide release lever may be broken, specifically the piece that the mag follower engages to lock the slide back after the last round could be chipped off.

 

[Sato Ord]

Not as familiar with the Desert Eagle. I have a friend who owns a .50 cal and it gave me a nose bleed on the indoor range, so I don't plan to buy one any time soon.

However, my P-38 Walther has the same problem. The magazine is the original issue from WWII and the spring is worn out. It just doesn't have quite enough oomph left to push up the catch and make the slide stay open after the last round.

So, the first thing I would check, especially with a rental gun that gets a lot of use, is the magazine.

 

[kppodd]

Re: To John Aston

I am from Russia originally, but live in California now. What gave me away?

 

[Killermonkey21]

kppodd: Thats just his signature line. That short little horizontal line is the separator from the text of his post, and his signature line. You can see mine below.

Its a joke referring to Texas as a country.

 

[kppodd]

to Killermonkey21

oh...

thnks!

...ok, it's been a long day... i lived in Texas for 4 years - I should have known...

 

[Josh Aston]

Where I got it from

 

[Rembrandt]

.....Asked the range attendant why this may be, and he said it's probably dirty or the ammunition is not right. I don't think I believe it.

He may be correct, if the ammo is underpowered it may not be pushing the slide back far enough to catch. Desert Eagle springs are very stiff and the guns thrive on stout loads.

 

[USMCDK]

dumb question and kinda off topic what is JSP???

I know that Desert Eagles can't you full metal JHP ammo it has to be half jacketed (HJHP).

I agree with the others, the mag could be a problem, the ammo could be a problem, both could be the problem, or the spring for the slide release/catch could be the problem or all of the above.

 

[MTMilitiaman]

In my experience, there are two ways to make the Desert Eagle malfunction, both of them connected primarily to operator error. As suggested:

1. You may be riding the slide stop lever
2. You may also be limp-wristing

The Desert Eagle is susceptible to limp-wrist malfunctions, which can cause the slide to fail to go into battery, or cause it to not cycle far enough back to lock the slide back on the last round. This could also be caused by under powered ammunition, or in extreme cases, by excess dirt and grime, esp over the gas port.

The Desert Eagle is well built, reliable, and accurate, but it does require something from the shooter to operate effectively. It must be manhandled.

With my brother's .50 AE, esp, there is enough torque that sometimes we get the failures to go into battery or the failures to lock the slide back after the last round has been fired. My brother and I are both tall and wirey, and haven't mastered the technique to control the torque that 300 gr bullets at those velocities can produce, but we don't mind because it isn't a defensive piece. We use it to shoot plates and jugs and maybe in the future to thump a black bear or large muley buck. My dad is built a little broader (okay, lately its been a lot broader) and more stout, and he does just fine with it. Malfunctions are virtually non-existent with him, so we know it is an operator error, though admittedly perhaps tied to the design requirements of the handgun.

I know that Desert Eagles can't you full metal JHP ammo it has to be half jacketed (HJHP).

This is backwards actually.

The Desert Eagle is gas operated. It requires jacketed ammunition, as recommended by the Owner/Operator's Manual. Unjacketed ammunition can clog the gas port. Full Metal Jacket ammunition is fine. Most Jacketed Soft Points or Jacket Hollow Points are also fine. The half jacketed or partially jacketed rounds can work, but those with excessively large or flat meplats, or excessively soft tips are prone to getting caught on the feed ramp.

 

[Sonic]

You might want to check out these links at the Desert Eagle FAQ website. They have some information on slide-stop failures with the Desert Eagle.

http://zvis.com/dep/depfaqtmpl.shtml?faq/faq6.dat

http://zvis.com/dep/articles/depclip.shtml

 

[MachIVshooter]

The Desert Eagle is a unique handgun, and it's use requires one to develop technique. They are extrememly prone to malfunction as a result of improper handling. Limp-wristing can easily lead to failure to return to battery, pressure on the baseplate of the free-floating magazine can cause failure to feed, and weak ammunition or allowing one's arms to absorb too much of the recoil can cause them to short cycle.

They just take some getting used to, especially the .50. The common phenomenon of "brass face" with that caliber is one that can be avoided once you learn how to handle the gun. Took me about 100 rounds.

Happy shooting

 

[kppodd]

Thank You !

Wanted to THANK YOU ALL for advice and helpful explanation. I appreciate it very much!

P.S. Also, I am contemplating reloading (new .357 and .44 ammo is so expensive!) - I was hoping to get some advice on this topic here later as well.

 

[MTMilitiaman]

Reloading should be fairly straightforward.

For best results, stick to rounds near max. You don't have to load max or try anything dangerous, but the Desert Eagle does work best towards the hotter end of the scale than the lighter.

Same goes with bullet weight--stick to the 240 gr to 270 gr bullets in the .44 Mag.

I would recommend against the Desert Eagle in .357 Magnum. The .357 uses its own bolt and negates the easy caliber interchangeability of the other two rounds. And the Desert Eagle is, frankly, too much gun for the .357.

Get the .44 or the .50. With either of those, the weight comes in handy to control recoil and so it is justified. And you can buy a barrel for the other cartridge and swap between the two in less than 30 seconds without tools.