Estimated studying time: 8 minutes
The Desert Eagle is a gun with a sure status for sheer measurement and brawn, largely because of Hollywood. It’s been featured in the whole lot from Resident Evil to RoboCop. Not solely is the Desert Eagle extremely recognizable, nevertheless it’s additionally a traditional in its personal proper (in addition to being the brunt of many jokes). It’s made in a wide range of calibers and sizes, and though it’d come as a shock, it’s a helpful gun. Two of its calibers—50 AE and 429 DE—are particularly helpful for each looking and vary time. We’re going to inform you why you want one and which one it’s best to get your gun-loving arms on.
Desert Eagle 50 AE
If a really massive diameter bullet is your factor, the 50 AE (Motion Specific) is one to take a look at. Evan Whildin designed the 50 AE in 1988, and it didn’t take lengthy for it to change into synonymous with the Desert Eagle. Sure, there are different weapons chambered in it, however not many, and none so well-known. The 50 AE has a bullet diameter of 0.500 inches, making it as massive as you will get in a non-sporting handgun. It makes use of massive pistol primers and has a most stress of 36,000 psi. Bullets are normally 300 grain, which you’ll be able to simply evaluate to the way more diminutive 147 grain 9mm.
When the 50 AE was first created, not loads of weapons might deal with it. That’s loads of pressure and stress on a firearm. Regardless of the considerably pervasive perception that the Desert Eagle is all concerning the 50 AE, the reality is that it preceded the cartridge by almost a decade. Early fashions had been chambered in 357 Magnum and 44 Magnum. It wasn’t till the Mark VII—which was first produced in Israel Army Industries in 1991—that the now-classic Desert Eagle in 50 AE hit the market. Right now, Magnum Analysis makes it within the good outdated USA!
Desert Eagle 429 DE
Though the Desert Eagle is offered in a wide range of calibers, just one is really distinctive to the platform. Jim Tertin designed the 429 DE (Desert Eagle) for Magnum Analysis in 2018. That’s proper, this cartridge was made particularly to optimize the Desert Eagle handgun—and it does. The 429 DE is a little bit smaller and extra streamlined, with a bullet diameter of 0.429 inches. It additionally delivers better velocity because of a most psi of 46,000. Masses for this cartridge usually have both 210 grain or 240 grain bullets.
The aim behind 429 DE was to create a sooner, extra correct spherical that remained above-average for general energy. Then there’s the bonus of it being particular to the Desert Eagle, that means you possibly can solely get it when you get the one gun chambered for it. That’s a win-win for Magnum Analysis, and the real-world efficiency of the 429 DE doesn’t disappoint.
Spherical With the Greatest Ballistics
If you happen to chronograph Hornady 50 AE 300 grain XTP, you’ll uncover a muzzle velocity of about 1400 ft per second (that’s by a 6.0-inch barrel). In response to the producer, these rounds produce a muzzle vitality of 1449 foot-pounds. Utilizing Magnum Analysis’s personal 429 DE 210 grain JHP, the typical muzzle velocity out of 10 photographs fired by a 6.0-inch barrel is 1766 ft per second. Going again to the gun maker—who simply occurs to even be the ammo maker on this case—muzzle vitality for that spherical is about 1428 foot-pounds. What we get out of that is that the 429 DE is a bit sooner than the 50 DE, however the anticipated vitality matches.
The place you see better variances is within the drift and drop fee of the 2. As a result of the 50 AE is heavier, it drops extra shortly than the 429 DE. Granted, you’re not prone to take lengthy photographs with a Desert Eagle, however generally that little bit issues.
Obtainable on GunsAmerica Now
Self-Protection
If you’re contemplating a handgun for self-defense functions, you need one which’s dependable, correct, and comfy to hold and shoot. Each the 50 AE and 429 DE create vital felt recoil and don’t exactly match most shooters’ definition of consolation. That stated, let’s think about which gun it’s best to seize if the 2 calibers are sitting facet by facet on a desk.
The primary concern you might need is the danger of over-penetration. It’s a moderately frequent false impression that just some bullets can over-penetrate—in actuality, all bullets can over-penetrate in the best circumstances. Nonetheless, it’s extra probably for a bigger, sooner spherical to blow by boundaries {that a} smaller, extra sluggish bullet may get caught in. Though the 50 AE is heavier than the 429 DE, it doesn’t transfer as quick. Which bullet is most definitely to penetrate one thing you’d moderately it didn’t goes to be a matter of probability and a wide range of components exterior your management. Each are large enough and fast sufficient to handle it.
For dependable biking, my expertise is that the 50 AE is extra persistently dependable. The 429 DE doesn’t undergo many failures, nevertheless it’s had one right here and there. Which means some extent goes to the 50 AE for self-defense use.
Accuracy
On to accuracy. Recoil and muzzle rise immediately affect accuracy. The 50 AE creates extra recoil than the 429 DE, though the distinction is negligible. If we’re being exact, then sure, the 50 AE recoils tougher and is subsequently prone to negatively affect accuracy. But when we’re being reasonable, the 2 cartridges are a detailed match. Each of them have sufficient muzzle flip to trigger some points with follow-up photographs, and most often, the distinction between the 2 isn’t noticeable sufficient to matter. I’ve discovered each chamberings to be comparatively correct, though not exact. Repeatability comes into play right here, and it’s a problem to get tight teams.
If I had been to decide on, I’d say the 50 AE is my selection for self-defense. That is due largely to its dependable efficiency and the truth that you possibly can’t threat a gun failing on the worst doable second.
Looking
This one’s tougher for me as a result of I do take pleasure in massive bores (in fact, each of those are technically massive bores). Let’s think about this one from the standpoint of attempting to find meat moderately than taking out predators or varmints. As a result of elevated velocity of the 429 DE mixed with its lighter bullet, it maintains a flatter trajectory than the 50 AE. As well as, the smaller diameter bullet creates a smaller—however no much less efficient—wound cavity. Consequently, the 429 DE will prevent a little bit of meat whereas additionally supplying you with an edge for accuracy, one thing that’s necessary if you’re looking. That is very true when you’re taking an extended shot or if the animal is shifting. I’d go for the 429 DE over the 50 AE for one thing like whitetail deer.
Hog looking—or any kind of pest—is one other story. The 50 AE is incredible for this, and when you grasp the muzzle rise, you will get these follow-up photographs going fairly shortly. Throw a pink dot on it and issues get even higher. For sheer wound cavity measurement, the 50 AE wins. Fractions of an inch could make a distinction.
READ MORE HERE: Complete Information to Handgun Varieties
50 AE or 429 DE
Each the 50 AE and 429 DE have so much to supply. They’re enjoyable to shoot and are designed to be heavy sufficient to mitigate felt recoil as a lot as doable. It’s simpler to seek out 50 AE ammo, and there are extra Desert Eagles made in that chambering, too. 429 DE is a bit more distinctive, so that you is perhaps scrambling to seek out ammo for vary days or hunts. It’s arduous to disclaim the cachet of the true traditional, and that’s why the 50 AE will at all times be the winner.
Try the Magnum Analysis Desert Eagle lineup right here.
*** Purchase and Promote on GunsAmerica! ***
Kat Ainsworth Stevens is a prolific out of doors author based mostly in North Texas. Her love and delight of firearms extends to each self-defense and looking, and she or he’s pushed to show secure gun dealing with. Kat’s the creator of a number of books and hundreds of articles in addition to a profitable editor with greater than a decade of expertise in advertising and marketing. With expertise in the whole lot from defensive handgun use to discipline dressing a deer, Kat’s background is diversified and in depth. She firmly believes within the significance of defending the Second Modification in addition to the First.
When she’s not behind a gun or processing her personal recreation meat, Kat may be discovered trapping, boating, doing yoga, and mudding. The outside and the Lone Star State are the place she belongs.
Expertise
Writer:
Handgun Looking and anthologies together with The Deer Shot Again: And Different Looking Tales and How To not Shoot Fish and Different Deer That Obtained Away.Â
Devoted Outdoorsman:
Yr-round fanatic of looking, trapping, and fishing.
Superior Coaching:
Greater than 1000 hours of coaching in defensive handguns, lengthy weapons, edged weapons, self-defense regulation, force-on-force, handgun retention, and associated subjects.
Targeted Specialty Abilities:
Professional witness. Massad Ayoob Group licensed Lethal Pressure Teacher and graduate of Lively Self Safety The Apply & Preparation of Being an Professional Witness.
