Does anyone own and shoot one of these? I'm seriously thinking of getting one. I like the fact it's made from all steel. It's cost is comparable to the Ruger series of .45 ACP autos, but this one holds 10 rounds. I have a Glock 21 but Melanie really likes it so I was thinking of getting this for myself. I have 2 Magnum Research BFR Revolvers and really like the workmanship of both of them. The Rugers have Aluminum frames and I like steel in guns. I just wondered if anyone here has one, and what you thought of it? Bill T.
Magnum Research "Baby" Desert Eagle .45 ACP
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I have the 9mm version and I love it. If the price is right go for it. The ergonomics are impressive and the fact that it is all steel is what sold me on it. Accuracy is top notch and I've been told that the .45 acp is just as good as the 9mm.
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Fair price. I think MSRP was $550 last time I looked.
I just ordered it from Davidsons on-line. If they ship it out today, I should get it tommorrow. I ordered a couple extra magazines as well. I like buying from Davidsons because every gun they sell comes with a lifetime free replacement warranty. Much like a Craftsman tool. I have already used the guarantee on a Ruger .22 Mark II Pistol I bought from them. I took it to the range and shot it, and around round 80 or so it broke. (The trigger wouldn't reset.) I returned it to my local dealer and I had a brand new gun in my hands the very next day! Pretty hard to beat. I'm anxious to put some lead downrange with it. I won't get a chance to shoot it until Monday. Total out the door damage: $604.25 with 2 extra magazines. Bill T.
I just picked it up. Very impressive! I can't wait to shoot it! The gun has very good balance, something I was a little concerned about because of it's all steel frame which supports the slide out to the muzzle of the gun. I was very plesantly surprised to find out the gun comes with 2 magazines. (Davidsons website said only 1). With the 2 extra I now have a total of 4. Enough to get started. What I really like are the sights. A very simple, common white 3 dot system. But the front sight fills up the rear notch fully, with minimal "air space" on either side. I seems, at least to me, a great many handguns with this type of sight arrangement have a too narrow front blade. I realize the smaller blade can aid in a more rapid sight acquisition, but doesn't do much for accurate shooting when you have to "balance the air gap" in between the rear notch. The gun thus far appears to be very well made, (in Israel, not Minnesota). All levers, (safety, decock, slide and magazine release) can be easily reached. The hammer can easily be manually operated and cocked, but is not obtrusive, and doesn't look like it would be a problem snagging on anything in a carry situation. The slide is quite tight and doesn't appear to be anything that a good lube job, and couple of hundred rounds won't take care of. Overall it's got a great beat and is easy to dance to. I'd give it a 98. Proof is in the shooting however, and that will have to wait until Monday. I've got several boxes of WW, Federal American Eagle, Magtech, and CCI Blaser Brass to run thru it. I don't like to run large hollow points or bullets with large meplats thru it until it eats a couple hundred rounds of ball to break things in. Hopefully by Tuesday I'll have more to report on it. So far, so good. We'll see. Bill T.
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I have yet to hear a bad thing about the Baby Eagle. I have a friend that has had a 9mm version for many years and he loves it. Anyone he lets shoot it loves it. Being all steel and in 9mm, it is very controllable and his specimen is highly accurate. If your new.45 is as well made, I am sure you will be very happy. The Israelis seem to know how to make a quality firearm.
Well, I couldn't wait until Monday. I went out to the desert early this morning to crank it up. The gun ran flawlessly! And I mean flawlessly. Not one FTF, FTE, or stovepipe. The empty cases eject forcefully, but with zero denting or damage. I really lucked out. The sights are dead nuts with a six o'clock hold at 25 yards, (25 paces with my size 14's). Recoil is very light which I predicted because of the guns 40 ounce weight. I put a total of 200 rounds thru it, mostly CCI Blazer Brass because thats what I had the most of. I also ran Remington UMC, Magtech, Federal American Eagle, and some old Western yellow box 230 Gr. Ball I had thru it. All went bang without a hitch. This gun really doesn't give a damn what you feed it. Next time out I'll try some of the high priced self defense stuff with large hollow points and big meplats. I have no doubt it will run fine with any ammo. The recoil spring is heavy, and I think if the gun were to have a FTF it would be with too light of a load, (target ammo). But thats fine because it's a service pistol, not a target weapon. All 4 Magnum Research magazines that I purchased fed well. Zero problems as well. The safety lever was a little hard to operate, so I oiled the hell out of it, and on the way home Melanie kept clicking it on and off. After about 50 times it runs easily as well. Mel loves it and wants one! To be honest I'm really thinking about getting another one. If that doesn't testify to what kind of gun it is, I don't know what will. Anyone who buys one of these guns won't be dissappointed. The recoil in 9 MM has to be just close to nothing. In .45 ACP the gun is extremely controllable considering it's size. Magnum Research has done an excellent job with this handgun. The balance of weight with it's all steel construction, and nice semi compact size, is a perfect marriage. Grab one guys, it's all I can say. It's getting damn hard to find a good, well built .45 ACP pistol for under $500.00 bucks anymore. This one is. Plus it's built like a brick $h!thouse! I took some pictures before we went shooting and I'll try and get them posted. Right now it's pool time! Bill T.
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I knew you would like it. If this gun were aggressively marketed it could be wildly popular.
Re: re: Magnum Research "Baby" Desert Eagle .45 AC
I couldn't agree more. It's just most shooters have never heard of it. Look at what Springfield did with the HS-2000, (XD). When it was the HS-2000 you could buy them all day for $250.00. Springfield got involved, put their name on it, jacked up the price $200.00 to pay for their marketing blitz, and all of a sudden it's the greatest thing since Monday Night Football. It's getting harder and harder to find guns without Aluminum and plastic anymore. This gun still represents a good, solid value for the money. Bill T.Fuelburns2 said:
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Save $25-$50 a week until you can afford it. :wink:
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