Sidearms & Scatterguns Desert Eagle 44 mag vs 629 Stealth Hunter ?

[alpha6164]

I have always wanted a 44 magnum. As far as hand guns go i pretty much own several 9mm and two 10mm Glocks for hunting purposes. If one were to purchase a single 44 mag weapon which would you choose? I would really be interested to hear from anyone that has had the pleasure to shoot both. Obviously they are both heavy as shit. The things that i am considering are reliability, round capacity, and recoil.

From what i have read the DE 44 is pretty damn reliable and not too many complaints, but obviously it cant be as reliable as a revolver. It definitely wins in the capacity category with 8+1. I am not sure if a gas operated 44mag has less recoil than a ported 629 Stealth Hunter? All inputs appreciated.

 

[Falar]

Re: Desert Eagle 44 mag vs 629 Stealth Hunter ?

I dont' have a 629 Stealth Hunter, but have had ported 629s in the past and currently have an 8" Dan Wesson that weighs much more than any of my 629s and my Desert Eagle recoils far less than any of them. Another plus for the DE is that you don't the LOOONG DA trigger and in my experience it can be loaded hotter.

 

[MontanaMarine]

Re: Desert Eagle 44 mag vs 629 Stealth Hunter ?

I'd lean toward a revolver myself.

The DE is a nice piece, but to me it seemed a bit too large around the grip. Very comfortable to shoot though. Jacketed bullets are recommended to keep the gas system clean. The nnon vented barrel gives better ballistics than a revolver will with the gap at the barrel/cylinder.

The big thing I like about revolvers is you can load up any bullet with any nose profile and it will not have any feeding issues. Also if you save brass to reload, the revolver keeps it onboard until you decide to reload. That helps in the field.


Here's a pic of my Ruger 44Mag, with a load I like. It's a 310gr WFNGC loaded to 1200 fps via H110. This type of bullet profile may not work well in an autoloader, and non-jacketed bullets are not recommended in the DE.

Just some food for thought.

 

[KM375]

Re: Desert Eagle 44 mag vs 629 Stealth Hunter ?

I had a .357 Desert Eagle, and it was a PITA not reliable, constant malfunctions, so I sold it. I have been told that the .44 mag DE is a bit more reliable.

 

[bigwheeler]

Re: Desert Eagle 44 mag vs 629 Stealth Hunter ?

Never met a desert eagle owner that wasn't also a desert eagle seller.

 

[Falar]

Re: Desert Eagle 44 mag vs 629 Stealth Hunter ?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: krm375</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I had a .357 Desert Eagle, and it was a PITA not reliable, constant malfunctions, so I sold it. I have been told that the .44 mag DE is a bit more reliable. </div></div>

I think most of the problems are from weak ammo and people buying pro mags because they are cheap. My .44s have been 100% but I load HOT ammo only and use factory mags.

 

[KM375]

Re: Desert Eagle 44 mag vs 629 Stealth Hunter ?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Falar</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: krm375</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I had a .357 Desert Eagle, and it was a PITA not reliable, constant malfunctions, so I sold it. I have been told that the .44 mag DE is a bit more reliable. </div></div>

I think most of the problems are from weak ammo and people buying pro mags because they are cheap. My .44s have been 100% but I load HOT ammo only and use factory mags. </div></div>,

I bought it new sometime in the mid 90's it had 2 factory mags, and at the time I did not reload .357. I used several factory loads, Ball and JHP, It just did not function like I thought it should. I think the problem with the .357 mag version was that is was a long bullet, small hole..,
sold it and bought a Colt Combat Commander series 70

 

[RBell24]

Re: Desert Eagle 44 mag vs 629 Stealth Hunter ?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Falar</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: krm375</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I had a .357 Desert Eagle, and it was a PITA not reliable, constant malfunctions, so I sold it. I have been told that the .44 mag DE is a bit more reliable. </div></div>

I think most of the problems are from weak ammo and people buying pro mags because they are cheap. My .44s have been 100% but I load HOT ammo only and use factory mags. </div></div>

I had a DE .44 and if you shot a mag full of cheap ass, light loads, it would usually screw up once. It would either FTE or eject and not load the next round. However, if you used quality factory rounds, or handloads, it would do great. Especially if you used heavier bullets. Mine was also very accurate with the right load. From a rest, I could shoot 12"-16" targets at 100 yards with open sights.

 

[Falar]

Re: Desert Eagle 44 mag vs 629 Stealth Hunter ?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: rebelbell24</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Falar</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: krm375</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I had a .357 Desert Eagle, and it was a PITA not reliable, constant malfunctions, so I sold it. I have been told that the .44 mag DE is a bit more reliable. </div></div>

I think most of the problems are from weak ammo and people buying pro mags because they are cheap. My .44s have been 100% but I load HOT ammo only and use factory mags. </div></div>

I had a DE .44 and if you shot a mag full of cheap ass, light loads, it would usually screw up once. It would either FTE or eject and not load the next round. However, if you used quality factory rounds, or handloads, it would do great. Especially if you used heavier bullets. Mine was also very accurate with the right load. From a rest, I could shoot 12"-16" targets at 100 yards with open sights. </div></div>

Your experience seems the same as mine then. I use 240 and 300 grain XTPs mostly with max charges of VV N110.

 

[chansen49]

Re: Desert Eagle 44 mag vs 629 Stealth Hunter ?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: krm375</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I had a .357 Desert Eagle, and it was a PITA not reliable, constant malfunctions, so I sold it. I have been told that the .44 mag DE is a bit more reliable. </div></div>

A friend of mine has the 357 DE.. He ONLY shoots +p plus ammo out of it and its pretty much 100 percent when you shoot hot loads and clean the thing.. One of the most accurate pistols Ive shot.. Big and heavy but can smack a gallon milk jug @ 100 pretty easy.

Ch

 

[nw911guy]

Re: Desert Eagle 44 mag vs 629 Stealth Hunter ?

If you shoot it a lot, the DE will eventually rip itself apart. I'd go with the 629. I almost bought a 29-2 used a couple weeks ago.

 

[Cologgi]

Re: Desert Eagle 44 mag vs 629 Stealth Hunter ?

I Had always wanted a DE. I bought one for a good deal in 44mag. I shot 1 box of ammo and sold it. It is a cool gun but too big and I see it more as a novelty. I would by far go with my Colt Anaconda or a Ruger or S&W, these are what I would consider useable guns and not novelties.

 

[Falar]

Re: Desert Eagle 44 mag vs 629 Stealth Hunter ?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: nw1911guy</div><div class="ubbcode-body">If you shoot it a lot, the DE will eventually rip itself apart. I'd go with the 629. I almost bought a 29-2 used a couple weeks ago. </div></div>

I went away from S&Ws because my 629s could not handle full power loads. With stout 300gr (and even 240) loads some of the screws would actually back out over time. After doing some research online I discovered that it was kind of the norm for S&Ws and sold them both and picked up a Dan Wesson. What exactly begins breaking on Desert Eagles? Never really heard of one coming apart.

 

[McLarenross]

Re: Desert Eagle 44 mag vs 629 Stealth Hunter ?

My Dad has a DE in 50AE. Dont get me wrong, I like the gun. Its damn sure a conversation piece and everyone wants to shoot the thing. But when it comes down to it its not the most reliable thing in the world. It has mis-fed and stove piped a number of times. And I know they are not ammo related cause we reload and have thought about that and gone all the way to the top of the tables and beyond with both 325gr and 350gr bullets. Now Im not saying it does it every mag but it will do it pretty much once or twice every ~50 rounds. And cleaning the thing is a major PITA! It takes me longer to clean that thing than all the other handguns combined I think, lol. If you want a cool gun that will work most of the time and be a good "holy shit look what hes got" gun then get the DE. If you want a pure hunting pistol get a Blackhawk or Redhawk.

 

[tsavo303]

Re: Desert Eagle 44 mag vs 629 Stealth Hunter ?

Mine (DE) is reliable, but it is an early model and the fixed sights are about 10" low at 50 yds
pretty accurate though.
also dont use it for much

 

[tsavo303]

Re: Desert Eagle 44 mag vs 629 Stealth Hunter ?

nice piece and mean ammo, montana

 

[bignada]

Re: Desert Eagle 44 mag vs 629 Stealth Hunter ?

I would go Super Redhawk if flexibility in .44mag were my goal. Better yet, choose the .454Casull and don't look back. The SRH lockwork is about as smooth as any S&W N frame made from the 90s on. The frame is massive and has the built-in scope bases.

I own 3 .44mag revolvers and a Marlin 1894. While there are heavy slugs for the .44, if you want weight and power, the Casull is the ticket. The SRH is the gun to own if you intend to shoot heavy loads.

The .44DE is excellent in many respects. I load the Sierra 220gr Silhouette bullet at max level w/296 and find it pleasant to shoot. If you don't mind the weight, it is a decent concealed carry gun, if you have the frame to handle the bulk.

 

[nw911guy]

Re: Desert Eagle 44 mag vs 629 Stealth Hunter ?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Falar</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: nw1911guy</div><div class="ubbcode-body">If you shoot it a lot, the DE will eventually rip itself apart. I'd go with the 629. I almost bought a 29-2 used a couple weeks ago. </div></div>

I went away from S&Ws because my 629s could not handle full power loads. With stout 300gr (and even 240) loads some of the screws would actually back out over time. After doing some research online I discovered that it was kind of the norm for S&Ws and sold them both and picked up a Dan Wesson. What exactly begins breaking on Desert Eagles? Never really heard of one coming apart. </div></div>

They just have a finite life is all. I used to work for a firing range that had one as a rental. Thing would go a couple hundred rounds, then jam. Clean it. Another couple hundred rounds, then jam; repeat several times until one day it just plain stops working and sounds like a baby rattle. Game over. They just aren't intended for the use of serious shooters in my experience. Excellent and intimidating paperweights though.