Well, I hope the thing works better than the one I had in 1995.  I had a MK VII before I think.  The receipt doesn't really say but it was serial number 105995.  Paid $859 for 44 mag black finish.   The problem that one had was the bolt wouldn't rotate and lock up.  It would be rotated and not even go back into the chamber.  Would have to pull back on the slide let the bolt turn a little then it would close.  It did it about half the time when fired.  I never could figure out what caused it and neither could Magnum Research so I just got rid of it.  At the time, it was the most expensive pistol or gun of any kind I ever owned.  I traded it for a Springfield Armory Champion 1911 and a a little cash.

Now 18 years later, I just flat out wanted another one and I want it to work in the worst way. This MK XIX is also .44 but this time I was smart and got the matt chrome.  It looks great.  And the fucker is a tank just like I remember.  I got the .44 because I have two revolvers that are .44 so I'm set up to reload and already have ammo and supplies to reload.  I plan to buy the .50 barrel since all you need to change calibers on the XIX is the barrel and a mag.  At least that's true for for .44 to .50 or vice versa.  I ordered from Bud's Saturday night and it was delivered to my local FFL today.  $1538 delivered.  Plus $25 transfer fee.  

Seems like new barrels(.50 matt chrome) are on B/O from Magnum Research(4 to 6 months) and mags are out of stock.  Where are you DE owners buying barrels and other parts...mags etc?

Gunbroker.com

I had a Desert Eagle .44 back in 1989. My first wife sold it while I was in Germany.

My first gun was a Mark VII 44 mag.  Still have it and a great shooter also.  I have thought about selling it and getting a new one in the 44/50 combo.  Curious to know how the new one feels.

Been thinking about picking up the 50 just for sport.

i bought some barrels on ebay and gunbroker, i may be selling my 10" barrels soon.  i have a 50 and 44 10" i may sell.

It feels like a big solid chunk of steel.  Just like I remember the other one I owned way back when.  Headed to the range here shortly to see how it shoots.  

Got out to the range.  Wow, I had forgotten how much fun you can have with a big bore.  I have a S&W 629 5" and a Ruger Super Redhawk.  I was at the point where a cylinder or two through either I was done.  Well, I shot 100 through the DE today.  A fistful for sure but not unpleasant.  Actually enjoyed it.

As I said, I fired 100 rounds(actually 101) through this MK XIX .44 today.  It was 100% reliable.  It is very accurate which I expected, it shoots a bit high for my taste but the manual does say it's set up for 6:00 hold.  That is 100% true, at least at 25 yards.

I started off shooting 21 rounds of MagTech .44 Magnum 240 grain jacketed soft point.  No failures of any kind, feed, fired, extracted, ejected perfectly.

I had heard Winchester White box ammo was not so good in the DE.  I shot 20 rounds of those(Q4240) 240 gr jacketed soft point.   No failures of any kind, feed, fired, extracted, ejected perfectly.

I then fired 60 of my reloads.  These were rounds I loaded and had dated 4/2001.  The powder was from 1997 and primers from 1995.  They have been sitting on my shelf of loaded ammo since 2001.  LOL!  They are 240 grain jacketed hollow point, Remington bulk bullets.  The bullet is fully jacketed except the very end where there is some exposed lead and the hollow point.  Load was 23 grains of Winchester 296.  No failures of any kind, feed, fired, extracted, ejected perfectly.

So far, I'm happy as a pig in shit with this pistol.  I was hoping I wouldn't have a $1500 paper weight.  I'll get it cleaned up and take some pics later.  This 44 is a big boomer.  I'm not sure I need or want a .50AE.  I've got some 12" round AR500 steel plates and stands from Arntzen Targets and at 25 yards I knocked the plate off the stand twice.  It moved the stand around as well.  Didn't dent the steel though.  

Nice range setup you have there.

I've run several hundred of the 240 gr Win white box ammo through my Mk XIX, and it's always run well for me. Only issue I've seen was someone shooting som Rem factory ammo through a Mk VII. It would cycle far enough to eject the empty, but wouldn't pick up the next round. Might have been some light 185 gr ammo.

I've got both .44 and .357 barrels for mine. Never felt a strong need for a .50 barrel, as anything I would need one for, I can do with the .44 just as well. Having said that, I wouldn't hesitate to pick one up if I came across a deal.

That's a picture is actually off of Arntzen Targets web site.  I just wanted to show what kind of target I was shooting and the stands.  I actually have 4 stands and 6 various size AR500 steel plates.  They are great targets.

http://www.arntzentargets.com

Shot another 50 round through it last week.  Trouble free.  Now waiting on a B/O of .44 Nosler  240 gr JSP.  I hate to shoot up my last couple hundred rounds with no projectiles to make more.  

Rethinking the need for a .50 barrel.  Seems projectiles and brass are somewhat hard to come by.  And what sucks most, no Lee Factory Crimp Die is available for .50AE.  That sucks.

Glad to hear your new DEP runs right!  You might want to keep an eye out at Widner's for surplus IMI bullets, as they have them in for cheap sometimes.  Unfortunately, they are currently out..

Oh yeah, you can also load 300gr in your .44 if you want it to hit more like the .50AE

I backordered 1000 Nosler 240 grain JSP from Mid South.  4 of the 250 packs.  They were like $52/250.  Best I had seen anyplace.

As for 300 grainers, I don't have much desire to duplicate the 50.  Regular old 44 is enough bang for me.  

one on ebay now;

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Magnum-Research-BAR506BC-Desert-Eagle-50-AE-6-Brushed-Chrome-Barrel-Mark-XIX-/271277110337?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item3f29603441

if your looking for magazines midway had some the other day.
and congrats on the deagle .

Yep, I picked up three of them

  HOGUE & TRIJICON  


RUGER SUPER REDHAWK .44 & DESERT EAGLE MKVII .44

Special finish for the SRH .44 / no TRIJICON on that one.

Congratulations on getting the DESERT EAGLE.  

Congrats on the DE, I really like my mark 7 in brushed stainless. Stock up on mags.