I just picked up my first Desert Eagle. Its an Israeli Mark-XIX .50AE.  I would like to know if there is a consensus on the appropriate grip tightness for avoiding limp-wristing malfunctions?

I shoot 9mm very frequently ,as my work gun is a 9mm.  I also shoot .45 on a less frequent basis.  I feel that my static grip tightness is pretty firm, however after reading the numerous opinions on the subject I feel a temptation to grip the DEP very tightly, so tightly that it is distracting.  When I've been focusing on my trigger pull and sight picture I have found the gun to be supremely accurate.  I feel that when I am super concerned about a deathgrip on the gun I am much more prone to flinching.

Thoughts?

When you practice with any hunting (or combat) handgun, grip it like you're trying to squeeze juice out of it. Because that's how you'll be gripping it when there's a buck (or a bad guy) in front of you.

Push with your strong hand, pull with your weak one. Above all, fully extend your arms.

Try the opposite approach. Grip and shoot it like you do with your 9mm. If it functions like that, you're good to go. If not, work on increasing your grip until it works.

Keep in mind, it's not actually the tightness of your grip that does it. You have to keep the frame relatively stationary, so the slide can cycle against it. If you let the recoil push the frame around, there isn't enough energy left to run the slide past it. (Does that make sense?)

Sideways, playa.

Just hoss down on that mutha fucka like a boss and start blasting preferably sideways gangsta style


Sorry man just could not resisit

Here's the Magnum Research recommended how to shoot the Desert Eagle instructions.

I've found it's more about how the rest of your body is positioned than grip strength.  If you've got good solidly-locked elbows and wrists, and lean into it a little to put some weight behind it, it'll cycle just fine with a normal grip.  The beefy slide and solid action will do a pretty good job of eating most of the felt recoil.