357 DE Question

LSUAdman · 03-22-2012, 20:00

For you DEagle fans, what do you think of the .357 version? Are they reliable? Worth it or just a gimmick of the real version?

The reason I ask is that I find larger calibers to be obnoxious, and I know I wouldnt shot a .50AE as much as I would a .357.

Should I just hold out and wait to get the real thing? What are you guys' suggestions?

SAWMAN · 03-24-2012, 05:46

The 357Mag DE's are extremely reliable. There are several concerns that have to be addressed though.

First,always use full power ammo. The weapon being what it is,the way it is built,their recoil spring system,needs the recoil impulse of the full power stuff. Same as my 44Mag older(MKI) DE. Second,even though the weapon is large/heavy,don't limp wrist it. The reliability will surely suffer. Third,keep it clean and keep it "wet'. When I clean mine(Break Free CLP) I do not attempt to wipe it completely dry. I also put a very small dab of grease on the slide rails and other "strategic" places.

I also did a F&B on my weapon when I first bought it. Feed ramp,chamber,mag lips,and others were polished to a chrome like shine.

BUT.........to me a DE chambered in 357mag is a real waste. There are much better 357mags floating around out there. And weapons that are simi-autos that produce the power of a 357mag. You should consider stepping up to a 44 or a 50,especially for hunting. --- SAWMAN

Veedubklown · 03-24-2012, 20:15

.357 sig was made to replicate the power of the .357, in a handgun. More options for the cartridge that's kinda hard to find. But, there's conversion options usually for those guns. Unless you just have to have a desert eagle, and the only caliber that makes sense is the .357. I agree.

LSUAdman · 03-24-2012, 21:02

Thanks guys for the responses. It's not so much that I have to have a DE, it's that I'd like to hav one in my collection and have it to pass along to the next generation. Most of my guns fall along the lines for being able to feed the same calibers.

There I hit a wall is that there is nothing else that I know of or want that shoots 50AE, and 44Mag doesnt impress me. I have other .357s, so this gives me an in to the DE market without having to aquire another caliber.

Plus, unless reloading, buying 44Mag and 50AE just looks hard on the pocketbook for recreational shooting.

I'll have to think it over some more. In the past I've heard mixed reviews of the .357 version, so I wanted to see if the fears were warrented or if improvements were made (or if people were making much ado about nothing).

BigEAGLE · 03-25-2012, 08:35

just get one in 357 and if you ever decide to sell it to some one or pass it down they can get the other barrels/bolt/mags to convert it to the bigger calibers. any DE in any caliber is cool as heck

i love my .50! ammo is expensive but reloading cut the price down allot!

bac1023 · 04-07-2012, 21:35

I've always felt the DE was just too big for the 357mag. I never understood the point.

If you want a 357mag auto, get a Coonan.

**DJ Niner** · 04-07-2012, 22:05

I owned a .357 DE for about a year back in the early 90s. When clean and lubed, it ran reliably with 125-158 JHP/JSP ammo, but not with 110 grain loads. After it was dirty, even the 125s were a bit "iffy" in the reliability department. In recoil it was very mild-mannered, and it threw the brass consistently in a fairly small area. Accuracy was nothing spectacular, probably due to the trigger pull (heavy/gritty). I shot some good groups off the bench, but nothing I couldn't beat with several different revolvers. It took me forever to find a decent holster for it, and then when I did, it felt like I was wearing a small nylon sleeping bag on my belt, with a brick in the bottom of it.

I might be wrong on this, but I believe the early .357 guns are not convertible to larger calibers using parts from the later versions. The only reason I remember this, is because it contributed to me getting rid of the one I owned.

After the "cool" factor wore-off, it got traded away. I was bad about doing that, back then. Having fired most of the DE guns in various calibers, I'd also recommend the .44 for general use, but if the ammo commonality angle is important to you, then it's probably the best current reason to buy/own a .357 DE.

RYT 2BER · 04-08-2012, 08:58

I must agree with many if these posts.. I love my de is 44 mag and in 50ae... to me 357 just isn't large enough to justify the large gun.

44 mag is a pleasure to shoot in it and gives much of the oomph .....

If you're not looking for the crazy power of the 50 I think 44 is the way to go.

LSUAdman · 04-08-2012, 12:31

Thanks guys- I appreciate the additional comments. I think I am going to shy away from the .357 version. I might look into the .44, mostly cause I think I can load up on that easier than .50AE in this area.

Seems to me .50AE is a better cartridge if you able to load your own - which is also on the long term want list of mine.

bac1023 · 04-10-2012, 21:36

Quote:

Originally Posted by LSUAdman

Thanks guys- I appreciate the additional comments. I think I am going to shy away from the .357 version. I might look into the .44, mostly cause I think I can load up on that easier than .50AE in this area.

Seems to me .50AE is a better cartridge if you able to load your own - which is also on the long term want list of mine.

I actually think the 50AE is the only cartridge worth shooting in the DE.

For 44mag, I just use one of my revolvers chambered for it.