The Desert Eagle is a gas-operated, semi-automatic pistol known for chambering the .50 Action Express, the largest centerfire cartridge of any magazine-fed, self-loading pistol. The pistol is fired by a single action hammer and has a manual safety switch on the slide. The ambidextrous safety switch rotates a drum mechanism that sits over the firing pin, causing the firing pin to lock in, which prevents it from moving forward and reduces the possibility of the gun discharging accidentally. With the safety off, pulling the trigger releases, allowing the hammer to fall downward, hitting the firing pin, and causing the chambered round to discharge.
Name | Desert Eagle |
Type | Semi-automatic pistol |
Place of origin | United States/Israel |
Designed | 1979–1982 |
Produced | 1983–present |
Maximum firing range | 201 meters |
Sights | Iron sights and optional optics |