4" S&W 500mag vs Desert Eagle 50AE Auto?

TheZman13 said:

Thanks for the info ..thats good too know. I would have went with the USA one. Are the Israeli DE made better?

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The difference is like comparing a new Smith & Wesson revolver towards one made in the 1950's era . Israeli Military industries ( IMI ) is considered by many to be the greatest weapons manufacturer in the world.Back in the 90's IMI refused to incorporate some design changes that Magnum research suggested and let the contract walk away.The result was a pretty poor performer made by Sacco Defense in ME.It returned to being produced by IMI, then later to Israeli Weapons industries ( IWI ) the civilian owned small arms division at IMI.Once Kahr arms purchased Magnum Research ,production returned to the United states in Pillager MN.You can still get some new ones that are being made simultaneously at IWI for less money than the current ones made in US. Reason for this is Kahr and Magnum Research are selling the Israeli version closer to cost to build value in their American made line up.Hope this helps.

Laketime said:

The difference is like comparing a new Smith & Wesson revolver towards one made in the 1950's era . Israeli Military industries ( IMI ) is considered by many to be the greatest weapons manufacturer in the world.Back in the 90's IMI refused to incorporate some design changes that Magnum research suggested and let the contract walk away.The result was a pretty poor performer made by Sacco Defense in ME.It returned to being produced by IMI, then later to Israeli Weapons industries ( IWI ) the civilian owned small arms division at IMI.Once Kahr arms purchased Magnum Research ,production returned to the United states in Pillager MN.You can still get some new ones that are being made simultaneously at IWI for less money than the current ones made in US. Reason for this is Kahr and Magnum Research are selling the Israeli version closer to cost to build value in their American made line up.Hope this helps.

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Thanks.. I ll keep that in mind when looking.

Laketime said:

Do some research on the gun ,or better yet find a club range that rents one and see for yourself.Many videos out there with 200 yd shots with the Eagle1

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Rent one? Really?? The result is dependent upon my skill not the inherent accuracy of the gun. Want results, get a shooter of considerable skill and experience with both guns and run them in a Ransom Rest. No other test has any validity.

Otherwise it is "I caught this big fish" line braggadocio. I saw someone on the Ruger forum claim he shot 2" groups at 25 offhand with a 2.5" barreled SP101. Maybe, just maybe, Jerry Michulek could do that, 99.9% of shooters can't. Easy to be a keyboard commando and make generalized statement. Don

DonD said:

Rent one? Really?? The result is dependent upon my skill not the inherent accuracy of the gun. Want results, get a shooter of considerable skill and experience with both guns and run them in a Ransom Rest. No other test has any validity.

Otherwise it is "I caught this big fish" line braggadocio. I saw someone on the Ruger forum claim he shot 2" groups at 25 offhand with a 2.5" barreled SP101. Maybe, just maybe, Jerry Michulek could do that, 99.9% of shooters can't. Easy to be a keyboard commando and make generalized statement. Don

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You might be one of the few who have not heard of this weapons inherent accuracy.I urge you again to do some more research before you continue to attack both me and this weapon Keyboard Cammando Style.

I have a 500 S&W and love it, but it wouldn't surprize me at all to find that the DE is more accurate.

1 1 chamber vs 5 chambers.
2 Chamber is integral to the barrel and is not dependent on timing and cylinder lock up.
3 tighter headspace and a positive lockup
4 no forcing cone or need for one.

Rifles are inherently more accurate than revolvers for many of these reasons. A DE with a longer barrel and a stock would be very similar to a rotary bolt rifle.

Most semi auto pistols have to have a certain amount of freeplay in the parts to cycle. But, not one with a fixed barrel and a rotary locking mechanism.

Would I trade my 500 for a DE 50? NO.
More flexibility in ammo choices because no need to stay in certain parameters to properly function
Has more accuracy than I have ability.
I am a S&W revolver guy.

steelslaver said:

I have a 500 S&W and love it, but it wouldn't surprize me at all to find that the DE is more accurate.

1 1 chamber vs 5 chambers.
2 Chamber is integral to the barrel and is not dependent on timing and cylinder lock up.
3 tighter headspace and a positive lockup
4 no forcing cone or need for one.

Rifles are inherently more accurate than revolvers for many of these reasons. A DE with a longer barrel and a stock would be very similar to a rotary bolt rifle.

Most semi auto pistols have to have a certain amount of freeplay in the parts to cycle. But, not one with a fixed barrel and a rotary locking mechanism.

Would I trade my 500 for a DE 50? NO.
More flexibility in ammo choices because no need to stay in certain parameters to properly function
Has more accuracy than I have ability.
I am a S&W revolver guy.

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All good points. I love Revolvers myself. I just bought a new S&W Performance Center 327 2" .357 mag. Its my new carry gun. I love it. its so light and very comfy carrying appendix style. Nothin like 8 shots of .357 mag for carry. Lol. Anyway. Even just watching youtube you can tell the DE 50 AE has a lot less recoil and is easier to shoot. Many videos where there shooting them side by side. Both hand out substantial damage to the targets. Its really 2 different animals. Auto or Revolver. Pick your poison basically. And honestly ive come to the conclusion that want both. Lol... BUT. For now my budget is only good for 1 as ive been on a gun buying kick the last couple months. Hell the S&W 327 .357 I just picked up was $1,200.. And its looing lie the DE 50 are running around $1,600 for the cheap black one. And prices go way up from there!! I can get a new 500 for $1,005 at my local.. Its looking like the 500 will be the first out of the 2 purchased for now. I think the 500 4" with an Eotech sight or similar would be a cool set up!

All this crapola about accuracy drives me nuts. Both of these guns will out shoot any of us any day.

I've been shooting for 50 yrs. Any quality firearm with the proper load in the proper hands will shoot accurately. Most of us make them look bad.

It is the rare exception to find a shooter that can expose any weakness of a quality gun.

I have been shooting long range handguns in IHMSA competition
since the late 70s..Targets @ 200 meters are the norm in the game..
Every action you can think of come to the 200meter line.. All but autos.
Never an auto. But Why...They simply DO NOT have the accuracy........

sw282 said:

I have been shooting long range handguns in IHMSA competition
since the late 70s..Targets @ 200 meters are the norm in the game..
Every action you can think of come to the 200meter line.. All but autos.
Never an auto. But Why...They simply DO NOT have the accuracy........

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You appear to be the exception to which I referred...99% of us couldn't have that conversation with you. I have never even attempted a serious 200 yd shot with ANY handgun!

I didn't say that guns are equal...only that few shooters can find the real difference. Do you disagree?

sw282 said:

I have been shooting long range handguns in IHMSA competition
since the late 70s..Targets @ 200 meters are the norm in the game..
Every action you can think of come to the 200meter line.. All but autos.
Never an auto. But Why...They simply DO NOT have the accuracy........

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The Desert Eagle is not built like a regular auto tho.

TheZman13 said:

Thank you for your response. But i wasnt really comparing the 2 rounds.

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No problem. Guess I misunderstood?

TheZman13 said:

I know the 500 S&W bullet is a little more powerful then the 50AE but how would it compare out of these 2 guns? So a standard 50AE out round of a 6" barrel vs a standard typical (not hot)500 S&W round out of a 3.75 inch barrel..?? I have a feeling the ballistics would be fairly close.

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Still largely apples vs squash. The .500 is capable of more ft ln , and more significantly bullet weights of 500gr plus.

That said, the OP probably wants the Desert Eagle, least ways he will enjoy it more.

The Desert Eagle is more accurate than typical semiautos, and generally comparable to decent revolvers. The .500 can be extremely accurate at really, really long range. The DE is more than avcurate enough for any distance you realisticly would use it.

And the DE is fun to shoot., recoil being in neighborhood of .44mag in an N frame. If the OP has a need for extreme penetration, he already has a .454.

BLUEDOT37 said:

No problem. Guess I misunderstood?



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Basically I already know the 500 is more powerful. So I wasn't just comparing the 2 rounds based on there ability I was comparing how much of a difference regular store bought ammo (since I don't reload) would compare out of those 2 particular guns the 4" 500 vs the 6" 50ae. because I know the 4" 500 loses velocity because of the short barrel where the 50ae would be running with its standard barrel. Both are firing the same size bullet. So if buy a box of Ultramax ammo for the 500 like I did when I used to own one the velocity says 1,400fps on the box. and from what I understand the 4" 500 loses about 200fps from the shorter barrel. Most 50ae ammo ive looked at has about 1,500fps velocity printed on the box and the DE I would purchase would have the standard 6" barrel and would not be losing any velocity. So with that ammo in particular the the 4" would be spiting a .50 out at around 1,200fps vs the 1,500fps out of the 50ae. Even if you buy the hotter ammo for the 500 at 1,800 to 2,000fps you still because of the shorter barrel be running close to the DE just a little more. That's why I said it wasn't about the 2 rounds it was more about the 4" 500 vs the 50ae DE.. Because those are the 2 guns I was interested in.

Biggfoot44 said:

Still largely apples vs squash. The .500 is capable of more ft ln , and more significantly bullet weights of 500gr plus.

That said, the OP probably wants the Desert Eagle, least ways he will enjoy it more.

The Desert Eagle is more accurate than typical semiautos, and generally comparable to decent revolvers. The .500 can be extremely accurate at really, really long range. The DE is more than avcurate enough for any distance you realisticly would use it.

And the DE is fun to shoot., recoil being in neighborhood of .44mag in an N frame. If the OP has a need for extreme penetration, he already has a .454.

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Makes wonder. If I did get the 4" .500 smith! What would do more damage on lets say a black bear or whitetail deer my 6.5 inch Ruger Super Black Hawk Bisley 454 or the 4" 500 Smith and Wesson? ummm...

Another issue, my DE would eject spent brass right into my forehead. Once leaving a semi-circle imprint that drew blood. At 25yds, mine shot 3" right & 2" high at 25yds....not good for non-adjustable sights.

Not having the option of shooting cast bullets was the final straw.

I think the 500's meplat of a 440gr lbt-wfn (see HSM Bear Load) would do all the damage you should need.

44wheelman said:

Another issue, my DE would eject spent brass right into my forehead. Once leaving a semi-circle imprint that drew blood. At 25yds, mine shot 3" right & 2" high at 25yds....not good for non-adjustable sights.

Not having the option of shooting cast bullets was the final straw.

I think the 500's meplat of a 440gr lbt-wfn (see HSM Bear Load) would do all the damage you should need.

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If I would ever get a DE I would definitely take advantage of the top rail system and install a red dot. I think they were built for a scope or red dot. Probably why they don't bother even putting adjustable sights on them. I agree a 440gr HSM Bear load out of a 500 would take pretty much anything in North America down. Still would wonder what would do a better job the 4" 500 or 6.5" Ruger at it? If I do get the gun I'm going to do some testing between the 2 on various targets. There is a small part of me that just says get the 8" barrel but at that size and weight you mise well take a rifle that's actually why I went with the Ruger for its light weight. And why id rather the 4" 500..

I would understand if some think I'm being a grump here. Having said that, I think the 50DE is somewhat neat, I just don't have quite enough interest to spend the $ as I have two S&W 500 Mags with which to get my big bore fun out of. Don

DonD said:

I would understand if some think I'm being a grump here. Having said that, I think the 50DE is somewhat neat, I just don't have quite enough interest to spend the $ as I have two S&W 500 Mags with which to get my big bore fun out of. Don

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My problem is I'm a big bore hand gun addict. I just love them. I already have a 454 casull which is more then enough gun for anything that walks. I use to have the 8" 500 but sold it and regret selling it so I want another. And the .50 ae DE peeks my interest as well. It would be cool to have a big 50 cal Auto to the collection I want to build.. Heck I want them all. Throw some Magnum Research BFR's on that list as well in JRH and others. Its a sickness. And lately I have the fever again. lol

Definition of "Damage" ?

Much like self defense ammo, at a certain point hunting ammo also become a philosophical debate of really , really large diameter wound channels , vs really, really, really deep wound channels. It's been debated ever since the first campfire and the first adult beverage shared by mammoth hunters.

A .50AE , loaded with say a 325 gr Gold Dot at AE vels will make really, really wide wound channel through a the chest of a deer or black bear.

A .500, loaded with 500gr cast bullet at similar velocities would go lengthwise through an elk, and 2 or 3 deer on the other side if everthing lined up for you. But zip through a mere deer with no expansion.

Presuming for imeadate discussion "typical" handgun hunting distances of up to 100yd -ish, inherently limited by terrain, vegetation, and marksmanship skills of 90% plus of hunters.

On deer-ish sized game, extreme penetration would be superfluous on the far side. If you had to shoot through multiple grizzly bear shoulders , the AE penetration wpuld probably be too shallow. So which is more important to you.

( Yrs for Devil's advocate, you could handload against stereotype, cast 325gr -ish in AE, and light weight jhp at rifle like vels in .500, but eh .)

Meanwhile you can one handed plink with a Desert Eagle ( ok,, I can, but I'm beefy with gorrilla hands) and enjoy it.

Another perspective , factory ammo for 50AE is hard to find at a lgs, and is expensive, but is not too unpleasant to shoot. 500 ammo is all but impossable to find locally, but if you do , two boxes of 20 will set you back the price of a used shotgun. And any loading vaguely moderate will need to be handloaded


For .50 , handloaded will be quite helpful. For .500, it is essentially mandatory.

Ps,and I own a .500, but that's it own long story. From the OP's criteria, he'd be well served , and happier with a DE.

44wheelman said:

Another issue, my DE would eject spent brass right into my forehead. Once leaving a semi-circle imprint that drew blood.

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I had a DE in 50AE. It also would eject brass right into my forehead with 300gr and heavier bullets. Anything lighter and the brass would whiz by my right ear. I called the factory about the problem and they said I was limp wristing the gun. Not so.

I had a Leupold 2X scope mounted on mine and it was very accurate at 100yds. I don't remember the group size and never shot at more distance but it was very accurate. Recoil was minimal due to the weight.