Desert Eagle
 

I was in Cabela's in Reno the other day last week and saw a beautiful one for sale!

It was in the pre-owned case, offered at $1,395. (Is that a good price?) Or would it be better to wait awhile? Isn't it probable that a decent one is likely to fetch a good price in good times or bad?

Now I am no expert, but know a weapon like that is WAAAY too much for me to handle (it'd be my first gun purchase) but I was thinking of getting one as a way to diversify my "investment portfolio" - but as an investment that would be solid, and easy to sell, maybe even at a profit if/when the US dollar tanks....which I believe is a real possibility; more money is being printed by the Government like crazy!

~~~

I was told at Cabela's that purchasing this weapon in Nevada would present big trouble for me as a resident of California and a big and possibly insurmountable problem, because the Desert Eagle is subject to the California "Three Drop Rule".

So I went home without it.

It certainly would be nice if there was UNIFORMITY in all the State and federal laws regarding weapons purchases....I would think; though I am admittedly really ignorant about this...

You would probably be better off with a Colt Python or some desired variant of a Colt 1911 if investment is your goal. You could fire .38 Special out of the Python which would offer controllable recoil for a novice shooter, IMO.

From about 1917 until about 1980, or whenever it was that the Baretta took the place of the 1911 in the US Military, MILLIONS of "novice shooters" trained, learned and qualified with the 1911 in .45 ACP. It's not as if Jim is some 90 pound weakling. The recoil operated automatic soaks up the energy and makes the round quite managable. I'm sure that Jim could quickly gain proficiency with one.

I gathered up my .45's a long time ago, so I'm not at all familiar with today's values. I am sure that Hatteras and others will be along soon to get you up to speed on that part of the question.

I remember my first time that I shot a 1911. It was more than a little snappy. My thought was to use the relatively heavy Python to fire the comparatively tame .38 factory loads, then segue to the perkier .357 cartridge. Your mileage may vary...

There is a Desert Eagle version of the 1911 that sells for about $800. If I ever buy a gun, it will be a 1911.

alabbasi makes a good point.

The Desert Eagle is a double action pistol. Once you get into double action vs. single action with pistol folks, you will quickly enter a ford/chevy argument.

If double action is what you want, then that's fine. I personally prefer single action because of the crisp trigger that can be set up on one. The double action trigger pull is something takes some getting used to. It's all totally personal preference.

A Desert Eagle 1911 version would save money, give you a pistol easier to learn to shoot accurately and keep you in the CLASSIC 1911 area. I'm not sure how the DA pistol will fare in the future Colt pistol market.

Here is one of my .45's. It's my home made answer to the Desert Eagle:

I guess the automatic vs. wheelgun is another ford/chevy argument. Again, it's all about personal preference.

:eek::eek::eek::eek::eek: that guns too scary looking to be legal larry!:eek::eek::eek:

Never could see the point of a Desert Eagle myself. But there will probably always be someone out there somewhere that would buy one so as an investment there might be some point to it.

I'm in the local Cabelas several times a week. Just bought some 22LR at luch about an hour ago in fact. And there are always huge numbers of 1911's in the shelves. They just don't seem to move as much as the newer sigglocksaurwonder things.

- Peter.

I wonder what the demographics of a pistol buyer are today? If they're getting older, they may not relate to more modern pistol designs. More Buick Lucerne buyers, fewer Camaroistas.

From what I can see I doubt they're getting older. Proably part of the reason 1911's sit on the shelves while other stuff flies off of it. I myself bought two pistols recently. Both Hi-Point's. A 9 and a 45. Just don't have somewhere between 600 to several thousand for a 1911.

- Peter.

I completely misread your post. I took from it that the 1911's were selling more quickly than the more modern designs.

I'm not a gun owner or so much a gun appreciator, but from all accounts, it appears that Highpoint is to pistols what Harbor freight is to tools.
Now I buy some stuff at Harbor freight because I don't make a living with my tools, so it would not matter too much if one breaks while I use it. However, I can't even imagine the consequences of a gun failing when you need to use it.

For that reason, I would never consider a Highpoint pistol or a Harbor freight parachute :)

You would have had to get it shipped to a CA FFL, who will check if its on the CA roster. Then do your safety certificate (a joke of a test) and wait the 10 days + background check.

Plan on adding a couple of extra hundred bucks for the transfer fee etc.

Most out of state retailers wont even consider a CA buyer for obvious reasons.

Yeah I know. That's what everyone thinks. However that's crap. They are simple, tough, accurate and reliable. It's entirely possible they can have problems but that's no different than any other piece of machinery.

I paid 80 bucks for one, 220 for the other. I have no complaints about either of them.

I have a Ruger 22/45 MKIII that utterly refuses to chamber hollow point ammo. Ruger screwed up in the manufacturing of the magazines. I have four and all of them have the same problem. I just use only round nose in it. I would say so far my two Hi-Points have been far more reliable than the Ruger.

- Peter.