Make sure to watch my Table Top Review for this pistol for if you have not already done so. In this Field Test Shooting portion of my review for the Umarex Magnum Research Baby Desert Eagle CO2 BB Pistol, I shoot 5 rounds through my Chronograph to find out if the claimed 410-420 fps is accurate or not. I also setup a paper target at my standard 30 foot range and shoot 10 rounds using a semi rested position (Standing in the back while resting the gun on a sand bag up front). I did not add any additional sight options to the rails on the Umarex Baby Desert Eagle but rather stuck with the open sights for this field test.
In terms of performance, the Umarex Magnum Research Baby Desert Eagle CO2 BB Pistol did pretty good for a really low cost BB gun with a rather long heavy unpredictable double action trigger. I was a bit surprised when I walked up to review the target to find just over a 2 inch group since while shooting it felt like I was pulling a many of the shots. The open sights are not adjustable in any way but I did shoot down the middle pretty well, but on the high side of the target. I would need to aim low to get this gun to shoot in the bulls-eye form 30 feet away. Either that or add some sort of sight to the top mounted picatinny rail.
My fps Chrony testing for the Umarex Baby Desert Eagle backed the claimed 410-420 fps claims from Umarex, I actually shot a 5 shot average of 417 fps so right on the money here and you may be able to expect even a bit more on a warm summer days since my test was done at moderate fall temperatures.
All in all a decent shooter, good fps, efficient on CO2 and for a heavy DOA trigger I was even able to get a respectable grouping.
Ammunition Capacity: 15 rounds - Internal spring fed magazine.
FPS: 420.
Trigger Pull: The trigger on the Umarex Baby Desert Eagle is double action only, it is a very long trigger that has a medium to heavy pull weight with a very long take up and unpredictable release point. Shooting accurately and controlled will take some time in the saddle so to speak but can be achieved. This pistol is really for plinking at pop cans and such, shooting off hand for fun. My full Field Test Shooting Review to follow shortly...
Build Quality: The Magnum Research Baby Desert Eagle is pretty much all plastic with some internal metal parts. The only actual working external parts are the trigger and the cross bolt safety. The slide catch, hammer, slide mounted safety and take down lever are all moulded into the plastic of the gun and are none functional. Even the magazine is internal so no need for a magazine release here! In the case of the Baby Desert Eagle, perhaps less is more since there is very little to break off or go wrong with this simplistic BB shooter ;)
Realism: This is a very close replica in terms of looks only (not to scale) to the real actual Magnum Research Desert Eagle with licensed trademarks and all. Keep in mind this is the "Baby" version so it is significantly smaller and lighter than the Pellet shooting full size Magnum Research Desert Eagle which could actually be a benefit to those with smaller hands. But again if we are simply talking about "looking like" a Desert Eagle than the Umarex Baby Desert Eagle does look the part, well except for the strange looking slide trigger.
Will fit smaller hands much better than the full sized Desert Eagle.
Has both a top and bottom picatinny rail for all your accessory mounting needs.
Magnum Research Licensed.
Not bad in terms of power, accuracy and CO2 usage combination.
Cons:
Mostly all plastic.
Very few actual working parts, only the trigger and cross bolt safety.
Trigger is very long and kind of unpredictable.
If you decide to mount the included top picatinny rail, you will not be able to use the pistols built in iron sights anymore.
Unsightly screw holes on the left side of this air pistol.
No drop out magazine of any type.
Comments:
OK, so I'm rarely thrilled with the lower budget plastic super simple BB pistols but they do have their place. The tend to work well and stay reliable since there are fewer parts and less mechanical gizmos to get messed up. When the shooting begins and the steel starts to fly, they point the same and they hit your target just the same and all for a lot less out of pocket fun. On the plus side the Umarex Baby Desert Eagle is a pretty decent looking Desert Eagle copy all be it a much smaller version so if you've always wanted the big boy version with it's super huge handle and rather steep price point, well now you can get it in a size and price reduced version that just may be all you really need...
Watch my YouTube Video Review for the Umarex Magnum Research Baby Desert Eagle:
This video is to give you a heads up on a few guns I will be reviewing shortly. Most of them are different version of guns I have already reviewed except for the Baby Desert Eagle which so far has eluded me :)
