44 Magnum Comparisons: Ruger Super Redhawk vs. Desert Eagle

Same Cartridge, Two Very Different Handguns

The .44 Magnum is most closely associated with the revolver, but it is also available in one of the most recognizable semi-automatic pistols ever made: the Desert Eagle .44 Magnum.

This provides an interesting opportunity to compare two handguns chambered for exactly the same cartridge but built around completely different operating systems. For this Gunsmith Rx project, I’ll put my Ruger Super Redhawk review alongside my Desert Eagle Mark XIX .44 Magnum.

The Ruger Super Redhawk is a traditional double-action revolver, while the Desert Eagle .44 Magnum is a gas-operated semi-automatic pistol. They may fire the same cartridge, but almost everything about how they handle and operate is distinct.

What I want to compare

Rather than simply shooting both and deciding which one I prefer, I want to compare them in a way that offers useful insights into the .44 Magnum shooting experience.

I will look at:  

- Accuracy  

- Felt recoil  

- Handling  

- Trigger characteristics  

- Follow-up shots  

- Reliability  

- Overall shooting experience

Where practical, the same ammunition will be used in both guns to ensure that the firearm itself becomes the main variable.

Measuring Velocity

I also want to chronograph the ammunition through both handguns.  

Barrel length, operating system, and the way each firearm handles the .44 Magnum cartridge may produce differences worth measuring rather than just guessing.

Using the same ammunition in both guns should give us a useful look at what those differences actually amount to.

This isn't really about picking a winner

The comparison is not about declaring one handgun the winner. A large revolver and a large semi-automatic pistol are designed around very different ideas.

What I want to find out is:  

- Where each one excels  

- Where each one gives something up  

- How different the same .44 Magnum cartridge feels when fired through two very different platforms.  

- Whether the measurable results match what we feel while shooting them

The goal isn't to determine which .44 Magnum is better; it's to discover how differently two very distinct handguns use the same cartridge.