First Look: Magnum Research Lightweight Desert Eagle

Weighing in at almost five pounds, the stout Desert Eagle has always demanded two-fisted handling. Now, Magnum Research is proud to introduce two new models, the Desert Eagle L5 and L6,  in a lighter weight version.

The Desert Eagle L5 and the L6 weigh in almost a pound or 2 pounds lighter than other similar Desert Eagle products.

The new Mark XIX L5 in .357 Magnum is offered with an all new five-inch barrel length and features a hard-coat anodized black aluminum frame, black carbon steel slide and barrel, and Hogue finger groove rubber grips. The pistol also has Magnum Research's widely popular integral muzzle brake.

The new lighter version of this popular Desert Eagle .357 is 2 pounds 9 oz. (3 lbs. 2 oz./50 oz. with an empty magazine) which also makes it New York State-compliant. Overall length is 9.75 inches, height is 6.25 inches and the slide width is 1.25 inches. The Desert Eagle L5 comes with one nine-round magazine and suggested retail is $1,790.

Magnum Research also addressed the need for a lighter weight Desert Eagle in their popular .50 AE model. The Mark XIX L6 weighs just 3 pounds 7 oz. — nearly 12 oz. lighter than other similar Desert Eagle models. It is offered with a hard-coat anodized black aluminum frame with a stainless steel slide and integral muzzle break barrel, attractive black appointments and features a picatinny rail on the frame. Overall length is 10.75 inches, height is 6.25 inches, and the slide width is 1.25 inches.

The single-action pistol has a 4-pound trigger pull. The L6 ships with one 7-round magazine and the suggested retail price for the Desert Eagle L6 is $2,054. The new lightweight Desert Eagles take the same magazines as the current steel models.

"Magnum Research has had tremendous success with the iconic Desert Eagle for over 30 years now, but we wanted to address the need for a lighter weight product," said Frank Harris, vice president of Marketing and Sales. "We offered our first sneak peek of this product at SHOT Show in January 2015, and with the tremendous amount of interest at the show, we knew that these models were going to be a huge success."

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Both the lightweight L5 and the L6 will be available for shipping in early 2016.