NRA Gun of the Week: Magnum Research Desert Eagle L5 Handgun

by
posted on September 24, 2016
** When you buy products through the links on our site, we may earn a commission that supports NRA's mission to protect, preserve and defend the Second Amendment. **

Magnum Research has made the Desert Eagle for the better part of 30 years, but it wasn’t until 2016 that the company released a lightweight version of its behemoth pistol. The Mark XIX L5 is built on an aluminum frame with a steel slide and 5” barrel. This combines to produce a weight just over 3 lbs., compared to its nearly 5 lb. big-bore predecessors. Chambered for .357 Mag., the L5 feeds from a nine-round-capacity detachable box magazine that. To learn a bit more and to see the Desert Eagle in action, check out this week’s NRA Gun of the Week video hosted by American Rifleman's Christopher Olsen.

For more information, visit magnumresearch.com.

Specifications:

Model: Desert Eagle Mark XIX L5
Manufacturer: Magnum Research
Action: single-action, gas-operated, semi-automatic pistol
Caliber: .357 Mag.
Frame: anodized aluminum
Slide: black carbon steel
Grips: Hogue rubber
Barrel: 5”, six-groove, 1:14” RH twist
Sights: black, notch rear; post front
Magazine: detachable box, nine-round capacity
Trigger: 6-lb., 7-oz. pull
Weight: 50 ozs.
MSRP: $1,790

Latest

More Suppressors 2
More Suppressors 2

NFA Wait Times Continue to Drop

In early 2021, it took the ATF about 280 days to process a Form 4 NFA transfer. In August 2026, using the recently implemented eForms system, that wait time had dropped to only nine days.

Pelican Air Carry-on Case Review

An industry staple just made air travel more convenient.

The ROSE Program by SIG Sauer: Empowering Women in Shooting Sports Across the Nation

The ROSE Program is a shooting program created specifically for women. It aims to create a community of women in shooting that can learn about shooting and self-defense.

I Have This Old Gun: French MAS-49

Despite being early adopters of several semi-automatic rifles for military use, the French army took several decades to work out a standardized semi-automatic rifle for general service use. The rifle that finally came to being was the MAS-49.

Polite Society Industries Launches with Complete Suppressor Line

"An armed society is a polite society," goes the famous quote, which is also the inspiration behind Polite Society Industries, a new suppressor manufacturer that now has a complete line available to consumers.

NRA-ILA Names Smith & Wesson Official Partner of the 2026 NRA Gun Bus Battleground Tour

Iconic American firearms maker Smith & Wesson will join NRA-ILA on the road as nation's leading firearm group turns out voters ahead of the 2026 midterm.

Interests



Get the best of American Rifleman delivered to your inbox.