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

Springfield Armory Model 2020 Boundary Gotw 1
Springfield Armory Model 2020 Boundary Gotw 1

Gun of the Week: Springfield Armory Model 2020 Boundary

While the company's initial Model 2020 Waypoint design was intended to be more of a precision platform, Springfield has since come out with several field-ready variants of the Model 2020, including the Boundary.

Standing Guard | The NRA and Freedom’s 250th

A quarter of a millennium ago this July 4, John Hancock was the first to sign the Declaration of Independence.

The Supreme Court Goes 9-0 on United States v. Hemani

In United States v. Hemani, The Supreme Court decided that the federal statute that prohibits the possession or ownership of firearms by a person who “is an unlawful user of or addicted to any controlled substance” violates the Second Amendment when applied to regular marijuana users.

FN Improves Iconic MAG Machine Gun

The FN MAG, better known to Americans as the M240 machine gun, has been in U.S. military service since 1976, and this year, the platform has gotten some serious upgrades.

Switching It Up In West Texas: The WTO SwitchLug System

The SwitchLug by WTO is designed for popular rifles, and it’s a modern system that doesn’t require buying new rifle.

President’s Column | On a Scale of One to 10, Houston Was a 20

As they say, the 2026 Annual Members’ Meeting in Houston is a wrap. More than 73,000 freedom-loving Second Amendment supporters—the highest number since the COVID pandemic—joined us for three days of celebrating freedom.

Interests



Get the best of American Rifleman delivered to your inbox.