text: is a .50 caliber desert eagle legal in the us? if so, do they require a special permit (more so than just a simple handgun permit)?  how much $$$ should i expect to spend?  any answer for any of these questions would be appreciated. .50 cal dessert eagle ammo is different then the standard .50 cal m2 machine gun. the pistol is a semi automatic weapon capable of firing one round per trigger squeeze. it fires in single and double action. the ammo for the de is about 1.50 a round. the gun is not very accurate as the bushing tends to go out of them rather quickly due to the recoil force. you can pick one up for anywhere between 350 to 1500 bucks depending on the add ons and optics. you need only the standard permit in order to carry the weapon. you will however need a special range to shoot it at and will end up paying a great deal for the ammunition. if you are an avid shooter i would look into learning how to reload the ammunition this will save you a bundle and will allow you to tailor the grain load for target shooting and self protection.  robert henry  gunners mate