diamondback 38spl accuracy opinions.

[picturerock]

For those who have owned and/or shot a Colt Diamondback in 38spl, what has been your experience with accuracy, and what seems to shoot best? I will not be using +p's, only normal loads, as I hear that the action is a bit weak. How does it compare with similar S&W models? Opinions appreciated.

 

[thatguy]

The action is not weak and they shoot just fine.

 

[dfariswheel]

The similar S&W models are the small S&W "J" framed "kit guns".
These, like the Diamondback are small framed revolvers with adjustable sights.

The Diamondback will typically out-shoot these small S&W revolvers for a number of reasons.

The Diamondback was a higher grade gun than the usual S&W counterparts.

The Colt had a higher quality barrel, with a faster rifling twist that stabilized the bullet better.

The old Colt action was noted for producing better consistent accuracy then S&W's due to the old Colt "bank vault" lockup which allowed the bullet to enter the bore in perfect alignment, reducing deformation of the bullet.

Another advantage of the Colt was it's availability with a 6" barrel.

Last, the Diamondback's frame and cylinder was slightly larger and noticeably stronger than the S&W "J" frame revolvers.
This extra size made it easier to shoot the revolver well.

Best accuracy is a matter of finding THE load or brand that THAT specific revolver "likes".
Typically, the classic 148 grain, wad cutter, Mid-range target load will be the most accurate.

For defense loads, again, it's a matter of trying different brands/types to find the most accurate in that revolver.

 

[Starter52]

I agree with dferiswheel that the most accurate load for the Diamondback is the 148 gr. WC.
I shot a 4" Diamondback all through the 1980's. It would cloverleaf five .38 WC's at 50 feet. I never should have let that gun go.

 

[BigG]

Hi dfariswheel: Is the Diamondback built on the same frame as the Detective Special? If it is, would it be similar to a duded up Police Positive? Thanks in advance!

 

[dfariswheel]

The Colt Diamondback used the same frame as the Colt Detective Special, Police Positive Special, and all other Colt's based on the "D" frame.

The old Police Positive and Police Positive Special were the grand daddy's of all the small frame Colt revolvers, and all later guns are simply variations on them.

In that respect, the Diamondback is just a Cadillac, chrome-loaded, leather seated, version of the Police Positive Special Chevy.

 

[Peter M. Eick]

Here is 50 shots, 15 yards, double action, offhand with hot 158 grn lead loads.

I don't shoot the diamondback as well as I used to but I tend to shoot it less. I have shot mine a lot so I want to keep it nice. It is certainly capable of more then this target shows, but since I show the good ones, I also show the bad ones.

 

[Gordon]

I only own one Diamondback; a 6" .22 mag.. Before it became so rare (they made VERY few such configurations) in the 90's I shot it a few hundred times in the 80's(wouldn't dare to now) and it was the most accurate .22mag revolver I've ever shot-by far. The thing would produce sub 1" groups ,sand bagged , at 25yards indoors with my 40 something year old eyes(60 now ).
I have a police positive 4" shrouded barrel .38spl made in the early 80's that ain't too shabby either. With those 148 grain mid range wadcutters it has shot 2" groups at 25yards,rested , even as late as a couple years ago.My K-38 won't quite do that .

 

[Standing Wolf]

If you put good stocks on a Diamondback—not the @#$%^&! stocks it wore the day it left the factory—there's no reason it shouldn't shoot as well as a Python. They were class act revolvers.

 

[GrantCunningham]

For those who have owned and/or shot a Colt Diamondback in 38spl, what has been your experience with accuracy, and what seems to shoot best? I will not be using +p's, only normal loads, as I hear that the action is a bit weak.

:banghead:

No, it's not you - it's the seemingly perennial assertions that somehow Colt revolvers are "weak."

While dealing specifically with Pythons, what I've said in the post below is equally applicable to the "D" frame models (including your Diamondback):

http://grantcunningham.blogspot.com/2006/01/is-colt-python-delicate.html

 

[medmo]

"The Colt Diamondback used the same frame as the Colt Detective Special, Police Positive Special, and all other Colt's based on the "D" frame.

The old Police Positive and Police Positive Special were the grand daddy's of all the small frame Colt revolvers, and all later guns are simply variations on them.

In that respect, the Diamondback is just a Cadillac, chrome-loaded, leather seated, version of the Police Positive Special Chevy."

Mr. Dfariswheel,

You are stating what Bob Milek used to say about these guns. As an owner of a few D frames I don't agree. The 4" D frame diamondback is about as balanced as a revolver can get. There is a huge difference between a post war police positive and a diamondback with a 4" bbl in 38 spec. Pick them up and feel the difference.

 

[picturerock]

Thats an interesting article on the maintenance needed by the "hand" in Colt revolvers. Any idea how many rounds, estimated of course, of normal strength 38spl it would take to get a revolver like this to the point of needing this maintenance? I'm asking just so I know when to start looking for wear regularly. 1000? more? or less?

 

[Jbar4Ranch]

I have three Diamondbacks, one .22 and two .38's, all four inchers. All have great SA and DA triggers, and all are very accurate. These are three of my very favorites out of a collection of... well, a LOT.

 

[GrantCunningham]

Thats an interesting article on the maintenance needed by the "hand" in Colt revolvers. Any idea how many rounds, estimated of course, of normal strength 38spl it would take to get a revolver like this to the point of needing this maintenance? I'm asking just so I know when to start looking for wear regularly. 1000? more? or less?

It depends.

Seriously though, if the hand is correctly fitted they'll last a long time. An example: a few years back I acquired a badly treated Diamondback, and (of course) did a full action job on it, which included fitting a new hand. I've now got a bit over 3,000 rounds on the gun and the lockup is still correct.

(You should check a Colt for wear whenever you clean it, BTW.)

 

[picturerock]

I usually clean soon after firing, but you know that after a range session there is that giddy, euphoric, spacey, totally jazzed feeling in the old brain from all the banging, recoil, smoke and flash, so sometimes my concentration isn't up to a good detailed wear inspection. Other than the hand, any other wear points to look for in a Colt? This is my first Colt, so I'm without experience in the differences that there may be from other brands. Thanks in advance.

 

[Dr.Rob]

I've shot a Diamondback... pretty much the bee's knees in .38s but a bit heavy for its size. With wadcutters it's scary accurate.

I wouldn't mind owning one.

 

[Peter M. Eick]

The gun shown above has 47,000 rounds fired out of it. It has had 2 trips to colt for retiming and parts. It is a great shooter and just a lot of fun to bang away at a target with.

1000 rounds is a decent range session now adays. I would not worry about wearing it out that quickly.

 

[dfariswheel]

The secret to making an old style Colt action last is....Don't abuse it.

Abuse is firing it double action by jerking the trigger as hard and fast as you can, force cocking the hammer in single action by yanking the hammer back forcefully, "Bogarting" the gun by opening and closing the cylinder by flipping your wrist, or by shooting hot ammo.

 

[Old Fuff]

The secret to making an old style Colt action last is....Don't abuse it.

I agree. I have gone through an endless number of Police Positive, Police Positive Special, Army Special and others dating from the early 1920's through 1940, and all of them were loose when I got them. (I got them that way on purpose, as the price was too good to pass up) After a little work they were tight again, and with few exceptions no parts had to be replaced. Once serviced they were tight, and have stayed that way.

I know of a fair-sized mid-western city police department that was armed with Diamondbacks/nickel/4" for a number of years. Everyone, including patrol officers, detectives, andministrators - top to bottom - carried this revolver and trained using +P 158 grain LSWHP ammunition. They had an in-house armorer, and throughout the years the gun worked fine.

 

[Peter M. Eick]

Lets see if I stand guilty as charged:

"Quick double action" Nope
"jerking the trigger" Nope
"Bogarting the gun" Nope
"shooting hot loads" uh, well, umm, guilty.

About 42,000 rounds of my little diamondback were my standard load of 5.0 to 4.9 grns of Unique with a 158 grn semiwadcutter. For about 20 years, I did not even check a loading book because that was what I wrote on my one set of dies as the load. I only shot 38 special, I only loaded one caliber, so why check....

It was not until a few years ago that I got a chrono that I found out this is a +p velocity load and was significantly above current limits.

So after a bit of soul searching I now view my diamondback as a testament to Colt's good quality and skills. I beat on this gun for 2 decades with overloads and I finally beat on it bad enough that it had timing problems and a few springs and screws had to be replaced.

Don't do what I did, and don't underestimate the strength of these little beasts.