snooperman
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- May 4, 2009
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How reliable is the new Diamondback 380 ACP ? Have any of you had any issues with it ?
Diamondback DB 380 reliability ???
- Thread starter snooperman
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devildog4329
Member
I have 50 rounds of remmington umc through mine and no problems with it yet. I love mine.
Full Metal Jacket
member
i don't have personal experience with the diamondback, but two of my friends had to send theirs in for various reliability issues.
the company did have their guns back in a little over a week, all functioning perfectly now. they have great service, seem to be good guns as well.
the company did have their guns back in a little over a week, all functioning perfectly now. they have great service, seem to be good guns as well.
Best shooting pocket 380 I've shot yet. Of course I haven't shot them all but I have owned and shot the Baretta Tomcat, the LCP (my son's), P-3AT, DE Micro and NAA Guardian and the Diamondback is the best and softest shooting of them all.
KONY
Member
Still too early to deliberate on reliability but mine has been great through the first 25 rounds. I had one failure-to-feed where I believe I "rode the slide" while sling-shotting. Good trigger + low recoil = great accuracy. 
mharveyww1
Member
- Joined
- Jul 7, 2009
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- 31
Here's An Interesting Observation
I've owned or used just about every 'pocket' .380 including the Walther PPK/S,
Bersa .380CC (Walther clone), Ruger LCP, KelTec P-3AT, Rohrbaugh (ok, you get the idea). ALL of them were either too small for my hand, too heavy, too 'snappy'...and had occasional FTE/FTF problems.
When I found the DiamondBack, I stopped searching for the ultimate pocket pistol for my ergonomics and taste.
UNTIL YESTERDAY there had been NO FTF/FTE's with this pistol through 250+ rounds of various types of ammo.
Then I got the bright idea to put a Hogue Handall Jr. slip on grip (yes, it had to be trimmed a bit). It felt even more comfortable in my hand..and I couldn't wait to shoot the gun with the new mod.
Imagine my chagrin when I had FTF's and FTE's every second or third round!
My first thought was "OMG, those unreliability stories I've been reading online must be true!".
Then, I simply slipped the Hogue grip OFF. NOT ANOTHER FAILURE THROUGH ANOTHER 100+ ROUNDS!
Two thoughts occurred to me. (1) the finger grips on the Hogue caused my hand to hold the gun very slightly higher, and (2) the very slight elasticity of the slip-on was enough to cause the pistol to move in my hand during recoil.
The slide was slightly retarded by friction against the web of my hand (in the higher grasp). It was so slight that it wasn't even uncomfortable, but...
combined with the 'give' of the rubber grip...it was enough to cause a variation on "limp-wristing"!
I have since discussed this with two excellent gunsmiths and they were of the opinion that, while some guns DO have mechanical or structural flaws, either in the action or in the magazines...THE VAST MAJORITY OF FTF/FTE 'PROBLEMS' WITH SMALL CALIBER SEMI-AUTOS ARE DUE TO AN IMPROPER GRIP (limp-wristing) BY THE SHOOTER.
I'm now a believer in their theory.
Mike
I've owned or used just about every 'pocket' .380 including the Walther PPK/S,
Bersa .380CC (Walther clone), Ruger LCP, KelTec P-3AT, Rohrbaugh (ok, you get the idea). ALL of them were either too small for my hand, too heavy, too 'snappy'...and had occasional FTE/FTF problems.
When I found the DiamondBack, I stopped searching for the ultimate pocket pistol for my ergonomics and taste.
UNTIL YESTERDAY there had been NO FTF/FTE's with this pistol through 250+ rounds of various types of ammo.
Then I got the bright idea to put a Hogue Handall Jr. slip on grip (yes, it had to be trimmed a bit). It felt even more comfortable in my hand..and I couldn't wait to shoot the gun with the new mod.
Imagine my chagrin when I had FTF's and FTE's every second or third round!
My first thought was "OMG, those unreliability stories I've been reading online must be true!".
Then, I simply slipped the Hogue grip OFF. NOT ANOTHER FAILURE THROUGH ANOTHER 100+ ROUNDS!
Two thoughts occurred to me. (1) the finger grips on the Hogue caused my hand to hold the gun very slightly higher, and (2) the very slight elasticity of the slip-on was enough to cause the pistol to move in my hand during recoil.
The slide was slightly retarded by friction against the web of my hand (in the higher grasp). It was so slight that it wasn't even uncomfortable, but...
combined with the 'give' of the rubber grip...it was enough to cause a variation on "limp-wristing"!
I have since discussed this with two excellent gunsmiths and they were of the opinion that, while some guns DO have mechanical or structural flaws, either in the action or in the magazines...THE VAST MAJORITY OF FTF/FTE 'PROBLEMS' WITH SMALL CALIBER SEMI-AUTOS ARE DUE TO AN IMPROPER GRIP (limp-wristing) BY THE SHOOTER.
I'm now a believer in their theory.
Mike
I own a Diamondback and starting at round number 218 the magazine started popping out after every round fired.
And as bad luck would have it that issue started on my CHL shooting qualification.
Sent it back to DB at a cost to me of $51.00.
They replaced the magazine release spring and sent it back.
I have since put another 100 rounds through it incident free.
I will call it reliable if another 200 rounds can be put through it without breakage.
It pocket carrys really well.
And as bad luck would have it that issue started on my CHL shooting qualification.
Sent it back to DB at a cost to me of $51.00.
They replaced the magazine release spring and sent it back.
I have since put another 100 rounds through it incident free.
I will call it reliable if another 200 rounds can be put through it without breakage.
It pocket carrys really well.
LeonCarr
Member
Neat looking gun, looks like a Glock someone left in the dryer too long .
Just my .02,
LeonCarr
.Just my .02,
LeonCarr
My DB 380 blew apart the slide... DIAMOND CRACK -380
My slide blew up after 270 rounds... FTF / FTE... 2-3 rounds per clip... This happened after I got the gun back from the manufacturer, with a new slide and a polished ramp... I tested it after we got it back, and it still was jamming, the range owner fired the DB380 only to fine it blow up and back into his face, lucky for him, he was wearing safety glasses. I really hope that Diamondback will work out these kinks so they don't run into this issue again, and someone doesn't get seriously injured.
I was really hoping to have a positive experience with my Diamondback, as I love my Glocks.
Oh well, I stick to my Kel Tec 380 at this point, and I'll check out the new Smith & Wesson Body Guard 380 sometime in May.
I did receive a full refund for the DB 380 and the transfer fees.
My slide blew up after 270 rounds... FTF / FTE... 2-3 rounds per clip... This happened after I got the gun back from the manufacturer, with a new slide and a polished ramp... I tested it after we got it back, and it still was jamming, the range owner fired the DB380 only to fine it blow up and back into his face, lucky for him, he was wearing safety glasses. I really hope that Diamondback will work out these kinks so they don't run into this issue again, and someone doesn't get seriously injured.
I was really hoping to have a positive experience with my Diamondback, as I love my Glocks.
Oh well, I stick to my Kel Tec 380 at this point, and I'll check out the new Smith & Wesson Body Guard 380 sometime in May.
I did receive a full refund for the DB 380 and the transfer fees.
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Repair issues
It would be helpful to know the serial number range on guns with repair issues. I just bought a DB380 and am curious if any of you who have had problems have a similar serial number as mine. (I am in the ZA15XX range.) So far I have fired approximately 200 rounds through my Diamondback with no issues. Does anyone know if there if any particular serial number range which has a higher percentage of guns with issues or which needed repairs?
It would be helpful to know the serial number range on guns with repair issues. I just bought a DB380 and am curious if any of you who have had problems have a similar serial number as mine. (I am in the ZA15XX range.) So far I have fired approximately 200 rounds through my Diamondback with no issues. Does anyone know if there if any particular serial number range which has a higher percentage of guns with issues or which needed repairs?
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devildog4329
Member
the first couple runs of guns were the ones with issues. I also have a ZA15XX and it runs great. I have heard that if your pistol starts with ZA then they are one of the newest versions after all the fixes.
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