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