MachIVshooter
Member
I know these have been out for a little while, but as I usually do, I waited to purchase until DB had time to work all the bugs out. The only outward change in the most recent rendition is the slide serrations; they're more squared off and utilitarian than the previous scalloped design. Good? Bad? I dunno, I kind of like the aesthetics of the older pattern, but the new one looks good, too.
Anyway, the reasons for buying. I've had my P3AT for over a decade now, and it has been a great little pistol, but I have always had an issue with the magazine release, as being carried the way a true pocket gun is carried, it would sometimes be depressed enough to release the mag. I had planned to make a shallower steel release, but just never got around to it. I also have a PF9, which has been an excellent pistol as well, but small and light as it is, it's still not a pocket gun. Enter the DB9, which falls smack dab between the two for size and weight:
Personally, I think the little DB9 is aesthetically pleasing from a utilitarian standpoint. I like my Kel Tecs, but they are 100% about function and not the least bit attractive. Then you have guns like the Sig P238 & P938 or Colt Mustang, which are very nice looking, but also single action, a bit large and heavy, and by many accounts having some issues. To me, the little DB strikes a nice balance. It's like a micro Glock with a touch more flare. The thicker grip of the DB9 compared to the DB380 skews the proportions a little, but not too bad. The two guns are practically identical, except for a .4" wheelbase stretch on the 9mm.
We did recently pick up a DB380 for the wife as well (yes, she actually wanted pink, too). She likes it, and shoots it well. She likes her Kahr K9 better, but the whole issue was the size and weight of that gun for a slight female (5'6", 128 lbs) trying to CC. It's a great range gun for her, but at nearly 2 pounds loaded, an irritation in her modes of carry. The tiny Diamondback doesn't bother her in the least, though.
But I digress...........
As always, the manufacturer's specs are always a little cryptic in regard to what exactly they were measuring, so here's a breakdown of the guns, side by side:
Model:.................................P3AT..................DB9......................PF9
Capacity:.............................6+1...................6+1......................7+1
Height:................................3.68".................4.07"....................4.71"
Length:...............................5.16".................5.65"....................5.93"
Width:................................0.80".................0.81"....................0.97"
Unloaded weight w/o mag:......7.4 oz...............11.4 oz................12.8 oz
Loaded weight:....................11.1 oz............. 15.7 oz................18.3 oz
The loaded weights are full mag + chamber, 115 gr. Remington JHPs in the PF9 and DB9, 102 gr. Golden Sabers in the P3AT. Height, length and width are measured as the maximum dimensions parallel and perpendicular to the bore, including sights and magazine base plates.
To be fair, the PF9 does allow an almost 4 finger grip with the extended baseplate, where the other two are true 3 finger guns. However, the PF9 sheds only 1/4" with the flat base plate that makes it, too, a 3 finger gun, (though it still holds one more round than the DB9).
I can't give much of a range report, as I have only put one magazine through it with the Remington ammo at point blank range to function test the gun. However, it functioned flawlessly despite having been simply removed from the box, checked for bore obstructions, then loaded and fired. No lubing or cleaning beforehand. Recoil is brisk, but no worse really than the PF9.
I may eat my words if the thing proves less reliable than the flawless first mag, but barring that, I'd say Diamondback hit it out of the park on this one. It is just .4" taller and longer than the $1,000 Rorbaugh, yet thinner & lighter and, most importantly, 1/3 the price. The DB9 also doesn't require recoil spring changes every 200 rounds. For all the 9mm micro pistols I've owned or tried out, I will say this is the only one you can buy in the 3 figure range that truly qualifies as a pocket gun. I'm happy
Anyway, the reasons for buying. I've had my P3AT for over a decade now, and it has been a great little pistol, but I have always had an issue with the magazine release, as being carried the way a true pocket gun is carried, it would sometimes be depressed enough to release the mag. I had planned to make a shallower steel release, but just never got around to it. I also have a PF9, which has been an excellent pistol as well, but small and light as it is, it's still not a pocket gun. Enter the DB9, which falls smack dab between the two for size and weight:
Personally, I think the little DB9 is aesthetically pleasing from a utilitarian standpoint. I like my Kel Tecs, but they are 100% about function and not the least bit attractive. Then you have guns like the Sig P238 & P938 or Colt Mustang, which are very nice looking, but also single action, a bit large and heavy, and by many accounts having some issues. To me, the little DB strikes a nice balance. It's like a micro Glock with a touch more flare. The thicker grip of the DB9 compared to the DB380 skews the proportions a little, but not too bad. The two guns are practically identical, except for a .4" wheelbase stretch on the 9mm.
We did recently pick up a DB380 for the wife as well (yes, she actually wanted pink, too). She likes it, and shoots it well. She likes her Kahr K9 better, but the whole issue was the size and weight of that gun for a slight female (5'6", 128 lbs) trying to CC. It's a great range gun for her, but at nearly 2 pounds loaded, an irritation in her modes of carry. The tiny Diamondback doesn't bother her in the least, though.
But I digress...........
As always, the manufacturer's specs are always a little cryptic in regard to what exactly they were measuring, so here's a breakdown of the guns, side by side:
Model:.................................P3AT..................DB9......................PF9
Capacity:.............................6+1...................6+1......................7+1
Height:................................3.68".................4.07"....................4.71"
Length:...............................5.16".................5.65"....................5.93"
Width:................................0.80".................0.81"....................0.97"
Unloaded weight w/o mag:......7.4 oz...............11.4 oz................12.8 oz
Loaded weight:....................11.1 oz............. 15.7 oz................18.3 oz
The loaded weights are full mag + chamber, 115 gr. Remington JHPs in the PF9 and DB9, 102 gr. Golden Sabers in the P3AT. Height, length and width are measured as the maximum dimensions parallel and perpendicular to the bore, including sights and magazine base plates.
To be fair, the PF9 does allow an almost 4 finger grip with the extended baseplate, where the other two are true 3 finger guns. However, the PF9 sheds only 1/4" with the flat base plate that makes it, too, a 3 finger gun, (though it still holds one more round than the DB9).
I can't give much of a range report, as I have only put one magazine through it with the Remington ammo at point blank range to function test the gun. However, it functioned flawlessly despite having been simply removed from the box, checked for bore obstructions, then loaded and fired. No lubing or cleaning beforehand. Recoil is brisk, but no worse really than the PF9.
I may eat my words if the thing proves less reliable than the flawless first mag, but barring that, I'd say Diamondback hit it out of the park on this one. It is just .4" taller and longer than the $1,000 Rorbaugh, yet thinner & lighter and, most importantly, 1/3 the price. The DB9 also doesn't require recoil spring changes every 200 rounds. For all the 9mm micro pistols I've owned or tried out, I will say this is the only one you can buy in the 3 figure range that truly qualifies as a pocket gun. I'm happy
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