New Diamondback revolver?

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Here I thought that revolvers were supposedly dying a slow death. I guess manufacturers didn't get the memo. I'm excited about this new DB revolver. Seems like more and more manufacturers are getting into the revolver game.
 
Short light 357 Magnums are obnoxious revolvers. More importantly nearly everyone that buys one ends up shooting 38 Special +P in it because they can't handle them with 357 Magnum. If I got a dollar everytime I have heard a comment to that effect I could by one off those mean little revolvers and throw it in a river and not feel bad for the loss. Save some money and buy a snub nose 38 Special and extra practice ammo.
 
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mcb said:
Short light 357 Magnums are obnoxious revolvers. More importantly nearly everyone that buys one ends up shooting 38 Special +P in it because they can't handle them with 357 Magnum. If I got a dollar everytime I have heard a comment to that effect I could by one off those mean little records and throw it in a river and not feel bad for the loss. Save some money and by a 38 Special and extra practice ammo.
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Yes, people buy 357 J-frame snubbies to EDC 38, but to have the option to occasionally shoot 357 mag if they get the itch. What's the problem? Best of both worlds, and you're not losing anything by going 357 mag over 38 special. If given the option in simular package, I'll always opt for the 357mag. If anything, it will be a more robust revolver that will handle 38 +p better than a revolver chambered in 38 +p only.
 
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Really intriguing cylinder release/removal. Man that would speed up cleaning. MSRP is more than reasonable and considering they will sell for less DB may have a winner on its hands if the quality is there.

Make mine in .327FM
 
Styx said:
Yes, people buy 357 J-frame snubbing to EDC 38, but to have the option to occasionally shoot 357 mag if they get the itch. What's the problem? Best of both worlds, and you're not losing anything by going 357 mag over 38 special
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Mostly the premium price you waste for 357 Mag when you only shoot 38 Special. Each to his own it's your money but I have seen alot more people regret the light weight 357 mags than love them.

I luckily borrowed one, shot a cylinder full of 357 mag, cursed the gun and for good measure my friend who loaned it to me. Went out and bought a 38 Special and spend the price difference on a bunch of reloading supplies.

Just an observation that might save someone some money if they are willing to consider it. YMMV
 
mcb said:
Mostly the premium price you waste for 357 Mag when you only shoot 38 Special. Each to his own it's your money but I have seen alot more people regret the light weight 357 mags than love them.

I luckily borrowed one, shot a cylinder full of 357 mag, cursed the gun and for good measure my friend who loaned it to me. Went out and bought a 38 Special and spend the price difference on a bunch of reloading supplies.

Just an observation that might save someone some money if they are willing to consider it. YMMV
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It's not a waste as you still have the option to shoot 357mag occasionally, the 357 mag versions can handle 38 +p better, and the 357 versions are typically a little heavy for better recoil. I've never heard anyone regret buying a S&W M60, M640, 340PD, etc, a 357 Ruger SP101, or Kimber K6s because it wasn't 38 special only lol. You're not out of anything by choosing a 38/357.
 
Styx said:
It's not a waste as you still have the option to shoot 357mag occasionally, the 357 mag versions can handle 38 +p better, and the 357 versions are typically a little heavy for better recoil. I've never heard anyone regret buying a S&W M60, M640, 340PD, etc, a 357 Ruger SP101, or Kimber K6s because it wasn't 38 special only lol. You're not out of anything by choosing a 38/357.
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You are not paying attention if you never heard someone say they never shoot 357 in their Airweight 357. A 340 PD was nearly 3 times more money than my 442 when I bought it. You may not think it's a waste but I certainly did and bought accordingly and I know others that agree with me. I thought I would share that here. Again YMMV.
 
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mcb said:
You are not paying attention if you never heard someone say they never shoot 357 in their Airweight 357. A 340 PD was nearly 3 times more money than my 442 when I bought it. You may not think it's a waste but I certainly did and bought accordingly and I know other that agree with me. I thought I would share that here. Again YMMV.
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The price difference is because the weight saving and cost of materials between aluminum vs titanium and the sighting system. That's little to do with 38 vs 357. Heck, the 340pd is more expensive than the stainless 357 J-frames, K-frames, and L-frames for the same reason, e.i., titanium is more expensive than stainless and aluminum. If the 442 with aluminum frame and fixed sights was chambered in 357 as well, it wouldn't be anywhere near the same price as the 340pd, and you most likely wouldn't have cared if it was chambered in 357. Seems like your regret has more to do with paying a premium for the titanium frame.
 
Styx said:
The price difference is because the weight saving and cost of materials between aluminum vs titanium and the sighting system. That's little to do with 38 vs 357. Heck, the 340pd is more expensive than the stainless 357 J-frames, K-frames, and L-frames for the same reason, e.i., titanium is more expensive than stainless and aluminum. If the 442 with aluminum frame and fixed sights was chambered in 357 as well, it wouldn't be anywhere near the same price as the 340pd, and you most likely wouldn't have cared if it was chambered in 357. Seems like your regret has more to do with paying a premium for the titanium frame.
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A regular 340, 357 mag with stainless cylinder and aluminum frame is still nearly twice the price of a 642/442.
 
mcb said:
A regular 340, 357 mag with stainless cylinder and aluminum frame is still nearly twice the price of a 642/442.
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Upon further review, the frame on the 340 and 340PD is scandium while the 642/442 is aluminum. The PD also has the titanium cylinder. You're paying extra for the materials that are used to drop the weight a couple of ounces, and it has nothing to do with 38 vs 357. If the 642/442 were manufactured with a titanium cylinder and/or scandium frame, they would also double to triple in cost respectively.
 
Styx said:
Upon further review, the frame on the 340 and 340PD is scandium while the 642/442 is aluminum. The PD also has the titanium cylinder. You're paying extra for the materials that are used to drop the weight a couple of ounces, and it has nothing to do with 38 vs 357. If the 642/442 were manufactured with a titanium cylinder and/or scandium frame, they would also double to triple in cost respectively.
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Technically scandium alloy frames are aluminum (the scandium is an alloying element making up less than 1% of the base material that is aluminum, akin to adding carbon to iron to make steel). A 340 is only .8 oz lighter than a 642/442.

The point is you're paying more for the 357 Magnum because it requires those more expensive materials like scandium-aluminum alloys to make these super light revolvers work with that cartridge. And one should consider if they will actually use 357 Magnum enough in these light weight revolvers to justify the cost of the more expensive gun. I have seen lots of evidence that most shooters can't handle the recoil of 357 mag in these light revolvers and choose to carry 38. If they realize this early they could have saved money going with a 38 revolver of similar weight but significant lower cost.

Not sure why this is such a contentious point.
 
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I have a 329PD in .44 mag. I shoot full power loads through it but don’t necessarily like that. To me (and like myself) I think folks buy the PD models for a specific reason. That being weight reduction and therefore are willing to accept the issue with increased recoil and cost for significantly improved carry comfort (and it is significant).

With full power loads on board they’re more apt to be carried a lot and shot very little. The recoil equation changes in favor of the shooter with .44 special and .38 in the chambers.
 
I carry a 340PD on a regular basis - it's on my hip right now, here in the office - and it gets carried and shot with .357 exclusively.

Having said that, with full-power .357 ammo it is physically injurious. I can usually get through a cylinderful, but somewhere during the second cylinder I will begin to suffer tendon damage. If I force my way through it, it can be months before the hand is fully healed. So my practice with the gun is limited to five rounds per session, usually at the end of a day of shooting something else.

So yeah, if a fellow buys the gun for fun and recreation, or if he feels the need to shoot it a great deal for practice/training, he's pretty much going to have to stick with .38s. But for the fellow who is looking for maximum power in the lightest possible gun, the 340PD is perfection. If I didn't have one I would order it today.
 
.38 Special said:
I carry a 340PD on a regular basis - it's on my hip right now, here in the office - and it gets carried and shot with .357 exclusively.

Having said that, with full-power .357 ammo it is physically injurious. I can usually get through a cylinderful, but somewhere during the second cylinder I will begin to suffer tendon damage. If I force my way through it, it can be months before the hand is fully healed. So my practice with the gun is limited to five rounds per session, usually at the end of a day of shooting something else.

So yeah, if a fellow buys the gun for fun and recreation, or if he feels the need to shoot it a great deal for practice/training, he's pretty much going to have to stick with .38s. But for the fellow who is looking for maximum power in the lightest possible gun, the 340PD is perfection. If I didn't have one I would order it today.
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You are meaner than I thought @38 Special if you like that mean little revolver.;) I really thought I wanted one until I shot one and I am pretty recoil tolerant. I realized after that experience that I want to be able to feel my fingers to attempt a reload if I ever have to use all five shots. Not too mention they make the 442 moonclips ready right from the factory.
 
.38 Special said:
I carry a 340PD on a regular basis - it's on my hip right now, here in the office - and it gets carried and shot with .357 exclusively.

Having said that, with full-power .357 ammo it is physically injurious. I can usually get through a cylinderful, but somewhere during the second cylinder I will begin to suffer tendon damage. If I force my way through it, it can be months before the hand is fully healed. So my practice with the gun is limited to five rounds per session, usually at the end of a day of shooting something else.

So yeah, if a fellow buys the gun for fun and recreation, or if he feels the need to shoot it a great deal for practice/training, he's pretty much going to have to stick with .38s. But for the fellow who is looking for maximum power in the lightest possible gun, the 340PD is perfection. If I didn't have one I would order it today.
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Back to the original topic of stainless steel snubbies like the new DB, 357 out of a heavier all stainless snubnose isn't going to be as bad as a 357 out of an 11oz revolver (340pd). As far as 357 stainless steel snubbies being essentially pointless vs aluminum 38 spc offerings, the 357 will handle 38 +p a lot better than a 14.5-15oz aluminum frame revolver.

As far as price difference goes, the 340/340PD is at the extreme because of the materials used to reach a weight that's onces less than S&W aluminum 38 spc. Generally speaking, the price difference isn't that pronounced if at all. Taurus 856 and 605 are around the same price. The Ruger SP101 in 38 special or 357 is the same price. The Ruger LCR 38 special or 357 uses different frame materials (aluminum vs stainless), but the price difference is only $80 retail. The Colt Cobra (38 +p) vs King Cobra (357mag) which are two different frame classes are $80 apart retail.

My only point is that 357 snubbies make sense in a lot of situations even if all you're going to shoot 38 spc only/mostly.
 
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mcb said:
You are meaner than I thought @38 Special if you like that mean little revolver.;) I really thought I wanted one until I shot one and I am pretty recoil tolerant. I realized after that experience that I want to be able to feel my fingers to attempt a reload if I ever have to use all five shots. Not too mention they make the 442 moonclips ready right from the factory.
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"Like" is far too strong a word! I actually kind of hate the little bastard; it remains the single most difficult gun I have ever fired. It's just that in its niche, there is nothing better.
 
Styx said:
Back to the original topic of stainless steel snubbies like the new DB, 357 out of a heavier all stainless snubnose isn't going to be as bad as a 357 out of an 11oz revolver (340pd). As far as 357 stainless steel snubbies being "pointless" vs aluminum 38 spc offerings, the 357 will handle 38 +p a lot better than a 14.5-15oz aluminum frame revolver.
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I'm sort of on the fence regarding the topic. I carried a 4" Model 19 for many years, and still think of it as my "main" defensive gun. As I age, though, it gets heavier and heavier, and I don't really enjoy carrying it any more - and as much as I hate to say it, for that much weight I can carry my Glock 29, with nearly twice as many (and more powerful) cartridges. It's possible that the Diamondback is the ideal compromise between power and portability - but it's also possible that it's really neither here nor there; a little too heavy and bulky for ideal carry, and a little too light and short to be a pleasant and easy-to-shoot gun.

Regardless, it is great to see new models coming out, and I wish Diamondback the best.
 
.38 Special said:
I'm sort of on the fence regarding the topic. I carried a 4" Model 19 for many years, and still think of it as my "main" defensive gun. As I age, though, it gets heavier and heavier, and I don't really enjoy carrying it any more - and as much as I hate to say it, for that much weight I can carry my Glock 29, with nearly twice as many (and more powerful) cartridges. It's possible that the Diamondback is the ideal compromise between power and portability - but it's also possible that it's really neither here nor there; a little too heavy and bulky for ideal carry, and a little too light and short to be a pleasant and easy-to-shoot gun.

Regardless, it is great to see new models coming out, and I wish Diamondback the best.
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True, that's why I agree that the heavier stainless steel snubnose are a compromise. Not a lot of recoil for those who are recoil sensitive, and at only 22oz +/- they're not as heavier as a K or L frame. @mcb has a point too in that if weight, recoil, price is more important, then an S&W aluminum frame will make more sense especially if you'll never shoot 357. Everything has it's pros and cons where it shines or falls behind.
 
I cannot imagine shooing even one cylinder og magnum loads in a light revolver. The repetitive impact can cause permanent injury to nerves, tendons, and joints.

John Taffin used to shoot large, high-powered revolers, and his issues now are serious and chronic.

I once witnessed a man talking his significant other into buying a 340 scandiaum refover and some .357 magmum ammunition. The gun was back in the shop the next weekend.

I have arthritis and tendonitis, and I found that after a 50 rd range session wirh my 642 with standard pressure loads, I would have to soak my hand in warm water. I mentioned that to the doctor. He said that if I kept ii up, I would have o give up shooting.

I replaced it with a stainless six shot Kimber and gave up pocket carry. No magnum loads in it.
 
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