Quick Diamondback DB9 Report

[banddr2]

I waited a year, had to get one, it's the only 9mm that has a chance for pocket carry (except for that expensive Rohbar). I liked the db380 but moved up to a Kahr P380 later, not that there was anything wrong with the db380 I had.

Anyhow, I was worried about the db9 with all the bad press and horrible reviews on their own forum. Picked it up after work and ran out to the farm. Began with 6 rounds of WW 115, perfect (that's all of that I had due to Walmart hording). Then moved to the Tula 115, about 20 rounds with two failure to ignite. Didn't bother me cause I have had this trouble with Tula Ammo before, probably too long overall length. Then I finished off with 12 rounds of my SD ammo, 127 gr LE Hydrashoks. Perfect. I'll have to wait til Saturday to run some serious rounds through it and break it in real good. If you don't hear back from me then everything went fine.

Sharp recoil, but not any worse that the small 380s, very accurate, easy to shoot and acquire target. Just one thing I remembered, with the DB's when you load a round from a fresh mag you have to make sure the striker is set, if not it can impede feeding the first round. It's simple, after the last round is fired rack the slide as an extra safety check, striker is reset and you are good to go for the next mag.

My out the door price with sales tax was $380. If it continues to perform then quite a bargain, then its time to find a holster and extra mag or two. I know there are concerns about longevity of the gun, but for me I plan on carrying alot and shooting it seldom enough just to stay proficient.

I should also mention last month I picked up the SCCY 9mm as a cheap car gun for $240. It has been perfect also, just too wide for pocket carry. The Florida gun manufacturers may finally be getting it right!

 

[squarles67]

I like mine. "Sharp recoil" is putting it mildly...lol

I've had no issues with mine except that it doesn't like 124g speer gold dots

 

[Nasty]

Mine eats 124 GD like candy...go figure.

 

[C0untZer0]

Nice review.


I wouldn't count the Tula either. The only failure to ignite I've ever had in my Glock was with Wolf ammo. I looked at the primer and it had a good sharp indentation in it. I've picked up spent brass off the floor that had shallower dents in them than that Wolf round that failed to fire.

I really wwas interested in the DB9, I thought it was the pocket gun that Glock should have made but didn't. But then it did get some bad press.

I've been told that they added a thrid trigger pin which makes the gun hold together better than previously.

I'd be interested in your future range reports.

 

[heeler]

Good luck.
Even though my own DB 380's turned into train wrecks,the one I bought as well as the one DB replaced,I can only hope they FINALLY have got it right.
As a daily defensive carry...I will wait a long time before I believe that.
From my experience they are a self destructing firearm at sub 1000 round count.

 

[MedWheeler]

Thanks for sharing. I wondered about them, too, when they first came out, but I already had (have) a Kel-Tec PF9, so I wasn't in the market. I did a side-by-side comparison between the two when I stopped in a LGS once (to order a P32) and the DB is indeed a little smaller.
I think the PF9, given its own perceived recoil, is about as small as I'd ever wanna go in a 9x19mm pistol.
I also like that SCCY SPX2, or at least how it looks on paper. Haven't handled one yet. But, again, the Kel-Tec fills that niche, so I won't be getting one.

 

[heeler]

Fwiw my original DB380 was one of the earliest productions and went to pieces around the 900 round mark give or take a few rounds.
The one they replaced it was one of the so called better guns and it went to hell at round number 422.
The trigger bar snapped which is a common occurrence on these pistols.
I got it back from DB and sold it.

 

[MICHAEL T]

Read other day that Taurus is talking over the distribution of DB . I hope that helps their quality control .
My self I will stay with my KelTec PF-9

 

[LightningMan]

Good luck with you new DB9, but let me know if you make it past 150 rounds, as mine never did. A year ago I bought a slightly used one for $285 +.07% sales tax, and right off the bat, I could never get through an entire magazine without a FTF type jam. Sent it back for service/work and after a 2 week wait, it returned so off to the range I went to try it out. I got 4 rounds off without a FTF but the pistol could no longer be fired as the trigger wouldn't reset ( broken trigger ), so back it goes. Another 3 weeks goes by and again it returns, so back to the range I go. This time I think the problem has been solved, but no such luck, as it just took a few more range trips ( 3 to be exact ) before the trigger broke again. This time Diamondback sent me a new pistol, but I never shot it, figured I'd cut my loses and sold it on consignment at a local pawn shop. On the plus side the pawn shop sold it in 3 days and I got $290 for it. LM

 

[B!ngo]

I'm always surprised when I hear someone buying a gun that has had so many negative reviews and threads written about it. Especially as a carry gun. Is there any amount of shooting of an oft-panned firearm that could convince me that I should bet my life on it? Absolutely not. I could never convince myself that I got 'the good one'. Nor should I.
B

 

[banddr2]

I'm always amazed at all the horror stories I have read through the years about sending guns back 3 times and then getting a new one and selling it. It seems like I read this all the time. In 30 years I have shot and owned many guns and have never had this problem. It's not that I don't believe them, I'm am just surprised that owning 100 some guns I have never encountered this problem. I suppose I am very lucky. From memory these are all the guns that have been 100% for me: Kahr PM9, PM40, Kel Tec P32, P11, SCCY, Diamondback 380, Kahr P380, not to mention many Glocks, Sigs, Springfields, H&K's and Walthers. Also, had the small Taurus 9mm in addition to their larger guns, and some Bersa's, Witnesses and even remember an Ultra Star and a couple Cz's. I did have a Walther P38 that was a PITA, but it was a WWII gun and also probably the most accurate, just got tired of the top cover hitting me in the forehead. I do remember a broken hammer spring in the Kel Tec P11, but that's it. Now I will say my average round count per gun is between 200 and a 1000, then I usually sell it to try something else because I love to shoot handguns. I have never owned one for more than a couple years max.

I had a chance to put another 50 rounds thru my DB9 today and it was 100% reliable, but I am not to 100 rounds yet. I guess we will see. The web of my hand is a little sore for recoil. I am thinking it is better to have a 9mm in my pocket than a 380 that's the same size but less power. For now I have no problem counting on this gun to defend my life. But if it ends up failing me, I will be happy to post so in the future. BTW, accuracy and trigger pull is awsome for such a small 9mm.

 

[Jim NE]

The web of my hand is a little sore for recoil.

banddr2, I'd seriously consider a hogue handall. Also, don't know if the Diamondback comes with mag shoe, or if one is available aftermarket, but those two add-ons made my p-11 very shootable.

 

[WardenWolf]

I'd have gone for a Ruger LC9, but that's just me. I just can't trust Diamondback. Many of their parts that break are not "wear" parts and should never need to be replaced, ever. It's clear they're just underengineered.

 

[LightningMan]

banddr2, glad to hear you haven't had to send many guns back for repair, lucky for you, but I know several people that have had to send guns back. My DB9 is not the only gun I have sent back for repair. The others I've sent back are a Styer M40, FN FiveseveN, S&W M&P22, and a Borberg Arms XR9-S, and this doesn't include the guns I fixed myself because I talked the manufacturer to send me a replacement part for an easy repair, like the transfer bar on one of my Rugers. Of those sent back the DB9 is the only one I sold because it couldn't be fixed IMO. LM