  The Diamondback DB380, bottom, performed pretty well in our tests. It isn’t worth the price tag and is little more than a cheap belly gun, but it works at least. The DB9 however didn’t work and failed almost immediatly. The worst thing is that Diamondback seems to have created new conditions for their warranty that aren’t in the manual. They now claim that if you shoot standard 9mm with a bullet more than 124 grains, you have voided your warranty. What a joke. Stay away from Diamondback.
 After a dismal performance with range rounds we put some of these 90 grain Hornady Critical Defense through the 6+1 DB380.
 You would need a ruler, not a caliper, to measure the group size at 10 yards on the DB Even at across the room distances, your chance of missing is far greater than your chance of hitting your target.
 We tried Hornady Critical Duty in the DB9. They are 135 grain, which apparently now voids the warranty on the Diamondback DB9. Thankfully we didn’t pay for the test guns and they will be going back.
 The DB9 groups were closer to point of aim at 10 yards, but still wildly unnaceptable, when we could get the gun to fire of course. Note that the wrong gun was put on the target for the picture, but this was one of the DB9 targets.
 It is a shame because we were really excited about these guns when they came in, and CrossBreed Holsters even sent us a pocket holster for the DB380.
 This picture was from our 2nd “one more try” session with the DB9. It continued to repeat the same problem, which was intermittent. If such a tiny gun could be reliable and accurate, it would take over the market. But these things are junk.
|
Diamondback Firearms
https://diamondbackfirearms.com/
Diamondback Airboats (recommended )
https://www.diamondbackairboats.com/
In the world of small semi-automatic pocket pistols, you have a lot to choose from these days. Diamondback Firearms has laid claim to the “smallest and lightest” in that category, so we decided to take a look at a couple of their guns, the DB380, and the newly released DB9, both with a street price under $400 . Are they really the smallest and lightest? Apparently so, at least as compared to the more common names out there, including the Kel-Tecs, Kahrs, and S&W Bodyguard. But do they work? Our results were mixed. The .380, which is the more mature product, performed almost perfectly, but is not that accurate. The 9mm version weighs only 11 ounces empty, compared to 18 for the S&W Shield, 21.4 for the Walther PPS, and even the tiny Beretta Nano is 17.7. Diamondback may have tried the impossible with this gun because we didn’t find the DB9 to be reliable or accurate. If you are going to buy a Diamondback, for now you should probably stick to the DB380. We have to put a do not buy on the guns however, due to the way they seem to be handling what are clearly problems with their guns
Our problems started almost immediately with the DB9. It cycles fine, but something in the trigger mechanism isn’t catching properly and it doesn’t engage the sear. You can work the trigger back and forth and feel for it, and eventually fire the gun, but this is of course unacceptable. It doesn’t seem to be a lockup problem, but pulling back the slide will sometimes get the trigger to catch. The funny thing is, we may have officially voided the warning with the first round we fired. Eager to try the new Hornady Critical Duty, which is a new round designed to punch through barriers like windshields and such. They make a “+P” version of this in 9mm, but we used the standard pressure 135 grain load. Surprise, surprise though. Diamondback has unilaterally declared on their website, completely absent in the manual, that not only will +P ammo void your warranty, but also any bullets over 124 grains. It seems that too many of their guns are breaking, and that instead of fixing them, or giving people their money back, they are simply telling them that they voided the warranty, with SAAMI specification ammunition.
Notice: Diamondback Firearms does not recommend using 9mm Bullets above 124 gr or any Ammunition that is rated NATO, +P, +P+ or anything else that is higher than SAAMI Standard pressure 9mm. The DB9 is the smallest and lightest 9mm available on the market and was not designed for the abuse and damage these rounds cause. Use of non-recommended ammunition in a Diamondback Firearms will void the warranty.
There is no mention in the manual of even a prohibition of +P ammunition. This is totally unacceptable, and should be an embarrassment to the company and its distributors. My dealer friends have told me that a high percentage of the Diamondback guns are coming back, and there is nothing that they can do.
Some guns we test hard and some guns we don’t. Small, light, fairly inexpensive guns were not meant to take to the range for an afternoon of shooting. There is no point beating guns like this up with a lot of rounds because they just aren’t made for thousands or sometimes even hundreds of rounds. Yet the Diamondback manual claims that the guns may have failures to feed and fire for up to 150 rounds. We did put over 150 rounds through each gun but the performance didn’t improve. These are not cheap pot metal Lorcins or Davis derringers, both of which work better than the Diamondbacks. But the Diamondbacks cost as much as real guns.
Granted, the Diamondback guns are tiny. In a .380 that isn’t such a big deal. A lot of tiny .380s are out there and have been out there for years. The Diamondback .380 actually did work well, and didn’t even require the break-in stated in the manual. Will it still work a couple hundred rounds more down the road? Who knows, but the guns are very similar inside. It is like Diamondback said to themselves, “let’s make the parts that hold the bullets bigger and leave everything else .380 size.” Well if that was going to work don’t you think real gun companies would have done this already? Diamondback is an airboat maker for heaven’s sake. You don’t think that Kel-Tec, Walther, and Beretta could blow mold a tiny 9mm and put it into the market, hoping that nobody will notice it doesn’t work?
As for the handling, the DB380 is truly a micro gun and it worked really well, except for the accuracy. The recoil is sharp for a 380, but at a half a pound empty, what would you expect? This gun had about 100 rounds of Remington 9mm put through it, then we accuracy tested it with Hornady Critical Defense 90 grain FTX. This is the kind of trip to the range that most people who buy this gun would put it through, and we had no failures to feed or fire at all. I do highly recommend actually shooting your carry rounds in this gun. As you can see from the targets, she isn’t accurate at all. The DB380 is a belly gun and not much else, if it even continues to work. I wouldn’t buy a gun from a company that voids a warranty for shooting SAAMI specification ammo in their firearms, especially when no mention of this exists in the manual. There are plenty of guns out there. I would let Diamondback’s fly by night firearm operation fade into history without you, and let them go back to making airboats, which we have heard are quite awesome.
I have a DB9 – the later version. All I can say is that this is one of the most accurate small pistols I have shot. I have literally put shots inside shots at 9-12 yds. At 14 I am grouping well 2-3 inch groups. I think this gun needs to be held firmly for it to cycle correctly without malfunctions. The only thing I have noticed is a few no fires from light primer strikes. I was using Winchester FMJ 115gr. I used winchesters all of the time with my colt .45 and no problems. I think this gun may be a bit picky about what it shoots ammo wise. I sent back and it came back doing the same thing. I haven’t run 150 rounds through it yet so maybe that evil break everything in. We will see.
I bought one of the first units. it would not eject casings consistently. sent it back to the factory. it has been reliable ever since. it is about as small as one could ever make a 9mm. not a gun to shoot all day at the range due to size and weight. however, it is a great carry gun.
wish I had read this site before buying the db9, no lie it has NEVER fired twice without a jam. its on the way back to the factory now, hope they can fix it.
I bought a Diamondback 380DB a few years ago and am so upset with it. After getting it home I realized that one of the rear sites was missing the white dot on it. This thing jamed from day one. It was sent back to them twice to get the issue fixed. It still jams to this day. Well last night two Fox’s were getting ready to accack my dog and me and wouldn’t ya know it, that POS jamed and all I could do is throw it at them. They need to tell you that no matter how many times you send it back to them it still isn’t going to work and you should probably purchase a back up if you plan on carrying it. Anyone want a good deal on it? Make me an offer and its yours!
Boy, you are seriously full of shit. Think I’ll just ignore your ignorant “fly by night” reporting. My DB380 has functioned flawlessly. And it IS accurate for the size firearm it is.
What ammo do you use?
I have to agree… I just purchased a db380 recently but only due to the fact that I own a diamondback AR 15 and have put more than a 1000 rds thru it in the last couple years without a single hiccup. Thats also shooting Tula ammo.. So I thought I would give the db 380 a try….so far I love it! I only have put a 100 rds thru it( Also tula ammo 50rds and 50rds Hornady critical defense) but not a single jam or ftf. Groups 3″ @ 20yrds. Couldn’t be happier! I would recommend!
Test fired new gen II db380 w target ammo. Did not expect trigger pin to vibrate out side of gun after about 20 rounds. Had to keep pushing it in to finish 50 rds, which had numerous ftf’s up front during breakin, probably need 50-100 more to get it to feed full mag. Accuracy was OK, hit cup at ~8 meters, trigger pull not bad for a striker, and recoil is nice for such a lite short gun. Not sure why they have no taper or notches on straight trigger pin that just sits in plastic receiver, not a good design. Send DB a message and picture of pin coming out, guess I will see how its resolved. Don’t plan on shipping it in at my cost,that would be almost what I paid on it. If need be I will get a hardened pin and thread one end, with slot on other to screw it into plastic, or a tapered pin with notched that will grip the receiver and not just slide out.
Bought my DB9ss in December of 2014. 2 Stove pipes during the first 20 rounds, but no more problems after 150 rds.
I did send it back after I had to move the rear sight all the way to the right just to achieve windage accuracy at 20 feet.
It’s in the mail to them, and hopefully they discover the issue.
my wife picked out a pink db380 and the first time she shot federal fmj no problems next time out after the first shot it jams with the same ammo accuracy is also bad don’t buy this brand continued to jam every time since
I must be some kind of wonder shooter then, I took my Diamondback to the range before purchase and my shots were all what you are describing as impossible!
Purchased a new DB9 from Cabela’s September 30th 2014.I completely cleaned and lubed gun for the Range.On October 1,I took DB 9 to local Gun Range and fired 5 rounds of Remington UMC 115 grain FMJ and the DB9 quit working.I mean total lock up! Took DB 9 home and took it apart and a small peice of metal with some pivots was loose inside the rear housing .It broke off the inside near the back.Took a close look with my jewelry glasses and saw a break off area that looked like pot metal. Lucky I did not get hurt..Called Diamondback Co. That they said 6 weeks turnaround time to fix.Sent gun back October 2. ,2014 and they received it October 6th. Called November 25th and was told it was still in the to do pile.It must be a big pile to do do. So if ,when I finally get it back maybe next year some time I will be selling it or giving it a new home..I made a big mistake buying it and hope you read all the reviews before you become a victim like me..
the DB9 is definately a piece of crap,don’t buy it and save your self a lot of time and frustration—the voice of experience talking here.
Love my DB9. Only one ftf when breaking it in. Very light and easy to conceal. Only problem I had was one of the rear sight white paint marks flew off when it fired. Contacted customer service and yes it is an outside company which did forward my complaint to Diamond Back. Did not here anything for about 3 to 4 weeks when a brand now sight showed up in the mail.
Overall I love this gun and it has become my favorite pocket pistol.
Just purchased a new DB380. Have not had it to the range yet. Every time I dry fire it the trigger pinches a piece of skin off the top of my trigger finger. I don’t have fat fingers either, rather normal or small hands, Service department at the factory tells me there is no fix for this problem, I’ll just have to find a new finger position on the trigger. I’ve shot dozens of hand guns both full size and minis for decades and never had this problem before. Looks like poor engineering design to me. I’ll probably just throw it in a drawer or try to trade it for something that doesn’t try to eat your finger every time you shoot it. I could never recommend a Diamondback firearm as a result of this experience and certainly will never buy another one.. Beware folks..
I purchased a DB9 for my wife to use as a carry gun while training (running) on the trails here in Anchorage. After making sure we had ammo that would actually work in the weapon we went to the range to give her some time with the gun. Multiple stove piping and mis-fires….The second time to the range the trigger mechanism broke. DiamondBack received the weapon on March 3…Have gotten nothing but the run around concerning the warranty repairs. I will NEVER buy another product from this company. I would suggest anyone looking for a “pocket” carry gun to purchase from another company.
A Diamondback DB9 Metaphor
My experience with the DB9 reminds me of a girl I once dated named Denise. She had a beautiful exotic figure eight body, cocoa brown skin, radiant jet-black hair, and hazel eyes, long legs and great smile, tall, athletic and a chipped front tooth. But, A quick trip to the dentist and she would be a perfect ten.
I fell in love at first sight and wanted her to be my girl. We moved in together and things immediately started to go bad.
The first month, she stole my money, wrecked my car, abused my dog and cursed out my mother on the phone. She returned the money. The insurance company fixed the car. Woof and Mom both forgave her because she was a beautiful charming enchantress.
The second month, she got arrested for shoplifting, started a fire in the kitchen while cooking and sleeping, and threatened my best friend with a knife after getting drunk. The shoplifting charges didn’t stick. The insurance company repaired the kitchen and my best friend forgave her because she was drunk and she was a beautiful charming enchantress.
By the third month, I was sick of Denise. I just kept thinking it would be so great if she didn’t have these problems. It continued like this month after month with all types crazy bizarre things happened strait out an “I LOVE LUCY SHOW”.
After a year I broke up with Denise. Not bitterly, but with remorse. I just kept thinking how great it could be if this woman wasn’t so dysfunctional and crazy. As I let her go out of my life I was sure she would find another man in about ten minutes after she walked outside. I wanted to stamp a warning label on her forehead “BUYER BEWARE”. But, I was sure no one would read it because she was a beautiful and charming enchantress.
+1 Maurice nice job.
This is brilliance.
I too am surprised by this review. I have used my DB380 as my EDC for quite sometime now. I initially read reviews after purchasing the pistol and I was scared. I have since fired over 500 rds through it, dropped it a lot of times and it always goes bang. Better yet, I can hit chest groups at 25 – 30 yds consistently. Maybe I got the “DIAMOND BACK in the rough. But I would not hesitate to purchase another. That being said I did purchase one for my wife’s purse carry. This is a prime example of one persons opinion…but mine I recommend it to everyone.
Finally dug out my DB9 from where I threw it in frustration last time I tried to use it, had my gunsmith polish the feed ramp and tried it again. Talk about a POS, it fails to feed 50% of the time and I have never been able to run a full magazine without it jamming. Diamondback should be ashamed of putting out such a poor product!
I can see you did not take time to read the owners manual , no ammo over 124 grain in the db9. you fired 135 grain critical duty. The heavier bullet does not void the warranty but does not feed reliable. If you still had the gun i would tell you to try 115 remington umc hb or hp. to break it in. At least 100 rounds, then run 115 hornady critical defense at least 1 box, and then use the cd for carry. The kahr that everyone brags about olso requires a break in and the pm series costs 200+ more. The kahr cm costs about the same as the db. and is not without issues. The mags are their weak point. These dbs are very special weapons, they are the lightest, thinnest, 9mm on the market. Most of the big name companys call their 9mms pocket guns, but they are not. I can carry my db 24/7 anywhere i go. If the proper ammo is used it runs 100%. Its not a gun for a novice, but for a experienced shooter it makes one hellava deep conceal weapon. look at it as 380 on steroids.
I bought a new DB9 in late Oct 2013 Ser# ycxxxx hoping that the bugs had been eliminated by that production run.
I had a few problems with ftf and smokestacksin the first120. Or so rounds, so I called and got a shipping label e-mailed to me after a few days. Returned the gun and got it back in 16 days. They had replaced the pins in the trigger assembly, front sight upgrade,new slide, and function fired it.
After about 60 more rounds of testing, the trigger wouldn’t reset- back to the factory again with a new shipping label.
This time I got it back in 12 days with a new trigger and frame assembly, but the same serial #.
After another @150 rounds it works perfectly except with the Winchester 115 gr fmj ammo that I have on hand, which is ok because I don’t use fmj ammo for daily carry.
This small gun is, for me an ideal size to carry daily, now that it seems dependable.
Hey stan, i have found that the db9 runs best with 115 remington umc hardball or hp for practice. For self defense ammo i run hornady critical defense 115s, runs perfect. I carry in front pocket in a desantis holster that i had carried my lcp in. A 9mm the size of a 380. I think thats the ultimate cc weapon. Im out with friends and they all tell me about their great cc weapons but guess who is the only one with a 7 shot 9mm in his pocket. When will they learn ? That fancy sig or colt wont help you if its in the car or home ! RIGHT ?
I just purchased a DB9 and took it to the range, and put 50 rounds of PMC Bronze FMJ 115 grains. I was surprised how accurate it was and didn’t have any problems with it even when rapid fired. I’m not a fan of 9mm but it is more compact than my .38 S&W Air Weight that I bought in 1982 and still works like the day I bought it. The Diamond Back Company must have got all the bugs out. But the DB9 comes with 1 magazine, I need another spare mag, and I am not having any luck purchasing one.
Brian
Reply I received from DB after a rough opening at the range. Can you say crapola?
Our guns hate Winchester White Box.
Recommended Ammunition for DB9
We recommend CCI Blazer Brass 115-124 grain FMJ, Independence
115-124 grain FMJ, Remington UMC 115 grain FMJ, Magtech 115 grain FMJ,
Fiocchi 115 grain FMJ, & American Eagle 115 grain FMJ for range ammunition.
For carry ammunition, we recommend Hornady Critical Defense 115 grain rubber
tipped HP, Fiocchi 115 gr JHP, & Remington UMC 115 grain JHP. We do not
recommend Winchester white box due to hard primers, low pressure, & thin
cases. The thin cases may cause a failure to extract or slow extraction,
which will cause a jam, or slow the slide speed down enough to cause a fail
to feed on the next round. Please do not use ammunition designed for “short
barreled” pistols. They can be +P even though they may not list it that way
on the box. Please do not use low recoil ammunition. The use of low recoil
ammunition can slow the speed of the slide, which will cause failure to
feed, failure to extract, & failure to eject. Please do not use ammunition
over 124 grains. 147 grain is also too large to cycle properly in our
micro-compact DB9. Please do not use any steel cased ammunition. Steel cased
ammunition can wear the extractor prematurely & can void the warranty. Most
of our customers have had great success with the CCI Blazer & Remington UMC
FMJ for range ammunition, & the Hornady Critical Defense & Remington UMC JHP
for carry ammunition.
Please note page #6 of the owner’s manual: The use of reloaded &
+P ammunition will void the firearm’s warranty. Standard SAAMI pressured
cartridges only.
The DB9 is an 11oz pistol that shoots a high pressured round. It was
designed for experienced shooters (Law Enforcement) as a back-up gun to a
larger gun & not intended to be a range gun (due to size & design). Many of
our customers love our little DB9 & shoot them very well. For some people,
the DB9 can be difficult to fire reliably. A small firearm is harder to
shoot than a full-sized firearm. When firing a micro-compact semi-auto
striker-fired handgun, proper dynamic tension (push/pull) is the key.
Failure to feed & failure to eject occurs when the shooter is not applying
the proper dynamic tension. Failure to feed occurs when a slowing of the
slide speed causes the slide to catch the next round @ the case chamfer &
not the end of the case. This will cause the round to jam (45 degree) in the
chamber. Rounds that stand up in the ejection port (round #3, 4, or 5) are
from the bottom of the breech face contacting the chamfer of the case which
pushes the round down in the magazine & stands it up as it comes forward.
Failure to eject also occurs from the same slowing of the slide speed. The
slide has slowed due to lack of dynamic tension & does not have enough
rearward force to slam the case against the ejector. This will cause the
case to be stuck in the ejection port (stovepipe) or be slammed sideways in
the ejection port as the slide comes forward. Please check your recoil
assembly periodically to make sure it is to spec. When the slide comes all
the way to the rear (normal function), it slips in behind the round & then
cannot push down on the round. When the slide has enough rearward force, it
will also extract faster & eject the spent case out of the ejection port;
however, ammunition selection plays a part as well. Our small handguns have
firm recoil springs to aid in proper slide function. Firm recoil springs are
not very forgiving (on form), so proper dynamic tension will be needed to
insure proper slide function (keeping in mind the recommended oiling on
pages 17,18, & 19 of the owner’s manual). Some of our customers have had
great success with the use of the Hogue Handall Jr. Slip-on grip to help
keep their hand high & tight. If your hand is not high & tight, the
performance can mimic improper form & cause the same failures.
PROPER DYNAMIC TENSION
HOW TO SHOOT OUR MICRO-COMPACT
http://youtu.be/XXbIimiYqao
Thank you,
Scott C. Perin
DBF Customer Service Manager
Warranty Administration
4135 Pine Tree Pl.
Cocoa, Fl. 32926
(321) 305-5995 Local
(877) 997-6774Toll Free
(321) 704-8289 Fax
Office Hours M-F 8am – 5pm
(Please add us to your SAFE senders list)
[email protected]
Facebook – Twitter – FREE firearms safety class
The information transmitted (including attachments) is covered by the
Electronic Communications Privacy Act, 18 U.S.C. 2510-2521, is intended only
for the person(s) or entity/entities to which it is addressed and may
contain confidential and/or privileged material. Any review, retransmission,
dissemination or other use of, or taking of any action in reliance upon,
this information by persons or entities other than the intended recipient(s)
is prohibited. If you received this in error, please contact the sender and
delete the material from any computer.
—–Original Message—–
From: Dan Frank [mailto:[email protected]]
Sent: Thursday, August 29, 2013 10:14 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: DB9 FTF FTE
I recently won a new in box DB 9 at a Friends of NRA dinner. Took it out
for its first run tonight. 130 rounds fired. Winchester 115 gr fmj. I had 8
failures to eject the last round, and 26 failures to feed. I realize that
the gun has a 200 round break-in period, but this seems excessive. I am no
novice when it comes to pocket guns, owning both a Ruger LCP &LC9. No limp
wristing here. Thoughts?
Sent from Dan’s iPhone=
I purchased my DB 380 on 12/18/2012. After putting about 200 rounds through it, it started malfunctioning (FTF; FTE — the whole nine yards). My dealer sent it back to DB for repair. After 4 weeks, they returned it saying it had been fixed — they had replaced the ejector which was broken. The gun had NOT been fixed — was still doing the same things. My dealer video-taped what was going on, and sent the video to DB. DB has NOT responded to my dealer at all. My impression: DB does NOT stand behind its products. So, BEWARE!!
In the meantime, I have now purchased a Sig P238 — works flawlessly!!!
just bought db9 its light and accurate and easy to conceal shot four clips accurate and did not jam buy it
In spite of the predominantly negative reviews I read about the DB9, I plunked down $400 for one. Tried to put about 100 rounds of mixed 115gr FMJ and 115gr JHP ammo through, and experienced about 30% combo of either FTE, FTF, and trigger reset problems. Took the gun home, polished the feed ramp, thoroughly cleaned and polished all contact points, slide grooves, etc. and then adequately lubricated. Returned to the range with the same mix of ammo….about another 100 rounds. Started off well for two magazines, then the problems started again (FTE, FTF, trigger reset). The only consistency I experienced was the intermittent problems with almost every magazine I fired….this firearm CANNOT be trusted as a concealed-carry, life-dependent weapon. I am not a novice with firearms, having owned and fired many different weapons and calbers for over 20 years. Based on what I have read about the DB9, I should have known better !! My $400 loss, Diamondback’s $400 gain and loss of another customer. I’ll stick to my Springfield XDS45 for confident carry and performance, and my Sig P220 (.45) for home defense. The DB9 has become an ugly paper-weight for me! No sense in contacting the company….based on what I’ve Googled about them, it’s a useless venture !!!! BEWARE, PROSPECTIVE DB9 BUYERS…… DON’T WASTE YOUR MONEY (NOR YOUR LIFE) ON THIS TRULY PIECE OF JUNK !!!!!!!!!!
Just to add a note. Talked to my local gunsmith, and we both came to the same conclusion. The failure to completely feed (on a brand new pistol) may have been due to the weight of the round. The initial back pressure of the heavier FMJ round may have been why the round had no problems (and they were blunt tipped, with no problem feeding). We concluded that I will try HP’s after I have put a hundred rounds thru it, to see if the spring will adjust a little to the lighter weight round that the HP’s carry. Another thing I did not mention earlier, I have small hands and the trigger pull was a little long. But after feeling the first round, I adjusted immediately, and the firing was the most comfortable of any 380 that I have tried. Could have done 200 rounds without wrist or finger fatigue. At any rate, I love the feel, and ease of firing of the pistol.
Just purchased a DB380 about a week ago, and finally got to the range today to try it out. As with any new weapon, I always break it down, clean and inspect before firing it for the first time. I have several 380’s and this just looked sweet. First, the good…. have seen several reviews, and they indicated that it is not an accurate weapon. At 20 feet, I was able to pump 21 rounds into a 2 inch group. Wow, really impressed. Next the recoil, really impressed here, about half of any 380 that I have fired. The sights are really dark, and need to have a white dot, and contrast white dots on the back plate (but still able to shoot well in fairly low light). Surprising note, that when firing, the muzzle blast is very intense and bright. Now the bad….saw some reviews that indicate ammo problems. I had the same thing. Firing FMJ, the pistol performs flawlessly. Firing HP’s, it hung every shot. The empty shell ejected fine, but the new round did not feed completely. Pulling the slide back completely, and releasing, the new round entered the chamber. Maybe the spring is too tight, to get a complete feed. Not sure, but I cannot get that fuzzy feeling if this were my only line of defense, in a tight situation. Will have a gunsmith take a look at the spring. My 2 cents worth…..
How do I get in contact with this trashy company I bought this gun at academy they have a no return or refund policy on fire arms.the first day i bought it took it to the range shoots the firstround and that’s it.seems like The firing pin Does not reset .i call them no answer for 40 min i email no response help 300$ to waste damn trash
I’ve fired over 500 rounds thru my DB9 and absolutely trust it for my off duty weapon. Use the ammo recommended by DiamondBack and enjoy. I’ve passed it around at the range to officers who have never picked one up before and watched them get 2-3 inch groups from the 7 yard line. Do I rely on gun magazines for advice? Sure, but you all missed the target here. I’m planning to purchase at least one more in stainless.
Bought a db 380 last summer, have shot around 200 hundred rounds through it…HAVE NOT SHOT A COMPLETE CLIP THROUGH IT WITHOUT SOME KIND OF JAMMING PROBLEM. Contacted diamond back, they set me right up with shipping, put next generation trigger assembly in it & returned it very quickly. They sent me a video of my gun, serial number present shooting five consecetive clips with no issues. I was very excited took it to the range and to date have yet to run a clip without having problems. When I contacted diamond back again they said I must have weak wrist & there was nothing more they would do. WOULD NOT RECOMMEND THIS GUN.
After reading some of the comments and the problems with these guns, I can assure you I will stick with more reputable guns. I like glocks and have read and seen good reliablitlity from kel tecs so no Diamond backs for me not when you are depending on it for your life.
I just bougtn a second hand DB380 and need a ownwes mnual, how can I buy one, my DB sr # isZA6364. Thanks, I live in the Villges, North of Leesburgh ,FL
ive got one u can copy. i had 2 if i can find the 2nd one ill give u one. otherwise u will need to copy it. i live just south of bushnell florida.
i purchased my 380 bout a year ago. i started to have a slight failure to eject issue. honestly after personal modifications i believe i caused more problems. i called db and scott couldnt have been nicer. i worked for 20 years where customer service was drilled to us daily. all i can say is that scott and his crew should be proud of there efforts. i sent my gun back and they repaired it flawlessly. i love my 380 and would not hesitate to buy other items from this very helpful crew. thanks again scott. your service is much appreciated.
Having not read the above review yet, I purchased a DB9 two days ago. So far I have put 100 rounds thru it. One box of Federal 115g FMJ and one box of Winchester Ranger 115g JHP. At this point, flawless. Accuracy was acceptable. Had I read the review, I would not have bought the pistol. ( my loss? ). I know it is to soon to render my final judgement, but I am happy with the performance of the DB9. I don’t require a safety, but I would like to see a slide lock and a larger trigger guard.
Here’s my two cents. Purchased a db9 and had FTE constantly, called the company, they couldn’t have been nicer sent me a prepaid and rebuilt the gun along with a letter from the gunsmith.the gun did the same thing. Made a call to Scott Perrin of Diamondback, took my gun back called me and said they would like to send me a new gun, was that ok. I said yes they sent me a new one, and a letter saying my original was destroyed. This one is perfect, no problems what so ever. Although I was anticipating some thing to happen. I now have 200 or so rounds through it, without a hitch. They certainly treated me very well, thanks again to Scott.nothing is perfect, but when a customer can be satisfied, that is an accomplishment.
Bought a new DB9 and have regretted it from the first fired round. In total, this gun has had 17 rounds put through it. Only 3 went through without some type of malfunction. Gun is terrible given the reason for its purchase was “personal protection”. It is not heavy enough to throw at an intruder and cause him harm so I guess I’ll toss it to him to use on me knowing that I have a 99.9% chance that it will not function and give me time to get a real gun. Highly recomment that NO ONE purchase this gun…it was a complete waste of money and my absolute worst ever firearms purchase.
if you really think keltek is a great gun, then you’re an idiot. My .380 has done its job and still does.
I purchased my DB9 as a “summer carry” for when I rode my motorcycle. I was looking for something light and small to carry under my leathers. My DB9 fits well and no excessive sweating. Being somewhat of a novice I practiced until I became satisfied with my accuracy. No issues with feed or eject after 200 rounds. As noted above, page six of the manual addresses ammo restrictions. I also had to remove a white tag on the trigger guard which also advised not to use anything over 124gr, no +p+, p+. That made sense to me, it is after all, a small light weapon. Since the above reviews are mixed I get the feeling there my be a QC issue at the factory.
I have had a totally opposite experience, mine has performed flawlessly… I actually really like it. Maybe I got the rare “winner” but I love my DB9. I’ve never had a gun easier to carry or conceal. Shooting it from any distance greater than 7 yards can be a challenge however, but with any true pocket pistol, you are trading ease of shooting for size. Don’t let the review get you down to much.
Thanks i was thinking about trading in my 380 bodygaurd on one but i think i will stick with the smith.
I will be filing a motion for a class action suit in October 2012. If you want to join please contact me. DB380 owners.
Ive bought a db9 used. i read the problems and thought why not. I went to chamber a round and it wouldnt feed so I took mag out and tried again but this time i held pressure upward on the mag and know problems at all. so I took a magazine and i welded the mag catch opening to the size of half of what it was. and not problems at all since ive done that. I contacted db firearms before that and they sent me out a magazine no questions asked. know problems anymore. even had the slide cerakoted and a rail put on it, awesome carry gun.
From what these people are saying these little guns are junk. I own a DB380 and have been floored with it’s accuracy. I have personally shot this gun at 12 yards from the bench with the best group running at 1.5″ with 95 gr. JHP and the worst group with 95 gr. FMJ coming in at 2.0″ . How much more accurate does it have to be? I have had 2 failier to feed on the first 100 shoots after that it has run smooth and fired 100% of the time with no problems. I know that the 9mm version has it’s problems however the 380 that I have shoots better than my Walther PPK/S and my Browning BDA 380. The recoils is less the trigger is better that the other two and its accuracy is fabulous. I don’t know if its that I was shooting reloads that I have made or not but my DB380 is GREAT. Try it before you buy it and you will be surprised at the accuracy. I would love to go and shoot with the people that did these “tests” and see if they even know how to hold a gun.
I have shot the DB .380 and felt the accuracy is great, too bad the craftsmanship of the gun is horrible. Would not recommend the gun to anyone. Also dealing with the customer service is horrible. Check this video out and you will see exactly what I am talking about. http://youtu.be/ZMQlN4wCtLs
I would have to disagree with the accuracy part about the DB 380 but check out this site for other issues http://youtu.be/ZMQlN4wCtLs
After witnessing the inner workings of the company and it’s employees I can say that Diamondback is a completely disfunctional company. They know that their guns are junk, people are jumping ship, and they hopefully won’t be around to much longer. I have much to say that would be detrimental to Diamonback, but I will say that I was told to my face in person by an employee of Diamondback that you could shoot rounds larger that 124g! Don’t be silly and think that your life can be depended upon these guns. For $100 more you can buy a Glock.
What is was most disappointing to me is that they are an American company that is selling guns they know are junk to other Americans.
I feel all the frustrations that I have read about these guns. Six months ago I bought two DB9’s because of their size and concealability. Big mistake as neither gun would work. These guns failed in every way that a gun could. I had to send them both to Diamondback on my dollar three times…yes three times and they still would fail to feed, extract, and eject after modifications were made. I even bought hundreds of dollars of 9mm ammo(Hornady, Speer etc.) that they prescribed to break in the guns, and sent numerous videos to them of the guns failing at their request. Finally, on a vacation to Florida I stopped in the little Diamondback shack in Cocoa Florida. After inspection by their engineers it was decided that all the springs needed to be changed out. We went to the range and the guns performed flawlessly to my amazement and was exstatic with how they performed. Three days later I tested the guns back home and it was right back to failing every way possible. They only variable that was different was that it was 40 degrees in Wisconsin and the guns apparently will not function in cold weather. In the end Diamondback would not reply to me anymore and even the few stores that sell Diamondback firearms refused to take them back as they all aknowledged that they were junk. If you are dealing with Diamondback issues right now, do not buy into the “it’s not the gun…it’s the shooter and the grip you are using. %99 of all problems with our guns are the shooters.” or that you have to use certain kinds of ammo.
I have a DB9 its a real biter if you do not handle it correctly(over grabbing) when fireing it. Its difficult to make ready fast so carry a round inside or class 1 or what ever. as far as FTF or FTE or even breakage has not happened YET! except one fail to feed on last round in a train but I was shooting fast rapid shots, and do to its famous recoil I simply lost my control over it. so I tryed it again and all fired smoothly. over all its not the best gun I have ever fired but it`s the smallest and lightest. If you are not used to small guns and heavy recoil then do not buy this little brute.
I personally own 6 Diamondback DB9’s. Two of them are all black and the other 4 are the Nickel-Boron finish. I run at least 300 rounds and 3 cleaning cycles thru a new gun before I choose to carry it. Two of the 6 DB9’s have had issues. One got sent back. It had the same issue with rounds getting stuck in a barrel that the chamber wasn’t machined right. They fixed it and returned it promptly. No problem with their customer service. The other one I did a little gunsmithing, and fixed. Now it works great. All six have functioned flawlessly since.
The best thing about this little 9mm is that the felt recoil is very light because of the shape of the grip. Someone wrote “get a kel-tec PF9”. I own one and side by side the Kel-tec has heavy recoil with the same ammo. The DB9 has about the same recoil as my kel-tec .380. I liked the DB9 so much that I bought six of them. I bought so many so that I can stash them in easily accessed places and still have one to carry and one to practice with.
Yes, some of the Diamondbacks may have issues. I suspect that they had some quality control problems with some of their production runs, but hopefully that has been corrected. The last one I bought a few months ago worked perfectly.
I would be cautions buying a used Diamondback, but would encourage anyone who wants to get a new one.
Henry
Your experience with the DB9 matched mine exactly. I bought one on the recommendation of it’s extremely small size. So what? No matter the load, manufacturer, or bullet weight, it would not function for three rounds in a row without a failure to feed (loading ramp stoppage). It also shot consistantly 8″ low at 7 yards. Not good. Luckily, I was able to sell it off without much grief, and hopefully, the new owner won’t hate me.
I owned the DB9 and had lots of problems with it jamming and misfires. I sold it to a friend of mine who seems happy with it. I bought a Kel-tec .380 and have not had any problems with it.It fits in my back pocket and I forget it’s there. It seems quite accurate for such a short barrel. I can put them all into a 6 inch circle at about 12 yards. The guy who shoots a 2″ group at ten yards must be a world champion shooter. Hard to believe…
After reading some of these reviews, I just had to chime in. I bought a Diamondback 380 as soon as they came out and was AMAZED at how much more accurate it was than the KelTec. I liked the DB because of it’s “Glockish” design … I have to admit that I am a Glock fan. The more I shot the DB380, the less accurate I got and then it had a firing pin problem so DB replaced the whole gun under warranty with a new one … which I promptly SOLD unshot for the new DB9.
I have to tell you all … I am VERY pleased with my DB9 and I use it concealed carry often. It is really the only gun I carry. I have put 600 rounds through it with four different brands. It shoots the 115’s fine and in that size, I use Federal HP’s and the walmart FMJ’s (remingtons I think). My defense loas is the Remington 124jhp.
From ten yards, I can easily place six shots center mass in less than 3 seconds … and do it every time.
I have large hands so I do not think this gun is a tough one to shoot. I have had no fte’s. Perhaps that is because of my larger hands and more strong of a grip I am not sure. Only had a few ftf’s during the break in period.
If any of you want to learn more, just email me at [email protected] and I will share more.
I had the DB9 about 1 yr ago. I would not bet my life on it!!! I no longer own it and never will have another.
I’ve had a DB380 for about a year and a half when I first got it it wouldnt extract American Eagle ammo I called them they told me the moldle I had was one of the earlier models and needed their extractor modification. They promptly sent me a return lable and after shipping it out I had it back in about 2 weeks, works great now and to me is very accurate for a little handgun. Matter of fact I know several LE officers that carry them as backup guns and they tell me stories of of shooting 6″ steel plates at 50yrds.
as far as voiding the warranty by firing a higher grain bullet and it is not specified in the warranty with the gun. they are in for a class action lawsuit in the future, that one can be beat use a credit card and contest the charge with paper work from the gun and you would get your money back. leaving out information that important is the same as false or misleading advertisement. glad to hear so i dont buy one though the headache would not be worth it.
When I called Diamondback about recommended ammo, they said they recommend 115-124 & that the larger bullets may not feed as well. They did not tell me that it would void any warranty if I used a larger bullet. I think people are confusing the statement about the use of the +P ammo. They did tell me that using +P ammo would void the warranty.
I love my DB9!!!!!!!!
Not sure what the reviewer’s problem is with accuracy, but I have a DB9 and it is extremely accurate. I consistently shoot tight groups (2″) at 10 yards – sometimes better. I can double-tap in a 5″ vertical range and triple tap (2 body, 1 head) accurately each time. I rate the gun as extremely accurate.
If you go way out (25 yards+), yes, you lose accuracy–which is expected for a micro pistol.
As to customer service, DB has the best I’ve ever experienced. And yes, I did have to experience it.
As to reliability, it did take some “breaking in” and I did a fluff and buff. Since then, no issues with FTF, FTE, sticky firing pin or anything. I did have to send it back for a broken trigger after 750+ rounds. Since then, I have shot about 300 rounds without issue.
I guess I just don’t ‘get it’. I’ve been carrying just about everything from a full size 1911A1 to a J-frame S&W since the early 1970’s with no problem and no detection by citizens or crooks (plainclothes, undercover, or uniform).
Why not use the proven instead of trying to get smaller, and smaller, and smaller?
A hit is always better than a miss… especially if you hit the wrong one!
So if someone buys this gun through their LGS, without having ever been on the internet, reads the entire owners manual, and proceeds to load an incorrect round (according to the website,) they have voided the warranty… WTF?
On a side note. I love my S&W BodyGuard .380, I carry it every day, and have yet to have an issue with it.
PS. I don’t work for them. But anyone carrying a pocket pistol needs to check out the DoubleTap pocket holster. I found out about them through Gunsamerica’s review a while back. I’m very happy with it.
I’ve owned my DB380 for almost 2 years now. I have fired around 2100 rounds through mine. I had a few issues in the beginning, but it has been flawless since the break-in. As far as accuracy is concerned, this pistol is very accurate. Not sure what you are aiming at.
I had quite a different experience than the author with 3 DB380’s. They all performed very well accuracy wise. Shooting standing, 2 handed slow fire, I was able to consistently keep 1/2″ to 3/4″, 6 shot groups at 7yds with all 3 guns and 3 different types of ammo (Seller & Bellot 93gr FMJ, Magtech 95gr FMJ and Winchester PDX1 95gr Bonded JHP). At 15yds, I was able to achieve a 3 3/4″ group on my first attempt so you can imagine I was pretty excited. I still wasn’t disappointed when the overall results yielded consistent sub-5″ groups.
Along with testing the guns, I tested 8 factory magazines. Although difficult to eject from the guns, the magazines all performed perfectly. Of the 3 guns, 2 of them worked as they should and 1 of them broke within the first 300rds. The gun began double feeding and the trigger stopped resetting. Upon field stripping the gun, I noticed that the right side trigger reset spring retention pin had broken, which certainly explains why the trigger wouldn’t reset. The broken piece was floating around in the action of the frame. This loose piece was more than likely causing the double feeds by inhibiting the slide from fully cycling. From a personal protection evaluation standpoint, I don’t like that 1 or the 3 guns turned into a 1 shot wonder with very little use but, I’m eager to see how it holds up after I get it back from the factory.
I contacted Diamondback regarding this warranty issue. They were polite, eager to help and made the process easy on me. They e-mailed me a pre-paid, return shipping label that day. I couldn’t ask for more.
Overall, I like these little guns. They’re excellent for many different positions of concealed carry, especially pocket carry (with a good pocket holster, of course). On the contrary, as with any micro-guns, due to their small size and the way the average hand wraps around the gun, they are a bit difficult to shoot accurately. They require more practice than larger guns, especially for one to learn the ability present the gun with a consistent grip and trigger finger placement. Micro-guns will always suffer these deficiencies and it’s really up to the operator to overcome such issues with more dry practice and more range time.
I’ve had a DB9 since it was introduced. Had some feeding issues, sent it back and they did a great job fixing it so that it feeds everything reliably. Have not had a problem since – and mine seems very accurate. But I’m still thinking of selling it because of reviews like this.
Seems like this reviewer has an axe to grind. Like he doesn’t like the fact that an airboat company is making guns.
No it doesn’t actually sound like that at all. It sounds like he wants 1 of their airboats and that would be correct.
maybe it’s the administrator that has the axe to grind?
Yea the shitty guns axe moron.
heck … if you like it and it works for you, who cares? I did not get any reviews on my wife before I married herbut I did “drive the car” before I bought it. LOL.
As a owner of a DB 9 and a DB380 this artical made me a little worried so I got out my Owners manual and took a look and on page 6 it clearly states that shooting +p, and reloads will void the warrenty. Also when I purchaed the gun there was a small white sticker on the trigger guard stating that it was not rated for +p or +p+. I am not sure but both my Diamondbacks shoot flawless. My wife who has never shoot a pistol befor and shoots the .380 like a pro with a grouping of les that 1/2 in at 15′. I bought thses guns as carry guns and close quarter protection. I think they are great guns and will invest in any of Diamondbacks future products.
I agree whole heartily, and their customer relations (Scott) was most helpful even though I may have caused the problem. I will continue to buy Diamondbacks.
Being a small independent dealer. I was happy to carry Diamonbacks DB9 in “Pink” for my lady customers, Then i sold one, It will be my last Diamondback i will sell. Straight off she was unhappy with the color, it really was sort of pink/purple, The recoil was stout, almost uncomfortable. She did say the grouping was what she expected, not great but ok. The biggest problem she had was the lack of a manual safety, If she were to carry it with one in the chamber and have it in her purse, she is very concerned about accidental discharge. All in all it got a failing grade, and while she is happy with the service she got from me, she is unhappy with the DB9. It will go into her collection of pink firearms and stay there as a conversation piece. I ask all of my customers for feedback on the weapons they purchase fron me, This is the last time for a Diamondback, do their boats float?
Wow you based your decision on one customer? You must not be doing very well as a small independent dealer. We own a DB9 in black. My wife shoots it very well, considering it is an 11 oz 9mm. Did you stop to think that maybe the reason why it was stout is because its a micro? Sounds like you should have been a better dealer to your customer & researched the product a bit before offering it to her. We knew what we were getting into from our dealer who actually shot a DB9 before our purchase. BTW our dealer is a female. It’s people like you that give great products a bad name. We couldn’t be happier with our DB9 purchase.
If you ever decide to get into the boat business you may want to research them before you sell them. If you don’t put the plug in they will sink.
You will most likely curse this comment very shortly. The gun is a piece of junk That you should not trust your life 2.
It may just not be the gun for you. We have over 500 rounds through our gun with no issues. I don’t shoot my Fred Bear recurve bow very well. That doesn’t mean its a piece of junk. It’s just not the bow for me. We are happy with our gun purchase & will be purchasing the new DB9 in FDE so I can have my own gun & my wife can keep the black one. Don’t rain on our parade… we’re having a great time!
I bought one of the first DB 380’s (ZAxxx). After about 75 rounds, the firing pin would not strike consistently. I saw the problem in the lower trigger assembly, not in the slide. Shipped to company who repaired and returned. The pistol is an excellent light summer summer carry and every time I pull it at the range it goes “bang”. For some, the best gun they own is the one in the holster, not in the safe at home. I have bigger, heavier, more expensive pistols–in the safe.
Wow! Really taken aback by your brutal honesty! THANK YOU!! Too often reviewers pull punches when it comes to writing up their true thoughts. I now know that you guys will tell it like it is when it comes to your experience with the piece you are reviewing. Keep up the good work. Manufacturers need to take this type of input and use it to improve their products rather than going after the messenger. If you guys got a couple of bad guns, then they need to make it right and give you something that works. The truth hurts but we learn the most from failure.
Superb.
I can’t believe Diamondback’s website.
The DB9 page no says that the use of the crimson trace laser will void the warranty. How could the laser possibly affect the gun enough to void the laser?
They’re referring to people using the laser that is designed for the .380 on the 9MM model (apparently they don’t have a 9MM version of the laser they use). I was one of those guys who tried it, my gun broke so I called up Diamondback. They told me that since the laser isn’t designed for the 9MM, it adds too much pressure on the cam block which doesn’t give it enough room to flex causing it to break. They took care of me, they were great actually, but they said not to do it again, lol. Who can blame them though? Putting an accessory on a gun that isn’t designed for it is never a good idea, and obviously in this case it’s a bigger deal than most people realize.
I love my DB9, never leave home without it!
“the DB380, and the newly released DB9, both with a street price under $400 ”
JEEZ, what would I do with a “CHEAP” gun at $400.00? I can get and will get a Hi-Point 9mm to go with my beautiful Carbine from the same company and the same caliber.. At less that $200.00 seems the smart thing to do and I am buying American………
Also, please don’t be stupid and use the term “street price” Say purchased price or store price, but if these useless things hit the street they will bring $20.00 and that is what they are probably worth. My hand makes a 1911 look small and those toys I would not be able to get my finger into the trigger.
People should just spend the extra $$ and get a Walther P series if they want a reliable pocket pistol/CCW. Actually, I see no reason to buy anything other than an XD-S now that it’s available, or a Kahr CM-9 if you want a reliable carry pistol. My XD-S is functioning flawlessly and my CM-9 was such a good pistol, I kept it and gave it to my wife as a purse gun since she shoots it so well.
My lady used to carry the Walther PPK/S. Though it’s a great carry weapon, it was simply too heavy for her purse. She absolutely loves the Ruger LCP w/laser she has for her CCW, now. But, she’ll never give up the Walther for home use.
Personally, I use the H&K USP Compact .40 as my carry, and the H&K P30 .40 as my home weapon. The S.A. XD Series guns were also in the running for my choices…
I have owned 2 DB380’s for over a year. Yes, they have accuracy problems but it is a self-defense weapon. Shooting from the 21 foot mark, I can easily keep them on a coffee cup saucer sized target. I have put several boxes of .380 FMJ and a box of Critical Defense through them with only one jam. The spent cartridge ejected but the next round didn’t make it into the chamber. That was probably within the first ten rounds I fired in one of them. It is a nice front pocket carry gun. I have a Nemisis pocket holster to carry it in my front pocket and its light weight really makes if nice to carry. I do not find the recoil to be to bad.
Diamondback’s claim of having the “smallest & lightest” subcompact .380 is an outright lie. The Ruger LCP w/built-in laser (the heaviest of 3 versions) is only 10.0 oz. YES, 10.0 oz. It does, however, clearly state in the manual to NOT use +P, or non-standard, or reloaded ammo. Though I’m sure my lady would prefer +P, she doesn’t have any accuracy issues (she’s a VERY good shot) with this fine ‘lil pistol.
Here’s the proof… The spec sheet from the manufacturer:
http://www.ruger.com/products/lcp/specSheets/3713.html#
BTW: I weighed a DB380 & it came in at over 9.6 oz unloaded. The Ruger LCP w/fixed sights comes in at 9.4 oz.
Dang, Mabye current production is goin
g to crap. I’ve had a ya7xxx with about 800 rounds through it. FE a few time on a weak hand drill with an intentionally weak grip. Funny though, a bud of mime who goes to the range with me…. 1 round out if three will FE on him. Grip goes a long way.
I bought my first Diamondback 380 in 2010, it shoots great and seemed like an improvement over the Kel Tec P3AT. A year later in 2011 I bought a DB9 with a blue slide and it shoots great with any 9mm ammo. The trouble started this year when I bought a nickle slide DB9. The gun looks great but will not shoot a full magazine without jamming. I contacted Diamondback and they really jerked me around. They basically refused to fix it, even though it was brand new. After about a month of jerking me around they sent me a return label, kept the gun for one month and returned it to me with the same problem. Their customer service is terrible, so I will not be buying anything from Diamondback in the future.
I had their nickel boron coated version of this pistol and it do not function reliability enough for anyone to bet their lives on them and not cheap enough to keep them for the novelty they are. I put 400+ rounds though it of various target and defensive ammo and I continued to experience jamming issues. Diamondback has been given enough time to get their bugs worked out and the long and short of it is they to not put out a reliable product. I would stay away from the brand all together, as their are so many other attractive options that function reliability and will not give you the headaches. If you are looking for the novelty of a mini glock, enjoy, but please do risk your life or that of your family’s on this firearm. Regards
SAAMI needs to go after this company. They are marketing a product as a 9mm pistol but trying to void warranties based on bullet weight? That means it doesn’t meet spec for what it is marketed as. They can’t just void the warranty.
Just buy a Kel Tec PF9. Similar size, similar weight, goes bang reliably, great price and great warranty. Love mine and it’s eaten anything I’ve fed it since 2009. Had a few magazine issues but KT fixed those under warranty in a very prompt fashion at no cost to me. They recommend not putting a steady diet of +P into it but don’t go so far to say you can’t do it or they’ll void the warranty or something. I’ve shot it with 115gr, 124gr, 147gr, and loads up to very stout “standard” pressure loads without issue. As long as I grip it strongly it goes bang and cycles fine. Accuracy is better than I am capable of with nice 3 white dot sights.
Buy a proven performer.
Same here, my PF9 is about 2 years old now and it still is such an awesome and accurate gun. Got the metal trigger from Pops off the KTOG forum plus some Night Sighters and it’s even better than it was before. Plus it’s just the right size to be big enough to control, but small enough to conceal.
My DB9 was an exercise in frustration. It simply didn’t work from day 1 using only 115 grain ammo for the break in. I had 3 magazines that all produced the same number of failures to feed (40% minimum) and when they did feed about half of them failed to extract or eject. Diamondback finally agreed to take the gun back and “correct” the problems, at their expense. When I got it back about 4 weeks later it maybe showed a slight improvement but not enough that I would even consider carrying it as a primary or back up gun.
Too bad! It’s definitely small and easy to carry and conceal, but that’s the only complimentary remark I can make. Don’t waste your money on one of these. I bit the bullet (no pun intended) and picked up a Kimber Solo and couldn’t be happier. Proof again that you get what you pay for and, if you’re going to trust your life to a gun, how much is that worth?
i kept looking for a really small 9. i hoped that diamondback would make a 9 after i saw their .380. they finally did and i bought one. it wouldn’t eject the fired round. i sent it back. they replaced the barrel for free stating that the throat machining was off and the casing would stick. i have had no problems with the gun since. accuracy isn’t bad but i didn’t buy it for accuracy. i wanted a nine i could carry all the time. i prefer my glk 26 but sometimes i can’t carry it. the db9 is not pleasant to shoot but what would one expect from such a small and light weight handgun. like all small,light carry guns, this one is made to be carried often and shot very little. take your 40 oz unit to the range. you will enjoy shooting that more.
This guy Sam Shutter knows what he is talking about; he’s my brother and no finer gun toting American exists in western PA where most inhabitants, according to Obama, cling to their guns and their religion.
Wow, really surprised by your review. I have owned and shot a DB380 for over a year now. It has not had any issues and after I spent some time with it I am able to keep all seven rounds on a paper plate at 50′. I too am surprised about Diamond Backs poor choice of handling the DB9 issues but am very happy with my DB380 and am not the only one. I know of four other officers who carry them as back-ups and this is not a large area to have such a good showing in the law-enforcement community.
I shot Blazer Brass 115 gr. through my new DB9 and after 50 rounds ir started to double feed, at 62 rounds it wouldn’t come to the cock position- I mean the slide worked fine, but the trigger wouldn’t engage. I called Diamond Back, they said to send it in and emailed me a lable for second day air. They recieved it, and now it’s sitting at Taurus WAITING to be looked at. It’s been about month; the email I received stated it would take 8-10 weeks. The “instrant chat,” person told me 10-12 weeks. When I FINALLY do get it back, hopefully a replacement, I’ll be trading it in just as fast I can! I should have stayed with my Hi Point 9mm; even though it’s what some call ugly, and it is might hefty, it was accurate, and at 150 rounds, it still went BOOM when I pulled the trigger!
Update on the DB9 I sent to have fixed/replaced… I contacted Taurus (who is doing the actual Smith Work on 08/13/15, the “track your repair status” map showed (still does as of 08/18/15),and it’s still sitting there, not even being looked at. I demanded a refund of the $300 I spent on it or a replacement, without further delay from the Diamond Back Fireamrs. The Coustomer Service Rep. responded to my email telling me that he would “… request to see if we can push your repair, but I cannot promise you a quicker time frame, since it depends on the nature of the repair.” Diamond Back Firearms talks a good game, but their warrenty is apparrently set up so you’ll either give up on getting it back or just forget the whole thing. I understand that Taurus more than likely takes care of their own firearms repair frist, and I’m sure they produce fine products, though I have noe experience with them. Diamond Back, on the other hand… I would NOT trust my life to them, or my firearms “ear marked” money to them!