Upper and lower are supposed to be made from 7075-T6 aluminum. FLAME DELETED. The DB9 is making rounds in my brain…..that is, until I buy it. Took it to the range this afternoon and gave it a good wringing out with Speer 115 gr FMJ. With that said, this is the micro pistol Glock SHOULD have built. DB told me that I have an older model and they would send me a shipping label so it could be sent to them for repair. Diamondback DB9 I know there was a previous review of this new-ish pocket pistol in 9mm by Que, but I thought I'd give my perspective as well. I bought a DB9 in 2012. Ruger LCP), those that *can* be pocket carried, but are a little on the large side (E.G. I bought a DB9 on 11/18/13 at a local Gander Mountain store and I must say the only smart thing I did that day was spending the $29.99 in store cleaning and free mfg. I took the DB9 out to the range twice over the labor day weekend. I have been carrying the DB9 around using a Blackhawk inside the pocket holster. Take your scrutiny to a Photoshop blog if that’s what you’re into. Tags: diamondback db9 problems diamondback db9 reliability diamondback db9 review. I might have been anticipating the DB9’s “sting” or just jerking the trigger. I have had no failures with my Ruger LCP and use it as my carry gun. This is not a beauty queen, it’s a working class firearm. Same sort of issue with the Walther. had just added three rounds to my magazine. I understand why he would choose to not respond. OVERALL HEIGHT (Flush Mag): 4.00″ But that’s to be expected with micro 9mm. After having so many failures to feed with multiple types of 9mm ammo I was ready to throw in the towel on this handgun. Full size weapons make this a non-issue but since this is pushing the envelope and they compromised chamber space for a smaller weapon there is an out of battery issue that can occur. It’s really easy to write a wonderful review of something and then falsify a clincher so no one will buy the product. Just awesome topic! Now it shoots anything. I also bought two extra mags after having read that others had mag issues. MODEL: DB9 SLIDE: Stainless Steel CALIBER: 9 x 19mm CAPACITY: 6+1 rounds OVERALL LENGTH: 5.73″ OVERALL WIDTH: .9” OVERALL HEIGHT (Flush Mag): 4.00″ OVERALL HEIGHT (Extended Mag): 4.51″ WEIGHT (Empty Flush Mag): 13.4 oz. MON - FRI 8:30AM - 5PM ET. 7 round mag and a Crimson Trace. I’m curious how it compares to the Keltec, though,… **hackcoughkeltecvsotherpocketninesreviewhackcough** ahem…. I have read all the negative comments about this article. in a vise or on a peg) and the camera is on a tripod, and the lighting is consistent, the bullet can be removed and a new bullet dropped in place and the unchanged portion of the picture (the barrel) will look identical whether you take 2 pictures or 200. I was a man on the verge of buying a Ruger LCP. I had one and lord knows I tried to be patient. It sounds like a bad barrel, which can be exchanged (doesn't require fitting by a gunsmith) without having to send the entire pistol in for service. The Diamondback DB9’s slide recoil system eats a lot of recoil energy. The rating for this pistol is unjust and degrades the other pistols on here with lower ratings. Style * * * “Once you drop the mag and clear the weapon, pull the trigger and move the slide back about half an inch up.”, Yes, well, pretty much every polymer frame handgun on the market today uses that system. I plan to buy an extended magazine giving me room for another digit and an extra round in the bargain. FREE Shipping. TRIGGER ACTION: Striker Fired Dbl Action Only Interesting write-up, BTW. And assuming the DB9 has the same double-action trigger as the DB380, shooting the jewels isn't an issue. I fired FMJ through it at the range and had no problems. However the jams did still continue although less frequently. So here is my saving grace: PDFfiller helped me to fill out the IRS W-4 and and esign them. I have carried a Springfield XD 9822 .40S&W SC for the last nine years. Diamondback Firearms initially established its brand with the DB380 and DB9 micro-compact pocket pistols in .380 Auto and 9mm Luger. It was a clear spring morning at Fort Leonard Wood, truly beautiful. I assure you, PhotoShop is a powerful tool and in the hands of a trained professional photos can be manipulated to deceive without the “artifacts” that you claim to see in the photos above. That said, it’s not a wrist-breaker, either. ... Report a problem. Try the LC9s. We shot 2 Ruger 9mm pistols and never missed the target using the same shells. I think the TTAG crew needs to drop a truth bomb on its patrons about Kahr’s great line of carry weapons. Other than that, your a dumb ass! The author said something about getting an extended clip – another round and longer – but never posted back a source for this. My pockets get pretty nasty on inside from being in this environment. Designed with safety in mind, the DB9 features a “ZERO-Energy” striker firing system with a mechanical firing pin block, a steel magazine catch to secure a sheet metal magazine and real windage-adjustable sights, all in a lightweight pistol. http://www.diamondbackairboats.com/, So I guess the reviewer is going to ignore my call-out on his image doctoring showing the barrel and the round not seating all the way? The gun literally began to fall apart in your hand, it only likes a few specific types of ammo, and it’s is a nightmare to field-strip, but you gave it five stars anyway. OVERALL HEIGHT (Extended Mag): 4.51″ Buyer beware, update , I have still not received my replacement magazine now after 4 month’s / they said it would take 4 biz days . I then noticed that the ring of metal that captures the end of the guide rod (right under the muzzle) was sheared off. . When we started testing the Diamondback DB9 pistols, the company was relatively young and ventured into the single stack, pocket 9 market where the competition wasn’t tight. Do you have a loaded weight for the gun? . http://www.thetruthaboutguns.com/2011/10/tim-mcnabb/in-which-your-correspondent-breaks-his-diamondback-db9/#more-73651, I agree – do the math on his ‘star’grading, and it comes to 3 stars ( 15÷5 ). The first shot I hit low and left the next 24 shots I never hit the target. Small but mighty, the M&P’s double-stacked magazine packs a lot of firepower. I tried recommended ammo. I experienced the same problem with PMC FMJs. So basically this gun sucks and you should have gotten a Kel-Tec? BARREL: 3.1″ Stainless Steel, 1:10 RH SIGHTS: 3-Dot, Glock Compatible SIGHT RADIUS: 4.51″ DISTANCE BETWEEN SIGHTS: 4.25” TRIGGER: Short Reset I fall into the “OMG that’s an ugly gun” camp. Not to argue or start a debate here. Any pistol that will not go into battery with SAAMI spec ammo is automatically disqualified from defensive use. It’s an “emergency” firearm; a pocket nine that you shoot occasionally (to assure function and remain competent) and carry constantly. I failed to include a slip of paper that stated what the problem was (because I had already explained this over the phone), and they sent the gun back a month later stating they fired 18 rounds through it with no problems. I have hated safeties ever since. I have not experienced any of the pins walking out. My 1st range trip to ensure reliability before I would confidently carry it consisted of 200 FMJ Federal & Blazer, brass & aluminum, then 10 Critical Defense loads. Let’s see some reviews. I was able to turn in respectable groups firing one-handed from both my left and right sides. It’s a pass/fail test. The 9 is the dia. I was able to push it back in place, but it walked its way out again after more range time. I am in no way associated with this site or the author of this article. I absolutely love this little pistol; it is incredibly small and very accurate for its size. today I bought it to the range and the gun was FTF a lot. Thanks to a combination of a stiff spring and a small slide, racking the Diamondback’s slide takes a firm grip and plenty of pull. Huh ? I’d suggest nikon be banned if it wasn’t so darn entertaining watching him make a fool of himself. It’s one that has been edited. I bought a diamondback db9 a few months ago. Just try it https://goo.gl/Fwz1vj, you’ll love it. You’ll carry this. What matters is that for warm weather or as a BUG, the DB9 is the perfect carry gun for me. Thank you Mr. McNabb for the information! Who would buy that car after reading a review like that? I’ve had dirt, sawdust, lint, grass, etc built up all around gun and even down in the guns tiny openings (even up inside of clip) and gun will fire everytime. When it is appropriate to do so my wife carries a Kahr K40 Elite in a Don Hume Front Pocket Holster #101 and has done so for the past nine years without incident of any kind. I’m having all the same problems , they said to ship my magazine back to them , that’s been two month’s , still no magazine ? Good job Chris! You give this gun 3 or less stars in 4 of the 6 categories then give it 5 stars overall ? Only ammo I tried was Remington 115 HP and 147 HP, and function was 100%, no problems. You can clearly see the top is edited if you knew what you were doing at all with photoshop. I’ve carried both PF9 and DB9 since they both came out. Kahrs feel great in the hand. Designed with safety in mind, the DB9 features a zero-energy striker firing system with a mechanical firing pin block, a steel magazine catch to secure a sheet metal magazine and real windage-adjustable sights, all in a lightweight pistol. We called it Fort Lost In The Woods. Same can go for DB9 or any gun for that matter. Why did you not use 2 real images to display the ammo not seating all the way in the chamber. 32926  |  PH: 321-305-5995  |  Email: info@DiamondbackFirearms.com | My issue isn’t weight, it is simply dimensions — There are three classes of firearms I generally consider; those that can be pocket carried with ease (E.G. The latest pistol from Diamondback was introduced in January 2019 and is the one I have at hand: the Diamondback DB9 Gen IV. Just came across this older article. Diamondback Firearms, is a relative newcomer to the firearms market. I carry it in an Uncle Mike’s Sidekick pocket holster #4. That means I’ll have it with me in situations I might not otherwise carry a gun. It came, and the first target popped up. I have large hands; I can only get my middle and ring finger around the grip. Sometimes this happens, sometimes it does not. I can’t really seem to collect where people are getting this being an ugly gun from(?) So, caliber and capacity matter to me alot. Read my comment below yours to give you my experience with the DB9. I love this little firearm and highly recommend it. I bought a DB-9 to evaluate it for myself. The reviewer addressed this; Tim didn’t use the incorrect caliber of ammunition in the DB9. But the DP9 is a sexy beast. Each time they respond they ask for the serial # Name address and phone #. After breaking in … treat it to some microlon and you will be even happier. So I gave up after trying many fixes. The Kahr is quiet a bit flatter but still fills the pocket. well at least half of that describes the majority of TTAG readers including you. A couple of weeks ago I posted a blog entry about using a trimmed Kel Tec PF9 spring in place of the stock DB9 spring. Both rounds, the one longer and the one that was not are 9x19mm but they do not have identical geometry. Hi HSR47 OMG!!! But they’ll go into and out of your pocket just fine. I purchased it specifically for USPSA Practical and Steel Challenge matches. The DB9’s mini beavertail helps, but I still emerged from the range with a touch of slide-burn. The Diamondback’s design also seems cribbed from Gaston’s gun, particularly in how it breaks down. The thin red line isn’t a hackjob artifact – it shows the variable seating of two different 9mm loads. I can field strip it in less than 10 sec. Well, let’s just say it’s heavy. During the subsequent years, Diamondback introduced a variety of pistols and rifles. empty ! and the compromise in size is, vs a .380 like the LCP, worth it. I did like the DB380 though. To help keep the handgun affordable, the DB9’s slide doesn’t lock open when you’ve fired your last round. Diamondback Firearmsis one of several firearms manufacturers based in the county – with Kel-Tec, Knight’s Armament and Twisted Industries being a few of the others. Be safe and happy shooting ! I think the Kel Tec P11 is a viable alternative, usually well under $300, carries 10 -12 (extended mag) 9mm, and down loaded to six or seven rounds, is still not that heavy. Thanks to the nice range officer at Sovereign Arms for his help. The DB9 forgoes an external safety in favor of a revolver-like long, heavy trigger pull. My P11 is an ugly but reliable piece, though, so I would keep it as well. Being able to pass the 3 second test is comforting. Bama Belts and Leathers Gun Holster fits Diamondback 9mm DB9 Black Nylon Ambidextrous Use Left or Right Built in Magazine Holder Adjustable Retention Strap Gun Slinger Holster. When I don’t feel like hitching up my gun-truss and packing a brick in my britches, the DB9’s size allows it to be carried discreetly. I paid less than $380.00 for my DB9. It is, a concealable pocket pistol which is intended for up close and personal self defense. The takedown detent is small and well-recessed. Subscribe for FREE now to ensure you never missa single vital update... ©COPYRIGHT 2021, THETRUTHABOUTGUNS.COM ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Reliability * * * The untucked shirt tail covers the pocket opening. For suggestions, collaborations, or … Get in touch with us. …why not just ream the chamber – maybe the chamber is undersize??? Consistent with the above review, it is an impressive, serious, true pocket pistol. The similarity in to two pictures can easily be explained. The DB9 GEN 4 is a polymer-framed 9mm subcompact pistol. But it’s a lot better than nothing. $400 +/- 50. Carry * * * * * But the thought of a 9mm carry gun in a .380-sized package intrigued me. This is not a SHTF gun, it’s too fussy about ammo – at least this one is. This includes offerings from Kahr*, Kel Tec, Ruger, and a few others. I figure someone bought it, put a few rounds through it, had some FTF, and replaced it. To me it’s pretty damn sleek. That’s right, the gun is so small your firing finger actually hits the other side of the frame when you have it to the rear. Really, the issue isn’t that they let a lemon out the door (although that is an issue too), the issue is what they will do to FIX it, and make it right. The second issue is the trigger assembly frame pins. I’m not sure the PF9 could handle that abuse, but the PF9 is not a true pocket gun. Anyone have a good solution for this? It would jam when I tried to load it initially, and even when I could get it to load, I couldn’t fire more than two rounds in a row before it jammed again. SLIDE: Stainless Steel A good grip is needed for accuracy, this is a little bitty gun, and it takes some effort to rack the slide and break it down. It also says in the book and on a tag that is on the trigger guard when you purchase it not to use +P or higher ammo in this gun. All will void the warranty and may not be safe. Carrying it, though, is another matter. Unsurprisingly, Diamondback sounds like Kel Tec all over again. The only exception to this rule that I’ve heard tell of is the M&P range of pistols from S&W, and that through their advertising materials…. So far from what I’ve been reading the PPS is still the one to beat? Not that this is news,.. but my Keltec PF9 had a light striking habit which ended after the first hundred or so rounds. Plenty accurate, too. OVERALL LENGTH: 5.73″ I needed one of my own. ”. Minor brass deformations at the mouth. So here is my saving grace: PDFfiller helped me to fill out the IRS W-4 and and esign them. I called Diamondback, after explaining the problem, they sent me a postage paid label to send the gun back for repair. Given the founders of Diamondback are ex-KelTec engineers, I’m stumped as to how they can let these go out the door. I carried the Compact .40 with me on an extended trip and really wished I’d had a smaller firearm. I noticed that a few coils of the guide rod spring were sticking out from under the muzzle. The P11 and anything larger). I ordered a Kel Tec clip straight from the Kel Tec website, removed the spring from the Kel Tec clip and put it in my clip and since then I have not had a singe jam either loading the gun or firing it. Just like the article, it was Fiocci. As far as customer service, those guys were Jam up A+. At that point the gunsmith I took it to, took the gun down and started dropping different types of rounds into the barrel, and we noticed this same effect. Only u can’t pull the slide too far back while taking apart the DB9 or the trigger will reset on the DB9 and your back to square one and must start the process all over again! I have put it through my own torture tests and it shines. $19.97 $ 19. I brought it to the range and for the most part used American Eagle 115 gr FMJ. Potential buyers should determine if they have the hand strength needed to reliably rack the slide. I live in the mountain countryside of Carolina. I just got a bad apple. I know your experiences may be different. I had the same little nip from the trigger on my finger, though I did not get a blister. A guy I work with bought a DB9 yesterday, takes it home, loads it chambers around, and its locked up. STAY AWAY FROM DIAMONDBACK. Not the fastest, but better than deep conceal options IMO. Not really. The slide would not budge. I have to disagree, mine has done exactly what is has supposed too and I’ll continue to carry it until something of same exact size comes out and proves to be better…. @NikonMikon – I think the general consensus is your just a dickhead looking to make a name for yourself by continuously harping on something that no one else really cares about. Speaking of Beretta, how about the Nano or the PX4 sub-compact? I’m shooting Federal HI-Shok JHP 115 grain. Put many different types of ammo through it and many FTFs. I thought this best way to illustrate the differences. 3+3+3+1+5 = 15/5 = 3. Some things that I would miss from my P11 are the larger carry capacity, the fact that it “eats” any kind of ammo without any issues (after about 2,000 rounds) and the capability of using a ‘standard’ S&W59 Magazine; yeap, one sticking out of it with 15 rounds as an additional carry magazine which is also compatible with their SUB-2000 fold-able carbine. Are all keltecs bad. 97. Woahhhhhhhh armed intelligentsia! You drop the mag and clear the weapon, pull the trigger and move the slide back about half an inch up. Then, you rotate a pin by 90 degrees using a screwdriver or the rim of a bullet. This is getting tedious. handgun in a pant pocket. Many a shooter suffers buyer’s remorse after firing a perfectly-sized pocket rocket—especially when the caliber and grain count start to rise. http://mousegunaddict.blogspot.com/2012/03/my-fix-for-my-diamondback-db9-feed.html. Presentation is as simple as pushing the muzzle up through the pants, into the hand. Just some information for whatever it may be worth. I took the DB9 back to Gander Mountain on 4/1/13 and they returned it. I ordered it sight unseen, and the fit to my hand bothers me a bit – I would really like to extend the bottom of the grip, perhaps the clip, to be able to get my little finger on it! Sounds like some of the same issues that the P238 is reported to have had early on. I am not impressed at all. The Kahr C series are cheaper. Diamondback DB9 Problem. In addition the sights are very poor and hard to pick up quickly. The DB9 is always in there, carried in soft holster. It seems that it may be the design of the magazine that is causing this. Start hands at sides for concealed belt holster carry, hand on gun in pocket for pocket carry. It does have a little bit of a bit but nothing like my taurus 327 fed. Intrigued at 2012 Shot Show, so bought a DB9. Much, much, much better trigger than the LC9. I am a recent owner of the DB9, I didn’t do much research, but I got a great deal on it, and liked the idea of an affordable pocket 9. I fired 100 rounds through the gun – twice. Doesn’t sound like this is it. Diamondback Firearms offers a free on-line gun safety course on their website. You aint 13 anymore. I was told to send in my non-functioning magazine to be replaced with a functional magazine for my DB9 / no one there seems to know anything about when the backorder replacement mags will be back in stock. I had the pistol out at the range today. I don’t know why the DB people have not gotten a nasty gram from Smyrna GA or their attorneys…its that similar. Stay away from anything DiamondBack makes or you’ll end up with a sore assho-e …. Due to potential cyclical problems involving recoil energy, Diamondback Firearms does not recommend the use of any 9mm SAAMI Specification ammunition in bullet weights exceeding 124 grain. At least for me and 4 of my friends all of us consistently were stabbed by the horrible sharp and square mag release when pulling the trigger. I said the 2 images are not 2 different images. If you continue to dispute me I’ll save the image and make a video of the layer swapping to prove myself. Testing ammo is a must, If the cartridge is too long, it will jam the slide out of battery. Other smaller guns are way too expensive/finicky (Boberg or Rohrbaugh) or thicker (but greater quality) than my P11 (Kimber Solo or Sig P290). @NikonMikon – Good catch, I did on fact edit the photo. Replacing the factory magazine springs with ones fron Kel Tec (with 3 coils clipped off the bottom) increases reliability. The micro-framed DB9 … I was very close to buying one this week, yet with the continued negative reports, will wait. It is very obvious that the pocket is full but it is not obviously a gun. Is the 11 ounces with or without mag? The P11 is still too big though. After 625 rounds, the frame cracked, the pins were walking, I had a chipped feed ramp, numerous failures to feed, Stovepipes, failure to eject, double feeds, and countless hours of frustration. Credibility downgraded. Diamondback Firearms is proud to present the DB9, a micro-compact 9mm pistol made entirely in the USA. Don Hume has been selling his form fitted Kahr pocket holsters for at least nine years that I know of. I guess I should be banned for wanting the “TRUTH” on a blog called “The Truth About Guns”. If and when I range test my DB9 should I have problems with ammo feeding or stove pipes or ejection problems I will come back and give an update. Plus 2x fully laden 15 round magazines on the other side of my belt. commitment. I was having problems with my DB9. ), but it’s not like I’m ever gonna run it like that again. 3.9 out of 5 stars 7. Tim McNabb says: As far as motives go? Locked and loaded, I leaned into my firing position and waited for the range officer to give the “watch your lanes” command. CHAT. It is a 9mm, which I would rather carry than a .380 or .38. Crappy POS pistol’s that are smeared in worthless customer service stink ! I pitty the fool who demands my wallet. Did you make this up or is it a real issue because your image is a fake. As far as firing reliability, like I stated earlier, after deeper chambered barrel replacement it was flawless. As far as I’m concerned, when it comes to compact pistols anyway, there are three sizes of pistol: good pocket guns, borderline pocket guns, and NOT pocket guns. That’s the test I use, based on “typical gunfight” distance and time data, and what’s known about performance loss under stress. No doubt it is finnicky about ammo, and my ammo of choice is the Federal 9mm bp. I never said it was. While you won’t be using it on Top Shot to break plates at 25 yards, at 21 feet, this gun is quite accurate.