Diamondback Firearms - Improved P3AT?

[rhinoh]

I really dislike the trigger guard and don't much like the serrations on the slide either, straight lines are my preference.
My personal aesthetic preferences aside, it is an interesting .380, if it handles well and goes bang when it is supposed to.......
For reference I have an LCP, a P238 and two P3ATs.

 

[Phydeaux642]

I handled one of these today and they were asking $349. It looks better finished than the Kel-tec, but I still don't think I would want one. When I gripped it like I would grip it when shooting it, I found that I would probably get snake bit with the slide. The little nub of a beaver tail seems too high compared to the P238 that I am buying. YMMV.

 

[G.A.Pster]

If it’s the same kind of quality as a Keltec or LCP I’ll be staying clear of it.

 

[rhinoh]

Why? My KelTecs, 5 of the 6.5 I own* of them anyway, and LCP have been great.
* My PF9 gives me trouble jamming occasionally, then when I decide to sell it, it works fine on what was to be its last range trip, making me keep it. I have a PF9, P11 with a .40 kit also-hence .5, 2 P3ATs, 2 Sub2000's one 9 and one 40. The PF9 is the only problem child.

My Sig P238 is purportably "high quality or high dollar" and it has given me more trouble than ALL of the 6.5 KelTecs combined...

 

[mharveyww1]

Got it - Love it!

I've been on a 2-year search for a true "carry anywhere, pocket pistol".
In that time I've bought (and sold) a Bersa .380CC, S&W 642 Centennial Airweight, Rohrbaugh and Seecamp .380's, Kel-Tec P3-AT, Ruger LCP AND LCR , Sig P-238 and KAHR PM9 (I'd really rather carry a 9mm...but)!

NONE of them worked out for every situation. The Bersa, Sig and PM9 were just too heavy for all-day comfort, the S&W and LCR were too bulky with business attire...and the Rohrbaugh, Seecamp, KelTec and LCP just did NOT fit my hand, despite my trying Pearce finger grips, slip-on Hogues, etc.
The small grips just kept twisting in my hand under recoil.
I didn't feel comfortable with my ability to grasp, fire and actually HIT anything. The LCP was a real problem...when firing rapid, multiple shots, I kept accidentally pressing the magazine release button (not good)!
Let's face it - there is no "one size fits all" handgun. Your experience my be totally different.

THEN, a friend at a local gun shop told me to stop by and try the Diamondback, and voila'! It feels like it was custom-fitted for me.
That bulky grip with the 'ridged' front gives a solid hold.

I agree that it's not the sexiest-looking pistol out there, but that straight handgrip also puts the recoil right where it needs to be and makes this the softest-shooting small .380 I've ever fired. It almost feels like shooting a .22!
Needless to say, this allows the gun to stay pretty much on target for multiple rounds.

Build quality seems first-rate...very much like a KAHR (in fact the trigger is almost as smooth as a KAHR). It eats and digests every make and type of ammo I've fed it, and in the first 100 rounds had only one 'hiccup' (with one round of Golden Saber hollow-point) that was immediately cleared by simply slapping the bottom of the grip against the palm of my left hand.

I think this one's the keeper!

And it, along with a .45 Officer's 1911 in the center console of my SUV, a Springfield EMP in my wife's nightstand (both loaded with Critical Defense rounds) and a Remington 870 tactical 12-guage loaded with 7 rounds of 00 buckshot in the closet...I feel pretty well prepared for most any defensive situation.

Mike

 

[mharveyww1]

Got it - Love it!

I've been on a 2-year search for a true "carry anywhere, pocket pistol".
In that time I've bought (and sold) a Bersa .380CC, S&W 642 Centennial Airweight, Rohrbaugh and Seecamp .380's, Kel-Tec P3-AT, Ruger LCP AND LCR , Sig P-238 and KAHR PM9 (I'd really rather carry a 9mm...but)!

NONE of them worked out for every situation. The Bersa, Sig and PM9 were just too heavy for all-day comfort, the S&W and LCR were too bulky with business attire...and the Rohrbaugh, Seecamp, KelTec and LCP just did NOT fit my hand, despite my trying Pearce finger grips, slip-on Hogues, etc.
The small grips just kept twisting in my hand under recoil.
I didn't feel comfortable with my ability to grasp, fire and actually HIT anything. The LCP was a real problem...when firing rapid, multiple shots, I kept accidentally pressing the magazine release button (not good)!
Let's face it - there is no "one size fits all" handgun. Your experience my be totally different.

THEN, a friend at a local gun shop told me to stop by and try the Diamondback, and voila'! It feels like it was custom-fitted for me.
That bulky grip with the 'ridged' front gives a solid hold.

I agree that it's not the sexiest-looking pistol out there, but that straight handgrip also puts the recoil right where it needs to be and makes this the softest-shooting small .380 I've ever fired. It almost feels like shooting a .22!
Needless to say, this allows the gun to stay pretty much on target for multiple rounds.

Build quality seems first-rate...very much like a KAHR (in fact the trigger is almost as smooth as a KAHR). It eats and digests every make and type of ammo I've fed it, and in the first 100 rounds had only one 'hiccup' (with one round of Golden Saber hollow-point) that was immediately cleared by simply slapping the bottom of the grip against the palm of my left hand.

I think this one's the keeper!

And it, along with a .45 Officer's 1911 in the center console of my SUV, a Springfield EMP in my wife's nightstand (both loaded with Critical Defense rounds) and a Remington 870 tactical 12-guage loaded with 7 rounds of 00 buckshot in the closet...I feel pretty well prepared for most any defensive situation.

Mike

 

[Kind of Blued]

I like the undercut trigger guard, the grip angle, and the low bore axis. I think it looks better (less cheap) than the P3AT or LCP actually.

I'd be more interested if they eventually did major calibers and kept them as thin as possible. A single-stack polymer 10mm is one of my dream carry guns.

 

[zx12rider]

Couple thoughts, it looks beefer than my P3AT, weight is light, and the biggest change that I LOVE is the metal trigger. The Keltec and Ruger have plastic triggers with the molding seem that is rough on the finger.

 

[smince]

Report from another forum:

Yesterday was my first outing to the range with it.

Here are my less-than-exhaustive impressions:

1. This thing is small. It is smaller than the Colt Mustang Pocketlite I used to have. I don't have a Kel-Tec to compare it with, but it is small. I have an Uncle Mike's Sidekick pocket holster, Size 3. It was a good fit for the Mustang. It appears to be a size too big for the DB.

2. The sights are ok. Three dots, with the front sight much bigger. Think XS Big Dot-wannabe, but painted on.

3. The trigger pull isn't heavy, but it is long. It reminds me of a Kahr, but it doesn't have much of a reset.

4. Practical accuracy seems good.

5. Reliability is an open question. The first 20 rounds of WWB ran flawlessly. My daughter, who is 15 and normally shoots a G26, had two Failures to Extract. I think she limp-wristed the gun a bit. I ran 15 rounds of Winchester SXT 95 gr JHP thru it, no problems. I need to shoot it more before I bet my life on it.

6. Slide bite. My Size Medium hand plumped up enough to get in the way of the slide a little.

7. Magazines don't drop free. Hitting the magazine release drops the magazine about an inch. From there, it has to be ripped out. Since I don't yet have a spare magazine, this is a currently a secondary issue.

The DB doesn't have a slide lock. That makes for a smoother, more pocket-friendly design. However, it doesn't give you any feedback when it is empty.

The absence of a slide lock isn't a big deal, but a reload will consist of click - magazine release - rip out magazine - replace new magazine - rack slide.

I don't envision this as a primary gun, except in an Non-Permissive Environment. I see it in a secondary role, so having a spare magazine on my person and dealing with a sub-optimum reloading drill is probably not going to be a big deal.

 

[Tacbandit]

Quote:
"A blocky pocket gun. That is heavy and not too compact. Other than cut/paste the exterior of three good striker guns (glock,xd,m&p) and making o it a .380 what is there to do about it. Think they are late to the race and wearing sandals."

?????????????

 

[denfoote]

The DB doesn't have a slide lock. That makes for a smoother, more pocket-friendly design. However, it doesn't give you any feedback when it is empty.

No DB for me!!

That's what I dislike about my P2AT.

That's also why that as far as small Girbil guns go, I prefer my P32.

As far as a 9mm kurz platform goes, I prefer the PPK/S.

 

[Lakeshore]

Interesting little pistol. I like everything I've seen and read so far.

Jeff Quinn posted a good review of it (with video) on GunBlast.com

 

[Diggers]

Humm interesting I do like the look of it and a review said you can fit 2 fingers on the grip vs 1.5 with is good. I've big hands.

I've been doing the long search for a BUG for on duty. I have gone back and forth on the mouse gun or a larger size compact (ie glock 27 or such).

I'm leaning twoard the mouse, simply due to all the other stuff I have to carry around with me.

I've come to the reality that a BUG is in no way going to be an ideal shooter for me, its there for a SHTF, point blank (ish) situation.

I would try it out.

 

[NinjaFeint]

Interesting little pistol. I like everything I've seen and read so far.

Jeff Quinn posted a good review of it (with video) on GunBlast.com

Has Jeff Quinn ever written a bad review? I am sure it is a nice pistol but every review I have read there has been positive.

 

[SwampWolf]

Quote:
The DB doesn't have a slide lock. That makes for a smoother, more pocket-friendly design. However, it doesn't give you any feedback when it is empty.

Sure it does. It'll go "click"...

 

[rustygray]

Naysayers be darned

I must say that there are so many people on here that just bash bash bash at anything new.

Why not give it a try? These guys are trying to build something for Americans, by Americans, and give us the freedom of self protection.

If you need.380 ammo go to www.oakridgecustomfinishing.com and order some. I have shot that guys ammo in my Bersa and it runs great, is accurate and clean.

As for the .380 or .25acp not being defensive rounds, I offer anyone $100 bucks to stand at 21 feet and let me shoot you with 8 rounds of either.

I have yet to have a single taker. No you cannot wear body armor.

The point being, even a slingshot will deter someone.

I might just buy one, and an EMF FMK. If we don't support them we lose them.