Diamondback Sidekick

[Mr. Mosin]

Diamondback is introducing a copy of the old High Standard Double Nine... we’ll see how it fares.

 

[bannockburn]

Mr. Mosin

Thanks for the heads-up! Kind of pricey with an MSRP of $320. Should be interesting to see how this does against the Heritage Rough Rider and the Ruger Wrangler.

 

[Jim Watson]

And maybe they will have one without the drugstore cowboy outfit and return the HS Sentinel.

 

[Mr. Mosin]

And maybe they will have one without the drugstore cowboy outfit and return the HS Sentinel.

I wouldn’t mind a new HS Sentinel w/ a 3” barrel

 

[Jim Watson]

I like the 2" roundbutt; a better grip shape than the Major Brand .38s.

 

[PapaG]

Skeeter Skelton, in designing his dream gun, incorporated the Sentinel grip shape.

 

[Jim Watson]

And Chic Gaylord plugged it, too. Said all it needed was 20 minutes to tune the action.

 

[MacAR]

I wouldn’t mind a new HS Sentinel w/ a 3” barrel

Me either; I think it'd be the perfect woods-bumming gun!

Mac

 

[chicharrones]

I like the basic idea of a single action styled double action revolver and $320 MSRP for a dual cylinder 9-shot revolver seems reasonable on the surface. But damn, that thing is rough and un-refined. They don't even try to hide the poor casting marks and construction under that flat black paint.

That Diamondback sure makes a Ruger Wrangler look like a Colt Python in comparison.

https://diamondbackfirearms.com/wp-content/uploads/images/Sidekick-6-scaled.jpg

https://diamondbackfirearms.com/wp-content/uploads/images/Sidekick-12-scaled.jpg

https://diamondbackfirearms.com/sidekick-announcement/

 

[gobsauce]

After actually seeing what it is, I kinda need one now.

When I was given my Marlin M60, I had this yeehaw cowboy idea. I want to add a sling, and make a belt for .22. I wanted to make a cowboy style belt rig, with my sidearm being a single action and the offhand one being a double action. If I could get a Rough Rider with the 9 round cylinder, I could make that dream rig!

And it comes out 5 days after my birthday.

Here's a picture of the Sidekick, so you don't have to look it up:

 

[Pat Riot]

Interesting! Thanks @Mr. Mosin
After reading about this gun I am hoping to see one so that I can see if I would like one. They definitely sound interesting.

Some reading material:
https://www.personaldefenseworld.com/2021/08/diamondback-sidekick-revolver/

https://www.guns.com/news/2021/08/25/new-diamondback-sidekick-9-shot-22lr-magnum-da-sa-wheelgun

https://www.ammoland.com/2021/08/db-sidekick-revolver-announcement/


Oh crap! I keep forgetting where I live. Nothing from Diamondback on the CA Roster. If it was just a single action that would not be a problem.
313 days to Independence Day.

 

[Mr. Mosin]

I like the basic idea of a single action styled double action revolver and $320 MSRP for a dual cylinder 9-shot revolver seems reasonable on the surface. But damn, that thing is rough and un-refined. They don't even try to hide the poor casting marks and construction under that flat black paint.

That Diamondback sure makes a Ruger Wrangler look like a Colt Python in comparison.

https://diamondbackfirearms.com/wp-content/uploads/images/Sidekick-6-scaled.jpg

https://diamondbackfirearms.com/wp-content/uploads/images/Sidekick-12-scaled.jpg

https://diamondbackfirearms.com/sidekick-announcement/

Did you expect less ?

 

[Mr. Mosin]

Double action and 9x .22 Magnum in an actually useable size gun may actually be appealing to those of us with health issues...

 

[ThomasT]

I was worried that it might be cheaply made but the website says not. Its made of Zinc. My favorite long lasting gun material.

I don't know how it could be called a copy. I am pretty sure the High Standard was made from steel.

Nope. Aluminum frame. But still better than Zinc.

 

[Mr. Mosin]

I was worried that it might be cheaply made but the website says not. Its made of Zinc. My favorite long lasting gun material.

I don't know how it could be called a copy. I am pretty sure the High Standard was made from steel.

Nope. Aluminum frame. But still better than Zinc.

The HS was* made of steel, or at least a few runs were.

 

[Pat Riot]

I had a High Standard Sentinel Mk IV 9 shot .22 magnum revolver. It was my Dad’s. It had a 2” barrel. I installed a 4” barrel and sent it to my sister. She needed a house gun and she has wrist problems. I kind of miss that gun.
One of these might fill in a gap for me.

 

[chicharrones]

Did you expect less ?

Hopefully the production guns will be made better. Those spring pins sure aren’t easy on the eyes, not sure if taper pins could be used without cracking the frame.

 

[Mr. Mosin]

Hopefully the production guns will be made better. Those spring pins sure aren’t easy on the eyes, not sure if taper pins could be used without cracking the frame.

If they made a *steel* version, it wouldn’t be an issue.

 

[Geldarr]

Both Heritage Mfg. and Diamondback are owned by Taurus, so they're going to get your money either way you go on that front.

Speaking of 9 shot "Sidekicks"... As an unabashed H&R fan (which, this revolver fills the same niche) - I'd love to have a 2" 929 Sidekick with an aluminum frame. That would be a light, handy revolver!

 

[NIGHTLORD40K]

Cast Zamack pot metal junk. No thanks.

 

[ThomasT]

The HS was* made of steel, or at least a few runs were.

Yes some did have steel frames. But none had Zinc.

https://unblinkingeye.com/Guns/HSD9/hsd9.html

 

[ThomasT]

I like the concept of what they are offering and maybe the Zinc frame will be serviceable. I would have preferred steel or even aluminum but for a 22 it should be acceptable. It kind of makes you wonder why if Diamonback/Taurus can offer this gun with a Zinc frame in 22 mag why Ruger couldn't offer the Wrangler in 22 mag also.

I hope they at least threaded the barrel in and didn't glue it in place like on the HRR guns. I can't wait for the reviews. I like 22 caliber guns but won't buy junk.

 

[TTv2]

So, it's a single action army clone on the outside, but is really a DA/SA with a swing out cylinder? Interesting and since it's in .22 Mag and a 9 shot I have to believe that Diamondback has the intention to offer it in .32 and .38 in the future. Only thing I don't care for is the fixed sights, even if the POA and POI is dead on those sights are still hard to see.

I may actually be interested in this, but what interests me more is a version in .32 and .38 with 6 round capacity.

 

[Mr. Mosin]

I like the concept of what they are offering and maybe the Zinc frame will be serviceable. I would have preferred steel or even aluminum but for a 22 it should be acceptable. It kind of makes you wonder why if Diamonback/Taurus can offer this gun with a Zinc frame in 22 mag why Ruger couldn't offer the Wrangler in 22 mag also.

I hope they at least threaded the barrel in and didn't glue it in place like on the HRR guns. I can't wait for the reviews. I like 22 caliber guns but won't buy junk.

I’m willing to bet Ruger wanted to keep their reputation for bank vault tough guns.

 

[ThomasT]

I’m willing to bet Ruger wanted to keep their reputation for bank vault tough guns.

Maybe you're right. I guess no one expects much from HRR or the new Diamondback do they?