USAF_Vet
Member
Over the past couple years, a lot of "new" guns have hit the market in the sub $500 range, with many dropping to $300 or lower.
We've all heard of them, watched YouTube videos reviewing them, and for me at least, wondered if I were to buy one, which should it be?
Well, anyone paying attention should note that the majority of these pistols are foreign made clones. From the Philippines we have Armscor, Citadel, Rock Island (which all seem to be one interconnected arms factory). From Turkey we have Canik, Tisas and Girsan (ditto). Neither offer anything truly original aside from the .22tcm. They are, for the most parents, copies of something else.
I've eyeballed and kicked around the idea of buying one. Everything about them seems great, people apparently love them for not only their price, but their performance.
Still, I'm hesitant despite what my online forum peers and YouTube celebs say. Biggest concern for me is customer support after purchase and accessory support.
Plus, despite owning foreign guns already, I do prefer Made in USA.
So, I'm giving a second, closer look at the Diamondback DB9FS.
Made in the USA? Check.
Readily available customer support. I'll have to verify, but placing a phone call direct to Florida is probably less of a headache than dealing with a distributor/ importer as a middle man.
Full size 9mm? Yes.
Affordable? You bet. A somewhat local gun store advertises them for $265, which is the Buds cash price. Nice, considering I then save on shipping and FFL transfer fees.
So I had to ask, why are these guns so affordable, yet get such great reviews? Easy. Someone else did all the R&D. The DB9FS is basically a mishmash of the Glock 17, S&W M&P 9, with a little Springfield XD in the mix.
The rail is 1913 standard, so I'm confident any lights or lasers will mount up. Most G17 or M&P holsters will fit snug, so that covers accessories.
The one downside is it only ships with one mag.
While this is a bummer, factory mags are available from Diamondback, a four pack is available for $75. Not the cheapest, but for under $20 a piece, that isn't bad. Although there is an.alternative. Beretta 92fs mags work with a minor modification. How many gun shows have boxes of surplus Beretta mags for $10 or under?
So I am pretty confident in my choice. I know, someone will eventually say, or at least think, "if you saved up another hundred or so, you could just get a Glock or an M&P or an XD". Yes, I know. That isn't the point, though. If these are comparable to the higher end guns in performance, why spend the extra hundred or so in the first place. Personally, I'm not impressed by rollmarks, so if a gun is a quality piece of equipment at a rock bottom price, to me buying it is a no-brainer. If it performs like a Jennings, Cobra, Bryco, then I'm really not out much.
So in terms of value versus performance, is the DB9FS the next step above a Hi Point? Possibly, yes.
So wish me luck folks, there will be a new Diamondback DB9FS in my future.
We've all heard of them, watched YouTube videos reviewing them, and for me at least, wondered if I were to buy one, which should it be?
Well, anyone paying attention should note that the majority of these pistols are foreign made clones. From the Philippines we have Armscor, Citadel, Rock Island (which all seem to be one interconnected arms factory). From Turkey we have Canik, Tisas and Girsan (ditto). Neither offer anything truly original aside from the .22tcm. They are, for the most parents, copies of something else.
I've eyeballed and kicked around the idea of buying one. Everything about them seems great, people apparently love them for not only their price, but their performance.
Still, I'm hesitant despite what my online forum peers and YouTube celebs say. Biggest concern for me is customer support after purchase and accessory support.
Plus, despite owning foreign guns already, I do prefer Made in USA.
So, I'm giving a second, closer look at the Diamondback DB9FS.
Made in the USA? Check.
Readily available customer support. I'll have to verify, but placing a phone call direct to Florida is probably less of a headache than dealing with a distributor/ importer as a middle man.
Full size 9mm? Yes.
Affordable? You bet. A somewhat local gun store advertises them for $265, which is the Buds cash price. Nice, considering I then save on shipping and FFL transfer fees.
So I had to ask, why are these guns so affordable, yet get such great reviews? Easy. Someone else did all the R&D. The DB9FS is basically a mishmash of the Glock 17, S&W M&P 9, with a little Springfield XD in the mix.
The rail is 1913 standard, so I'm confident any lights or lasers will mount up. Most G17 or M&P holsters will fit snug, so that covers accessories.
The one downside is it only ships with one mag.
While this is a bummer, factory mags are available from Diamondback, a four pack is available for $75. Not the cheapest, but for under $20 a piece, that isn't bad. Although there is an.alternative. Beretta 92fs mags work with a minor modification. How many gun shows have boxes of surplus Beretta mags for $10 or under?
So I am pretty confident in my choice. I know, someone will eventually say, or at least think, "if you saved up another hundred or so, you could just get a Glock or an M&P or an XD". Yes, I know. That isn't the point, though. If these are comparable to the higher end guns in performance, why spend the extra hundred or so in the first place. Personally, I'm not impressed by rollmarks, so if a gun is a quality piece of equipment at a rock bottom price, to me buying it is a no-brainer. If it performs like a Jennings, Cobra, Bryco, then I'm really not out much.
So in terms of value versus performance, is the DB9FS the next step above a Hi Point? Possibly, yes.
So wish me luck folks, there will be a new Diamondback DB9FS in my future.