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• FN Herstal Five-Seven USG 5.7mm Pistol

 

Diamondback DB380

There are many rumors going around regarding this company and just who is responsible for introducing this pistol to the market. Upon first glance, and noticing it is manufactured in Cocoa Beach, FL, there’s no doubt many think Kel-Tec involved in some form or fashion. This has sparked many rumors in regards to the design and release of this new pistol. The top rumor spreading is actually false, and that is one in which many think it is a couple of ex-employees from Kel-Tec that ventured out on their own to design and release a competitive pistol.

Nobody seems to know for sure, but after some research, I’m certain there’s a link to Kel-Tec. This is quite obvious and perhaps the most credible story behind this pistol may simply be one between two good friends. You see, Diamondback is already an existing company and one known highly and respected for manufacturing quality airboats. They just happen to be practically right across the street from Kel-Tec and based on what I’ve gathered, this pistol is a result of a bet between two good friends to build an impressive compact pistol. While still not completely confirmed, this appears to be the most credible story I have found. But is it really? This in-depth article will put this little beast through its paces and provide an unbiased opinion on its quality, performance and ultimately, its recommendation.

Design

Now, upon first glance, many will quickly think of a Glock. That’s because it actually does not only resemble one from its side and back, but actually has a very similar take-down method for field stripping. In fact, its design sports so many similarities that many have already labeled it as the “Mini Glock”. I’m personally not a fan of Glocks, and while I’ve shot them, I have never owned one. However, despite my personal dislike for them, I must say that its design was obviously inspired around one.

The Diamondback DB380 sports a glass reinforced polymer frame with a slide that is made of Billet 4140 through-Hardened steel. Its ergonomics and comfort is excellent and unlike other .380 pistols in its class, this one is a sheer pleasure to shoot.

Like most modern pocket .380 pistols on the market today, the Diamondback DB380 is very small, thin and light. It has an overall width of .75″ and a barrel length of only 2.8″. Its weight (w/o mag) is approximately 8.8oz, which is slightly more than the Kel-Tec P-3AT but significantly less than the Ruger LCP. However, note that I have owned a Kel-Tec P-3AT in the past and can say that the Diamondback actually “feels” lighter when held.

One area where it does differ from the Glock is in respect to its slide serrations. They are highly unique and do look quite nice. They feature snake skin style cuts that do compliment its chosen name quite nicely. Also, if you enlarge the picture to the left above, you’ll notice a cleverly-position grove on the polymer frame for proper finger placement and added comfort.

There’s much to love about this new little pistol. It has many unique features simply not found on those offered by competitors. One happens to be what I personally consider its very best. I’m talking about none other than its sights. Most pocket pistols like this one have fixed sights that are completely useless. The Diamondback is actually the first so-called “mouse gun” that actually has real sights. By this, I mean it truly has windage-adjustable 3-dot sights that are not only useful, but will play a major role in its overall excellent accuracy. Also note that because they are indeed removable, there’s a chance you’ll eventually see some night sights available for this pistol, whether directly from the manufacturer or from a third-party company.

I will also like to add that having such a small pistol that does not have fixed sights will allow you to enhance them without having to spend much money at all. This includes the ability to use great products such as Brightsites further improve the sights, ultimately improving your shooting either in bright daylight or in complete darkness. With that said, above is a shot of the Diamondback with a custom green/orange Brightsitets mix that will not make its excellent sights much more functional during daylight, but can be charged to glow in darkness as well. For those not willing to spend a fortune on third-party sights, including night sights, Brightsites is an excellent alternative that I personally highly recommend.

Other than its sights, the other main features you’ll want to play close attention to are shown in the single shot above. First off is the mag catch/release. It is of the highest quality and made of 14-4ph stainless steel. It is also recessed to prevent accidental mag release during fire. Yes, it will make your thumb sore when depressing it, but it functions well and its low profile design and stainless finish adds to its overall appealing design. The second thing to note is its trigger. Unlike many pistols, this one sports a steel trigger with a very smooth action unlike any of its competitors. More on that later though. Finally, notice the take-down or assembly catch right above the trigger. Like a Glock, this little pistol is not only incredibly easy to field-strip for cleaning, but eliminates the need for any tools.

This pistol features a 6rd magazine that is actually made of sheet metal. While minor, I personally love how clearly labeled it is, as well as the extra touches such as the Diamondback engraving on its rear. There are a couple of things to note about its magazine. The most interesting is the fact that this gun will take a Kel-Tec P-3AT magazine without any issues. Second, while it ships with a standard mag base, they do currently offer one with a finger extension.

Field-stripping the DB380 for cleaning is extremely easy and for those who like or own a Glock, it basically sports the same exact take down method. Now, one of its main features is the fact that this pocket .380 pistol sports a striker-fire mechanism. There’s no external hammer and there’s no worry about dry firing this pistol. In fact, you need to dry fire it in order to field-strip it for cleaning. This is yet another design feature with a Glock in mind.

Taking it apart for cleaning only reveals more on its overall excellent build quality. Both the slide and barrel are hard-coated to resist corrosion and Diamondback claims they are stronger than any comparable product currently on the market. I personally would attest to this, especially after owning a P-3AT and handling and shooting a Ruger LCP. What makes this little gun so pleasant to shoot this caliber is the captive, dual recoil springs and guide rod. This telescoping guide rod is designed to absorb must of the recoil, make it much more fun to take to the range often.

In Conclusion

When it comes down to pocket pistols, there is almost always some sort of compromise you must be willing to make. Whether it is accuracy, comfort, stopping power or reliability, there’s always something most tend to not only unnecessarily nag about, but something most are incorrectly led to believe regarding what is considered an ultimate carry weapon. So what is the ultimate carry weapon? Despite what anyone may tell you, the simple answer to this question is one that is not only always with you, but one that you can accurately and comfortably shoot, providing ultimate peace of mind.

The new Diamondback DB380 happens to be one of the very few on the market today that does provide all of this, regardless of your shooting experience. Despite how difficult it may be to express just how much I recommend this pistol to majority, take the time to at least fire a box through it and I’m sure you will agree with me. It is not only much more accurate, controllable and pleasant to shoot over all other comparable options on the market, but its quality is top notch and simply unmatched. With that said, the new Diamondback .380 earns our highest recommendation.