DIAMONDBACK DB.380
Pre ZA2000 serial #
I have always been a fan of compact .380 pistols as back-up guns. Or as use as a primary weapon if the situation (and clothing) dictates that carry of a larger pistol isn't possible. Concealed carry weapons should be just that; "concealed".
Now I know there is no shortage of self-proclaimed Ninjas lining up to tell me how wrong I am for carrying, or even owning a .380. But with the right ammo, the dinky .380 certainly should not be underestimated. (If you ever meet a cold war CIA or KGB agent, ask them how many spies have been retired early by the 9mm x18 round) But the viability of the .380 is a subject for a different post. Or maybe I could refer you to Mag-safe's website for .380 performance stats to make you a reluctant believer.
The Diamondback .380 comes from Diamondback Firearms of Cocoa Beach Florida. Being new to the market and a complete unknown to me,
I was tentative to plunk down the $439. Federal Reserve Bucks to get one. But after looking one over thoroughly I was impressed with the precision manufacturing, tight fit & finish and the neat design features. I also really like that it had REAL sights. To describe this gun I would have to say that it looks like a Smith & Wesson M&P and a Glock had a love child. The Diamondback (DB) has slide serrations just like an M&P. The shape of the frame and slide look very much like a generation 1 Glock. If you use the standard Glock takedown procedure to remove the slide you will see that on the inside it looks a lot like a Glock, and a Keltec. This pistol is almost identical in size and dimension to a Keltec P3AT and the magazines can be used in the Keltec (and vice-versa) And if Cocoa Beach sounds familiar that's because Cocoa is the home of the Space Shuttle... AND KELTEC!!! Rumor has it that Diamondback and Keltec are across the street from each other. The owners were friends turned enemies and now have a bit of a rivalry going. This is mostly rumor though. Diamondback and Keltec are next to each other in Cocoa Beach. The owners are acquainted. But according to a source inside Diamondback, they are not rivals nor are they bitter. 
Firing the DB 380 for the first time was a bit disappointing. You always want a gun to work flawlessly out of the box, and the DB didn't. The DB's barrel has a built in feed ramp protrusion. The protrusion sits atop the silver trigger group assembly. (the silver piece visible in front of the bullet in the photo to the left) Under the ramp is a square block that is part of the trigger assembly. During feeding, the Slide under forward motion / tension was trying to push the nose of the bullet out of the magazine into that square trigger block. This problem repeated itself with the first few rounds of every magazine. I tried 2 stock Diamondback magazines, 2 Keltec magazines and 2 Mecgar magazines. The problem persisted and it was much worse with hollowpoints: (Aguila, Winchester and Corbon). When the gun did run, it shot well (with S&B roundnose or Winchester Whitebox roundnose).
The DB380 is accurate and mild mannered with a decent trigger. It has the best trigger of any bellygun I've tried, ever!. The DB was much more accurate than my Keltec or AMT and easier on my hand than either of them also. It's desirable traits made me more frustrated that it wouldn't run with a full mag, because I really wanted to keep shooting it. After my first range session I spoke with a knowledgeable friend about the Diamondback. He said sarcastically that "Diamondbacks allegedly have a break in period that is almost as long as the life expectancy of a Keltec". So I loaded all my mags to "break them in". It appears as if the spring tension in the mag is causing the feed lips to direct the cartridges straight ahead as they feed, and the ejector is putting pressure on top of the bullet to be loaded, smashing the bullet nose into the trigger block. After some of that spring tension lets up, the cartridges can angle up a bit and stop nosing down into the
block below the feed ramp. (see photo left ) Rumor has it that early DB380s all had this problem and that it was corrected in the higher serial # guns. After a call to Diamondback, that rumor was more or less confirmed. My 2nd visit to the range was more satisfying than the first. I shot all Winchester whitebox roundnose and the gun ran much better. Although it still wasn't flawless. It is a damn shame that this gun doesn't run perfectly because it is so fun and easy to shoot. If you have ever shot an AMT Back-up you know what I mean, a rat-trap trigger and obtuse recoil!! It's like a firecracker going off in your hand. The only carry gun I've had that was less fun to shoot was a stainless Firestar .40. The Keltec is easier to shoot than the AMT but isn't accurate. This DB380 isn't abusive like the AMT. It is the most accurate .380 I've shot and is the most mild mannered .380 I have shot. It's ALMOST PERFECT.
A later development is that after some more shooting, the underside of the ejector in this gun was polished with a jeweler's file. That seemed to reduce some of the friction on the cartridges coming up from the magazine. The gun worked much better afterward and continued to improve. (As the break-in theory projected). After some more shooting it fed a little better but never quite achieved perfection. Later, it developed a tendency for the firing pin to strike too light on some brands of ammo. Too light to detonate the primers. I called Diamondback and spoke with them about the DB380. They stated that early guns ZA4000 and lower sometimes suffered from feed problems. They seemed eager to remedy any issues with the older guns. After I spoke with Diamondback they emailed me a UPS return label. (shipping paid). I know from speaking with others that they don't do this for everyone, so if you find yourself returning a gun you may have to pay your own shipping. (UPS overnight can be $60, OUCH!!) They did however, promptly and politely replace the old gun with a new one that has some modernized components (such as the ejector). The replacement has run perfectly thus far. But it will be shot weekly from now on and we'll see how it fares.
Citation: http://diamondbackfirearms.com/DB380/
Citation: http://diamondbackfirearms.com/DB380/
Capacity 6+1
Weight 8.8 oz.
Width .750”
BBL Length 2.80
Firing Mech. Striker
Trigger Pull: DAO 5# (Double Action Only, 5 pound pull) Steel trigger/ with dual connecting bars for crisp smooth pull.
Boasts an FEA (Finite Element Analysis) Designed slide and barrel to make the components stronger than any comparable firearm, resulting in durability with less felt recoil.
So, do I trust this gun enough to carry it? With a .380, the key to success in a critical incident is high performance ammo. My favorite ammo, hands down, is Mag-safe Defender. I couldn't use that ammo in the low serial number gun. I had to carry a roundnose bullet or risk malfunctions. Glaser Safety slugs or DRT. Both rounds are hollow points but both are designed to feed like roundnose ammo. Neither one is a bad alternative to Mag-safe. The Glaser is actually a really good performer in .380. So "yes" I will carry it, But only with Glaser in it. And that's what it will be. Since the newer gun seems to feed better, I would feel very confident carrying it with Glaser or Mag-safe in it. I am also confident that the DB380, all things considered and size not-withstanding, is one of the best compact fighting pistols on the market. Diamondback is soon to release a ultra compact 9mm that is a twin to the DB380. I am excited to see it.
The AMT backup is a .380ACP mousegun from back in the 80's. It was built by Arcadia Machine and Tool of Irwindale California. AMT was also called OMC at one point and was later acquired by IAI (Irwindale Arms) after being bankrupted by malicious lawsuits directed at arms manufacturers.
The "Back-up", like other AMT wares, is an all stainless steel stalwart of diehard durability. It features a thumb safety with white and red dots marking the safe and fire positions. It also has a grip safety similar to the Colt 1911 design. The magazine release is on the butt of the grip like the Makarov and a host of other European handguns.
Like many .380 handguns, the Back-up does not have a slide lock feature or an external hammer. So there is nothing on this gun to snag during concealed carry.
The Up side - The AMT back-up is very durable and solid. If it failed as a firearm it could easily inflict damage if thrown at an attacker. :) It's stainless construction / finish keeps it from rusting as you sweat on it. (Kel-tec owners will appreciate this). The fixed barrel / ramp setup feeds well making the pistol effective and reliable. It is reasonably accurate as well. On the bottom of the artfully constructed stainless steel magazine is a finger groove extension making the gun a little easier to hold on to during recoil. On the top of the slide are serrations. Being able to rack the slide by pushing the top of the gun against something such as your hip or pants etc.. is a nice feature. All in all, the AMT Back-up is a pretty cool little carry gun.
Down Side - Created before the popularization of lightweight alloys in gun manufacturing, the Backup is a very heavy gun. The mag release being on the bottom and the lack of a slide lock can be somewhat annoying at times. The fixed barrel and rigid stainless frame contribute to a sharp and obtuse recoil bite. There are no pronounced front or rear sight on the gun. The sight channel is little more than a tiny slot in the top that barely serves to aim the gun in good light. They are worthless in the dark, you have to aim using the pale outline of the gun itself. The Backup has a very heavy trigger that breaks crudely. The trigger combined with the recoil really injure your enjoyment in shooting this gun for recreation.
Because the AMT is small, rugged , moderately accurate, reliable and durable it makes an excellent carry gun. If you have a chance to pick one up, you should because it will certainly get the ugly job done. But don't count on hours of shooting fun. Unless a numb and bloody hand is fun for you.
The Sig P238 is another new entry in the mousegun market. It is a .380ACP compact that shares many similarities with the Colt Pony and Mustangs sold decades ago. The P238 is available in 15 different variations from SIG all of them crafted with fantastic attention to detail. The fit and finish are excellent as is the norm for SIGs. The model purchased features an aluminum frame and a stainless steel slide sporting SIG's black "Nitron" finish and some machine polished panels. The P238 has an overall length of just 5.5 inches a height of 3.96 inches. It weighs in at just 15.2 ounces. Some of the great features of this gun are; nickel, 1911 style magazine release & slide release as well as thumb safety with an excellent detent ball under it for a very positive feel. It has attractive grip panels that are removable, excellent trigger and sights, and a clever little recoil system. The Equinox version is what was reviewed and it is impressive. With a standard tritium rear sight and a Tritium / fiber optic front sight it could very well be the best equipped .380 0n the market. My gun came with only one 6 round magazine. Luckily the P238 will accept reasonably priced Colt Mustang magazines. So I promptly acquired 2 more 7 round Colt mags that protrude slightly from the grip making them easier to seat in a hurry. The original mags sit flush with the grip so it carries nicely. However, that makes it difficult to seat a new mag during reloads. A new SIG mag for this gun is almost 50 bucks!! Did I mention that I really LOVE the sights?
Shooting the SIG for the first time went exactly as shooting a new gun should. It fed every different type ammo I put in it, Winchester, RWS, S&B and the problematic Aguila hollowpoints. It shot accurately, had a sweet trigger and a very mild recoil. I didn't like the feel of the grip as much as I did the DB380. But the grip feel was between adequate & good for my medium sized mitts. The SIG sits slightly higher in the hand than the DB does so it didn't point quite as well (for me). But these are VERY slight differences. The reliability out of the box and the nice slide lock and thumb safety levers can make up for a lot of grip feel and ease of pointing. Plus this gun is absolutely stunning. I feel bad putting this gun in a sweaty ankle holster. It looks like it should be in a $100 dollar ostrich leather belt holster.
The Tritium rear sight is of good quality and the barrel and recoil system fit really well in the gun. When the slide is locked to the rear, the barrel has a really drastic upward cant. This probably assists the feed ramp angle somewhat. It looks odd the first time you see it opened up. The single action operation gives double strike capability only by manually re-cocking the hammer. Shortly after purchasing the gun I ordered a second magazine and some grips from SIGARMS. It has been two months (March 8th) and I am still waiting. SIG has very slow customer service.
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| Flush Fit Magazine, Perfect Fit and Finish |
The Up Side - The DB380 is a spartan, it's a little more crude in design, so it's simpler. It feels like a fighter in your hand. But This SIG is a pedigree'd sophisticate and it has everything else going for it. It is all metal & is made of the very best materials. It has really great controls: Trigger, slide lock / release, thumb safety, sights SIGHTS!! The SIG has a good recoil system and it's out of the box reliable and accurate as well. This gun really achieves excellence in design and craftsmanship.
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| Slide Release / Lock, Safety Lever with Detent Ball underneath, Nice Grips |
The SIG P238 is clearly the best gun in the mousegun category. It is the QUALITY / RELIABILITY Leader and is very similar to a 1911 or Colt Government .380. It is accurate and safe and it carries perfectly. This is my choice for daily carry. Well done SIG, well done!! HEY SIG!!
Can you guys build
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| Nice Recoil Rod and Simple Spring Setup. |
http://www.sigsauer.com/products/ShowCatalogProductDetails.aspx?categoryid=67&productid=288
Keltec P3AT - still under construction
The Keltec hit the market at a perfect time. Colt had stopped making the Government .380 and Glock was taking the fighting handgun world by storm. Keltec released the P3AT and P32 that used a lot of Glock style innovations but in a tiny .380 micro gun. They took the Concealed Carry World by storm. The Keltec featured a super lightweight plastic frame and a minimalist slide and barrel for a diminutive total weight of ???
Some problems early on. Customer service working to make it right.
soft barrel material
Holster selection
