First the Youtube review…
A while back I was at the gun store just looking for a small carry weapon in 380, I knew the new Glock 42 was out but had yet to find one in stock. After walking the cases I saw the Diamond Back DB380 and decided to take a chance on it since the price was great. I wish I had just waited until the 42 was in stock, or found a sig in stock somewhere. Below are the stats.
Caliber 380 Automatic Colt Pistol (ACP)
Barrel Length 2.8″
Capacity 6 + 1
Safety No Manual Safety
Sights Fixed
Weight 8.8 oz
Within three weeks of owning the pistol, the front sight started to warp. It is softer plastic and has mushroomed out as opposed to a metal sight that would keep its shape. Trying to contact Diamond Back for a warranty or even a suggestion for an aftermarket sight was futile. I called and email multiple times with no response and no answer. Looking online I found that that is a standard for them they are hard to get ahold of and have almost zero customer service. The gun is not worth enough to have a smith fix it or replace the sight. I would end up spending half of what the gun costs just for the sight replacement work. So, for now, I will ignore it.
One of the features I do not like is that there is no slide lock back after the final shot, leaving you with a closed chamber and wondering if you counted correctly. Using it at the range is no big deal, except you can not lock the slide back for cease-fires so you better have a chamber flag of some kind. For self-defense I would not want to try and remember how many shots I took, screw up the count and have a closed empty chamber only to hear “click” when the trigger was pulled. I don’t understand the decision to leave out this feature. It also makes magazine changes slower since you don’t have to just drop the slide you have to cycle it fully. As with most things you get what you pay for and not much more.
The DB380 has been finicky and picky with ammo. It likes Fiocchi and Winchester but beyond that, it was not 100%. I tried multiple mags to rule out magazine issues but it did not matter. That’s not a huge deal since Winchester makes some quality ammo but I would like to have the option of a few other brands to shoot. Especially some cheaper ones and some more defense round choices.
The gun itself is surprisingly accurate, considering the barrel is under 3 inches it will group on the target decently, I could probably group it better if I had smaller hands. My pinky will not make it on the grip and I can not get a full two-hand grip on it. I am sure I can find a magazine extension someday but there is not much aftermarket support for the gun. You can find some holsters and some small parts but as a whole, the market has not really embraced the DB380.
The gun is very concealable – as it should be with its size. At 5’11 and 200 pounds, I have a variety of carrying options. From ITWB to inside the pocket – with a pocket holster as there is no mechanical safety. You don’t want to shoot your nuts off leaving it floating in your pocket with your keys where they could catch the trigger and do some damage. For most women, it would be a great purse gun – again with the right holster. The DB380 also fits great in a small camelback for hiking if your just looking for a small gun as a “just in case”. Most smaller lights weigh packs don’t have the room for a full-size gun and snacks and supplies so the DB380 fills a role., although I would choose my Glock 42 first.
I have said before that I believe the 380 with the correct ammo and shot placement is a viable self-defense round. I know that statement will be debated over and over but let’s be honest, the best defense gun is one you’re familiar with, can control, and the one that is in your holster when the need arises. If its a 380 good if its a 45 great and if its a 10mm you are set.
It comes down to this – I would not buy this gun again. The negatives just don’t outweigh the pluses. I will keep it as a carry gun when I don’t want to worry too much about keeping it clean and nice. Meaning I will carry is when I am hiking near water or in very dusty environments. I should have waited for the Glock 42 to come back in stock but lesson learned – save that extra money up and buy the better weapon. I would also buy a Sig before the DB380, from what I have seen of those they will also blow the DB380 out of the water.
If this gun is all you can afford or you have a new shooter that maybe is not sure they want to invest in a better quality gun to start they will be ok with this one – it does function and it is accurate. However if you are a gun person and are looking for a quality weapon with some better features, look elsewhere.
