Evaluation of the Diamondback DB380 - The First 304 Rounds

The Diamondback DB380

Introduction

The Diamondback DB380 has earned a reputation in Internet forums of being unreliable without providing any conclusive testing data. The purpose of this evaluation is to objectively review the firearm and provide some impartial conclusive data for reference by others.

The Firearm

The Diamondback DB380 is a striker fired pistol chambered in 380ACP with a polymer lower and is available in five models. The basic model, designated DB380, has a black stainless steel slide. The basic model has a 2.80" barrel and a 5 pound trigger. The firearm weighs 8.8 ounces unloaded and has a 5 pound trigger pull according to the manufacturer’s website (www.diamondbackfirearms.com). The DB380EXO model has a slide coated in UCT Coatings' EXO product.  The DB380C model is similar to the base model except for the 3.0" compensated barrel. The DB38-HO model has a bright orange lower rather then the traditional black. The final model, the DB380CTC, is also similar to the base model but includes a Crimson Trace laser sight that is mounted to the trigger guard. The model test was the DB380EXO model.


The serial number of the tested handgun is ZB33XX

Materials

The following list contains the details of each type of ammunition used during this evaluation:

A.) Winchester 95gr FMJ White Box [50 rounds]

B.) Remington UMC 95gr MC U380AP [50 rounds]

C.) Remington UMC 95gr MC L380AP [50 rounds]

D.) Fiocchi 95gr FMJ [50 rounds]

E.) Fiocchi 90gr 380APHP [50 rounds]

F.) Sellier & Bellot 9sgr FMJ [50 rounds]

G.) Federal Premium 90gr Hydra-Shok JHP [2 rounds]

H.) Speer Gold Dot 90gr GDHP [2 rounds]

Yes, that is $150 in 380 AUTO, please click an ad

The firearm came with the following accessories:

-One owner's manual

-One six-round magazine with a flat bottom plate

-One trigger lock

-One Master Lock V-Line lock

Additional items purchased:

-Two additional six-round magazines

-Three finger extension magazine plates

-Two silhouette targets

-Range time

Procedure

To remove that variability of the ammunition from the evaluation the ammunition purchased will be rotated throughout the evaluation except for the final 50 rounds of type (A) ammunition and all of the type (G) and type (H) ammunition due to their limited quantity. Each magazine will be loaded with one type of ammunition and fired and then loaded with a different type and then fired.  For example magazine #1 was loaded with six rounds of type (A) ammunition, Magazine #2 was loaded with six rounds of type (B) ammunition, and magazine #3 was loaded with six rounds of type (C) ammunition. Once loaded each magazine was fired in order.

After firing all three magazines, magazine #1 was loaded with type (D) ammunition, magazine #2 with type (E), and magazine #3 with type (F).  After the first six types of ammunition were fired the first time the process repeated but with magazine #2 being used in place of magazine #1, magazine #3 in place of magazine #2, and magazine #1 in place of magazine #3. The result is all ammunition was used in all of the magazines throughout the test.

Please note that the accuracy of the gun was not measured, as the user of the firearm is not what is being evaluated but the reliability of the firearm to function.  However, as noted in the pictures every round impacted the target within the scoring area except for the four rounds that I choose to shoot into the head of the first target.

Target #1

Target #2

Once the first 50 rounds of type (A) ammunition and all of the type (B), (C), (D), (E), and (F) ammunitions were used two rounds of type (G) and type (H) were fired.

The following list contains only the rounds that demonstrated issued during the evaluation:

#  1 [type (A)] - Failure to Feed

#  7 [type (B)] - Failure to Feed

# 41 [type (A)] - Failure to Fire*

# 63 [type (E)] - Failure to Eject

# 85 [type (C)] - Failure to Feed

# 86 [type (C)] - Failure to Fire*

# 97 [type (E)] - Failure to Feed

#103 [type (F)] - Failure to Feed

#109 [type (A)] - Failure to Feed

#133 [type (E)] - Failure to Feed

#149 [type (A)] - Failure to Fire*

#176 [type (F)] - Failure to Fire*

#183 [type (A)] - Failure to Fire*

#188 [type (B)] - Failure to Fire*

#202 [type (D)] - Failure to Fire**

#204 [type (D)] - Failure to Fire**

#202 and #204

#212 [type (F)] - Failure to Fire*

#214 [type (F)] - Failure to Fire*

#212 and #214

#225 [type (B)] - Failure to Fire*

#249 [type (F)] - Failure to Fire**

#270 [type (C)] - Failure to Fire*

#272 [type (D)] - Failure to Fire

*Fired upon second try

**Fired upon third try

Failures by ammunition type:

Type (A)

     Failure to Feed:     1, 109

     Failure to Fire:     41*, 149*, 183*

     Failure to Eject:     -none-

Type (B)

     Failure to Feed:     7

     Failure to Fire:     188*, 225*

     Failure to Eject:     -none-

Type (C)

     Failure to Feed:     85

     Failure to Fire:     86*, 270*

     Failure to Eject:     -none-

Type (D)

     Failure to Feed:     -none-

     Failure to Fire:     202**, 204**, 272*

     Failure to Eject:     -none-

Type (E)

     Failure to Feed:     97, 133

     Failure to Fire:     -none-

     Failure to Eject:     63

Type (F)

     Failure to Feed:     103,

     Failure to Fire:     176*, 212*, 214*, 249**

     Failure to Eject:     -none-

Type (G) (Note: Only two rounds of this type were used.) 

     Failure to Feed:     -none-

     Failure to Fire:     -none-

     Failure to Eject:     -none-

Type (H) (Note: Only two rounds of this type were used.) 

     Failure to Feed:     -none-

     Failure to Fire:     -none-

     Failure to Eject:     -none-

*Fired upon second try

**Fired upon third try

Money well spent

Testing Paused at 304 Rounds Fired

While my original intent was to shoot all of the ammunition I brought I felt that the results I had thus far were interesting for now, and I wanted to save the ammunition for next time. 

Here are my results

FAILURE TO FEED: Thus far what I have found is that it is better to chamber the first round in the magazine by pulling the slide back and letting it go.  My first firearms instructor told me that my habit of pushing the slide forward would cause failures. This the first handgun were the difference in methods proved he was right.  The first 144 rounds I used my style and achieved seven failures to feed. Once I changed my method the gun had no more feeding issues.

FAILURE TO EJECT: There was only one round that resulted in a failure to eject, #63.  This one I am going to write off as being the result of the break in period.

FAILURE TO FIRE: During the first 144 rounds the handgun experienced two failures to fire, #41 and #86.  During the second half of the evaluation 12 rounds failed to fire on the first try. Upon each failure to fire the round was removed from the chamber and set to the side.  When the magazine was empty the rounds set aside were retried.  All worked the second time with the exception of  #202 and #204.  Due to the increasing failures to fire, I felt that there might be more to the failures then I knew.  After testing I spoke with the gunsmith at the range.  During his examination of the handgun he said everything looked fine and that the striker spring was very strong.  The only exception he had was that it felt like there was drag on the striker when it was traveling forward. 

The plan the gunsmith and I devised was that after a thorough cleaning I would try another one hundred rounds.   If that did not resolve the issue he suggested polishing the striker channel.

So, for now that is the plan.  I will get back to you upon completion of another one hundred rounds.


Personal Comments
This is indeed a fun and easy gun to shoot.  I have used a Ruger LCP and a Smith & Wesson Bodyguard and enjoy the DB380 more as the DB380 does not impact the webbing of my hand as much.  While I wont carry any gun with out performing the 1000 round trigger job, I look forward to being able to carry this one when my Glocks are not suitable.