The SDR feels like a cross between a K6 and a 442 JFrame. It is about 5oz lighter than the SP101 and is all stainless like the Ruger. I am not sure how I feel about the FO rear sight. It is a bit distracting, perhaps.

 

That looks nice. I wonder if you removed the spur if the hammer would have enough weight for reliability. I would love a nice pocket revolver. Though about the Kimber but again just thinkin.

 

Thanks for the post. I read about this gun awhile back and it does perk my ears up. I'm a fan of compact defensive revolvers ... both .38 and .357. I own two J-frame Airweights, a 2" Model-19 .357 (K-frame) and a 3" Model-13 .357 (also a K-frame).

I'll keep my eyes open for one at my LGS ... gotta check it out for sure. To be honest I did have one of the first Kimber K6s DAO revolvers a couple of years ago ... I didn't like it much ... after 3 or 4 range trips and a few hundred rounds I traded it off at a local gun show. I look forward to checking out the Diamondback.

 

Good report. That seems like a nice gun. More choices in revolvers are always beneficial.

 

I'm a wheel-gun guy, through and through...and I've heard about the Diamondback revolver, but with your post, it's perked my interest... thanks for posting!

 

The forcing cone is noticeably thinner than what is found on a similar Ruger. Will this revolver last 5000, 10000, 20000 rounds? I don't really plan to shoot it that much and nobody has had one for more than a couple of months so durability is the greatest unknown.

 

Thats what scares me about it, they haven't been out long enough to know how they'll do long term. I know their pocket pistols aren't the most durable or reliable. My DB380 was reliable and then the trigger bar broke after 300 rounds, they replaced it with a brand new Gen 4 version and I couldn't get through a magazine without issue. After 4 trips to the factory they refunded me. Although the Gen 4 DB9 has some great reviews so there is that.

If these are holding up good a few years from now I'll probably give it a chance but I'm going to wait until I know they're good for sure.

 

The thinner cylinder compared to the stout Ruger. They are nearly the same size.

The casting and finish look okay. Nothing spectacular here. No idea if a less expensive Taurus is a better gun or not. But this has some pretty neat features. Street pricing starts around $550 and goes up from there. I bet they go $520 or less once availability is better. The high polished version runs $50+ over this one.

 

I don't think that's a casting. It looks forged to me.

 

That's a neat looking piece

I'm definitely interested when they bring out the 9mm version

 

What stands out to me is that the frame is a one-piece deal like Ruger's. That, alone, makes me think that it should hold up pretty well.

 

Nope, in the 3rd and 4th pictures up top you can see a side plate.
But no hints as to how you take it off.

 

It is definitely a side plate. Screws are under the top of the grip. I had it off to inspect and clean.

 

Their web site has a flash video of it, but it goes by so fast it is hard to see what all it is like. I could tell their is a side plate just like a Smith.

 

"...last 5,000, 10,000, 20,000 rounds?" That may be setting the bar way too high. Who buys a snubby revolver intending to shoot even 1,000 rounds? This is not a range gun or a competition gun, it's a Self Defense Revolver to shoot just-enough to remain accurate-enough for concealed carry.

 

I was reading back over this thread and saw that post and thought the same as you. Who shoots that many rounds through their carry guns? I know I don't. Back in my competition days I really ran my match guns hard for lots of practice. And my .22s get lots of rounds on every range trip. I do shoot my EDC to stay sharp with it but I'm not worried about putting thousands and thousands of rounds through it.

 

DK Gun has the 3" version for $575. $20 flat rate shipping.
If I didn't already have the 2" version I would be all over that!

 

SoaB! I had no idea there was a 3" version! Have to look into this now. The SDR just hit the roster in my state.

 

I'm extremely happy with my 2" SDR, but the 3" would have been a better choice for me. In fact, the 3" model would probably have been a better choice than the 3" SP101 that I purchased. I would have saved a few hundred dollars and had a nicer shooting experience out of the box.

 

It's actually setting the bar somewhat too low. Lack of shooting practice is not the standard for quality construction. Some of us shoot our carry guns regularly.

A quality steel revolver in .38 Special or even the "new" .357 Magnum, should last at least 3000 rounds without any issues re timing or endshake. Barrel life and cylinder life with lead bullets should be at least 10 times that. If a steel revolver will not that handle that amount of shooting, it's a hard pass, as overall quality is suspect.

My Charter Bulldog Classic - hardly a heavy-duty design and chambered for hard-kicking .44 Special in a 19 ounce revolver - recently passed 1900 rounds and is going strong.

I was reading back over this thread and saw that post and thought the same as you. Who shoots that many rounds through their carry guns? I know I don't. Back in my competition days I really ran my match guns hard for lots of practice. And my .22s get lots of rounds on every range trip. I do shoot my EDC to stay sharp with it but I'm not worried about putting thousands and thousands of rounds through it.

Agree 100% with KSP Kopper. What if your EDC is your only gun? Defeats the purpose of having a gun if you don't train and shoot regularly.

 

What is all this "training" I keep hearing about? Is there tons of training required to shoot a revolver 20 feet in a Kmart parking lot. Does a fellow need to wear out his edc revolver with 5,000 rounds$3500) worth of pricey .357 ammo to consider it reliable. Do bad guys robbers practice at the range? To me 5 or 6 shot snubnose is not a top edc choice anyway. Now I could see a little training with a BERETTA M9 or something. Lol

 

Google brought me here. I know I'm resurrecting this thread, but I want to know how yours has held up. Any updates! I'm planning on buying one online tonight, but I'm doing more research.

 

I haven't experienced any issues with mine at all. It runs extremely well and the cylinder will chamber .357 rounds much easier than my other revolvers after I've been shooting a lot of .38 spl. It is a fantastic self defense revolver and one I never worry about. I just cleaned mine up the other day and was admiring it again. I don't shoot it nearly as often as I would like to but when I do, I make sure to run it hard. It hits like Thor's hammer and spits fireballs!

 

In post #8, picture #2 shows a plastic cup for the hammer spring.
That does not inspire confidence for the long haul.
H&R tried plastic (nylon) parts on hammer struts in the 80"s and the failed regular. Now days they are unavailable and require fabrication to deal with.
All in all the gun looks pretty solid and might choose it over a Charter Arms or Taurus if that was my budget.

 

^^I didn’t even notice that my first go around in this thread.
Wonder why they went that route? Seems like a steel cup wouldn’t be that much of an issue……….….No?

 

In my 3" SP101 (3-finger Hogue Rubber Grip), I carry Hornady 125 grain JHP XTP .357 Magnum rounds.
In my 2.25" SP101 (wood grip), I carry a .38 Special round and the lighter recoil fits in better with the smaller grip.
In .38 Special, lately, I've been going with the Underwood 158 Grain Black Cherry Keith Hard Cast Load, and it's very manageable in the heavier Ruger SP101, yet has lighter recoil than the Hornady .357's.
It's a great round for the .38 Special...as is their 125 Grain JHP XTP [Extreme Terminal Performance] round.
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