Pocket-Portable Protection: Diamondback DB9 Gen 4

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The geometry of 9mm carry pistols is forever changing, but Diamondback Firearms has carved out a niche for their DB9 semiauto striker-fired pistol as one of the smallest and lightest 9mm carry pistols available today. With its 3.1-inch barrel the latest fourth-generation DB9 measures just a hair over 5.7 inches long and is just 4 inches tall with the flat magazine base installed. Perhaps most impressive is that the gun measures a scant 0.9 inches wide. That’s not just the slide, that’s the entire pistol. If you can’t conceal this 9mm under your clothing, then your garments are probably too immodest to be worn in public. Along with its Lilliputian dimensions the DB9 is also one of the lightest 9mms on the market at 13.4 ounces unloaded. 

In terms of sheer size, how does the DB9 stack up? It’s smaller, lighter, and thinner than the SIG P365, Springfield Hellcat, and Ruger MAX-9, and it also costs less than those guns. Of course, those other pistols offer double-digit magazine capacities that best the Diamondback, but if trim concealment is the most important consideration, then the DB9 wins hands-down. The Kahr CM9 comes close in terms of size and capacity, but it carries and MSRP that is more than $150 higher than the DB9 and weighs a couple ounces more than the Diamondback. If small and light is what you’re after, the Diamondback DB9 is a solid choice. 

To keep the size and the price specifications low, DB9 pistols are rather spartan in design, but it’s their simplicity that helps makes them easy to operate and keeps mass and size to a minimum. The DB9 is a striker-fired pistol with a polymer frame and a stainless-steel slide and barrel. The slide features a black nitride finish that’s durable and longer lasting than many other surface finishes. I once had a .380 carry pistol that I hauled around while running trails because it was inexpensive and lightweight, but the Parkerized finish took a serious beating. My solution was to ship the gun to H&M in northern Ohio to receive a black nitride finish, and it’s held up well for many years and many miles since then. No need to go to such lengths with the DB9, high-quality protection comes standard.

Compared to the latest wonder guns, the DB9’s 6+1 ammunition capacity is low, but it’s still on-par with other very small micro-compact 9mms like the Glock G43 and the aforementioned Kahr CM9. Diamondback supplies these guns with one metal magazine and interchangeable flush-fit or pinky-extension base plates. If you want maximum concealment, slide the flush base plate into position. If you want a bit more grip area, use the pinky extension. 

Odds are pretty good that the average shooter will benefit from the pinky extension because the grip of the DB9 is small. I wear large gloves but found it difficult to pull the trigger straight back without adjusting my grip on the pistol. A more substantial trigger undercut would also benefit this gun. The trigger itself has a long take-up and breaks at an average of 7.25-pounds. It’s not a great trigger, but its functional and suitable for making accurate shots at self-defense distances.

Controls are extremely simple on this gun and include just a slide stop, transverse Glock-style takedown bar, and a reversible magazine release. The slide stop is one of the better designs in the micro-compact market because it’s small enough that it won’t cause the gun to hang up on a draw, yet it’s large enough to be functional. It takes effort, but you can drop the slide by pressing down on the slide stop. The magazine release is tucked out of the way while shooting but it’s more difficult to access. I am a fan of the Glock-style sights which include a U-notch rear with white dots and a post front with orange dot. The orange dot drives the eye toward the front sight and works well for flash sighting at defensive ranges. 

There are certainly some compromises with the DB9, but that’s what you would expect from a budget-friendly 9mm semiauto that practically fits in the palm of your hand. Realistically, you’re going to have to give up some grip size to create a super-compact pistol. The ergonomics could use some tweaking, but most shooters who buy the micro-est micro-compact care about two things: Can I conceal it? And does it function? 

The answer to the concealability question is a resounding yes. You can conceal this gun under light clothing in any normal carry position. I’m a trail runner and keep a firearm in my Elite Survival Marathon Gun Pack. Bigger guns will fit in that pack, but it’s much more comfortable to run with small guns. Very few 9mms are small enough and light enough that I want to carry them on long runs, but the DB9 is an exception. 

The DB9 can be carried in a pocket holster comfortably, which is a substantial benefit. There are loads of small 9mm semiautos, but having the versatility to pocket carry makes this a very good backup gun even if you prefer to carry something larger. The popular stack-and-a-half 9mm micro-compacts are concealable in an IWB holster but are not necessarily suitable for carry in a pocket holster. If you’re wearing light clothes in a warm climate, sometimes a pocket holster is the best option, and the DB9 will fit. I carried it in a DeSantis Nemesis in the front pocket of my shorts to the range without issues and could draw the gun quickly and consistently. That’s possible with a variety of .380s, but I like that my backup pocket pistol uses the same ammo as my primary carry gun.   

To answer whether the Diamondback DB9 will run reliably and shoot accurately, we’ll need to head to the range.

Range Testing

With its 3.1-inch barrel, I accuracy tested the DB9 at 15-yards, and the gun performed on-par with other small single-stack 9mm micro-compacts. Group sizes were generally in the 3- to 4-inch range with defensive loads at 45 feet, and there was a single five-shot group under two-inches at that distance. Off-hand at seven yards, though, the gun competently keeps rounds in the center of the target so long as the Diamondback’s trigger pull doesn’t prompt the shooter to twist the muzzle — an easy thing to do when shooting a pistol with a considerable press. During slow-fire strings, I could keep groups in the vitals of a torso target, and the Diamondback will stop a bad guy if you do your part. At realistic self-defense ranges the DB9 works.

Reliability was good but there were some issues. For starters, the DB9 can be choosy about bullet profile. It didn’t like the Magtech ammunition, and didn’t feed it consistently, but it had no issues with Hornady Critical Defense loads. Twice the magazine popped free from the frame, and I don’t know if wasn’t completely seated (the most likely answer) or if I accidentally pressed the mag release. There’s a click when the magazine goes into place, but it’s not as pronounced as some other pistols. The externally mounted extractor is impressively large for such a little gun, and it takes a serious bite on the case head. The feed ramp is properly angled and smooth enough to keep sliding those 124-grain defensive loads into the chamber. That’s not to say that this gun doesn’t bark or that it’s as comfortable to shoot as its full-sized counterparts. Even experienced shooters with big hands will wear down eventually after feeding the Diamondback a few boxes of potent personal-defense loads. 

The micro-texturing on the grip isn’t bad, but the grip itself is thin and has little surface area across which to distribute recoil forces, so there’s a noticeable jab. Recoil isn’t debilitating, but it is snappy, so take a break before recoil fatigue morphs into a full-blown flinch. Adding the extended magazine floorplate allows for a three-finger hold on the pistol when firing which facilitates better control. This pistol is begging for a grip sleeve to help dampen recoil and fill the shooter’s hand more efficiently. A rubber sleeve would accomplish both objectives without adding bulk or making the gun appreciably harder to conceal. Aftermarket, take note.

The DB9’s magazine is metal, durable, and well-designed. Some small 9mm magazines are stiff and hard to load. In some cases, filling the magazine to full capacity requires forceful determination and substantial hand strength, but that’s not the case with the DB9’s Italian-made ACT-MAG. I loaded the mag to capacity without having to strain or use a loader. I did note the rather heavy recoil spring weight, so shooters with limited hand strength should operate the unloaded pistol in a gun shop before buying. It doesn’t make slide manipulations unmanageable, but it’s not as light as guns like Smith & Wesson’s Equalizer, and doesn’t offer a tip-up barrel solution like Girsan’s MC-14, both of which might be better options for shooters who struggle with hand strength.

The Diamondback isn’t as polished as some of its rivals but it’s a solid performer that gets passing marks in the most important categories. If you’re searching for a very light, low-cost, micro-compact 9mm, then you will likely be pleased with the DB9. It’s certainly one of the most charming 9mms in its price range. 

Diamondback DB9

• Type: Striker-fired semiauto pistol
• Cartridge: 9mm Luger
• Capacity: 6+1
• Barrel: 3.1 in.
• Overall Length: 5.7 in.
• Width: 0.9 in.
• Height: 4.0 in. (flush fit); 4.5 in. (extended)
• Weight: 13.4 oz. (unloaded)
• Finish: Black nitride
• Sights: U-notch rear w/ two white dots, orange-dot front post
• Trigger: 7.5 lbs.
• Price: $305
• Contact: Diamondback Firearms, diamondbackfirearms.com, (321) 305-5995

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