Diamonback DB380, used

[wyntrout]

If anyone is interested... here's maybe a good deal. I haven't bought a gun there, but I get email and here's a deal:

Remember the Diamondback DB380 review we did a few months ago? Well, we finally had an opportunity to grab some decent .380acp ammo and head to the range this past weekend. If you recall where we left off, we had 40 rounds of miscellaneous ammo down range and had experienced some issues. Well, those issues were still present on Saturday-- for the first box or so. We had a few failure-to-feed jams, but after about 120-140 rounds, the symptoms cleared up and it was smooth sailing.
[ click here for the video ]

The DB380 is a good little shooter-- pretty accurate too. It fits your hand better than most. The trigger is 10.5 weeks long and did act a little funny on a few occasions, as you'll see in the video. It failed to reset all the way, but it could have been operator error, considering how much coffee we had that morning.

Call me old school, but I believe a gun should operate reliably out of the box-- after the obligatory cleaning, of course. It's clear the DB380 requires a break-in period. In fact, the manufacturer recommends it. That's fine and dandy, but potential buyers need to figure that into the cost of ownership. The Diamondback DB380 is a great value at around $300. But factor in the 200rds of expensive and elusive .380acp ammunition required to make it run properly and you're easily in the $350-400 price range. That makes this DB380 demo unit that we have listed in our clearance section for $300 seem like a real deal, doesn't it!? It's already got the kinks worked out and it's ready to roll.
Guns for Sale at Dealer Cost Buy Guns at Dealer Cost at On Point Firearms - Clearance Clearance (http://www.onpointsupply.com/cart.php?target=category&category_id=1897)

If you want to give a DB380 a shot (or 200), we've also got this beautiful nickel finish version in stock here.
Guns for Sale at Dealer Cost Buy Guns at Dealer Cost at On Point Firearms - DMNDBK DB380 380ACP 6RD NKL FS POLY DMNDBK DB380 380ACP 6RD NKL FS POLY (http://www.onpointsupply.com/cart.php?target=product&product_id=78059&category_id=)
Sorry, I couldn't remember the PW to get the member price.
Wynn:rolleyes:

[jocko]

I would want to thing though that any new owner of a gun will shoot the gun a couple hundred rounds. Call it whatever one wants. "break in", testing" "getting used to " Sighting it in". all require rounds down range. They all should and most all do work great out of the box, but one should never assume any gun is pefect with out through testing.

Kahr is one of the few who even states shoot 200 rounds before pushing the panic button, most companies don't, but when you have issues early on, most companies usually ask howmany rounds have you shot out of it. I know Para when I had issues early on with my carry 9 asked that very question and basically said to call them back whenI have 500 rounds through the gun, as buy then things smooth out. And some things did to but not all. went back 3 times. So maybe the word break in could be change dto "testing". YMMV..

wyn, u state "obligatory cleaning" Many take um home, never touch um and go out and shoot it and never think about cleaning it, for "after all it is a new gun". We know better, so I guess why should I have to clean a new gun also. It should be spiffy clean and lubed and ready to go. But we know that is just not the real world either. If a person properly preps his new weapon, It will be reliable IMO. to not pre prep a gun and have issues and then to go home and do the pre prep thing, is also a waste of good ammo and time.....

[wyntrout]

I have no interest in this gun, but I've heard others express interest... and this beats $400 to $450 or so... prices I've seen.
Wynn

[Bawanna]

Not a real pretty gun if you ask me, wait hmmm under "I" IMHO! I rock. And the bullets are only about half the size that I prefer, guess I better save my marbles for the big boy like you.

As far as the break in, I put a personally imposed 350 perfect round count for all my guns that I carry. This is probably more then necessary but I don't mind and time while perhaps running short is on my side. I can carry one of the others till a new/used one meets the 350 bonding shot count. I pretty much stick to it also. If I get to 300 rounds and have an issue, it's back to zero and start over. Sometimes it gun ammo issues but more often than not it's operator getting a feel for things issues.
I had an officer at my desk 10 minutes ago, slightly bummed that he didn't qualify this morning with his new Taurus 738? Little 380 auto for off duty backup. Its a pretty simple qual and he was just slightly off, not bad. I asked how much he's shot it since I only got it for him a few weeks ago. Said today was the first time he'd shot it!:eek: The 2 instructors both shot it fine, no gun issues. He only had 1 box of ammo, has another at home. Told him to go get it and try again or at least shoot it so he gets used to the darn thing. Brand new gun first time out and I cant qualify expert. I'm drowning in my tears.

[jocko]

yes, ur story is just what happens to alot of people, buy it new, do nothing, expect total perfection or it goes back, as u know it can never be the fault of the person behind the gun, just can't be. For an officer to come in with that story, he should get some time off to think about life even more. Makes no sense but we are human and many of us "make no sense""

but I Bawanna when u and I PM, certainly "makes no sense" either, but hell isn't it fun..but I have slept at a Holiday Inn lately.

[reign719]

This was the .380 that I almost bought after seeing it at the gs, but something told me to go home and research it and see what other places are charging, glad I went home otherwise I wouldn't have a PM9 right now.

Found out on a lot of forums that it either performed flawlessly, or they've had to send it back 2 or 3 times. Supposedly what I read somewhere is either one or both of the guys that left Kel-Tec to make Diamondbacks, left Diamondback as well. Although, both guys at the gs I talked to had nothing but good things to say about it. Maybe give it another year before picking this one up.

[jlottmc]

I think I'm done with 380. Just got rid of the Bersa, just don't like the little round anymore, especially when I can have a 45 that is only slightly larger than that Bersa. I can get even smaller in a bigger/easier to find package as well. Yup just plain done with it.

[cgo99]

I completely agree with putting a couple of hundred rounds down range as a breaking/testing/get used to exercise for all the reasons cited above, but not only for that also because taking your new gun to the range is a lot of fun.
Almost like a first date, sure things are a little awkward at first but it'll get better with time and bullets (If things don't get better dump the gun and date something else).

[jlottmc]

I completely agree with putting a couple of hundred rounds down range as a breaking/testing/get used to exercise for all the reasons cited above, but not only for that also because taking your new gun to the range is a lot of fun.
Almost like a first date, sure things are a little awkward at first but it'll get better with time and bullets (If things don't get better dump the gun and date something else).


That's usually the best medicine for new gun issues. I like to buy used if I know the owner when possible. And then if it doesn't work, like he said...dump it, and get another date.