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- Treat every gun as loaded
- Point the muzzle in a safe direction
- Keep your finger off the trigger until you’re ready to shoot
- Know your target and what’s beyond
Table of Contents
How we tested: Every pick here is ranked against our testing methodology. Minimum round counts, accuracy and reliability protocols, the failures that disqualify a gun.
Review: Diamondback DB9 Gen 4, the 13.4 Ounce 9mm for Under $300
Our Rating: 7.5/10
- MSRP: $311 (Diamondback suggested retail)
- Street Price: $249.87 to $289.99 (use our live pricing for the best up to date deal)
- Caliber: 9mm (9×19)
- Action: Striker fired, listed by Diamondback as double action only
- Barrel Length: 3.1 in., 410 stainless steel, 1:10 twist
- Overall Length: 5.73 in.
- Height: 4.51 in. with the extended magazine, 4 in. flush
- Width: 0.90 in.
- Weight: 13.4 oz.
- Capacity: 6+1
- Trigger Pull: About 5.5 lb. (Diamondback spec)
- Made In: Cocoa, Florida
Pros
- 13.4 ounces, among the lightest 9mm pistols
- Real pocket size at 0.90 inch wide
- Under $300 at most retailers
Cons
- Snappy recoil in a light gun
- Only 6+1 rounds
- Small sights and short grip
Quick Take
The Diamondback DB9 Gen 4 is a 9mm that weighs 13.4 ounces, in the same class as many .380 pocket pistols. It’s 5.73 inches long and 0.90 inches wide, and it disappears in a front pocket or an inside-the-waistband holster. It’s also one of the cheapest new 9mm pistols you can buy, at $249.87 to $289.99 when we checked.
We put 500 rounds through ours. It ran, it’s honestly accurate at self-defense distances, and it’s easy to carry all day. The price you pay for that weight is recoil: a full-power 9mm in a 13.4 ounce gun bites, and the short grip leaves your little finger on the extended magazine.
The detail most DB9 reviews skip: Diamondback’s own spec table lists the trigger action as “Double Action Only” while the same page calls it a “striker-fired action.” Both are true. The striker is only partly cocked when the slide closes, and the trigger finishes the job, so you get a long, consistent pull on every shot and no second-strike capability.
Best For: Deep concealment and pocket carry on a tight budget, or a backup gun. Not for new shooters who are sensitive to recoil, or anyone who wants a range gun.
Who Makes the DB9
Diamondback Firearms builds the DB9 in Cocoa, Florida, on the Space Coast. The company’s About page says its story “began in 1989 in a small shop building custom airboats.” It moved into CNC machining, supplied precision parts to other companies, and launched its first gun, the DB380, which it says “put Diamondback on the map.”
Today Diamondback says it’s family owned, has more than 250 people, and keeps production in-house. The DB9 is the 9mm version of that first pocket pistol idea, and the Gen 4 is the current model. Diamondback also makes AR-15s, which we covered in our Diamondback DB15 review.
DB9 Gen 4 Size and Specs
Every number below comes from Diamondback’s DB9 Gen4 product page.
The 3.1 inch barrel is 410 stainless steel with a 1:10 twist, and the slide is 416 stainless with a black nitride finish. The recoil spring is an all steel captured unit. Sight radius is 4.51 inches, and the trigger pull is listed at about 5.5 pounds. The black model’s SKU is DB0200P001.
| Spec | DB9 Gen 4 |
| Length | 5.73 in. |
| Height | 4.51 in. extended magazine, 4 in. flush |
| Width | 0.90 in. |
| Weight | 13.4 oz. |
| Barrel | 3.1 in., 410 stainless, 1:10 RH |
| Capacity | 6+1 |
| Trigger | About 5.5 lb., short reset |
| MSRP | $311 |
Who Should NOT Buy This Gun
- Recoil-sensitive shooters: A 9mm in a 13.4 ounce frame kicks hard. Try one before you buy, or look at a slightly bigger gun.
- Anyone who wants to train a lot: It’s a carry gun. Long range sessions get uncomfortable fast.
- Buyers who want capacity: 6+1 is the price of this size. Micro compacts with 10 to 12 rounds are only a little bigger.
- Shooters who want an optic: The DB9 Gen 4 slide isn’t cut for a red dot.
How the DB9 Compares
Glock 43 ($448 to $473)
The Glock 43 is the benchmark single stack 9mm. It’s heavier and a little bigger, which makes it easier to shoot, and it has a huge holster and parts market. It also costs about $160 more. If you can stretch the budget and carry inside the waistband, the Glock is the better all-around gun. Our Glock 43X review covers its slimline sibling.
Kahr CM9 ($367 to $428)
The Kahr CM9 is the DB9’s closest match in size and trigger style: a 6+1 single stack 9mm with a long, smooth double action only pull. It has a better reputation for refinement and costs about $100 more. If your budget is firm under $300, the DB9 is the one in reach.
SCCY CPX-2 ($182 to $390)
The SCCY CPX-2 is the other budget 9mm, with a 10 round magazine and a longer double action trigger. It’s bigger and heavier than the DB9 but holds more rounds. SCCY went out of business in 2025, with its factory equipment auctioned that June, so every CPX-2 for sale now is leftover stock with no factory to back it. For more budget picks, see our best concealed carry guns under $300.
How We Tested It
Our test gun was a black DB9 Gen 4 with the factory 6 round magazines. We shot it on three range days in September and October 2026, 500 rounds total, all from 3 to 15 yards, and carried it for two weeks in a pocket holster and an inside-the-waistband holster.
Phase 1: Break-In
We had two failures to feed in the first 100 rounds, both with 115 grain FMJ on the first round of a fresh magazine. After that the gun ran clean. The trigger is long, smooth and consistent, and it measured 5.6 pounds on our gauge.
Phase 2: Reliability
Rounds 101 through 500 ran without a stoppage, including 100 rounds of defensive hollow points. A pocket 9mm this light lives or dies on a firm grip, and limp wristing it will cause malfunctions.
Phase 3: Accuracy
At 7 yards, five-shot groups ran 2.1 to 3.4 inches standing. At 15 yards they opened to about 5 inches. That’s fine for its job, and the small, fixed sights are the limit, not the barrel.
Ammunition Log
| Ammunition | Rounds | 7 yd group | Notes |
| Blazer Brass 115 gr FMJ | 200 | 3.1 in. | Two failures to feed early |
| Federal American Eagle 124 gr FMJ | 200 | 2.6 in. | Smooth, no issues |
| Hornady Critical Defense 115 gr FTX | 50 | 2.4 in. | Fed fine, snappy |
| Speer Gold Dot 124 gr | 50 | 2.1 in. | Best accuracy |
What This Means for You
Buy a box of your carry ammo and run it through the gun before you trust it. The DB9 is reliable once it’s broken in and gripped firmly, and it’s easy to have with you all day.
Two Weeks of Carrying It
The DB9 earns its place off the range. We carried it for two weeks, first in a front pants pocket in a pocket holster and then inside the waistband at 4 o’clock. In a pocket it printed as a wallet shape in jeans and vanished in looser work pants. Inside the waistband it was easy to forget, and at 0.90 inches wide it didn’t dig into the hip the way a double stack does.
The extended magazine base plate is what makes it shootable, and it’s also the part that prints first. With the flush magazine the gun is 4 inches tall, which helps in a pocket, but you lose the place for your little finger. We carried the flush magazine in the pocket and the extended one as the spare.
Is a 13.4 Ounce 9mm Right for You?
A light 9mm is a trade. Every ounce you save in your pocket comes back as recoil in your hand. If you’ll carry a bigger gun, a 17 to 20 ounce micro compact with 10 to 12 rounds is easier to shoot well and holds nearly twice the ammunition. If the honest answer is that you won’t carry anything bigger, the DB9 beats leaving the gun at home.
Rent or borrow one first if you can. Shoot 50 rounds, and if you can still put five shots in a fist-sized group at 7 yards at the end of it, it’s a good choice for you.
Performance Results
Reliability (8/10)
Two stoppages early, none in the last 400 rounds.
Concealment (10/10)
At 13.4 ounces and 0.90 inches wide, it carries like a .380.
Shootability (6/10)
Recoil is sharp and the grip is short. Practice matters with this gun.
Value (9/10)
It’s a 9mm pocket gun for the price of many .380s.
Technical Deep Dive
The Partly Cocked Striker
Diamondback lists the DB9 as double action only with a short reset. The striker is partly cocked by the slide, and the trigger pull finishes cocking and releases it. That gives you a longer, heavier pull than a Glock, which many pocket carriers want in a gun with no manual safety.
Holsters and Carry
Carry the DB9 in a holster that covers the trigger guard, even in a pocket. See our best pocket holsters and our best pocket pistols for the guns it competes with.
Upgrades Worth Making
- A pocket holster: The single most important accessory for this gun.
- A spare magazine: With 6+1, a reload matters more.
- Brighter front sight paint: The factory sights are small and dark.
Common Problems and Fixes
- Early failures to feed: Run 100 to 200 rounds before you carry it, and clean and lube it first.
- Limp wrist stoppages: Grip it high and firm. A light gun needs a solid frame to run.
- Slide hard to rack: Use the rear serrations and a firm overhand grip.
Final Verdict
The Diamondback DB9 Gen 4 is the cheapest way to carry a 9mm in your pocket. At 13.4 ounces and under $300, few guns match it on weight and price at the same time. It ran 500 rounds after a short break-in, and it’s accurate enough for self-defense.
It’s snappy and holds only 6+1, so if you can spend more and carry a little more gun, the Glock 43 or a 10 to 12 round micro compact is easier to shoot. See our best 9mm micro compacts for those.
Final Score: 7.5/10. A real pocket 9mm at a .380 price.
Specs and MSRP from Diamondback Firearms. Prices from our live price check across 200+ retailers on October 28, 2026.
FAQ: Diamondback DB9
Is the Diamondback DB9 a good gun?
For pocket carry on a budget, yes. Ours ran 500 rounds with two failures to feed in the first 100 and none after. It weighs 13.4 ounces, so it kicks hard.
How much does a Diamondback DB9 cost?
Diamondback's suggested retail price is $311. Street prices ran $249.87 to $289.99 at the retailers we track when we checked.
How much does the DB9 weigh?
Diamondback lists the DB9 Gen 4 at 13.4 ounces. It's 5.73 inches long, 0.90 inches wide and 4.51 inches tall with the extended magazine.
Is the Diamondback DB9 striker fired?
Yes. Diamondback calls it striker fired and lists the trigger action as double action only. The striker is partly cocked by the slide and the trigger finishes the job.
How many rounds does the DB9 hold?
The DB9 holds 6+1 rounds of 9mm with the factory magazine.
Where is the Diamondback DB9 made?
In Cocoa, Florida. Diamondback says every product it makes is built at its facility there.
Does the DB9 have a safety?
It has no manual safety. The long double action only trigger pull is the main protection, so carry it in a holster that covers the trigger.
Diamondback DB9 vs Glock 43: which is better?
The Glock 43 is easier to shoot and has more holsters and parts. The DB9 is lighter, slimmer and about $160 cheaper.
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