Yes, we’ve been handling a lot of 9mm carbines lately. The Jard J68, Dark Storm Industries Hailstorm, and more are on the way. They’re fun and quite practical. If you consider the controls and familiarity lent from the AR platform and combine that with the benefits of 9mm there’s a lot to like. Why 9mm?
9x19mm is the world’s most popular handgun cartridge. That’s popularity not just in the amount of folks who like it, but also the most produced cartridge. That high production means a lot of variety of defensive loads and standard ball ammunition is less expensive than any other common caliber. For defense there is a plethora of specialty rounds to choose from including 60 or so in this playlist. Beyond the availability and variety many would argue that 9mm is simply smarter for home defense than a rifle cartridge. You can carry more rounds with less weight, the risk of over-penetration is a lot lower, and the recoil is lower. All in the question becomes why don’t you own a 9mm carbine? That shotgun may be plenty powerful and reliable, but what about the collateral damage risk?
Back to the DB9R. After the incredible results obtained with Diamondback’s DB10 we met the DB9R with high hopes and great excitement. We were fortunate to get our hands on the very rifle that had been a teaser at trade shows. Before we get to the specs just take a look at the testing we did. Various magazines, various loads, and accuracy all tested.
Now the numbers as taken from Diamondback’s product page:
Model: DB9RB
Caliber: 9mm Luger Barrel: 16″ Black Nitride
Barrel Twist Rate: 1:10 RH
Bolt Carrier: 9R Bolt Carrier
Handguard: 15” Keymod Rail
Pistol Grip: Magpul MOE
Stock: Roger’s Buttstock
Mag: 31 Round Glock style plastic mag
Flash Hider: A2
Weight: 6lbs
Overall Length (Stock Collapsed): 32.5″ Overall Length (Stock Expanded): 36”
If you’d rather have a more hands-on look at this rifle we’ve got you covered there too. See the tabletop review below.
Photos by the author
