Diamondback Firearms is known for producing extremely small and lightweight handguns. Their most popular pistol, the DB9 is the smallest and lightest semi-auto 9mm handgun in today’s market. Many concealed carriers choose to pocket carry that little pistol with confidence.
In May of 2019, Diamondback introduced another sub-compact handgun to their line called the Diamondback DBAM29. It is more commonly known as the AM2. The Diamondback AM2 is much larger than the DB9. It sports a 3.5” barrel and carries 12 rounds in a double stack magazine. It also ships with a much larger 17 round magazine. Weighing in just over 21 ounces, the Diamondback AM2 is still considered a sub-compact 9mm handgun.
VIDEO REVIEW:
The Diamondback AM2 is very thin, lightweight and has several nice features. The grip texturing around the front and backstrap is like a mid-grade sandpaper. It is fairly aggressive but not overly textured to irritate the skin for those carrying inside the waistband. The magazine release is commonly positioned for a comfortable thumb reach however it is built inside the frame to prevent any snags when drawing the AM2.
As mentioned, Diamondback ships two double stack magazines with the AM2. One is a 12 rounder with a flat base-plate for carry. The other is a 17 round magazine that is great for a spare and/or less reloading mags at the range. Each magazine has witness holes along with orange followers to observe the round count. Diamondback also includes a zippered and padded soft pack that is nice for transporting the AM2.
The slide on the AM2 is sleek with a unique look. It is only .975 inches wide with front and rear serrations. The stainless steel slide has a unique look and feel to it. The sides have a silver shine and the top of the slide has a matte black nitride finish. The nitride finish also covers in between the slide serrations giving the AM2 a different but very tasteful look.
The Slide on the AM2 also has a witness hole on on top to visually observe a round in the chamber and a striker-fire indicator built into the slide’s backplate. Once the pistol is charged, there is a small “button” that appears. When the slide has not been charged, the striker-fire button will no longer appear. Internally, the AM2 has a 3.5 inch stainless steel barrel and a captured recoil spring and steel guide rod. The steel three-dot sights are Glock compatible which allows the shooter simple availability for night sights.
The Diamondback AM2 uses a double action trigger that breaks around seven pounds. It uses a trigger bar safety and the overall pull is smooth. The trigger resets at approximately halfway to the trigger rest position. I found the trigger to be effective and simple to use right out of the box. Watch the table review video for visual detail on the Diamondback AM2 trigger action.
Specifications:
MSRP: $339.99
Height: 12 round mag: 4.6” / 17 round mag 5.6”
Weight: 22 ounces unloaded
Length: 6.49”
Width: Overall Width 1.09” / Slide Width .975”
Sight Radius: 4.97”
Barrel: 3.5” Stainless Steel, 1:10 RH
Trigger: Safety Trigger with 5-6 lb pull (my trigger scale = 7lbs)
Trigger Action: Striker Fired Double Action Only
Slide: Gun Grade AStainless Steel, Black Nitride
Caliber: 9x19mm
Capacity: 17 rounds
Frame: Black Polymer
Sights: 3-Dot, Glock Compatible
Recoil System: All steel captured
I took the Diamondback to the range a couple times prior to this review. It fed, fired and ejected a variety of 9mm ammunition. I was pleased that a center hold from 10 yards was a simple impact shot. No learning curve was needed. Initially, a few of the cases ejected back at me. Once a couple boxes of 9mm was shot, that didn’t happen anymore.
Range Video:
I stepped back to 20 then 24 yards. The Diamondback AM2 did real well for a sub-compact 9mm pistol with a 3.5 inch barrel. I shot it one-handed and once again, the AM2 outperformed itself. For a pistol that is considered budget priced, the Diamondback AM2 fired like a more expensive handgun.
The MSRP is $339.99. It can can be purchased for around $230 from popular online sites. That is an amazing price when considering everything the Diamondback AM2 offers. Check out the videos attached and let us know if you are interested in the Diamondback AM2.
