First Impressions & Features
When I took the Diamondback DB-15 out of the box, my first thought was, “There is no way this is a sub-$1,500 AR-15.”
The Magpul furniture makes this feel like a high-end AR. It feels great, balances well, and the muzzle brake up front is chunky and looks ready to eat recoil. The 15-inch M-LOK handguard offers numerous places for attachments while keeping the rifle slim and light.
Finally, I’ve been a sucker for flat triggers ever since I started shooting them on handguns, and I think Diamondback did an excellent job with the trigger on this gun. It’s a 3.5-pound CMC Single Stage Drop-In trigger that is right at the wall upon take-up and has a clean, crisp break and a quick reset.
One trigger pull, and I knew this would not be an average AR shooting experience.
Specs
- Caliber: .223/5.56
- Capacity: 30+1
- Barrel length: 16 inches
- Barrel Twist: 1:8 RH
- Barrel Material: 4150 CrMov steel with Black Nitride finish
- Overall Length: 34 inches collapsed/37.25 inches extended
- Weight: 6.95 pounds
- Gas System: Mid-length
- Trigger: 3.5 pounds, CMC Single Stage Drop-in
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Magazines Included: One 30-round Magpul Gen 2 PMAG
My Dark Secret
I don’t have a Dexter-style dark secret, though among the gun writer elites, it could be just as damning. Lean in close and let me whisper it in your ear … closer still.
I don’t own an AR-15. In fact, I don’t own any black guns or battle rifles. There, I said it! It’s in the open now.
It’s not that I never wanted one or didn’t see a need for one in my collection, but I came into this industry shooting handguns. Look at my byline, and you’ll see that is pretty much all I review. The things that perk my ears and make my tail wag are, and probably always will be, handguns.
That said, in the last three years I’ve had an itch to get my hands on a semi-auto “black gun,” as some would label it. Reaching a decision on which semi-auto should be my first has been elusive, though. I’ve shot a lot of AKs, AR-10s, and AR-15s without finding the perfect combo that makes me want to pull the trigger on a purchase.
The Diamond Series DB-15 was a nice surprise when I opened the box, since I had only asked the company for a standard DB-15 to review. For the sake of clarity, Diamondback sent me this gun, and all testing has occurred on this one gun since June. My first impressions had me thinking this could be the gun to change everything for me.
Comparing Old to New
Along with this new Diamond Series gun, I wanted to go back to its roots to remember some of the first generation of guns that I saw come alive in 2019. I also wanted to understand the longevity of these DB-15s, but since I don’t have the time or the budget to put the needed rounds down range, I figured I could find a used one to compare.
Our Certified Used vault did not disappoint, and I came up with a used DB-15 that was clearly one that someone loved and took to the range often. Who knows how many thousands of rounds passed through its barrel? The previous owner decided at some point to reconfigure the handguard and swap in an aesthetically heinous, yet functionally pleasing, third-party model.
Aside from the obvious furniture and third-party differences, the bones were the same. The rifle was machined with that same Diamondback pride. The trigger on the older model seems to be original and is much closer to what people call “mil-spec” than the flashy new CMC trigger on the Diamond series.
That said, those first few rounds from the newer DB-15 proved to be magical in comparison. The reset was so short that it made it tough to shoot slow.
Overall, the older model still ran like a champ, despite the less glitzy appeal. I only put around 300 rounds of PMC Bronze through it, but it I could tell it was ready to handle much more.
Running Up the Round Count
Back on the Diamond series, I realized how much I appreciated the extra features like the Magpul furniture. It shows the company is willing to go the extra mile and partner with the best to make a complete package. Shooting a few hundred rounds next to the original showed me just how far Diamondback could refine its platform. Results were as expected, with tighter groups and transitions and faster shooting on the new model.
There are only two upgrades I could see myself making in the future. One would be adding a Breek Arms ambi charging handle for a more pleasant suppressed shooting experience. The second would be a short-throw safety selector, mainly because I’m a sucker for the speed and ease of short-throw safety selectors.
This gun doesn’t come with any backup iron sights. They’re not really a necessity in today’s age, with most manufacturers opting to forego iron sights on their AR-15s, but it would help separate it from the rest of the pack at this price point. I added a Vortex Solar Sparc and 6x magnifier to the rifle, a combo that provides enough range to reach out a bit and has the versatility to focus on closer targets with a simple flip. The solar aspect of the optic allows for a nearly limitless amount of battery life, given you train outside a few times a year.
I quickly found out that one magazine is not adequate for any shooting or training experience with an AR-15 and added a few more mags to make the whole shooting experience more enjoyable. I shot around 250 rounds through this gun unsuppressed with a mixture of Federal American Eagle and PMC Bronze. I like how the muzzle brake tames the recoil, but it's a chonker that makes a loud rifle even louder. After 250 rounds, I was ready to lower the decibel level.
Going Quiet
When it comes to suppressors, for the past couple of years, I’ve been partial to B&T products, due to their sound signature and quick-detach technology. I recently picked up a new B&T Print-X 5.56 suppressor, which sports Inconel internals with a titanium sleeve. This combo makes the can incredibly durable and able to withstand full-auto fire, unlike all-titanium cans. Yet, it’s still light and easy to manage.
I shot another 400 rounds through the gun suppressed, feeding it more Federal and PMC, plus some new IG Man 5.56 to top it off. The Print-X can did a great job of pushing that gas downrange with the flow-through. Through it all, the DB-15 never skipped a beat, with zero malfunctions.
The muzzle device and QD attachment on the B&T suppressor are greatly appreciated as well. My rifle bag is too small to transport the rifle and the can together, so the ability to quickly remove it for transport was handy.
Finalizing Accessories
Finally, I didn't really see a need to swap out the grip, but one day a surly pirate from Black Collar Arms contacted me to offer a new grip for testing. The Priapus grip is one that the company deems to be "a perfect hybrid of precision rifle and tactical" to allow the end user to switch between applications seamlessly. I've only shot on vertical grips with PRS-style rifles, and while my skill set may have not matched those rifles, I did notice the inherently easier trigger pull with that style of grip.
The Priapus grip aims to split the difference between a traditional AR grip and a PRS-style grip. While it's more vertical than a typical AR grip, it's not to the extremes I've seen on PRS rifles. The palmswell is nicely placed, and the small ridge on the side is appreciated. Overall, I found the grip did aid in my precision shooting compared to the more traditional Magpul grip, while not losing any of the speed or "grippiness" needed for more high-speed tactical applications.
Rounding out the accessories, I decided to add a Holosun RAID light and a Shield Arms bungee sling. I've run the Holosun RAID on a couple other guns, and I like that it's rechargeable and doesn't take traditional batteries. This allows the light to have a long battery life while giving the lumens needed to light up a threat. I also like the low profile of the light and the pressure switch that comes with it. My only qualm is that it doesn't feature a strobe effect, which is always nice for disorienting someone.
Finally, the Shield Arms sling has made its way onto several different guns for me and has worked well. It's comfortable and customizable, plus it's crafted here in the USA with high-quality materials.
Pros & Cons
