Diamondback Firearms Releases New SDR .357 Magnum Revolver at SHOT Show 2024
Diamondback Firearms is a company which built itself building high-quality, low-cost semi-automatic handguns. Essentially, concealed carry pistols for the blue-collar working man. But its latest addition – the SDR – is something different altogether.
What exactly is the new Diamondback SDR? It is a double, single-action, six-round revolver chambered in the hard-hitting .357 Magnum cartridge. It looks like a modified Smith & Wesson J-Frame revolver but it’s more than just that.Â
While it’s true that the gun is so similar to J-Frames that it can share holsters, the engineers at Diamondback made some interesting changes to the gun to differentiate and improve the core design.
Did Diamondback make enough changes to find a place for itself in the already crowded market of concealed carry revolvers? And furthermore, is this a smart move for the company, given the ever-increasing popularity of ultra-compact, high-capacity autoloaders? Let’s look at what the gun brings to the proverbial table and get a better understanding.Â
For instance, the SDR is cut for a Novak-style rear sight, while the barrel features a brilliant fiber-optic front sight post.
Speaking of the barrel, where most modern revolvers feature a leave around the barrel to give it the appearance of increased rigidity, the SDR’s barrel is monolithic. The barrel it cut from a single piece of steel and then hardened. This makes the gun far more robust and last longer.
Another interesting feature is that the entire cylinder can be removed from the gun with a push of a button. This might seem like an odd addition, but it makes cleaning the gun vastly easier after either extended shooting sessions or after a shooter has carried it for a very long time.
Additional SDR Features
The new six-shooter is 100% made in America and uses both Smith & Wesson J-Frame grips and speed-loaders. So revolver fans won’t have to invest in all new accessories.
At 21.2 ounces unloaded, the new SDR is the lightest six-round .357 Magnum revolver commercially available. Making it an excellent concealed carry option, though with full-power loads it will definitely have stout recoil.
Another way the gun sets itself apart from the competition is its use of a push-button cylinder release.Â
DB SDR: Pricing and Availability
According to the Diamondback representative at Industry Day at the Range at SHOT Show 2024, the SDR will be available second quarter of 2024 with an MSRP of $799.
But given Diamondback’s pricing tendencies, I wouldn’t be shocked if we saw street prices a hundred or so dollars cheaper. But even without this reduction in price, the Diamondback seems to keep the company’s tradition of offering great value alive.
Although I’m biased, as I really enjoy revolvers, I have to admit the new stainless magnum has really piqued my interest.Â
Because the new Diamondback Firearms SDR looks to make a great new addition to the world of revolvers. While it doesn’t do anything revolutionary like the Mateba or the Rhino, it does offer an excellent concealed carry gun for shooters. One that seamlessly blends old world construction and modern conveniences – at least ostensibly. Obviously, we’ll have to wait to shoot the gun for hundreds – if not thousands – of rounds to get a full understanding of the design and be able to say with confidence whether or not it’s good to go.
Personally, I’m very interested to see just how punishing the ultra light-weight new revolver is to shoot with full-powered defensive loads. The factory grips don’t look like they’ll add much in terms of reducing felt recoil, but given that the gun has access to the massive J-Frame grip aftermarket, I’m certain we’ll find something that helps tame the beast.
One thing is for certain: shooters who love six-guns have a brand new flavor to add to their collection.Â
Jim is a freelance writer, editor, and videographer for dozens of publications who loves anything and everything guns. While partial to modern military firearms and their civilian counterparts, he holds a special place in his heart for the greatest battle implement ever devised and other WW2 rifles. When he’s not reviewing guns or shooting for fun and competition, Jim can be found hiking and hunting with his wife Kimberly, and their dog Peanut in the South Carolina low country.