The 5.7x28mm cartridge seems to be prompting renewed interest among US firearms manufacturers, After Ruger with its Ruger-57 pistol (see here), now it's the turn of Diamondback Firearms to introduce a new product with the DBX 5.7, a “one-of-a-kind” semi-auto pistol featuring an 8"/ 203 mm barrel. For those who don't know it, Diamondback Firearms is a company established in 1989, specializing in AR-15 based pistols and industry components. The DBX 5.7 was unveiled at Range Day for SHOT Show 2020 in Las Vegas.
Diamondback Firearms DBX 5.7, a compact gun
"Diamondback Firearms has worked hard to offer not only a new and different product, but something truly innovative for shooters to enjoy," says Kaley Cox, Marketing Director for Diamondback America. "We are very excited to bring our customers the DBX 5.7 and introduce them to something beyond the traditional pistol or carbine on the market."
And the DBX 5.7 is really “something beyond the traditional pistol or carbine”: a semi-auto gun with a locked breech, dual gas piston operating system, it has a standard AR-15 mil-spec trigger and a Magpul MOE-K grip. The frame is made from hard coat anodized 7075 aluminum and the M-Lok compatible handguard is machined from 6061 aluminum.
The DBX 5.7 comes equipped with a rear Picatinny mounted, side-folding brace. Overall length with the brace is 25.4"/645 mm, and 16.1"/409 mm length without the brace. The DBX 5.7 is quite thin too, at just 1.25"/32 mm (excluding controls and brace), and weight is 3 lb / 1360 g (unloaded without the brace). No sights are included, but there's a long Picatinny mounting rail on top of the receiver and handguard.
Among the other features, a DBX muzzle device, a Magpul Handstop kit and a 20-round magazine. The latter is FN Five-seveN compatible, but according to the manufacturer future SKUs will also include models compatible with Ruger-57 magazines.
MSRP is 1299 USD, and the DBX 5.7 will begin shipping on May 7, 2020.
Diamondback Firearms DBX 5.7 specs
| Action
type: | semi-auto |
| Operating
system: | locked
breech, dual gas piston |
| Caliber: | 5.7x28mm |
| Barrel
length: | 8”/ 203 |
| Sights: | none |
| Magazine
capacity: | 20
rounds (FN Five-seveN compatible) |
| Frame/body
material: | 7075
aluminum, hard coat anodized |
| Forend/handguard
material: | 6061
aluminum, hard coat anodized, M-Lok compatible on left, right, & bottom |
| Grip: | Magpul
MOE-K |
| Overall
length (no brace): | 16.1”/
409 mm |
| Overall
length (brace folded): | 16.9”/
429 mm |
| Overall
length (brace extended): | 25.4”/
654 |
| Overall
width (excluding controls, no brace): | 1.25”/
31.7 mm |
| Overall
width (including charging handle, no brace): | 1.75”/
44.4 |
| Overall
height (without sights): | 7.3”/
185 mm |
| Weight
(with empty magazine – no brace): | 3.0
lb / 1360 g |
| Weight
(with empty magazine & brace): | 3.7
lb / 1678 g |
