Diamondback SDR 3-Inch Review: Timeless Reliability

Running a revolver for self-defense is not a handicap, and the Diamondback SDR proves it.

Not that long ago, the revolver was the most popular self-defense sidearm. Grandfather had a Model 10 S&W, and he said he’d never carry a “jamomatic.” Of course, the popularity of the revolver began to wane after 1968 when the Illinois State Police adopted a semi-automatic. What followed was a major law enforcement transition from revolvers to pistols, but it took a while for some agencies to get on board. When I was hired as a police officer 24 years later, I was issued a revolver. Some today might believe the revolver is antiquated but it’s no less effective for self-defense than it was a half-century ago. In fact, with modern munitions it’s more effective, and after spending about a month with the new SDR revolver from Diamondback, I’d not hesitate to carry it.

Diamondback SDR 3-Inch Specs:

Manufacturer: Diamondback
Model: SDR
Caliber: .357 Magnum
Weight Unloaded: 23.9 Ounces
Capacity: 6
Overall Height: 5.25 Inches
Barrel Length: 3 Inches
Overall Length: 7.71 Inches
Website: diamondbackfirearms.com
MSRP: $803

Diamondback Firearms is in Coco, Florida, and surprisingly, the company was founded in 1989 to manufacture custom air boats. Their experience with CNC machinery ultimately led to a new venture about 20 years later when they manufactured the DB380. The ultra-compact 8.8-ounce DB380 was a hit and led to other handguns including a 1911 and even AR-10s and AR-15s. Now, this family owned company is manufacturing a double-action revolver called the SDR, and to say they’ve hit a homerun with this handgun would be an understatement.

The Diamondback Self Defense Revolver (SDR) is a proprietary design built on a machined stainless steel frame, and it’s available with either a polished or glass bead-blasted stainless steel finish or a black Nitride coating. This is a six-shot revolver that comes with either a 2- or 3-inch barrel that has a full-length underlug. Regardless of the barrel length, the revolver is fitted with a red fiber-optic front sight and a low-profile green fiber-optic rear sight. In total, there are 14 variations offered, some with a traditional hammer and some with a bobbed hammer. Several different grips are offered including variations of full-size and compact Hogue rubber and wood grips. These revolvers come in a cardboard box, and a compact pistol rug is included.

But there’s a lot more to these revolvers. Diamondback sent me one of their 3-inch SDRs with the full-size Hogue Monogrip and the polished stainless-steel finish (SKU# DB0700S703), and over the last month I’ve put more than 300 rounds through it. About half of that shooting was for testing purposes, but the other half was because I enjoyed shooting the revolver so much. One of things that makes this revolver so much fun to shoot is its fantastic trigger. In the double-action mode, the trigger did not stack, and the pull weight was only 9.5 pounds. In the single-action mode, the trigger broke at only 3.5 pounds with a very crisp pull. I’ve pulled triggers on revolvers costing twice as much as the SDR that were not as good.

I tested two .38 Special and one .357 Magnum load from a bench rest at 10 yards, shooting five, five-shot groups with each load. Overall, the revolver averaged 1.30 inches for all the 15-shot groups. Its best five-shot group measured less than an inch with Buffalo Bore’s 110-grain Low Flash 100-grain TAC-XP +P load, which was also very comfortable to shoot out of the 23.9-ounce revolver. (Two-inch SDRs weigh in right at 21 ounces.) On the range running some defensive drills, I also fired some full-power .357 Magnum loads. They shot great out of the SDR, but I’d rate the recoil sensation—as you might suspect—uncomfortable.

There are two notable features that set the SDR apart from its more expensive competition. First, the cylinder release on the left side of the revolver is a push button as opposed to a sliding release like you see on Smith & Wesson revolvers. Its large, easy to press and hard to miss. The other and most unique feature is the button on the left side of the frame that when depressed allows you to fully remove the cylinder and crane and link assembly. Ultimately, this could allow you to swap cylinders with a 9mm Luger cylinder, but right now it makes cylinder removal for service and cleaning very easy. The Korth revolver has the same feature, but that handgun costs five times as much as an SDR.

With the introduction of any new revolver, shooters want to know about compatibility with speed loaders and the availability of holsters. The HKS DSA speed loader works perfectly with the SDR and so does the Galco Combat Master Belt Holster. For what it’s worth, if you buy any SDR and get a Combat Master holster for it, you’ll notice the revolver fits loosely in the holster—that is until you put the holster on and tighten your belt. These holsters are custom fitted to hold handguns securely when they’re sort of pancaked to your side. Otherwise, the fit would be too tight to get the gun out.

Now for the best news. The Diamondback SDR has a suggested retail price of between $751 and $852, with the finish seeming to be the determiner in price. The MSRP for the model I tested is only $803, and street prices I’ve seen for it are less than $700. By comparison, the similar-but-heavier Ruger SP 101 has a base price of $939.

Like most of the rest of the world, you’re probably a semi-automatic kind of guy because you transitioned to them along with everyone else, or because you were born into the age of the semi-auto pistol. If you have ever thought about returning to your roots or about getting your first revolver, I cannot think of no better place to renew or start that journey than with the Diamondback SDR. I think Grandpa would approve.

Diamondback SDR Shooting Results

Diamondback Firearms SDR .357 Magnum / .38 Special Revolver – 2″ – 6 Round

$684.00

Editor’s Note: This article originally appeared in the November 2026 issue of Gun Digest the Magazine.

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