
There might be a lot of AR platform rifles on the market, but there’s no such thing as too much of a good thing. That’s especially true when the rifle in question looks like the latest from Diamondback Firearms. The new DB15 has an interesting–and awesome–feature: a Knight’s Armament Cold Hammer Forged Barrel Blank that’s finished and profiled by Diamondback themselves.

Thanks to a 16-inch 5.56 NATO barrel, this is a carbine-length gun, improving maneuverability and also making it a little easier to fit into your safe. That barrel is one of the big draws for this new carbine because it’s a chrome-lined, cold hammer forged blank made according to Knight’s Armament’s exacting specifications. The barrel has a 1 in 7 RH twist. It’s a barrel that’s made to last–and to deliver nice accuracy on target.

Features of the Diamondback DB15 include a black hardcoat anodized finish, phosphate chrome-lined M16 BCG, A3 Flattop Forged 7075 T-6 Aluminum upper receiver, and 15 inch M-Lok Anti-Rotation V2 S-Rail with full length Picatinny. The trigger is MIL-SPEC and the muzzle device is an A2 flash hider. Diamondback ships with gun with 20-round Magpul Gen2 M2 PMag.

The Diamondback DB15 with Knight’s Armament barrel is made for versatility and performance. You can mount whatever optics and accessories you want on the full-length Picatinny rail which is always a bonus, and the MLOK handguard makes it simple to throw a light on there, too. The stock is a Magpul CTR that’s easily adjustable for length and that’s nice because it means you can change length in the field as needed. It does come with Magpul flip-up irons if you’re so inclined to go for iron sights, and even if you’re not they’re great for backup and make it shootable right out of the box. It’s a win-win.
Specifications
Model: DB15 with Knight’s Armament barrel
Caliber: 5.56 NATO
Capacity: 20 rounds
Barrel length: 16-inches
Barrel material: Chrome-lined phosphate
Twist rate: 1 in 7 RH
Weight: 6.53 pounds, empty
Overall length: 32-inches collapsed, 35.5 inches extended
MSRP: $1,547