Since 2009, Diamondback Firearms has offered a wide variety of guns, from its DB380 concealed carry pistol to its lineup of Modern Sporting Rifles. In 2024, the company introduced its second wheelgun, the Self-Defense Revolver (SDR), a model it called “premium protection in the palm of your hand.” New for 2026, the company is reducing the cost and weight of that premium protection with the SDR-A.
The “A” in the new model’s name stands for “aluminum.” While previous SDR revolvers used stainless steel for all of their metal components, the SDR-A has a frame made of forged 7075-T6 aluminum. The barrel, cylinder and other major components are made of stainless steel. Metal components are given a glass bead finish and a DBGuard coating. An aluminum frame brings two benefits to the SDR family. First, it makes for a lighter revolver, with the SDR-A weighing about 5 ounces less than comparable all-steel SDRs. The second benefit is price with the SDR-A coming in at $150-$200 less than similar all steel SDRs.
The SDR-A differs from other SDR revolvers in two other areas. The first is its chambering. While the all-steel SDRs are chambered in .357 Mag. or 9 mm, the SDR-A is chambered for .38 Special +P. Second, it is a “hammerless” design with its hammer concealed entirely within its frame for double-action only firing, with a non-stacking trigger pull that measures between 9 and 11 pounds.
The remainder of the SDR-A’s specs remain the same, from its six-round capacity to its fully-captured cylinder and crank link assembly that can be removed with the push of a button. Its 2-inch barrel has a precision target crown and sights consist of a pinned front post with fiber-optic insert and a low-profile rear notch with fiber-optic inserts, fitted into a dovetail. The black rubber grips are made by Hogue, and the SDR-A is J-Frame grip compatible. K6 speedloaders can be used with its six-shot cylinder, and the SDR-A is compatible with SDR holsters already in the market.
The Diamondback Firearms SDR-A has an overall length of 6.70 inches, a height of 4.92 inches, a width of 1.38 inches and weighs 15.6 ounces. Its MSRP is $614. For more information, see the company’s website.
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