[ad_1]
A 25-ounce .22 revolver that rides simply within the again pocket is an efficient factor to have. A few years in the past, Diamondback launched their Sidekick revolver. The unique 4-inch barrel revolver is a neat plinker and coach. However the brand new 3-inch barrel birdshead grip revolver is even lighter and simpler to hold. The favored birdshead grip configuration provides the Sidekick a classic look some will certainly discover engaging.
Options
The revolver is analogous in define to the Excessive Normal Double 9 or W100. The Double 9 incorporates a swing-out cylinder and double-action set off. This offers a extra trendy taking pictures expertise, whereas the define is just like a single-action cowboy revolver. Excessive Normal even designed a faux ejector rod. The Sidekick carries the faux ejector rod as nicely, however the brand new 3-inch barrel gun doesn’t. The Double 9 is analogous in operation to the Excessive Normal Sentinel, an important taking pictures and compact coach. I’ve owned a dozen or so previously and shot the heck out of them.
The one hassle is the occasional caught sear. An excellent cleansing often cures that concern. An excessive amount of dry fireplace will injury the chambers as a rimfire cartridge crushes the rim of the cartridge towards the chamber lip. However the design of those weapons general is nice. Diamondback revived the design with trendy supplies that solely improve efficiency. Cowboy weapons are nice, and I personal a variety of single-action rimfire revolvers. The Sidekick’s swing-out cylinder makes loading and firing and ejecting and coaching a lot less complicated with such a gun than a mere single-action revolver.
I feel a swing out cylinder .22 is known as a nice coaching support. Everybody wants such a revolver. Why? A newbie is nicely served studying security and marksmanship with a double-action revolver. They’re simple to shoot and function and permits the brand new shooter to realize confidence working the gun. In the meantime, for an skilled shooter, these weapons are fairly merely enjoyable to shoot. I received’t overstate the plain. A revolver permits utilizing .22 brief, lengthy and lengthy rifle ammunition that will choke an computerized. So, you have got choices when shopping for your ammo for plinking. Heck, even pipsqueak .22 CB caps are simply used. A .22 shotshell isn’t helpful previous a number of ft however works wonderful in a brief barrel revolver as nicely.
The Sidekick will not be solely enjoyable to shoot, nevertheless it additionally seems fairly good, too. It’s completed in uninteresting Cerakote, a end that’s evenly utilized and appears simply wonderful. The grips are checkered plastic. The revolver lists at simply over $300, so store round for deal. I discovered a pair on-line at $283 and a few change. I couldn’t discover a double-action .22 at this value or shut save for some fashions of the snubnose Constitution Arms.
As for different options, the Sidekick options easy mounted sights within the type of a groove within the prime of the receiver and a easy submit entrance sight. The one-action set off is ok for a cheap revolver at simply over 4 kilos. The double-action set off is one other matter. It registers 15 kilos, 14 ounces on the Lyman digital set off pull gauge. That’s heavy. To make use of the double-action set off, I first introduced the set off again till the hammer was to the rear and able to break after which slipped the sear and dropped the hammer. Should you be taught double-action fireplace on this gun, it is possible for you to to deal with something! I didn’t make an effort at taking pictures targets previous 10 ft in double-action fireplace.
A bonus of the Sidekick is a spare cylinder in .22 Magnum. That is widespread in single-action revolvers. Double-action revolvers require extra becoming making interchangeable cylinders a rarity for these weapons. However trendy equipment and tolerances make the Sidekick twin cylinder-design viable. The design of the swap out is definitely fairly elegant. Merely depress a button within the body and launch one cylinder and exchange it with the opposite pre-fitted cylinder. I’d be cautious to keep away from permitting the spring-loaded plunger to flee, however I didn’t expertise this downside.
Taking pictures
In firing the Sidekick, I skilled good perform. Loading, firing and ejection went easily. I’m at almost 600 cartridges expended by means of the small gun, with 90% having been fired as single motion. About eight out of each 10 cartridges I’ve used have been high-velocity 40-grain .22 Lengthy Rifle rounds, the commonest and reasonably priced selection obtainable.
The revolver is kind of enjoyable to shoot and makes for plinker. At an outside vary this will likely imply any sort of goal. Indoors on paper there are imaginative targets together with sport animals, pinwheels and small carnival themed targets you may shoot. The Sidekick is helpful for coaching out to 25 yards or so, however little extra. For what many people will use the revolver for—taking out pests, rodents and reptiles across the homestead—10 yards are about so far as it is possible for you to to precisely shoot a mole-sized animal. I had a mole infestation a number of years again and so they can wreck a garden. I apply studying the purpose of goal and level of influence relationship with any fixed-sight handgun at shut vary and the utmost possible vary. In all of my taking pictures, I by no means skilled roughness in cylinder rotation as unburnt powder ash constructed up, a standard prevalence with rimfire revolvers.
I settled down on the bench and fired a number of teams for accuracy at 15 yards. For a fixed-sight revolver with a 3-inch barrel and brief sight radius, the Sidekick did wonderful. I modified cylinders and fired a variety of .22 Magnum masses as nicely. Recoil didn’t change in any respect—nil to nothing—however muzzle blast did. The .22 Magnum makes use of comparatively gradual burning powder in most masses with the Hornady Essential Protection meant for revolvers with shorter barrel size. The .22 Magnum velocities make these masses higher for bigger pests at shut vary.
In any case is alleged and performed, I’ve to say I actually just like the Sidekick. It’s a neat little enjoyable gun nicely value its modest value.
Diamondback Sidekick
Make: Diamondback Firearms
Mannequin: Sidekick
Caliber: .22 LR, .22 Lengthy, .22 Brief /.22 Magnum conversion cylinder
Motion: Single or Double
Capability: 9 rounds
Grips: Checkered plastic
Body & Deal with End: Black Cerakote
Total Barrel Size: 3 in.
Total Size: 7.8 in.
Total Weight: 25 ounces
diamondbackfirearms.com
Ranking
Match and end **** Notes: For the value, excellent
Reliability ***** Notes: No points
Accuracy *** Notes: The shorter barrel is helpful for concealability and straightforward carrying, however not nice for correct pictures at distance.
Dealing with & Consolation ***** Notes: Nicely balanced, again pocket comfy and even totes nicely in a Carhart jacket pocket.
Accuracy Desk
15-yard accuracy, 5-shot teams
.22 LR
Remington Thunderbolt 2.4 inch.
Remington Golden Bullet 2.0 inch
.22 Magnum
CCI Maxi Magazine 1.95 inch
Winchester 40-gr. FMJ 3.0 inch
Hornady 30-gr. V Max 2.5 inch
Velocity Testing
.22 rimfire
CCI .22 Brief HP. 1033 fps
.22 CB Cap 420 fps
.22 CB Lengthy. 599 fps
CCI Fairly 22. 631 fps
CCI .22 LR Mini Magazine 1049 fps
CCI Velociter 1055 fps
Remington Golden Bullet 36-gr. HP 945 fps
CCI 32-gr. Stinger 1160 fps
.22 Magnum
Hornady Essential Protection 45-gr. 1180 fps
Hornady V Max 30-gr 1290 fps
CCI 40-gr. Maxi Magazine 1298 fps
CCI 30-gr. VNT * 1344 fps
*(VNT is a pleasant pest popper that fragments in an inch or two of a varmint.)
[ad_2]
Source link
