Derya DY9 Island Review – Affordable Turkish 9mm with Competition Flair

Every so often, a pistol comes along that makes you do a double take—not because it’s priced in the “dream gun” category, but because it brings features normally reserved for custom builds into an affordable package. That’s the case with the Derya DY9 Island, a Turkish-made polymer pistol chambered in 9mm that’s drawing attention for its island barrel and top-mounted porting.

First Impressions

Right out of the box, the DY9 Island looks like a Glock-esque platform but with some flair that sets it apart. The direct mount RMR optic cut is a huge plus, allowing me to co-witness with the stock sights. It also ships with three 15-round magazines that follow the Glock 19 pattern, which makes sourcing spares and aftermarket support much easier.

The removable magazine well is a nice touch for keeping your hand firmly locked onto the grip, and while the single undercut under the trigger guard isn’t groundbreaking, it does improve control. I personally wish Derya had carried the texturing a little higher on the grip for a more aggressive purchase, but that’s nitpicking.

Range Performance

On the range, the DY9 Island handled better than expected. The in-line porting on the barrel—something you don’t often see from the factory, especially on a polymer pistol—did its job of helping tame muzzle rise. Yes, I know those ports will foul up any front sight post, and that’s likely why Derya went with this island barrel style, but a guy can dream, right?

Accuracy was solid, and recoil impulse was manageable. Turkey’s track record with firearms can be hit or miss, but so far, this pistol seems to land on the “hit” side of that equation. Reliability will take more time and rounds to confirm, but it’s showing promise.

Features That Stand Out

• Direct mount optic cut for RMR
• Co-witness capability with stock sights
• Inline top-mounted porting (rare for a factory polymer pistol)
• Three included 15-round Glock 19 pattern magazines
• Removable magazine well for better grip retention
• Two-slot Picatinny rail for lights and lasers

Final Thoughts

The Derya DY9 Island isn’t trying to be a $3,000 race gun—it’s trying to bring some of those same features into a pistol regular shooters can actually afford. If you’ve been curious about competition-style features like inline porting or an island barrel but don’t want to break the bank, this pistol is worth a look.

I’ll keep putting more rounds through it to see how it holds up long-term, but as of now, I’m impressed with what Derya has managed to pack into this platform.

For those asking about my gear setup—I’ve been running it with G-Code Tactical holsters and range gear. Their RTI system keeps things simple and modular, and you can check them out at G-Code Tactical and use code RAZORMP15 for 15% off.

Until next time, stay safe, train hard, and I’ll see you on the high ground.

— RazorMP