PSA Dagger Review: Hands On Tested!
PSA has been killing it lately with new ARs, PCCs, AKs, and even Glocks. PSA effectively made their own Glock and called it the Dagger, and today we’re reviewing it. I originally reviewed this back in 2022 but after a few hundred rounds with it, my opinions have somewhat changed. In this updated PSA Dagger review, I’ll take you through the specifications, background, and my personal experience with this gun.
PSA Dagger Specs
- Barrel Length 4.5 inches
- Overall Length 7.65 inches
- Weight 22.4 ounces
- Caliber 9mm
- Capacity 15
Carrying a Dagger
Let’s face it, Glock still owns the market. Regardless of what SIG, CZ, and FN try to do. Glocks provide a straightforward and very robust series of handguns that dominate the market. By dominating the market, I don’t mean just occupying the holsters of a metric ton of shooters, but being the reason those holsters exist. It’s insanely easy to find Glock holsters, triggers, sights, barrels, and custom work.
In fact, you can create a Glock without using any actual Glock parts. That’s precisely what the Dagger is, a Glock without any Glock parts. Specifically, it’s a Glock 19 style pistol. It’s in the same realm as the Glock compact pistols. The Dagger works with standard Glock parts and pieces and is compatible with Glock Gen 3 parts. Just like the Gen 3, it also has slide rails that help the slide move back and forth smoothly
Palmetto State Armory is well known for its low prices, and the Dagger is priced to move. The base model sells for 300 dollars, which, in my opinion, is a very reasonable price. The optic’s cut, suppressor height sight, upgraded threaded barrel model we are reviewing cost 379.99. Regardless, they are a good deal cheaper than Glock brand Glocks and promise the same simplicity and reliability as the Glock pistols.
This isn’t just a cheap Glock clone. PSA went all out to equip the Dagger with a ton of features and lots of modern flair. You get a lot of ‘gun’ for the money, but does that gun run? Does it shoot straight? Well, we’ll find out today.
PSA Dagger Features
1 Optics Ready
2 Ameriglow lower 1/3rd Co-witness sights
3 Threaded Barrel
4 Flat Trigger
The Dagger Models
Palmetto State Armory offers many variants of the Dagger. They have micro, compact and full size options. Within each of these sizes there are various colors and slide cuts, threaded or non-threaded barrels, optics cuts, and colors to pick from.
Wielding the Dagger – Our Take
The first thing you notice when you pick up the Dagger is the aggressive grip texture. You won’t need to stipple this bad boy. It clings to the hand and gives you a solid stippling around the entire grip, including the front and rear of the gun. PSA’s grip angle feels a little straighter but not as straight as something like the Polymer 80 designs.
It’s plenty comfy and feels good in the hand. The grip seems to be a little longer than the standard Glock 19 grip. Typically about a quarter of my pinky hangs off the Glock 19’s grip, but here it’s firmly seated. The grip features two very aggressive cutouts that would allow you to yank the magazine out if necessary. They don’t get in the way of your grip by any means.
Ultimately it’s a comfy grip that provides a great purchase on the gun. When you start slinging lead, the firearm stays put and doesn’t require any readjustment of the grip. Since it’s a Gen 3 grip, you can’t add any backstraps to the dagger frame, so you get what you get. Luckily, what you get is a pretty comfy little gun.
I love the minor addition of a slight overhang at the rear of the grip. It allows me to choke up on the gun and not get hit with slide bite. On top of that, you get a decent trigger guard undercut that encourages a high grip.
The magazine release is absolutely massive! I love it. I don’t have to make some significant shift in my hand to reach it. The slide lock is standard Glock, and my thumbs almost always pin it down and render it useless.
Ringing Steel
The model I’m reviewing has a Holosun 507C equipped to the gun, but the Aemriglo lower 1/3rd sights are a nice feature. If I have an optic’s ready gun, I want these sights. The optics cut accommodates the Trijicon RMR and optics that use that footprint. Optically enhanced guns are straightforward to shoot accurately, and the Dagger didn’t disappoint.
I dinged steel, printed tight little groups, and generally ran the gun ragged. Even at 50 yards in an unsupported position, I rang steel over and over. The Dagger’s trigger isn’t fantastic, but it’s not bad. When it was first released, some folks encountered problems with the trigger not resetting properly and instances of the trigger pin walking out. The trigger is very Glock-like. The short and tactile reset is lovely and also Glock-like. I have no significant issues with the trigger, but I’d likely swap it for a nicer Glock trigger. That’s a substantial benefit of this platform. Like the Glock, you can change almost everything.
Running Hard
Glock’s boring reliability is a big reason why this series of pistols took off. If the Dagger couldn’t match that reliability, it’s tough to call it a success. However, in all my shooting, I couldn’t get the gun to malfunction. I mainly shot brass-cased 115-grain FMJs through the weapon. In the midst of an ammo drought, you can’t be picky, especially when someone picks up the ammo tab.
The gun didn’t care about the case, projectile type, or ammo quality. It fired, extracted, ejected, and fired again. The Dagger couldn’t care less about the ammunition you fed it. I used the included Magpul magazine, but I doubt that Glock mags or the other mags as such ETS as KCI would cause issues with the gun.
In my testing, the PSA Dagger worked well. It was plenty accurate and reliable, the ergonomics are fantastic, it comes with optics cut, and with a threaded barrel and suppressor height sights for less than 400 bucks. That’s a ton of value for a reliable, modern pistol. It’s priced the same as a Taurus pistol, but it packs in way more features and likely fewer QC issues than Taurus as well.
That’s not to mention how easy it is to carry. PSA melted the corners at the front and bottom of the slide to make it snag-free and carry comfy. The DLC finish is nice, and the front and rear slide serrations are another nice add-on.
Now, it’s not all perfect. I’ve noticed some quirks, especially when trying to suppress the gun. There are also a lot of compatibility issues with the holsters cause the Dagger doesn’t fit the holsters made for Glocks. That said, value-wise it’s tough to beat.
PSA Dagger Pros and Cons
- Affordable
- Reliable
- Feature Filled
- Feature Filled
- Not much…the trigger is merely okay.
Report Card | ||
Shootability | It’s still just a compact 9mm. The gun isn’t hard to shoot, but you’ll face the same recoil and muzzle rise you’re use to here. The grip’s nice but a bit thick, so some smaller-handed shooters may feel challenged. | B |
Reliability | Not a single flaw or failure in my experience. The gun eats and eats without complaint. | A |
Ergonomics | There are some seriously nice features on this gun. The massive mag release, the great grip shape, the aggressive texture, the undercut trigger guard, and beavertail make it easy to handle. The only reason it gets a B is that my thumb pins down that dang slide lock. | B |
Accuracy | It’s not a match-grade pistol and won’t outperform something like the LS Edge, but for concealed carry, home defense, and duty use, it’s more than capable. I can hit targets consistently over and over. | B |
Value | For less than 400 bucks, the Dagger gives you a reliable, easy-to-shoot, accurate, and feature-filled handgun. The Dagger might be the best buy of 2022 for a budget handgun. | A+ |
PSA Dagger Gun Deals
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$349.99
FAQs
What is the price range of the PSA Dagger?
The PSA Dagger typically ranges from $300 to $350, depending on the model and additional features like tritium sights.
Is the PSA Dagger compatible with Glock magazines and parts?
Yes, the PSA Dagger is designed to work with Glock magazines and shares compatibility with certain Glock internal parts.
Does the PSA Dagger have ambidextrous controls?
No, the PSA Dagger does not feature ambidextrous controls. Some controls, like the magazine release, are designed for right-handed us
PSA Dagger Ammo
Range Rounds
MagTech 9mm 115 GR FMJ Ammo
Marketplace | Cost Per Round |
Gun Deals | $0.23 |
Natchez Shooter’s Supply | $0.25 |
Gritr Sorts | $0.27 |
Firearms Depot | $0.28 |
Best Defense Rounds
Hornady Critical Defense 115 GR
Marketplace | Cost Per Round |
Gun Deals | $0.84 |
Firearms Depot | $0.94 |
Sportsman’s Guide | $0.97 |
Guns.com | $1.03 |
PSA Dagger Starter Pack
So what’s next? Well, if you decide to get the Dagger , you’re going to need to pick up some must-have basics. Here’s our recommendation for what you need to get started.
- Gun Cleaning Kit: Otis All Caliber Elite Range Box on Amazon or build your own personalized cleaning kit with premium components.
- Shooting Glasses: All it takes is one piece of rogue hot brass, and you’ll learn the importance of shooting glasses. But not all glasses are built the same. See our recommendations for the Best Shooting Glasses.
- Hearing Protection: Firing a gun without wearing proper ear pro can be very dangerous and detrimental to your hearing. Find out the best hearing protection for you in our full length review.
- Storage: Check our our article on the Best Biometric Gun Safes
- Targets – If you’re wanting a great resource for shooting practice or zeroing your optics on your optics rifle or pistol, download our FREE Sighting in Targets below.
With the basics outta the way, let’s jump into some cool accessories you might want to consider when purchasing your Dagger
PSA Dagger Upgrades and Accessories
There’s a bunch of different options available to accessorize the PSA Dagger. However, if we had to choose only a few options… Here’s our picks.
PSA Dagger Accessories
| Check Amazon | ||
| Check Amazon | ||
| Check Amazon | ||
| Check Price |
HOW TO CARE FOR YOUR PSA Dagger
Not only do you need to keep your firearms safe and secure, you’re also going to need to know how to take care of it. While scouring the internet, we came across this excellent video;.
Important Links And Manuals For Your PSA Dagger
For more info regarding the PSA Dagger, check out the following resources:
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