Is the PSA Dagger the Ultimate Budget Pistol?

PSA Dagger 9mm Handgun

A couple of years ago, I started a journey trying to find “the perfect 9mm handgun.” I even roped in a few friends to join in on the testing. We tried out several 9mm handguns of varying sizes and brands and then collected quite a bit of subjective thoughts on each one.

After all that testing, shooting, and interviewing, we came up with a definitive answer on which one was the best. That answer – it depends.

There are a number of factors someone should consider when deciding on a purchase. These include the size of the gun, size of the grip, weight of the pistol, how easy it is to work the slide, how easy it is to reach and pull the trigger, amount of recoil, and so on. Another factor, of course, is the cost.

The main thing we found when looking for the perfect pistol is that you have to find the one that fits you well, that you feel comfortable shooting enough to practice and feel confident with, and that fits in your budget.

So, that brings us to the PSA Dagger from Palmetto State Armory!

One of the primary things PSA sought to do with the Dagger is build a reliable handgun with a very reasonable price point – lowering the barrier to entry for self-protection and gun ownership. So, if you’re interested in owning a high-quality pistol that won’t break the bank, keep reading.

PRODUCT DESCRIPTION

The most important thing you need to know is that, well, the PSA Dagger isn’t just one thing.

What I mean is that like most proprietary firearms made by Palmetto State Armory, the possibilities of what you can buy, or build is almost endless. If there are certain features you’re looking for in a pistol, there’s a pretty good chance you can get your Dagger to match perfectly.

And, in addition to the many parts PSA makes for the Dagger, they are also compatible with many Gen 3 Glock parts. Plus, it accepts Glock mags.

KEY FEATURES AND BENEFITS

The PSA Dagger is a single-action striker fired 9mm handgun with a 1:10 twist rate. Some features are pretty standard across all Dagger models, and we’ll cover those first. Then we’ll dig into those other features that are going to vary depending on the specific one you choose.

Barrel and Slide

Each of the Daggers is built with very strong and durable components. The barrels are made with high quality stainless steel and are coated with a Diamond-Like Carbon (DLC) coating. That DLC coating has high hardness and high corrosion resistance which should help with the durability and longevity of your handgun.

And, side note – you do have the option to get a threaded barrel if you prefer shooting suppressed.

The slides are also stainless steel and have varying colors of cerakote applied, depending on your preference. Just like the DLC coating on the barrel, the cerakote will increase the life of the slide.

Frame and Grip

The frames on the Daggers are made with advanced polymers for strength and durability. They also have an ergonomic grip, which I really like. The shape of the grip and the curved edge of the trigger guard provide an easy place for your middle finger to rest and still leave plenty of room for the rest of your fingers. I like the somewhat rounded back and sides of the grip as well. To me, since my palm isn’t flat, the Dagger’s shapely grip feels much more natural than flatter ones.

My only complaint with the grip of the Dagger is that I found the mag release a bit difficult to reach. For my thumb to activate the release, I have to shift my whole hand around to the side. Of course, I do have smaller-than-average hands, and other people I’ve asked with larger hands do not have any difficulty, so that could just be me.

PSA calls the texture on the Dagger’s grip “aggressive.” Typically I’m not a fan of very aggressive texturing as they often cause red, raw places in the palm of my shooting hand. However, I found this grip to be just the right amount. It was enough that, combined with the ergonomic shape I mentioned, it was easy to hold onto, even with sweaty hands. But, the texture wasn’t so much that it caused skin irritation.

Trigger and Safety

The PSA Dagger comes standard with a flat facing trigger that I’ve found to be pretty comfortable to shoot. The model we tested came out of the box with slightly less than a five-pound trigger pull, which is a smooth, natural-feeling weight. It also has a fairly quick reset with very little creep.

One thing I really like about the model Dagger we tested is the distance of the trigger reach. It was short enough that even with pretty small hands, I didn’t have any trouble reaching and squeezing the trigger, which made follow-up shots easy to do.

As far as the safety, the PSA Dagger has a striker block safety as well as a trigger safety. Unlike many trigger safeties I’ve shot, this one isn’t terribly noticeable. Because it is basically part of the trigger, it isn’t uncomfortable and doesn’t cause irritation on my trigger finger.

Size Options

Now that we’ve covered the features that are pretty standard across all models, let’s move to some of the potential variations.

The Dagger is available in three sizes. The smallest is the newer Dagger Micro. The barrel length and overall length are about a half inch shorter than the next size up – the Dagger Compact. The Micro is also going to be your most slimline and lightest option of the three. Then, slightly larger than the Compact is the Full Size. Really, it is basically the same size as the Compact but with a longer grip.

Dagger Micro

5” long x 4.7” tall
41” barrel length
1” wide
9 oz unloaded

Dagger Compact

15-7.65” long x 4.78” tall
9” barrel length
28” wide
4 oz unloaded

Dagger Full Size

15-7.65” long x 5.38” tall
5” barrel length
28” wide
5 oz unloaded

Numerous Slide Options

When I did a quick search on the PSA website, I found at least 260 different slides for purchase. That’s because there are eight different slide designs, so you should be able to find one you like.

You can get a slide with front and rear serrations that are meant to make it easier to rack. Or, you can forgo the serrations on the front and go with different sizes and shapes of milled windows instead, which cuts down on the weight to a degree. Plus, the windows are pretty nice if you want to show off your barrel! Or, if you don’t want to lose out on the benefits of serrations, they even have options that still have smaller serrations and smaller windows.

Various Sights and Optic Mounts

Finally, the Dagger makes it easy to mount just about any red dot you have. They have platform options for RMR, Doctor, or Shield RMSc red dots. Plus, you can choose if you want the rear sight in front of or behind your optic for the type of co-witness you prefer. Or, you CAN get the slide without a mounting plate, if you just want to go with the trusty iron sights.

PRICING

I saved what is likely considered the best part for last. As I mentioned, the primary reason Palmetto State Armory designed the Dagger was so that most people could afford to buy it. If someone was looking to get a handgun to protect themselves, price wouldn’t be the limiting factor. And, I would say they succeeded.

Now, like most things, the price varies depending on the model and what bells and whistles you’re looking to include. As far as MSRP, the Daggers that will cost the least are the ones I mentioned that are not optics ready, don’t have a threaded barrel, and don’t have the milled windows. Those will run about $280.

Then, as you add things like the slides with the windows and optics mounts, a threaded barrel, and a fluted barrel, the price increases. But, even with all those fancy additions, MSRP on the most expensive Dagger is only around $400.

But PSA is one of the best places to find some pretty crazy deals, in general, and that’s no different for their Daggers. They are always running sales on complete pistols. As of the time of this article, they had one as low as $275 – for a complete pistol!

And, then they make it even easier to save money if you’re willing to do some research and be patient. You can buy your Dagger in parts and then, depending on your level of comfort with gunsmithing, build it yourself or have someone build it for you. MSRP on a complete frame is $99, but right now they have some on sale for around $60. Then you can buy your slide and barrel from $165-$325. But, here comes that sale again. Right now, they have some slides with the barrel available for as little as $175! Throw in a couple of magazines for around $25, and you’ve got yourself a full pistol for $260!

PSA, of course, also has some kits that come with the complete pistol, a carry bag, and usually 10 magazines for around $400-480. And, if that’s not enough, they do have some options that already come with a Holosun red dot attached.

So, how does that compare to some of the most popular 9mm handguns out there?

Probably one of the most popular 9mm pistols right now is the Glock 19. On PSA’s website, the lowest price I saw was $500 on sale, and it was not optics ready. Move up to the optics ready version, and you’re looking at $620 – with no threaded or fluted barrel and no windows on the slide.

Now, there are some handguns out there you can buy that will cost less. Some pistols from Hi-Point and SCCY will be right around $200. And pretty often you can find a Taurus G2S or G2C on sale for around $230.

My advice is to at the very least get your hands on any pistol you’re thinking about buying to see how it feels to hold. I’ve held some guns that I could immediately tell I wasn’t going to like shooting. But, if at all possible, shoot it before you make that final decision and spend the money.

Buying Options

The PSA Dagger is best found at the PSA Website Dagger section where you can shop all options or specific options using the following link(s):

The Model used in this review

WHY WOULD YOU BUY?

The main draw to the PSA Dagger is that you can get a reliable, well-built handgun in any number of setups at a very reasonable price. Plus, there are those additional options with the Glock compatibility. It’s comfortable and easy to show, and you get get it just how you like it.

PROS

Very reasonably priced
Extremely customizable
Optics ready (or not if you prefer)
Smooth trigger and reset
Very comfortable grip and recoil for easy shooting

CONS

Doesn’t have night sights
Can be hard to decide with so many options
It is a budget handgun – although a very nice one

FINAL THOUGHTS

If you’ve been trying to find a well-made, reliable handgun that you can feel comfortable shooting BUT won’t break the bank, then the PSA Dagger should be on your list. If you happen to live near a Palmetto State Armory store, many of them have shooting ranges inside where you can rent and test out their firearms. I highly recommend you test out any handgun before you buy, but these should at least be on your radar for testing!

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