If imitation is the sincerest type of flattery, the Glock should be overjoyed with the introduction of the Palmetto State Armory Dagger Pistol. The PSA Dagger is sort of a lifeless knock-off of the Glock 19, one of the standard Glock weapons available on the market. The imitation is so good that many Glock elements are interchangeable with the PSA Dagger.
Palmetto State Armory, situated in Columbia, SC, is well-known for its AR merchandise, elements, and repair. Now they’ve entered the market with the PSA Dagger to compete with the large names within the striker-fired pistol style.
It might be evidently, however PSA might have modified the entire aggressive construction out there by bringing the PSA Dagger stay.
I’ve been a fan of PSA rifles and rifle elements for a very long time. I personal a number of AR platforms constructed round PSA lowers and uppers. The eye to element and the standard of their building lead me to imagine that I’ll just like the PSA Dagger simply as a lot. We’ll discover out on the finish of this text.
Glocks, “Not Glocks,” and A PSA Dagger
There are Glock pistols galore. Then there are Not Glocks. These are the Glock look likes which might be assembled utilizing the huge variety of after-market elements constructed across the Glock design. (Sure, you possibly can assemble an entire Glock with out utilizing a single Glock half.) Now you should buy a Glock that isn’t a Glock however is a Palmetto State Armory Dagger.
Palmetto State Armory has constructed a status that has a basis for low costs, nice high quality, and wonderful customer support on AR-style rifles and rifle elements. Now they’re making use of the identical ideas to the pistol market with the PSA Dagger line of striker-fired pistols.
Palmetto State Armory has taken the idea one step additional. The Dagger is not only one other Glock 19 clone. True, most Glock Gen 3 elements will work with the Dagger. Nevertheless, Palmetto State Armory has added some options and improvements that set the Dagger other than primary Glock 19 clones.
The PSA Dagger – Unboxing and Overview
Out of the field, the Dagger is a powerful piece of labor. We received a model new gun for this check run, so our expertise ought to be a lot the identical as yours. The manufacturing facility packaging is compact, not like another producers that appear to assume larger is best. Inside it is best to discover the next objects:
- One PSA Dagger Firearm
- One PMAG 15 GL9 Journal
- Instruction Manuals
- Chamber Flag
- A Security Lock
- A PSA decal
- One PSA Problem Coin
The field is cardboard, not like the molded plastic circumstances that accompany many different pistols.
To me, this is smart. Only a few folks retailer their pistols within the plastic field, and many of the manufacturing facility bins gained’t meet TSA requirements if you wish to fly along with your pistol. Cardboard saves cash, and I don’t really feel so unhealthy about throwing it away 5 years after I get my gun.
The Manufacturing facility Options and Specs
Earlier than we get into the true meat of this assessment, I all the time wish to take a second to assessment the producer’s specs and the included options. This offers us a very good understanding of the gun we’re reviewing.
Specs
Based on Palmetto State Armory, the fundamental specs of the Dagger are as follows:
- Caliber – 9mm (9×19)
- Motion – Striker-fired
- Weight – 22.4 ounces (unloaded)
- Total Size – 7.15 inches
- Total Width – 1.28 inches
- Total Peak – 4.78 inches with out the magazine inserted
- Barrel Size – 3.9 inches
- Barrel Materials – Stainless Metal
- Barrel End – DLC Coating
- Twist Charge – SAAMI Spec 1:10
- Slide Materials – Stainless Metal
- Slide End – DLC Coating
- Body – Superior polymers
- Entrance Sight – Metal (Fundamental Mannequin)
- Rear Sight – Metal (Fundamental Mannequin)
- Security – Striker block security and set off security
- Journal – 15-round normal metal journal
The manufacturing facility specs are simple and what it is best to count on. What’s surprising is to get a package deal like this for lower than $300.
Options
This can be a finances entry-level gun. Nevertheless, PSA doesn’t skip on options simply to maintain the worth in keeping with their low-cost advertising and marketing plans. What you get with the manufacturing facility primary package deal is admittedly fairly feature-rich:
- Compact measurement body for straightforward hid carry choice
- Hid carry cuts with smoothed edges to remove holster drag and snags
- Single-action striker-fired mechanism
- Ergonomic grips form and angle for a pure capturing really feel
- Aggressive grip texture permits comfy however safe capturing
- Flat surfaced set off
- Chrome steel recoil spring information rod
- Compatibility with many aftermarket Glock Gen3 equipment and improve merchandise
The Palmetto Dagger is a superb beginning place to start a customized pistol construct with a high-quality chrome steel barrel in a functioning, well-built gun.
Then again, you possibly can store the unequalled PSA number of personalized pistols and save your self time (and possibly some cash).
The PSA Dagger Up Shut and Private
PSA has a objective of assembly as we speak’s highest expectations from gun homeowners and shooters.
The PSA Dagger actually appears to satisfy these expectations at a worth that goes past affordable. Let’s assessment a few of the excellent elements of the PSA Dagger:
1. The Body and Grip: Sport-Altering Ergonomics
Like virtually all new handguns available on the market, the PSA Dagger makes use of superior polymers for the body of their weapons. The polymer body is strong, and the end work is above par, in my view. The grip space is aggressively textured with out being uncomfortable to shoot for prolonged intervals.
The grip angle mirrors the Glock 19. Some folks discover this an uncomfortable or awkward association. I take pleasure in capturing my Glock 19 and discover the grip angle comfy and pure, serving to with fast goal acquisition. This appears to be a gun that matches naturally in my hand.
The grip is someplace between a SIG and a Glock 19. The texturing is extra harking back to a SIG, whereas the grip profile with the hump on the rear resembles a Glock 19. In any case, the entire thing works nicely for me.
2. The Slide
How a lot can I say a couple of slide? On this case, lots.
Once I first noticed the PSA Dagger, I assumed that the slide was barely harking back to a SIG. Later, I seemed once more, and it appeared to resemble a Glock. After having dealt with and shot the PSA Dagger, I can positively say it’s neither.
The perimeters and corners of the Dagger are eased and rounded, which ought to make this a way more comfy gun to hid carry. I just like the deep serrated cuts at each the entrance and rear of the slide. These make for a straightforward grip, regardless of your most well-liked technique of racking the slide.
The slide is clear and freed from any engraving, decals, or different markings that I typically discover distracting on some fashions of weapons. All in all, the design of the slide is clear and environment friendly. It does precisely what a slide ought to do with out attempting to be the rest.
3. The Fundamental Sights
If PSA has dropped the ball wherever, it’s with the fundamental three-dot sights which might be normal on the PSA Dagger.
Even low-end semi-automatic pistols now often come normal with evening sights. That would definitely have made an enormous distinction for me about this gun.
You’ll be able to, after all, outfit the PSA Dagger with virtually any set of sights that may match a Glock 19 Gen 3. That provides you a variety of choices if you wish to improve the usual iron sights. Glock hasn’t modified its sight mounting system for a few years, which makes the variety of after-market sights typically overwhelming.
In fact, my suggestion at this level is to spend the additional cash and get the PSA Dagger that has the aid reduce within the slide to mount your favourite pistol optic. In my view, nothing makes a much bigger distinction in most individuals’s means to kind a sight image and get on the right track than a very good crimson dot mounted on their firearm.
4. The Controls
PSA has achieved a wonderful job of designing the controls on the Palmetto Dagger. Each handgun is barely totally different within the measurement and association of the controls. Discovering a gun that’s comfy so that you can shoot and with controls which might be intuitive to you is necessary.
The Journal Launch
At first look, I used to be fearful that the journal launch on the Palmetto Dagger was going to be an issue. The journal launch sits virtually flush with the grip and body. It appears that evidently this is able to make indexing the magazine launch troublesome.
Nevertheless, I quickly discovered that the situation and measurement of the magazine launch button make it straightforward to search out and function. The almost flush place of the magazine launch retains this management from interfering with holsters and removes any snag hazard a extra outstanding button would pose.
The Slide Lock Lever
The PSA Dagger, like most semi-automatic striker-fired pistols, locks the slide again on an empty journal. As a security rule, we additionally wish to see the motion of any firearm open and locked when the vary is chilly. A simple-to-engage and disengage slide lock is important in my world.
Luckily, the PSA Dagger has a beneficiant slide lock launch lever that makes these operations straightforward to carry out. The management is situated far sufficient again on the body that most individuals can attain the lever with their robust hand thumb.
I additionally just like the small ridge underneath the slide launch lever that protects this vital management from being inadvertently engaged or disengaged if the gun is laid on that facet on a bench.
The Takedown
In the course of the body, simply ahead of the set off guard, you can find the takedown for the PSA Dagger. This is similar form of configuration many gun producers use. Knocking down on the takedown permits the slide to launch from the body and are available ahead.
That is such a normal configuration that just about any pistol shooter will immediately acknowledge it and perceive how it’s operated. This can be a most well-liked technique, since it’s safe and permits straightforward takedown with none instruments.
5. The Set off
If there’s something on the PSA Dagger that I’d change instantly and with out hesitation, it’s the set off. This set off is poor, even for a $300 gun. I’m not a fan of hinged set off safeties. I a lot favor a set off with a separate security lever within the center.
That being stated, the PSA Dagger has a very good, crisp, and brief reset that does assist the general really feel of the set off. Nevertheless, the set off motion nonetheless feels virtually low cost compared to the whole lot else about these firearms.
Luckily, a number of alternative triggers can be found. You too can merely put a greater Glock set off into the gun. The alternative is sort of so simple as eradicating the set off pin and dropping within the alternative.
6. The Magazines
I used to be shocked to see that the PSA Dagger got here with a equipped PMAG as normal gear. I’m an enormous PMAG fan and can select to pay the additional cash to run PMAGs when they’re out there.
I don’t like skimping on magazines and like, like virtually the whole lot else, to pay for high quality.
Operation and Performance
The query is: precisely what do you have to count on from a $300 pistol?
When some producers worth their pistols over $1000, how does that mirror on the operation and performance of the pistol? Can some pistols actually be value 3 instances what you may pay for one more model?
Sadly, I’ve to reply that if the comparability is made utilizing a PSA Dagger, I’d be laborious pressed to argue that spending thrice the associated fee would get you a greater gun. It actually wouldn’t get you extra accuracy, nor wouldn’t it get you extra safety.
If the measure of a firearm is about cash, then the PSA Dagger stands heads above many different firearms.
Operational Testing
Since I solely had a loaner weapon for this assessment, I used to be restricted within the time I needed to conduct any actual vary testing. My check shoots had been held in lower than an hour at a neighborhood police division vary underneath the watchful eye of the proprietor of the gun. Clearly, I didn’t really feel comfy doing a few of the check firings I often embrace.
I did handle to ship about 100 rounds down vary at distances from 7 to 25 yards. Many of the ammo I shot was manufacturing facility 9mm a great deal of 115-grain ball ammo. I had some assorted self-defense ammo, and about 25 rounds of JHP reloads from my bench.
Feeding
One concern I all the time have about finances pistols is feeding. Some inexpensive weapons merely gained’t feed self-defense or JHP rounds reliably. This isn’t the case with the PSA Dagger. Utilizing the only manufacturing facility PMAG that got here with the gun, I by no means skilled a failure to feed, a range pipe, or every other malfunction.
Even when working blended ammo within the journal, the gun chewed by the combo with out issues.
Biking
The PSA Dagger cycled the whole lot I put into the chamber. Granted, most of what I shot was manufacturing facility masses that are calibrated and designed to cycle any gun. I did shoot a few of my very own reloads, which functioned in addition to the manufacturing facility masses.
In an try to create an issue, I deliberately limp-wristed a number of pictures. The gun nonetheless cycled correctly, ejecting spent circumstances and selecting up the subsequent spherical from the highest of the journal. The gun didn’t appear to have an issue with any of the ammo I used.
Reliability
From an operational and practical standpoint, my testing was relatively restricted. Nevertheless, I skilled no points that will lead me to imagine something aside from that the PSA Dagger is a dependable piece of equipment that anybody can rely upon to go increase when the set off is pulled.
My Last Ideas
All in all, I’m fairly impressed with the PSA Dagger.
The standard of the development is sweet, the accuracy is above par, and the reliability is with out query. Couple this with the unequalled Palmetto State Armory customer support, and you’ve got a winner.
There are some issues concerning the PSA Dagger I’d change, however that is true of virtually each gun I personal. Luckily, there’s a horde of aftermarket elements from which to decide on that may match this gun.
