PSA Dagger 9mm Review | A Solid Pistol by Palmetto State Armory

The new Palmetto State Armory dagger 9 is a fast-foray 9mm into the budget handgun market. The PSA Dagger competes with the Glock 19 in the compact handgun market, and you could say it's a Glock 19 Gen three make-alike.

In this PSA dagger 9mm review, we’ll see if it's worth it, is it affordable and how does it compare to 3rd Gen Glock 19? Here is all that and more from our experience.

PSA Dagger 9mm Review; Is the PSA Dagger a Glock?

PSA Dagger 9mm is a mid-size, polymer frame, double-stuck, striker-fired pistol with a magazine capacity of 15 rounds. 

a handgun

It's not a Glock, as it has some departures from the stock Glock 19 in price point and other features, as you’ll see. The frame is not the fire-control group. But this 9mm firearm maintains a customizable feature-rich framework, even in its basic form.

PSA Dagger 9MM Unique Specifications

Weight 

22.4 oz unloaded

Action 

Striker Fired

Caliber

9mm

Overall Length

7.15 inches

Barrel length

3.9 inches

Sights

3 dot system; two dots rear sights, one dot front sight.

Twist Rate

SAAMI Spec 1:10

Pros

  • Compatible with lots of aftermarket Glock parts.
  • Beautiful, aesthetically appealing outlook.
  • Rounded feel that is non abrasive to hit the knuckles as I shoot.
  • Excellent value for its price. A striker block safety.

Cons

  • I got the first-time fixation on the trigger for beginners because it's not so much upgraded as it is side-graded.
  • It's not compatible with only a few holsters.

Is PSA Dagger 9mm Affordable?

The PSA pistol is affordable compared to the Glock 19. That's because it ranges between 290-350 bucks compared to the 500+ dollars for the G-19. So yes, it shines in its MSRP. Is it up to the G-19 standard? See its features.

a person holding a gun

PSA Dagger Review Features

After handling the firearm, these are the feature notes of the sights, magazine, grip texture, ergonomics, controls, range, and ammo I've compiled.

Let's start with Sights.

Sights

The sights feature a three-dot system, consisting of a two-dot serrated rear sight and a one-dot front sight, both made of metal. While they are adequate, I was disappointed by the absence of night sights. However, I soon discovered that the sights can be customized to my preference, allowing me to choose any Glock sights I desire. In terms of forming an ideal sight picture, the PSA Dagger three-dot system is quite impressive.

The sights provide a clearer view, but mastering them will require considerable practice to achieve precise shooting. PSA's Dagger is an excellent choice for a backup or stockpile handgun. It's remarkable that its magazines are compatible with other firearms like Glocks. While the ammunition may not be cheap, this gun stands out due to its ease of handling and shooting.

Another advantage is that it comes optics-ready out of the box, making it a suitable option for individuals with visual impairments. Considering its current price, it's an amazing deal. Moreover, its color and size make it a decent option for concealed carry purposes.

Magazine

The gun comes with a standard Magpul Glock 19 magazine, but the firearm is compatible with other Glock magazines. So far, the magazine has been functioning well and without any issues. Having multiple Glock magazines ensures that follow-up rounds are not a concern.

This firearm is a step up from a High Point and is suitable for first-time shooters or those on a budget who require a home defense weapon. Its lightweight nature and comfortable grip texture make it a great basic starter pistol.

Personally, all my holsters are designed for a TLR-1, and my dagger frame/gen 3 slide fits perfectly in them. The only minor observation I have is that after firing 300 rounds consecutively, it becomes slightly challenging to slide.

Grip and Ergonomics

The gun's grip is striking. I prefer blocky grips because they give a good grip angle. But this grip feels unique and outstanding from Glock 19. Palmetto State has completely re-contoured and redesigned it to have a non-harmful aggressive grip texture that feels good in hand. They gave it two cutouts in the grip bottom on the sides for the mag, which differs from the original Gen 5 guns.

The grip also features a finger groove that pushes the trigger finger up high into the bore axis, providing an excellent grip. Additionally, it has a smooth beveled undercut trigger guard, ensuring that I didn't experience Glock knuckle while shooting.

The gun's ergonomics closely resemble those of Gen 3 Glocks, except for the grip shape. The texture, undercut trigger safety, and beaver tail contribute to its ease of use during shooting. Overall, it's slightly above average, mainly due to the trigger.

The grip feels fantastic, with a combination of soft and rough materials that kept my hands comfortable even after firing almost 200 rounds. It's a budget pistol that has the potential to be a great purchase, as it is compatible with many common holsters and light accessories.

Personally, I'm a fan of PSA and their top-notch quality. The pistol's design is flawless, and the grip's texture, particularly during shooting, is exceptional. While the sights may be average, the gun's accuracy is superb, allowing you to hit any target with precision.

Its Controls

Here's an overview of the mag release, slide, rip, and trigger.

Magazine Controls Release

I liked the dagger's magazine release, which is relatively easy to press. I didn't have to reposition the gun to reach it. The grip sides have concealed carry cuts and good texture that help when you must pull it after pressing the release.

Slide Lock

Unlike the Glock Gen 5, which has the slide stop on both sides, the slide stop for the dagger pistol is on the left side alone. Like another popular 9mm handgun, the Taurus G2C, it's not ambidextrous and only has the flat, typical stop that's well camouflaged.

PSA Dagger Review of its Trigger

Palmetto State mixed the M&P 2.0 trigger with the Glock trigger, so you don't have the trigger blade in front, but a hinged trigger like the one in the M&P 2 .0. However, most buyers didn't like it due to the shallow reset and the trigger getting a little gritty over time.

However, I personally grew to like it as I spent more time with it. The trigger smoothens out as you put more rounds through it. If you're similar to me, you can also polish the trigger bar, the connector, and the safety plunger. The advantage of Glocks is that you have the option to upgrade the trigger.

On a separate note, I recently received a PSA Dagger and was impressed enough to purchase two more. One is in OD green and comes with a matching range bag, while the other, which I acquired today, is black with a black range bag. Both of these purchases included ten 15-round PMAG magazines.

I must say, the PSA Dagger 9mm is an absolute blast! During my first range trip with the Dagger, I fired 100 rounds without any functional issues. It performed flawlessly, just as I had expected, and consistently went "BANG" when it was supposed to. I experienced no failures to feed or failures to eject, and it devoured any type of ammo I fed it.

a gun in the person's hands

PSA Dagger Upgrades, Accessories, and Aesthetics

PSA Dagger has a fantastic gun look and feel with a stainless steel slide finish. The good thing about it is it is compatible with all Gen 3 Glock parts, with a few exceptions.

Exceptions are like the trigger pin that goes through this pistol's breech face is several mm wider than the OEMs. Therefore, when I bought a new slide, I had to buy a new firing pin but not the whole firing pin assembly. However, other accessories and aftermarket parts, like threaded barrels, optic cuts, and others made for Glock Gen 3, will work on the PSA dagger pistol just fine.

PSA Dagger vs. Glock 19 Gen 3: Is PSA Dagger Any Good?

Though the PSA dagger is a revamped Gen 3 Glock 19, they both have noticeable differences. They have different outlooks, especially with their grip frames, as we've seen.

PSA dagger has a rounded grip frame and a textured talon grip. Gen 3 Glock 19 has a textured Grip-On rubber grip that is adhesive. Also, dagger models have a stainless steel guide rod different from the g-19's plastic one.

two handguns next to each other on the wooden table

The guns' internals feature some differences in the slide rails. Gen 3 has semi-proprietary slide rails, while the PSA dagger has polymer 80 slide rails. The slides are almost similar but differ in the spring guide rod.

Is It Worth It? Review After 300 Rounds of Shooting 

This gun has dual accelerator cuts on both sides. They are non-textured, which is okay, but textured ones would be even better. These helped at the range while shooting to mitigate recoil. During the live fire, it worked nicely because of the excellent grip and the accelerator cuts, and I mitigated recoil better than in OEM Glocks.

After shooting three hundred rounds, I had no hitch. Using a 40-round ETS mag, the feed stopped in the first round, and I experienced some limp listing. But after using different magazines and mixed ammo, the rest of the shooting went fine. So the gun is worth it because out of five, we gave it a 3.7.

Frequently Asked Questions

How Much Is the Dagger Pistol?

The dagger pistol costs between 295-350 bucks. That depends on the additional features you want the initial purchase to feature. Click the first link above to see the ideal MSRP for the Dagger pistol.

Is the PSA Dagger as Good as a Glock?

Yes, and no. Yes, because it has a good feel and ideal recoil mitigation. No, because the trigger is not as good as the Glocks. The Glock feels like a SIG texture on this gun, while the outlook felt the same as a Gen 3 Glock. The only difference was the RMR cut slide bite.

Does the PSA Dagger Use Glock Parts?

The PSA dagger can use most of the Gen 3 Glock parts. But some pants aren't compatible. For instance, the dagger's firing pin is thicker.

Why is Palmetto State Armory so Cheap?

Palmetto State Armory manufacturing uses bulk pricing. That helps them to reduce production costs. Therefore, the reduced production cost reflects in the retail prices. 

3 thoughts on “PSA Dagger 9mm Review | A Solid Pistol by Palmetto State Armory”

  1. i just orderd one w/rmr ,threaded barrel, and i gess upgraded amerago serratd co-wit. sights, orderd it saturday, well the wife is grombling , and well, mad about my selfish always get what i want behavour , it was a blk. friday deal, well monday im going to cancel which psa will let you do, if it had’ent been shiped ,, “bummer” i have [fomo] bad about this deal, the gun to me looks good , its all dark grey, and its only 299.00 w/free shipping, the only thing thats bad, is i have to send it to the $30.00 ffl dealer instead of my $15.00 one they havent uped their paper work, but they could be higher cus it been 1yr. sence used, i told her if we did’ent like it “i could sell it and get probbly all back more than i payed for it, if this is true, please reply so i can prove it to her, sorry for the rant, and the bad spelling, yall “or you” did a top noch job with the review, i think i here holly wood calling for you sml {smileing out loud} and crying out loud, this one is the 2022 version, is the word on the streets true that they upgreaded the trigger ? and some outher minor things ? i know your bissy being an influencer in all , but can you give a texas born & bread brother in arms a shout back {i need all the help i can get } lol this time…. smiley face. thank you aka “clutch” and its not what you think.

    Reply
    • i just re-read what i sent , sorry about being a cry baby, but really would like to know if they did fix “work on the trigger” i really are not picky about triggers, i just herd that they have upgreaded the dagger sence it first came out, you know here & there. can you put out all that inside info. the gun is good no dout, and that means the price is going to go up, “they always do with popalary” like anderson, bearcreek, and them good “ol” boys out in sweetwater tx. radical fire arms, so that why i have a bad feeling about missing out on this deal, im a k31,mauser and just about anything control feed rifle kind of guy, my dad “rip” served in the 82nd airborne in ww2 , so im into that old stuff, well i do have an ar, had too thought they were going to get banded, “every body says, not in the lone star state” but you never know now days, this only my 2nd pistol , and my first nine mm, i jumped on the 40 s&w wagon, but my “ferce” patete little wife cant shoot this big heavy brick of a hand gun.. i dont even have to say the name of the gun now, im embarased , just know that the psa was going to be a huge up grade .. thanks for maybe hering me out { im on a island here, way out in north tx. at the ok border. some one has to protect this border too, its redneck los vag. across the border , you know them gambling wild eyed pistol wavers lol smileyface..

      Reply
  2. Well fellow shooters I saw this PSA Dagger on their site and thought I would give it a try at that low price of $329.00 with Night Sights. Noticed right off that it is well designed and well made. It looks like a customized Glock 19. I haven’t shot it yet so will comment on that in the near future when I can get to it. I like the grip and the weight. The night sights are bright and easy to pick up in the dark. The balance fully loaded is just like my Glock 19. It comes with one PMAG which I find more difficult to load than my Glock 19 Gen 2 Magazines. First foray into an after market magazine since the 1970-2000 aftermarket magazines for AR-15’s, AK’s and some high cap pistol magazines that were pure junk and left a untrustworthy feeling for some brands still being manufactured today which I will not buy. Kudo’s to PSA for what looks like a winner. When I get to the range I plan on doing a 2000 round test with some of the thousands of rounds stacked in the gun room for WW3. See ‘Ya.

    Reply

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