The PSA Micro Dagger, Tested and Reviewed

Palmetto State Armory’s new PSA Micro Dagger is likely one of the newest of their lineup of inexpensive however feature-rich pistols. I used to be excited to check the C-1 mannequin, which options an integral compensator, optic lower, and boasts a 15+1 capability. Priced at $360, this could possibly be top-of-the-line values for a subcompact pistol — assuming it is ready to maintain as much as rigorous use. Right here’s what I discovered.

PSA MIcro Dagger C-1 Specs

• Caliber: 9mm
• Capability: 15+1
• Motion: Striker-fired
• Barrel: 3.41-inch barrel
• Dimensions: 7.25 inches (L) x 5 inches (H) x 1 inch (W)
• Weight: 21 ounces (with empty 15-round journal and Holosun EPS Carry purple dot) (weighed)
• Body: Polymer
• Slide: Stainless, integral compensator
• Optics: Reduce for optic, RMSc footprint
• Controls: Proper-handed
• End: Black 
• Grip: Polymer, stipple texture
• Sights: 3-dot white iron sights
• Set off: Curved shoe, hinged security set off, 6 kilos 1 ounce (measured)
• Worth: $360

Key Options

• Integral compensator constructed into slide
• RMSc optic footprint with cowl plate and screws for optic
• No-snag iron sights
• Consists of one 15-round metal/polymer journal
• Accuracy: 1.642 inches (common of 5 five-shot teams from 15 yards)

Overview Highlights

• Good ergonomics and slide profile
• Compensator helps scale back muzzle flip
• Good steadiness of options and value
• Nice accuracy
• Solely consists of one journal

PSA Micro Dagger: A Glock G43X Clone

Many corporations make Glock clones, however often they’re dearer than the unique. Palmetto State Armory has a knack for producing fashions which might be each extra inexpensive and embody some visible and ergonomic refinements that you just gained’t discover on commonplace Glock pistols. The favored PSA Dagger is modeled after the Glock G19, however at a fraction of the worth. Launched earlier this yr, the PSA Micro Dagger is equally crafted within the picture of the the G43X MOS.

Takedown and elements are what you’ll discover on a Glock G43X, together with a 3.4-inch barrel and telescoping information rod/recoil spring meeting. The truth is, PSA Micro Dagger slide assemblies are suitable with G43, G43X, and G48 frames. They’re easy, dependable, striker-fired pistols that observe a confirmed design.

The place the PSA Micro Dagger Is Completely different Than A Glock

Although the PSA MIcro Dagger is clearly a Glock at its core, it sports activities some favorable deviations from the usual Glock protocol. The body and slide each incorporate some considerate variations. This can be a recipe that has labored properly for a lot of corporations, recognizing that shooters need extra refined slide profiles, ergonomics, and different options along with the Glock legendary reliability. What’s spectacular is that PSA has managed to fold these into this pistol and nonetheless supply it for $150 cheaper than a typical Glock G43X.

PSA Micro Dagger Body Meeting

The PSA Micro Dagger’s body is straightforward and carefully resembles the profile of the Gen 5 G43X body. Glock has made enhancements on this entrance, and eradicated the troublesome finger grooves that many shooters had been Dremeling off anyway. 

The PSA MIcro Dagger has a barely humped grip with a pleasant beavertail and a easy stipple texture on the entrance, again, and sides of the grip, in addition to on and above the set off guard. This texture is a little more snug and efficient than Glock’s raised texturing, and it’s additionally completely fitted to the DIY grip stippler. It encompasses a single-slot accent rail in entrance of the set off guard to accommodate a lightweight or laser.

LIke the full-sized Dagger, the PSA Micro Dagger makes use of a hinged security set off, nevertheless it feels fairly much like different striker-fired pistols. The set off on my full-sized dagger was horrible, and I used to be in a position to enhance it enormously with an aftermarket Lone Wolf trigger spring kit. The set off on my pattern PSA Micro Dagger was simply fantastic, breaking at six kilos one ounce, and had a robust, tactile reset. I may shoot the pistol fairly precisely, so there was no cause to mess with it.

PSA Micro Dagger C-1 Slide

A pleasant function of the chrome steel PSA Micro Dagger slides is that they’ve thoughtfully beveled edges that look good and assist scale back snagging. The highest corners are machined away, and each the entrance and rear of the slides are beveled for clean holstering and drawing. The slide comes commonplace with primary three-dot, white low-profile iron sights which might be, frankly, higher than manufacturing facility Glock sights — which isn’t saying a lot. The rear sight matches in a dovetail and is adjustable for windage through a set screw.

The Micro Dagger comes with an optic cowl plate, however is lower for an RMSc-pattern optic. I match mine with a Holosun EPS Carry — a pleasant enclosed-emitter sight for concealed carry pistols. One factor to notice, the PSA Micro Dagger comes with screws for each the quilt plate and optic itself. It makes use of screws with bigger diameter threads than many different slides, and most optics gained’t include them. Mounting is straightforward, and my optic sat low sufficient to barely co-witness the iron sights. Having your optic sit low will assist should you’re involved about your electronics failing however, extra virtually, it’s going to enable you to purchase your purple dot sooner and shoot with higher precision and pace.

Lastly, the entrance of the PSA Micro Dagger C-1 slide options an integral recoil compensator. This mannequin makes use of the identical 3.4-inch barrel as different Micro Daggers, however the slide extends ahead and encompasses a two-slot blast chamber to redirect increasing muzzle gasses upwards — finally preventing in opposition to muzzle flip.

PSA Micro Dagger Journal

A key departure from the usual Glock G43X is the hybrid metal/polymer 15-round journal. The polymer Glock 43X journal holds solely 10 rounds. Positive, these larger-capacity mags are suitable with the Glocks, nevertheless it’s good to see them come commonplace with the PSA Micro Dagger. There was a dramatic enhance in subcompact pistols that may maintain as a lot (or extra) ammunition than what we just lately thought-about commonplace for compact or full-sized pistols. For a private safety gun, the extra ammunition you will be packing, the higher.

The magazines perform properly, however you’ll desire a mag loader to fill them up, they’re a bit troublesome to load. It’s additionally a little bit of a adverse that the PSA Micro Dagger solely consists of one journal. You may order extras for $33, however I’d wish to see them include at the least two — ideally three. The pistol is available in a pleasant carry case, however I’d quite have further mags and obtain it in a cardboard field.

PSA Micro Dagger Efficiency and Reliability

No information is nice information relating to a possible concealed-carry gun’s reliability, and there actually isn’t a lot to report for the PSA Micro Dagger. I fired greater than 500 rounds by the pistol with out a single reputable malfunction. By deliberately holding the pistol with a really unfastened grip and limp wrist, I used to be in a position to create just a few stoppages however, even then, it wasn’t straightforward to copy. I fired each FMJ and JHP ammo by the Micro Dagger in 115-, 124-, 135-, and 147-grain choices, and nothing had any bother biking. 

When filled with 15 rounds, the journal takes a considerable slap to seat it beneath a closed slide, and the pistol is a little bit stiff and clunky to chamber a spherical from a full journal. Loading from an open slide didn’t current any points.

Accuracy

Although the OL accuracy protocol for pistols isn’t as stringent as it’s for searching and precision rifles, we nonetheless wish to offer you a good suggestion of what to anticipate from you pistols and the way this one may evaluate. I recorded 5 five-shot teams from 15 yards, from a standing place, using a sandbag on a tac table and tripod for support. Group sizes averaged simply over 1.6 inches which is de facto good — particularly for a budget-priced subcompact. For comparability, it carried out nearly neck and neck with dearer pistols just like the Springfield Hellcat Pro Comp, and the heavier-duty Walther PDP-F 3.5-inch.

Although it isn’t as straightforward to blaze by plate racks with the Micro Dagger as it’s with a tuned-up 2011, the ergonomics of the pistol and the compensatory make it straightforward to remain heading in the right direction and shoot rapidly and precisely. I had no drawback holding rounds on a two-thirds-size IPSC metal plate at 50 yards. 

How Properly Does the Compensator Work?

Compensators are a scorching ticket merchandise on concealed-carry pistols as of late, and the logic is sound. A smaller, extra compact pistol goes to supply extra recoil and muzzle flip. We wish to counteract that as a result of with the ability to shoot your pistol precisely and handle recoil is paramount in a defensive state of affairs. When contemplating a compensator, it’s essential resolve if the diminished muzzle flip is well worth the added size in addition to the addition of potential debris-collecting cuts and recesses. The usual PSA Micro Dagger is nearly an inch shorter and extra snug to hold.

The compensator on the PSA Micro Dagger does appear to work fairly properly, particularly with spicier +P defensive masses. When you concentrate on it, it is sensible that the additional strain helps the compensator work extra successfully than with lower-pressure ammo. The Micro Dagger’s compensator is fairly open-ended and doesn’t have any actual vital edges to redirect gasses upwards — which might be why it doesn’t appear to cut back recoil as a lot as some aftermarket comps and others just like the Springfield design which integrates a blast chamber into the barrel itself. Nonetheless, It labored properly with masses like Remington Golden Saber +P, and I believe it’s value having should you can carry it comfortably.

Closing Ideas on the PSA Micro Dagger C-1

Normally you get what you pay for, and that features handguns. I gained’t flip a blind eye to nice worth, nevertheless, and we all know that’s one thing our readers, such as you, respect. I’ve the nice fortune of taking pictures many circumstances of 9mm ammo yearly by a variety of totally different pistols and I’d haven’t any qualms about carrying the PSA Micro Dagger for defensive functions. The PSA Micro Dagger might be top-of-the-line values in subcompact pistols available on the market. I want it got here with a pair further magazines, however that’s actually my solely gripe. For $360, it’s a steal.