The PSA Micro Dagger, Examined and Reviewed

Palmetto State Armory’s new PSA Micro Dagger is likely one of the newest of their lineup of reasonably priced however feature-rich pistols. I used to be excited to check the C-1 mannequin, which options an integral compensator, optic minimize, and boasts a 15+1 capability. Priced at $360, this could possibly be probably the greatest 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

See It

• 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 pink dot) (weighed)
• Body: Polymer
• Slide: Stainless, integral compensator
• Optics: Minimize 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)

Assessment Highlights

• Good ergonomics and slide profile
• Compensator helps cut back muzzle flip
• Good stability of options and worth
• Nice accuracy
• Solely contains 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 can be each extra reasonably priced and embody some visible and ergonomic refinements that you simply gained’t discover on normal Glock pistols. The favored PSA Dagger is modeled after the Glock G19, however at a fraction of the value. 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. In truth, PSA Micro Dagger slide assemblies are suitable with G43, G43X, and G48 frames. They’re easy, dependable, striker-fired pistols that comply with a confirmed design.

The place the PSA Micro Dagger Is Totally 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. It is a recipe that has labored nicely 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 provide it for $150 cheaper than a typical Glock G43X.

PSA Micro Dagger Body Meeting

The PSA Micro Dagger’s body is easy 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 comfy and efficient than Glock’s raised texturing, and it’s additionally completely fitted to the DIY grip stippler. It contains a single-slot accent rail in entrance of the set off guard to accommodate a light-weight or laser.

LIke the full-sized Dagger, the PSA Micro Dagger makes use of a hinged security set off, however 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 tremendously with an aftermarket Lone Wolf set off spring equipment. The set off on my pattern PSA Micro Dagger was simply superb, breaking at six kilos one ounce, and had a powerful, tactile reset. I might shoot the pistol fairly precisely, so there was no purpose to mess with it.

PSA Micro Dagger C-1 Slide

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

The Micro Dagger comes with an optic cowl plate, however is minimize for an RMSc-pattern optic. I match mine with a Holosun EPS Carry — a pleasant enclosed-emitter sight for hid carry pistols. One factor to notice, the PSA Micro Dagger comes with screws for each the duvet 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 in case you’re involved about your electronics failing however, extra virtually, it should assist you purchase your pink 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 contains a two-slot blast chamber to redirect increasing muzzle gasses upwards — finally combating towards 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, however it’s good to see them come normal 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 lately thought of normal for compact or full-sized pistols. For a private safety gun, the extra ammunition you might be packing, the higher.

The magazines perform nicely, however you’ll need a magazine 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 contains one journal. You possibly can order extras for $33, however I’d wish to see them include no less than two — ideally three. The pistol is available in a pleasant carry case, however I’d relatively have further mags and obtain it in a cardboard field.

PSA Micro Dagger Efficiency and Reliability

No information is sweet information with regards 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 via the pistol with no single official malfunction. By deliberately holding the pistol with a really free grip and limp wrist, I used to be in a position to create just a few stoppages however, even then, it wasn’t simple to copy. I fired each FMJ and JHP ammo via the Micro Dagger in 115-, 124-, 135-, and 147-grain choices, and nothing had any hassle biking. 

When filled with 15 rounds, the journal takes a considerable slap to seat it beneath a closed slide, and the pistol is a bit of 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 looking and precision rifles, we nonetheless need to offer you a good suggestion of what to anticipate from you pistols and the way this one would possibly examine. I recorded 5 five-shot teams from 15 yards, from a standing place, utilizing a sandbag on a tac desk and tripod for help. Group sizes averaged simply over 1.6 inches which is absolutely good — particularly for a budget-priced subcompact. For comparability, it carried out nearly neck and neck with dearer pistols just like the Springfield Hellcat Professional Comp, and the heavier-duty Walther PDP-F 3.5-inch.

Although it isn’t as simple to blaze via plate racks with the Micro Dagger as it’s with a tuned-up 2011, the ergonomics of the pistol and the compensatory make it simple to remain heading in the right direction and shoot shortly 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 sizzling ticket merchandise on concealed-carry pistols lately, and the logic is sound. A smaller, extra compact pistol goes to provide extra recoil and muzzle flip. We need to counteract that as a result of having the ability to shoot your pistol precisely and handle recoil is paramount in a defensive state of affairs. When contemplating a compensator, you want to resolve if the decreased muzzle flip is definitely worth the added size in addition to the addition of potential debris-collecting cuts and recesses. The usual PSA Micro Dagger is sort of an inch shorter and extra comfy to hold.

The compensator on the PSA Micro Dagger does appear to work fairly nicely, particularly with spicier +P defensive hundreds. When you consider it, it is smart 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 important edges to redirect gasses upwards — which might be why it doesn’t appear to scale 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 nicely with hundreds like Remington Golden Saber +P, and I feel it’s price having in case you can carry it comfortably.

Remaining Ideas on the PSA Micro Dagger C-1

Often 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 great fortune of capturing many instances of 9mm ammo yearly via plenty of totally different pistols and I’d don’t have any qualms about carrying the PSA Micro Dagger for defensive functions. The PSA Micro Dagger might be probably the greatest 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.