PSA Dagger Compact Review [3000 Round Test]
We test the PSA Dagger Compact for over 3000 rounds for ergonomics, reliability, accuracy, and benefits over the Glock 19.
We review products independently. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn a commission to help support our testing. Learn more.
PSA Dagger Pros & Cons
Pros
- Great value
- Accurate and reliable
- Lots of customization options
- Better ergonomics than the Glock 19
Cons
- Initial feeding issues with a full magazine
- No option for changing backstraps
- Only comes with one magazine
The Bottom Line
It’s a great Glock 19 clone for the money. At under $300, this gun ran without any issues.
Palmetto State Armory (PSA) has long been known for its affordable firearms.
Now they've released the Dagger, a striker-fired Gen 3 Glock 19 clone, which brings price, reliability, and a slew of ergonomic upgrades against the G19.
PSA Dagger Specs & Features
Specs
- Caliber: 9mm Luger
- Action: Striker Fired
- Safety: Striker Block Safety & Trigger Safety
- Height: 4.78in
- Weight: 22.4oz
- Barrel Length: 3.9in
- Overall Length: 7.15in
- Sights: Steel - White Dot
- Magazine: 15+1 rounds
Features
- Glock Gen 3-compatible
- Improved ergonomics
- Lots of options to choose from
This review is three years in the making.
Johnny B started in June 2021 when PSA released the initial Dagger Compact. Now forward three years later and the rest of the Pew Pew Tactical team has had a few rounds through several Daggers.
See how it has held up against a Glock 19 and the new slide options that make the Dagger an affordable no-brainer.
Table of Contents
How We Tested the PSA Dagger Compact
Our initial testing put 1000 rounds of Federal 115gr 9mm through the Dagger along with all the types of Glock magazines we had on hand.
Our continuing testing put an additional 2000 rounds through several slides and frames with a variety of ammo, including Federal HST 124gr 9mm hollow-points.
We also shot groups at 10 yards using a Ransom Multi-Cal rest, mounted red dot, and several types of ammo to minimize operator bias.
As well as measured the trigger pull using a Lyman Digital Trigger Gauge.
Lastly, we had several editors and writers shoot both the Dagger and Glock 19 back-to-back to speak on their individual preferences between the two.
Between us we have several NRA pistol instructors, USPSA competitors, and we're all full-time gun reviewers.
PSA Dagger Background
There's been a lot of Gen 3 Glock 19 clones. But PSA brings its own vertically integrated manufacturing processes to make it really affordable.
It was originally released in mid-2021 and has had a lot of time to add new options in slides and frames...as well as catch up to demand.
Now you're able to pick one up for around $319 up to $349 for all the features/color combos. There's even a Full-Size grip option which grants you essentially a Glock 17 grip with Glock 19 slide.
Who Is It For?
Someone looking for an affordable and reliable handgun option that can do a couple things such as being a bedside gun or even a concealed carry piece.
Or someone who wants a great base firearm to upgrade since it takes Glock Gen 3 parts.
Ergonomics: Fit & Feel
Normally we compare our tested firearms vs comparable ones further down the article. But since it's essentially a Glock 19 clone we're going to do it from the beginning.
We'll be using a Glock 19 Gen 5 since it's the most current release.
Grip
The Dagger Compact grip is dimensionally similar to the Glock 19 but feels much fuller and more comfortable in hand.
There's one finger swell that works for my medium sized hands when the original Glock Gen 3 grooves used to give me callouses. You can see the Gen 5 omits all finger grooves.
There's also a nice extended beavertail to let you have a high grip while preventing slide bite.
Grip texture is good and I don't have any preference towards the Dagger's or Glock's since they both work.
Another great addition (or rather, deletion) is the removal of material on the sides where your offhand thumb rests. It's not enough material to make it a true "gas pedal" but it feels nicer than the Glock addition of material.
One potential negative if you have larger hands is the lack of backstrap changeability. However, for the vast majority of users you'll be fine.
Sights
Y'all know that stock Glock sights are plastic and generally terrible.
PSA gives us some nice 3 white-dot metal ones straight from the factory.
While models with threaded barrels have thinner suppressor-height sights.
Trigger
You'll see that the Dagger has a trigger shoes that breaks halfway down while the Glock 19 has its bladed trigger extension down the middle.
The Glock has a slightly bigger trigger activation area because of the design. But unless you somehow pull the trigger with the tip of your finger all the way at the top...it will go bang.
Taking out our experience with Glock triggers, we tended to like the Dagger's more because it removes some of the sponginess that we all love. But instead it gives us a much stiffer break and a slightly less tactile reset.
We used a Lyman Digital Trigger Gauge to measure 5 trigger pulls from each.
The Dagger Compact averaged just around 6 lbs while our stock G19 was around 6 lbs 10 oz.
Controls
Everything is where you expect it to be with prior Glock experience.
I do like the serrations of all the slides we tested out compared to a stock Glock. The angle and depth felt more useful.
But I'm ambivalent about the extra-large mag stripping hole since it takes off additional grip space that large handed shooters might have liked.
However, props to the extra pinkie protrusion that helps with red dot acquisition by pushing slightly down.
Insides
The PSA Dagger will take all Gen 3 parts...but what's the difference from it and Gen 5 Glocks on the inside?
One big difference is that it has a single piece stainless steel guide-rod.
The Gen 5 Glock has a double-spring steel one while the Gen 3 Glock is a single piece plastic guide-rod. I'll take the less-moving-parts metal one please.
Now onto the frame...
Everything should be super familiar besides the additional metal that connects the locking block with the front rail for enhanced durability.
How Does the PSA Dagger Compact Shoot?
Now the fun part!
It shoots fine like most striker-fired polymer 9mm handguns.
Only back to back shooting between the Dagger and the Glock 19 could I tell that I liked the slightly more oversized grips.
And it definitely was more fun and accurate to shoot with a red dot. Or in this case...a green dot.
Almost all the Dagger variations now come with an optics cut that makes it easy to mount your favorite RMR or Doctor cut optic.
Accuracy
We mounted our most rounds-tested barrel into our slide that had the red dot and put it on top of a Ransom Multi-Cal Shooting Rest.
And shot 10 rounds of different ammo at 10 yards. My pace was roughly a shot every 3 seconds while I got the dot back on target and re-firmed my grip.
Here's the target results (I'm only a slightly above average shooter but the rest helped):
- AAC 115gr 9mm: ~2 MOA
- Blazer 115gr 9mm: ~1.5 MOA
- Magtech 115gr 9mm: ~2 MOA
- Federal 124gr HST 9mm: ~1 MOA
The plinking ammo was roughly the same with Blazer having a slight edge. However, I'm glad that the best shooting ammo was our favorite defensive round, Federal 124gr HST.
Reliability
Johnny B had issues with a full 15-round mag feeding correctly only about half the time across all mags during his 1000 round count testing.
We had the same problem but only for the first 1-2 mags through each frame and slide combo.
Besides that super quick "break-in" period we didn't have any more malfunctions for our roughly 2000 round count.
And we tested with Magpul and Glock OEM mags of 15, 17, and 31 round capacity.
Mag drops and magazines locking back were all 100% as well.
Suppressed Shooting
We loaded up one of the threaded barrels we had and put on a SilencerCo Osprey 45. It shot some 158gr subsonic rounds great once it also had to go through the 1-2 mag break-in process.
See it in action:
Why Is the PSA Dagger Unique?
We've gone through all the pros/cons of the PSA Dagger Compact vs the Glock 19.
But the big reason we love is is the price...there's usually a model available for $319 and sometimes even a blemished model for $299.
And for $349 you'll get your pick of tons of options.
And oh...there's lots of options!
Different colors, lightening cuts, optic cuts, sights, and threaded barrels.
Note that the Black is super durable DLC coating while other colors are Cerakoted. Tough but you'll see some bare metal at high-wear point areas.
Otherwise the only wear we've seen is on top of the barrel.
And frames...there's tons of color choices too.
Along with the semi-new addition of a Full-Size Dagger that uses the same slide length but gives you a longer grip and 17-round capacity (like a Glock 17).
By the Numbers
Reliability: 4.75/5
Slightly away from a 5 because it still required 1-2 mags to break-in. Otherwise flawless through 3000 rounds.
Ergonomics: 5/5
Better feeling ergonomic grip compared to the Glock 19 as well as larger beavertail, finger grooves, and trigger.
Accuracy: 5/5
At defensive distances, I shot this one fantastically. Easy to stay on target.
Customization: 5/5
Go have yourself a good time either upgrading yourself or buying one that has everything you need.
Value: 5/5
$319 gets you a new variant while you can get something to your complete specs at $349. Compare that with a Glock 19 Gen 5 for around $539.
Overall: 5/5
Upgrades for the PSA Dagger
At its heart it's a Gen 3 Glock so there's an entire world to upgrade. Check out some options in out Best Glock Upgrades article.
Looking for a pistol light that's a great bang-for-the-buck like the Dagger? Check out the Streamlight TLR-1 HL.
You'll want some more mags since a complete Dagger only comes with one.
And red dot sights since you saved so much money...check out all our favs in Best Pistol Red Dots.
I also figured out that the PSA Dagger fits Recover Tactical's 20/20 pistol chassis perfectly. So for slightly over $100 you get a personal defense weapon (PDW).
That shoots great!
Get the angled mag pouch for someplace to hold as well as an extra mag.
And since you'll want your red dot as high as possible, get their upper rail add-on or get a high mount like I have .
Final Verdict
It’s a 9mm Glock 19 Clone for $300 that's accurate, reliable, and comes with tons of upgrades over the G19.
It gets the ole thumbs up from me.
What do you think of the PSA Dagger? Let me know in the comments or drop a review below. Want to see more PSA guns? Check out our Review of Almost All PSA’s Guns.
Rating score
LATEST UPDATES
April 23, 2024 – Update with Eric and Pew Pew Tactical team's additional experiences with the PSA Dagger.
June 3, 2021 – Original article and video review by Johnny B.