Palmetto State Armory Dagger Compact 9mm Pistol With SW3 RMR Slide & Non-Threaded Barrel

The Palmetto State Armory (PSA) Compact Dagger stands out as an affordable yet highly functional compact handgun compatible with Glock-style P-Mags. In this review, we delve into the handgun's design, installation process, and overall performance, comprehensively analyzing its strengths and areas for improvement.

You Can Buy the PSA Compact Dagger

• Exclusively on Palmetto State Armory’s Official Website

First Impressions

When I first received the PSA Compact Dagger, I was thoroughly impressed. It came in a stylish two-tone gray and black soft-sided bag with a zipper enclosure and Velcro pouches for magazines and accessories. There’s a dedicated pouch for the manual and an outside pouch for a name tag. The handgun itself looks gorgeous, with forward cuts in the slide that draw attention to the sleek black barrel. The gray two-tone polymer frame complements the handgun nicely.

The gun ships with P-Mags and additional magazines are easy to find. The handgun fits nicely in my hand, although it’s a bit large for my palm size. Despite this, it is comfortable for my shooting style. The front slide release aligns well with my index finger, and the trigger sits where I expect it to. However, like most handguns I own, reaching the slide release with my thumb requires a bit of hand adjustment, but I can easily side-palm the frame to release the magazine.

The upper slide is cut for an RMR platform sight, and I used a Riton 3 TACTIX PRD 2 for my initial setup. It also has tall iron sights as a backup solution, although they are basic with no markings and solid silhouettes. The height of these sights suggests that you can use a minimalist suppressor if you choose a model with a threaded barrel.

Installation and Setup

The pistol itself is straightforward: load bullets in the magazine, insert the magazine into the gun, rack the slide, and fire. The function and operation proceeded as usual. I also fitted the gun with a Streamlight TLR-7X and a Riton 3 TACTIX PRD 2. The Streamlight TLR-7X mounted flawlessly out of the box on the bottom rail forward of the trigger guard. The buttons were easy to reach, the lens was flush with the barrel, and the locking lug matched perfectly with the rail.

Additionally, I tried out the RMR plate by mounting the Riton 3 TACTIX PRD 2 to the slide. Again, the mount functioned great, the fit was snug, and everything went together perfectly. Palmetto State Armory includes screws and a Torx wrench for adequately attaching a sight or the filler plate, depending on your choice.

The handguard has a single-finger groove positioned between the middle and ring fingers to aid in controlling the pistol.

Specs of The Palmetto State Armory Compact Dagger

• Model: PSA Dagger Compact
• Caliber: 9mm
• Action: Striker Fired
• Weight: 22.4 oz (unloaded)
• Overall Length: 7.15"
• Overall Width: 1.28"
• Overall Height: 4.78" (without magazine)
• Barrel Length: 3.9"
• Barrel Material: Stainless Steel
• Barrel Finish: DLC Coating
• Twist Rate: SAAMI Spec 1:10
• Slide Material: Stainless Steel
• Slide Finish: Black Cerakote
• Frame: Polymer
• Safety: Striker Block Safety & Trigger Safety
• Magazine: One (1) 15-round magazine
• Additional Features: Ergonomic grip shape, carry cuts on the slide, aggressive grip texturing, flat-faced trigger, stainless steel recoil spring guide rod.

Field Test Results

The PSA Compact Dagger's field test results were a resounding success. I could land shots on paper with relatively tight groupings for a compact pistol right out of the box. Relative to the size of my H&K USP Compact, the PSA Dagger outperforms it in terms of accuracy.

The slide, trigger, magazine release, and all other pistol functions operated well. I hit targets at 15, 20, and 25 yards. About halfway through the exercise, I encountered an issue with the trigger. After the initial trigger pull, the slide would rack back and forward to load a new round, but the trigger failed to travel forward, preventing reset. This happened twice: once halfway through the trials and once towards the end. I pushed the trigger forward with my index finger, resetting it and allowing consecutive follow-up shots.

Other than that, the pistol functioned flawlessly. I tested it with Blazer Brass, Aguila 9mm, and Belom ammunition, all of which performed well. 

Accuracy Results

The initial shots at 15 yards presented a relatively tight group from a gun that had never been broken in or shot before. Throughout the day, I was able to get tighter groups. At the 20-yard line, the groups were slightly wider, and at 25 yards, I could hit the 6x6-inch gong 50% of the time. Unfortunately, the screws provided by PSA didn't have Loctite and worked themselves loose, causing the sight to fail. Even after tightening the screws and replacing the batteries, the sight still didn’t function and will need to be returned for warranty work.

Furthermore, the PSA Compact Dagger trigger is not the best I’ve used. The trigger creep is rough and long, and the break is stiff. I don't have a tool to measure the trigger pull weight, but it’s not light. The reset and travel are about a quarter of an inch, while the entire length of travel is five-eighths of an inch. Being a budget pistol, a little refinement to the trigger would do wonders and improve the already good accuracy of this compact handgun.

Pros

The Palmetto Dagger has several great benefits:

• It uses standard GL9 magazines, which are easy to find, affordable, and accessible.
• The pre-cut RMR platform slide with additional forward ports gives it a functional and edgy look.
• The high-rise sights provide easy adaptability for future suppressors.
• The forward Picatinny rail is functional and easy to use.
• The two-tone gray and black design is exceptional.
• The fit and finish are superb.

Cons

The main drawbacks of this pistol are:

• The trigger. Being a budget-oriented pistol, a first-class trigger is not expected, but some fine-tuning could significantly improve the platform.
• The trigger reset failures are a concern, and the rough travel could be improved with some work from a gunsmith.

Final Thoughts

The Palmetto Compact Dagger is a superb budget-oriented, feature-rich handgun. There isn’t another handgun on the market with as many features at this price point. I appreciate the limited use of safeties, as many companies nowadays overdo functional safeties. The only safety on the PSA Dagger is a trigger brake safety, with no physical, palm, or magazine safeties. This is appreciated in a pistol meant for daily carry and self-defense situations.

The fit and finish on the Dagger are superb, and the aesthetics are impressive, given its budget price point. As someone who isn't a fan of Glock pistols, owning a PSA Dagger means I don't have to be. I would much rather go to the range with my PSA Compact Dagger.