Just another clone or does the Palmetto State Armory Micro Dagger bring something new to the table? While the other models of Dagger have proven to be solid contenders, the Micro is a different design with a different goal. 

Let’s dig in and see how it holds up against the rest of the big names.

HEAD-TO-HEAD SPECS

WHAT THE MICRO DAGGER REALLY IS

SIG Sauer started the “micro-compact” race with the original P365. 5.8” long, 4.3” tall, and a super thin 1” wide, the P365 rocked the gun world by being very small, but holding 10-rounds.

This forced other brands to release their versions like the Springfield Hellcat. It also pushed SIG and others to start making more versions.

The P365 became the P365XL, became the XMACRO, became the FUSE. Other brands have more or less followed suit. 

For reasons I don’t totally understand, these are still called “micro-compacts” but they aren’t micro anymore. Some brands have started calling them “crossover compacts” and while accurate, it hasn't caught on just yet.

The PSA Micro Dagger, just like the P365 XMACRO, Glock 43x, and Shadow Systems CR920X, falls into this nebulous of having the width of a micro, but the grip of a compact, and a barrel/slide length falling between micro and full-size depending on what flavor you get.

ON THE RANGE

If you’ve shot the Dagger before then you basically know what you’re getting into, except a smaller size. The grip is a nice semi-sandpaper feel that is very fine and grippy without rubbing down your skin.

Fit and finish is decent. This is a $300ish gun, don’t expect anything super impressive. Trigger is the same two-piece design with the hinged bottom. Not the best trigger, but the break is a rolling wall that isn’t horrible. Takeup on the trigger is so long it almost feels like double action on the first pull, except with a much lighter weight.

Reset is pretty short so follow-up shots are on the money.

9mm isn’t a super stout cartridge, but when you get down into guns of this size, it can be a bit snappy — especially with +P self-defense ammo. For the size, the Micro Dagger is controllable and good to shoot, but it’s no full-size.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by RECOIL Magazine (Official) (@recoilmagazine)

For my hands, the grip was awesome and actually an improvement over the Glock or Shadow System versions of what amounts to being the same thing. While Glock and Shadow System tends to bite my hand with the slide if I don’t adjust my grip a bit, my normal grip was totally fine for the Micro Dagger.

PSA has several flavors for the Micro and one of those is the C-1 version. This adds an integrated comp into the slide to take the bite out of shooting. Because the comp is in the slide, you have no threaded barrel, you have the same barrel length, you don’t need tools or anything special to disassemble the slide for cleaning, but you still get a comp that is way more effective than you might expect.

Downside is that the slide is longer, slightly heavier, and a touch more money.

I’m a fan of compensators on just about any gun, EDC CCWs included. Choosing between the standard Micro and the C-1, I would take the C-1. As said before, if you shoot defense ammo, and especially if you shoot +P defense ammo, adding a comp helps a lot.

The C-1 shoots flatter, gets back on target faster, and just feels so much more comfortable to shoot. A good feeling gun is a gun you’ll train and practice with.

MICRO DAGGER Vs. SIG P365 Vs. SHADOW SYSTEMS CR920X Vs. GLOCK 43x

My EDC for the last year and a half has been a SIG P365 with a Zaffiri Precision ported barrel/slide, Icuras Precision XMACRO grip, and Tyrant CNC trigger. Clearly, I might be a little biased towards it.

If you’re trying to choose between these four pistols, I don’t think there is a simple answer.

For price, the PSA Micro Dagger clearly wins at about $300. 15+1 magazines are standard from PSA and the gun comes with all the features you need like an optics cut. Personally, I recommend the comp model.

For customization, SIG P365 is the top pick since you’re just a grip module change away from having almost any kind of P365 you want. With the huge aftermarket support, the P365 is CCW Lego. Priced about $650-700 you have a lot of options to pick from. Major downside, magazines are expensive at around $55 per. 

Shadow Systems CR920X is the most expensive. The optic cut is outstanding, the gun is very well made and much better looking than Glock or PSA, and it has the best out-of-the-box trigger of them all. Cost is about $600 for the Foundation version and $750 for the Elite. It also uses proprietary magazines, but they are only $30 a pop and hold 15-rounds.

This is going to make a lot of people angry — but the Glock 43x is not one I recommend. 10-round magazines from Glock are silly when two different brands have made their own 15-round mag that is interchangeable with the gun. Non-MOS versions can’t use optics unless you send the slide out, and MOS versions are cursed with the poorly designed MOS system.

Upside, it is still a Glock so it’s as close to unkillable as a gun can get. Price is about $450-500.

MAGAZINES

The Micro Dagger and Glock 43x share magazine pattern. But since the PSA version holds 15 rounds and the Glock only 10, I think the clear winner is PSA mags.

Good news is that now we're a ways into production, the PSA mags are available almost always from PSA and are only $25 each. Not the cheapest mag on the market, but not bad.

One thing to note about the Micro Dagger is that each gun only comes with one magazine. Personally, I see it as a fundamental shortfall if any new firearm comes with less than 2.

LOOSE ROUNDS

PSA AR-15s have been a gold standard for affordable entry-level ARs for years. But the Dagger line has impressed me much more since they are, in many ways, a more useful tool in daily life. Most of us won’t carry our AR-15 day-to-day, but we will carry a CCW. For about $300, the Micro Dagger is a clear winner for a quality firearm without spending a whole lot of money.

READ MORE

• Best CCW Fanny Packs: Off-Body Carry The Right Way
• Best CCW For Working Out: Clothes, Gear, & Guns [Guide]
• SIG Sauer P365 XMACRO COMP: Skinny Compact CCW [Hands-On Review]
• First Look & Review: Vortex Defender-CCW Micro Red Dot
• Best CCW Insurance: Protecting Yourself After You Protect Yourself [2024]

NEXT STEP: Download Your Free Target Pack from RECOIL

For years, RECOIL magazine has treated its readers to a full-size (sometimes full color!) shooting target tucked into each big issue. Now we've compiled over 50 of our most popular targets into this one digital PDF download. From handgun drills to AR-15 practice, these 50+ targets have you covered. Print off as many as you like (ammo not included).

Get your pack of 50 Print-at-Home targets when you subscribe to the RECOIL email newsletter. We'll send you weekly updates on guns, gear, industry news, and special offers from leading manufacturers - your guide to the firearms lifestyle.

You want this. Trust Us.