Product Review Dagger Frame x2

[bkbrno]

Last week, PSA had a few frames on sale. I added one to my cart, then saw a deal for a Dagger frame and AR-15 lower. I added that to my cart and forgot to take out the lone frame. Oops. Now I have 2 and a small slide shortage to sort out. I need to get over my aversion to the Glock grip angle and the Dagger is right in between the P80 and Glock. Baby steps. I am also interviewing for a new concealed carry gun. Based on current trends in bad guys, my 6 shot Kahr may not be enough. I want a few more rounds available before emergency reloads.

On with the review. One FDE, one black. The black is fine, no real issues except gritty trigger pull. The FDE had a problem with the trigger reset from the start. The pull was fine but it would not reset when I eased off the trigger. I just hung up before the trigger safety would reengage. That's not good. I got over my fear of punching roll pins. A 1/8" flat faced punch does just fine on these. A beat up punch is not your friend here. If you spread the roll pin, it isn't coming out without damaging the frame. All in pieces now so I do the normal smoothing and polishing with no change. Sort through part by part and everything looks good but trigger won't come forward like it should. I grab the untouched black frame and start comparing part by part. The trigger spring is pushed to one side on the FDE. I put that back in myself and double checked the orientation. Take it all apart for a do over. The spring pops to the side as I put the trigger bar in. OK, that could be it. I very carefully assemble and make sure the spring stays on the trigger bar correctly. Test it and all is working correctly. I've never seen that spring pop over like that if assembled in the correct orientation.

As delivered, I got about 50% sear engagement with each of my slides, both frames. A quick tweak to the FDE's sear and at about 90%. I'll get to the black frame before shooting it but leaving it untouched for now as a reference.

That's all for now.

 

[Bobster]

I'm commenting so I can follow your thread. I also want to add that I had issues with my Dagger FS similar to yours and you have given me incentive to update my "WideLoad" thread.

I too, bought a number of bare frames/lowers from PSA at one time. I think it was July. I got a Dagger FS and compact Dagger "package", both FDE and also an M-4(gery) AR lower.

I had trigger bar issues with the FS that I fixed and it looks like the compact has the same issue. Look for my update soon...

 

[Hvymax]

I finally got to visit my Dagger frame and do the paperwork for it. I'm surprised how compact it is while still being able to get some pinky on it. I'll definitely be adding some foam blocks but for under $400 I'll have a Carry Optic Concealed Carry Masterpiece. I can see myself getting a few more for special projects if this is half as good as it seems.

 

[bkbrno]

I don't think the trigger bar is defective. On an OEM Glock, there is a little notch where the trigger spring goes. This notch securely keeps the trigger spring in place when inserting the trigger bar in the housing. The notch is less pronounced on the PSA trigger bar and the spring can slip out of place easily and if not careful. I've seen this on aftermarket trigger kits also. Just didn't know enough about the system then to know what was happening.

 

[Bongo Lewi]

I finally got to visit my Dagger frame and do the paperwork for it. I'm surprised how compact it is while still being able to get some pinky on it. I'll definitely be adding some foam blocks but for under $400 I'll have a Carry Optic Concealed Carry Masterpiece. I can see myself getting a few more for special projects if this is half as good as it seems.

I think the Dagger grip design beats the P80 hands down. I also prefer the GST-9 grip over the P80, but it's not a huge dislike or show stopper for me. I enjoy shooting the P80 and I can shoot well with it. I just think the others mentioned feel better in the hand.

My target/race guns are Tanfoglio, CZ, 1911's and 2011's, so I don't have stack of reasons for complaining about any of the 80% grip modules. Or OEM Glocks for that matter (the oft repeated 'grip angle' BS). I shoot the gun I have in my hand and do my best to shoot it well.

My most favored striker/polymer gun in the grip realm is the Walther PDP. From an ergonomic perspective, it doesn't get any better. In my opinion the PDP has no peers in its class. The trigger is also outstanding.

My 'orange is the new black' Dagger-based gun is my third. I haven't really run the latest one thru its paces but the other two have performed flawlessly. These and the others I mentioned aren't premium guns but I have found them all to be dependable when you put them together correctly and with good parts.

 

[Bobster]

I'm surprised how compact it is while still being able to get some pinky on it.

I got a 3D-printed mag well for the FS Dagger which I thought was a nice piece. (link in the "Wide Load" thread) It was $25 shipped from an ebay seller. I got a grip plug for the Compact at the same time but have been thinking about a mag well for the compact to give my pinky a little ledge to rest on...

 

[Bongo Lewi]

I got a 3D-printed mag well for the FS Dagger which I thought was a nice piece. (link in the "Wide Load" thread) It was $25 shipped from an ebay seller. I got a grip plug for the Compact at the same time but have been thinking about a mag well for the compact to give my pinky a little ledge to rest on...

Funny you should mention that. I found those Dagger magwells on eBay and ordered two a couple of days ago.

 

[Bobster]

I got a 3D-printed mag well for the FS Dagger which I thought was a nice piece. (link in the "Wide Load" thread)

PS: Here is the mag well thread LINK

 

[bkbrno]

Range day for the two Daggers. I pulled together all my stray 9mm rounds. WW white box, CCI Blaser, some old Speer Gold Dots, some new Sierra hollow points and some Norma fancy stuff. Mag selection included KCI, Magpul and Glock. Everything ran through both just fine. No hiccups at all. I took a plain Dagger slide with night sights off one of my P80s put that on the FDE frame. A Compact X slide with Holosun went on the black frame.

The FDE set up first. All at 7yds. First shot through the X on the target. Off to a good start. Continued delivering tight groups with any ammo I fed it. The Norma ammo tended to go low and left. The Compact X slide didn't shoot as well. Groups were double the size. I'll check the screws on the Holosun as a first step.

I think the FDE makes the cut in the CCW rotation. Next range trip, I'll step it out to 25 yds and see how they do.

 

[Peepsight]

I've found it works best to stick with oem Glock parts, such as trigger housing and trigger bar. it eliminated all my issues with my 80%Arms GST-9. Grip angle is same as 19.

 

[bkbrno]

I've found it works best to stick with oem Glock parts, such as trigger housing and trigger bar. it eliminated all my issues with my 80%Arms GST-9. Grip angle is same as 19.

In this case, the Dagger frames come complete. Palmetto State has a pretty good reputation for putting out good stuff. They usually sell complete pistols but will sell you any stage of build you want. People will debate how good the parts are in the Dagger, most but not all are compatible with the Glock. They do some things better, some worse and some completely different. I built a GST-9 using as many Dagger parts as I could. Mostly to see if I could. I changed out the trigger parts with Glock Gen 5, mostly to see if I could. The Glock parts won the contest and have stayed in the frame.

I wanted a serialized, factory pistol for concealed carry. I respect the Glock but don't shoot them well. It's a personal problem. Buying from PSA, I was able to get the frame and slide combination I wanted, it is serialized and has the proper paperwork. Everyone is happy.

 

[Peepsight]

I hear you and hope it stays good for you. I carry my unserialized GST-9 on occasion but only my 19 or my Dagger when at church for security duty. If something happens I don't need anymore questions. Not looking for or expecting trouble but you never know.

 

[Hvymax]

In this case, the Dagger frames come complete. Palmetto State has a pretty good reputation for putting out good stuff. They usually sell complete pistols but will sell you any stage of build you want. People will debate how good the parts are in the Dagger, most but not all are compatible with the Glock. They do some things better, some worse and some completely different. I built a GST-9 using as many Dagger parts as I could. Mostly to see if I could. I changed out the trigger parts with Glock Gen 5, mostly to see if I could. The Glock parts won the contest and have stayed in the frame.

I wanted a serialized, factory pistol for concealed carry. I respect the Glock but don't shoot them well. It's a personal problem. Buying from PSA, I was able to get the frame and slide combination I wanted, it is serialized and has the proper paperwork. Everyone is happy.

The stupid Glock grip angle makes them absolutely useless to me.

 

[trekgod3]

PSA Dagger are one of the best bang for your buck guns out there.

 

[Mooner]

PSA Dagger>P80>OEM Glock

After owing multiple frames, I understand glock grip angle and how much people don't like it.

Beside the price, Dagger out of the box has the best feature, point naturally for ME, excellent grip texture that I don't want or need to stipple, ergo is great with all the contour instead of feeling like holding 2x4 grips.

 

[Hvymax]

PSA Dagger>P80>OEM Glock

After owing multiple frames, I understand glock grip angle and how much people don't like it.

Beside the price, Dagger out of the box has the best feature, point naturally for ME, excellent grip texture that I don't want or need to stipple, ergo is great with all the contour instead of feeling like holding 2x4 grips.

I just glue on foam wedges to correct the grip angle on Poly80 and Daggers

 

[Bobster]

PSA has finally come out with their 9mm 43ish "Micro" version. Of course it was quickly OOS... LINK

 

[Peepsight]

I'm not sure of this grip angle "problem". Yes the glock has a different angle to the frame but I'm not seeing a change in the Dagger. I took a Dagger and a Glock 19 and held them next to each other and they were exactly the same. i griped both together by holding them around the slide and frame and there wasn't any difference. And as far as shooting the Glock and the grip angle being a problem I would say shoot it more and the angle will disappear. Even my 80% Arms frame is the same as the Glock and Dagger.

 

[Hvymax]

I'm not sure of this grip angle "problem". Yes the glock has a different angle to the frame but I'm not seeing a change in the Dagger. I took a Dagger and a Glock 19 and held them next to each other and they were exactly the same. i griped both together by holding them around the slide and frame and there wasn't any difference. And as far as shooting the Glock and the grip angle being a problem I would say shoot it more and the angle will disappear. Even my 80% Arms frame is the same as the Glock and Dagger.

The problem is muscle memory. If you're HD/Business pistol has a normal grip angle like a 1911, Beretta, Sig etc and you shoot a Glock at the range it will screw everything when you revert to muscle memory in the dark. Besides my wrists are fused at the angle John Moses Browning intended. They aren't loose enough for a Glock.

 

[BeerHunter]

Although I don't own any Glocks or Glock pattern PMFs [yet], I have shot all manner of pistols long enough to know that for me, the different grip angle is irrelevant. YMMV