PSA Dagger: Aftermarket Trigger Pin, Kagwerks Slide Release and Empire Stiletto Trigger Shoe Test

Date: 11/16/23

Ok i found a couple of issues while testing the Dagger but i had an AWWWE SHIT! moment when it was all said and done. Also testing the Kagwerks raised/extended slide lock/release and the Empire Stiletto trigger shoe on an OEM bar.

First the the test parameters:

1) PSA Dagger Compact Full Size S with Dagger SW5 Slide

2) 30 rounds Ammo Inc 115gr 9mm Signature TMC (Total Metal Coating)

3) 20 feet

4) IDPA target (high center chest 8" circle)

5) Six 5 round groups

Modified PSA Dagger:

Ammo:

IDPA Target

The results:

1) The Empire stiletto trigger shoe in the Dagger frame fits weirdly. There is about ¼" of space between the trigger safety and the frame (that wasnt the case with the RP shoe i fit in it before). I will have to drop it on a P80 frame later to look at that as well. It's definitely canted forward with this frame and slide. You can see the shoe isn't perfectly 90⁰ to the frame like it should be.

2) I thought the aftermarket trigger pin was gonna completely walk out to the right but as you can see in the pic, it only moved about 1/16th of an inch (or less) to the right through all six 5 round groups.

Here are the peculiar group shot results.

Round 1:

Failure to feed after 2nd, 3rd and 4th round. (I realized that i never lubed the Dagger after the first testing so i did so at this point)

Round 2:

Failure to feed after 3rd and 4th round. (Weird)

Round 3:

Failure to feed after 4th round. (Interesting)

Round 4:

Failure to feed after 2nd, 3rd and 4th round. (WTF!)

ROUND 5:

Failure to feed after 2nd, 3rd and 4th round. (OK SOMETHING IS VERY WRONG!)

3) Upon closer inspection (here comes the AWWWE SHIT! moment) i realized the I was the problem. I was testing the Kagwerks slide release because with my large hands and high grip, my thumb rides the normal release and i rarely get slide lock on last round. Well it seems now i have the opposite problem. I kept pushing the kagwerks release up with my thumb thereby causeing the slide to now lock open. UGH!

ROUND 6:

Ran this round with thumb away from the frame and ran all 5 rounds flawlessly. Go figure. Ugh!

Conclusion:

1) At least the trigger pin wont walk out of the Dagger but we may be ass out for an aftermarket FLB or RR pin.

2) The Empire Stiletto shoe may not be the perfect companion for the Dagger frame but it did pass the functionality test. Drop test TBD at a later date. It also needs to be tested in a Strike 80 frame.

3) The Kagwerks slide release works but with my grip i need to practice with it so as not to inadvertently continuously cause my slide to lock during firing.