Dagger Micro experience

PSA Products Dagger
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I picked up a Dagger Micro a few weeks back, and it’s been fun. It came with the Holosun 407k, and once that was mounted I was off to the range. I picked up two Glock 43x/48 mags at the range since I’ve almost never seen the PSA mags in stock, and I’m not interested in swapping to a metal mag release. I load the PSA mag to capacity at 15 rounds, then load both Glock limited capacity mags to 10 rounds each, then shoot, then reload everything. So each cycle is 45 rounds - for now. Its fine.

The first 350 rounds went smoothly with only one malfunction - the slide locked back with one round remaining in the magazine. It was a mixture of 150 rounds of Winchester white box (WWB) 115 gr FMJ, and 200 rounds of Federal Syntech 115 FMJ (with the red tip). The weapon was stripped, cleaned, and lubricated lightly when I got home.

The next trip saw 200 rounds of WWB 115 gr FMJ, and ended with 100 rounds of old steel cased ammunition from the mid 1990s. Things started off fine for the first 45 rounds (3 magazines) or so, then the light primer strikes began. There was one light primer strike during the second cycle, then 3 during the third. From that point forward I had at least one, and sometimes two light primer strikes on every magazine. This was regardless of the casing. Additionally, the slide began only randomly locking back once’s the magazine was spent. I don’t mind racking a slide, it it’s supposed to lock back when the mag is spent. The weapon was stripped, cleaned, and lightly lubricated later that evening.

Furthermore, and due to the prevalence of light primer strikes, the slide was almost completely disassembled in order to deep clean the slide assembly. I say almost completely disassembled because the extractor plunger would not leave its home. I tried using a ridged plastic punch, and even a bamboo meat skewer, but that sucker is in there. It slides freely back and forth in the slide, but it absolutely refuses to leave its little hole. Everything else was soaked, scrubbed with a nylon brush, and wiped clean with clean, lint-free swabs and cloth before lightly oiling and reassembling.

Round three: the next 300 rounds.

The next 300 rounds were two 50ct boxes of WWB 124 gr FMJ, and two 100 ct boxes of WWB 115 gr FMJ. I shot the 124 gr FMJ first. The first four or five magazines had 0 light primer strikes. But then they started, and I had three before finishing shooting through the 124 gr ammunition. Then I began shooting through the WWB 115 gr FMJ. It was about the same as the second round, and now I’m getting 2-3 light primer strikes per magazine - for both the OEM Glock mags, and the 15 rd PSA mag - seems weird. Also, the slide continues failing to lock back once the mag is empty.

So here I sit all broken hearted…

I have not stripped, cleaned and lubricated after the last trip. All in all it’s been loads of fun - still, I’m pretty frustrated. I’m not a Glock fanboy, but I had high hopes for this weapon after reading so much online. I am, however, a CZ fanboy (that buttery action and low bore axis is the stuff that dreams are made of), and I ain’t afraid to say it! I’ll probably take it to a local gunsmith (who is also Glock armorer) near my house and see if he’ll look at it. Maybe he’ll take it in trade for a blue label 48 MOS. I paid full price for this Dagger Micro (no veteran discounts for online purchases) but, all-in, I only saved about $50 over a blue label Glock with the same optic. I’d rather pay $50 more and have the reliability in a carry piece.

I’m obviously frustrated, and still considering options. What I left out above is that on the second and third trips I went shooting with other people that were carrying Glocks. On the second trip my guy has zero aftermarket options in his weapon. On the third trip - this guy has an 80% lower, with Gen 3 guts, an aftermarket slide and barrel, but everything else in the slide is Gen 3. These two guys had 0 light primer strikes. They had 0 malfunctions.

Maybe I’m getting ahead of myself. I have less than 1,000 rounds through the Dagger Micro. Maybe it’ll sort itself out once I cross that threshold. I still need to shoot with my carry ammo, so perhaps that’s the next step. I don’t know.

What would you do?

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At first I misread the extractor part and thought the extractor itself wasn’t coming out. So just the plunger won’t come out? So you say you mounted the Holosun, it just came with the gun but not installed. Take the screw out of the right side, then try taking the extractor plunger out. I have a feeling you used too long of a screw on the right side. The short Holosun screws always worked for me, at least on the RMR compatible stuff. Also for a G43/48MOS the Holosuns don’t drop straight on. Glock uses the RMSc cut so it doesn’t fit the Holosun’s K cut. You can use a plate, or file down the rear recoil lugs completely, and slightly shorten the front ones. Plates aren’t expensive at least but do add a bit of height.

I’d also double check lubrication guides for Glocks. You didn’t say exactly where/what you lubricated so I assume all the parts you stripped down. There are some areas you don’t want lube in. I do a little bit where the connector slides against the trigger bar, inside the slide rails, around the barrel itself and a little on top at the 90 where the barrel hood lockup bit is. I like grease on mine vs oil, it stays longer and keeps it slick.

I would also have to argue CZ’s don’t have a low bore axis. Slide to frame height is low, but their low grip and beavertail undoes the whole low bore axis part of it. And that’s with me having shot various 75 models, a RAMI, P07, and P09. I can get my thumbs to completely cover the side of the gun and almost go on top of a Glock or M&P but not on a CZ. Except for the new P10.

Back on point, I don’t really see light primer strikes getting better with more rounds, barring any weird burrs that may self correct. First step is to make sure your screws aren’t impeding extractor/plunger movement. Then re-test from there. Double check the tip of your firing pin with a jewelers loupe or something like that. The Micro ones should be stronger as they are Gen5 style with a stronger, round tip.

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Regarding the Holosun 407k. Mine was not mounted on the firearm when it was received. When ordering it was shown online with the red dot mounted, but when I got to PSA (I picked it up in store) they said I’d have to mount it myself, or bring it to the range on a day when they’re not too busy, and pay to have them mount it. This was not precisely correct, and I’ve edited this post to reflect my error.

Edit: My wife will share that I am in critical need of remedial communication therapy. I most likely posed a generalized question, and received a generalized answer, which led to ignorance of pertinent policies. I went home not understanding that they would mount the optic free of charge if I brought my receipt in when having it mounted. That error is on me. Everyone at PSA has been great, and I love visiting my local store. I chose to purchase a Fixit stick and mount it myself.

I do love the Fixit stick and will likely purchase more of their hardware.

As far as lubricant goes I use Froglube with all my firearms. I have for years. This is the only firearm that’s ever given me any trouble. Even my 10/22 runs like a sewing machine on that stuff. I love it, and it’s non-toxic so I don’t have to keep it in my steel hazmat locker in the garage.

Lubrication was performed according to the Dagger product manual. Froglube grease was applied to the rails, locking block, and trigger bar. Then Froglube oil was applied to the slide and barrel following the Dagger product manual. The oil was applied to the barrel, slide, lockup surfaces, and areas where the slide makes contact with the barrel and frame.

Regarding the CZ. I have a CZ 85, and maybe it just feels lower. I don’t know. I love this thing. This weapon is more than 30 years old, and I cannot tell you how many thousands of rounds have run through it. It’s easily concealed, but it is heavy, so I don’t carry it much (my usual carry piece is a S&W 1076). I haven’t shot any of the CZ polymer firearms, but I would love to at some point. I wish CZ had a blue label program.

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Combo packages from PSA have never come with the optic mounted.

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I learned this today. Thank you. :money_mouth_face:

Finding the hidden, incidental, or otherwise unexpected charges associated with any purchase is always a challenge. Thank you for sharing this little detail.

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I will check the screws on the Holosun and post back.

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The store in Greenville will mount them free if you show your online receipt a d tje range isn’t swamped.

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I did not know that! That’s where I went.

I asked about mounting the red dot upon picking up the weapon, and a price for mounting optics was quoted to me. I was told to come by when they weren’t busy. I most likely asked the question the wrong way. I’ll accept responsibility for that, and edit my post above.

I don’t recall specifically what I asked, but it was probably something like: “who do I talk to for mounting a red dot on my pistol?” That’s on me.

Thank you for clarifying this issue, Rufus.

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Would still be curious to see if the plunger comes out if you take the right side optic screw out. When you put optic screws in Glocks, it’s a good idea to take the plunger out beforehand, and check to see if the screw sticks down into the plunger channel. At best it can stop it from coming out, at worst impedes movement in general and causes malfunctions. I doubt yours are related to that though, but if I think hard enough I can definitely see ways a stuck extractor couid cause light strikes.

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The plunger drops straight out after removing the red dot. I’m going to leave it off for the next trip to the range and see how it goes. I’d mill down the offending fastener, but I seem to have misplaced my calipers.

Do you know the optimal length for that screw on the right?

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Look in the box or bag in whatever they shipped you. IIRC they send screws that are a little shorter with Dagger compact and FS. The range installed one on my Rock and cracked the right striker housing, I filed the screw down until it didn’t impede visually and it hasn’t given me any problems. I’m looking at the screw bag right now from one of the Daggers that I haven’t installed an optic on yet. Don’t have a micro so I can’t speak to it specifically.

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The slide cracked at 15 in/lbs?

There were three (maybe four, sets of screws with mine. I’ll take a look and compare.

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The slide didn’t crack the polymer striker housing did. I just pushed it back up, doesn’t appear to me to be a load bearing area per se.

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Not sure about the micros, but on my Compact Dagger the screws it comes with are pretty trash. Easy to sheer threads straight off, and are too long for a Holosun 4/507C. Holosun should have multiple screw lengths with the K models from what I remember of mine. Use the shortest ones they have. If those are the ones causing issues, just look and see how far down into the plunger channel the screw sticks, take that much off.

Another thing that can cause plungers to stick is excessive threadlocking compound getting in those holes, so be wary of that.

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