S&W shield plus 4” vs PSA Dagger

[someguy2800]

I thought this comparison might help someone else looking at S&W’s overgrown micro. I picked up a Shield Plus Performance Center 4” the other day. I thought it would be a nice bridge between a micro 9 and a service size gun like a glock 19. Longer sight radius than the micro double stacks but narrower and lighter than a duty size gun. After carrying it a few days I decided it just feels a little too big on my side for what it is. I pulled my PSA dagger out of the safe to compare size and weight.

The dagger is actually lighter at 23.0 ounces unloaded compared to the shield at 23.2, and is practically the same height and length. They would weigh the same loaded since the dagger holds 15 rounds instead of 13. The shield is indeed narrower by a good bit but that didn’t make as much of a difference as I thought it would when carrying it.

The trigger in the performance center shield feels amazing. It breaks right around 3 lbs on my scale. The trigger in the dagger is, well, crap. But I got the dagger for about $300 with tax and shipping and transfer fee. The shield was $600 after taxes. If the shield were also a $300 gun I would probably keep both but given how expensive it is, I think I’ll just move it along and put that money toward ammo and a trigger upgrade for the PSA

 

[Mike J]

Interesting. I had been thinking the original Shield Plus might be a good AIWB carry. I've had a Dagger for a little over a year. I like it. It isn't a glass rod 1911 trigger but I'm fine with it. In all honesty I just consider it a typical striker fired trigger.

 

[BreechFace]

Maybe you will want to wait to put money into the Dagger and pick up one of PSA's Micro Daggers when they come out. It will utilize the same magazine footprint as the Glock 43x/48 so Shield Arms S15 magazines will work.

But if I know PSA they'll make their own 15 round magazines. This will be a nice windfall for me as I'll be able to try out some of their magazines in my Glock 48 side by side with my S15 magazines.

 

[someguy2800]

Maybe you will want to wait to put money into the Dagger and pick up one of PSA's Micro Daggers when they come out.

I might do both. Been waiting on that for a long time now though.

 

[BreechFace]

I wish PSA would go with a flat faced trigger with a nice polished edge dingus. I know triggers are very personal, I've just never been much of a fan of the S&W hinged trigger, I tolerated it with my Shield a long time ago, but didn't really care for it.

I'm rooting for PSA, they are such an American company through and through.

I could see myself purchasing a Micro Dagger and see if I can find a nicer trigger shoe and dingus to replace their stock hinged one in the photo of the link I posted.

 

[someguy2800]

Yeah not a fan of the hinged trigger. It defeats one of the purposes of the trigger safety, helping to prevent an accidental discharge from something snagging on the trigger. I assume any glock 43 trigger will fit in the micro dagger, assuming it ever actually exists.

 

[Styx]

Yeah not a fan of the hinged trigger. It defeats one of the purposes of the trigger safety, helping to prevent an accidental discharge from something snagging on the trigger. I assume any glock 43 trigger will fit in the micro dagger, assuming it ever actually exists.

I believe the purpose is to be drop safety.

 

[someguy2800]

I believe the purpose is to be drop safety.

That is the primary purpose. Having the blade in the center serves the secondary purpose of preventing the trigger from moving if only the outer edge is pressed.

 

[Styx]

That is the primary purpose. Having the blade in the center serves the secondary purpose of preventing the trigger from moving if only the outer edge is pressed.

 

[Mauser lover]

I don’t think the new Shields have the hinged trigger.

 

[Spats McGee]

I don’t think the new Shields have the hinged trigger.

The Pluses do not.