Smith and Wesson CSX?

frogfurr

I have checked out the S&W CSX a couple of times at the local gun shop. Felt good in my hand though it seemed to be a tad bit wider than some of the other micro-size/high capacity 9mm.s. out there. The first one I looked at had a problem with the trigger not working properly. A few weeks later and I tried another one, but this time it wouldn't let the magazine seat all the way in. Repeated attempts by the sales clerk failed to get it to close.

These two examples would certainly not deter me from getting one but I would definitely check everything out before I picked one up.

I purchased a CSX and it performs as advertised. I bought it because it checked a LOT of boxes on what I like in a carry pistol. It has north of 200 rounds thru it and it has not skipped a beat. It now shares duty in my EDC rotation. The alleged false reset that has been heavily publicized is a non-issue on mine. I like the EZ pull tabs on the slide. I like that I can change the mag release button to the opposite side to accommodate my stubby thumbs.. The ambi safety levers are low profile but easy to flip on and off. It's the same size as my Micro 9 but holds 5 more rounds. I like that the grip has interchangeable back straps and great stipling for a solid purchase. The trigger is as nice as my Micro 9 but not as great as my Kimber Ultra. It has typical 3 dots sight which I'll upgrade with the addition of a fiber optic front sight. It's compact and as easily concealable as my Micro 9. It has been as dependable as my Shield Plus.

I've got one and I haven't had any problems with it. The magazine was hard to seat the first couple of times, but went in. The ten round one was hard to fully load the first couple of times. Since then, no problems at all. The trigger reset "problem" I'll be darned if I can find it. If I hold the gun up to my ear, and very slowly let the trigger out, I do hear a tiny "click" just before the "CLICK" of the reset, but it's not something that has ever bothered me at the range. I'm an old revolver shooter, so I'm used to letting the trigger come out all the way. I didn't even know what "reset" was until I looked it up after I watched a couple of video's on the CSX.

The stippling on the grips was sharper than I really care for. I'm an old man with soft hands. A couple of strokes with an emery board from my wife's purse seems to have fixed that "problem." IMHO, the ten round magazine is pretty much worthless (same goes for the seven round one that came with my Shield), so I ordered a couple of extra twelve round ones. Your mileage may varry on that.

As far as shooting, I didn't notice it to kick more or less than other guns it's size. Maybe less since the grip is wider, but I won't swear to that. It is VERY sensitive to sight alignment. Off just a little is off at lot at the target, but that's true of most small guns, like J-frames or the Kimber Micro 9 I used to have. It functioned with any kind of ammo I've tried, FMJ or HP, my reloads or factory.

About the only thing I'd like different now is night sights, but I'm not losing sleep over them. I've got three holsters that fit it. One is a Don Hume J.I.T. that I got originally for the Kimber Micro 9. Works just fine with the CSX. The second is a "no name" Kydex IWB that I got off Ebay. Works fine, I just don't really care for IWB, no matter how many times I try it. And I recently got a paddle holster that's pretty much a J.I.T. with a paddle that has quickly become my favorite. It came from an outfit called "Holsterama" that I've dealt with for years and have always gotten good product and service from.

I agree wholeheartedly with those opinions expressed above.

The CSX has become my EDC belt gun, relegating another nice gun, the SIG P365, to my dedicated pocket gun.

BOARHUNTER

I, too, like 1911's and have three, two 9's and a .45. Bought the CSX expecting to be a happy camper but just never warmed up to it. Traded it for my Ronin 4.25" 9mm and went back to my Shield Plus PC 3.1".

I tore my CSX down to nuts and bolts and I think I discovered the reason for the false reset that the gun is being flamed for.
It has a firing pin safety like found in most, if not all, striker fired pistols. The spring on the plunger is very robust and holds the plunger in the default position with some authority. When the lever that depresses it comes off the plunger as the trigger is being released, there is a snap involved. THAT is the false reset click.
I tried to get to the spring to, shall we say, "modify" it so it doesn't exhibit the tension it currently has, but there is a pin holding everything together that is not readily taken out. Nothing I could come up with allowed removal, so I ramped the firing pin plunger, which is unfortunately made of polymer and not steel and that pretty much eliminated the false reset in my gun.
S&W should have used a steel plunger like other manufactures do.

Looked at one. Felt ok in my hands, if small (but all micros do), but as a 1911 guy I didn’t love the safety and was very underwhelmed by the trigger.

If you’re going SAO, you gotta deliver the trigger. I prefer the 365 flat trigger by a country mile.

Hard pass for me.

Just for personal and subjective reasons, I prefer all metal guns (and I have more than a couple of "poly" constructed pistols that I really like). You won't find many compact, high capacity "carry" pistols that are all metal; which is to say that I like Smith's CSX a lot.

I am very pleased with m CSX....As far as the trigger goes it is as good stock as any factory Colt 1911 I have had. My trigger was a bit "gritty" until I lightly stoned the hammer hooks. The sear engagement surface is fine as-is. Now very smooth and clean let-off. I really like the fact that it has a firing pin block like the Colt series 80 guns.

I just found them to be unattractive. I wish it was set up to take traditional wood grips. The gun is problematic by many accounts, but that fact seems to be ignored and fall on death ears because who is manufacturing it. If S&W secretly manufactured the gun, Taurus or some other budget priced manufacturer distributed it, and the same exact issues were being reported, IMHO, many who are currently giving it a pass wouldn't touch it let alone EDC it even at half the current MSRP. Everyone would bash and caution against it, but hey, double standards in the firearm community is nothing new.

I like metal frame guns to, but the esthetics, issues, no real aftermarket support, and the fact that the CSX does not really offer anything over other micro 9mm's, I is a hard pass for me. I rather just either stick with a P365, Hellcat, Shield Plus, or even a micro 1911. With the CSX, you don't get the classy and attractive look of a 1911 nor do you get the nice trigger. You can't even put wood grips on it, and I have questions about the longevity of the line as it doesn't seem to be taking off. I foresee a nice rebate with a deep price cut on these in the future. Maybe then I will pick one up.

Thay said, it was a great idea, but S&W missed the mark. It needs to be able to accept traditional grips (which will allow the aftermarket to play a role), have a 1911 style trigger, and be more reliable. I wish they would have went for more of a high capacity micro 1911 style with handgun vs trying to make it look like a M&P Shield 1.0 and a micro 1911 had a baby.

Currently, it would just be another 9mm with no definitive mission it accomplishes better than what I now own. I've stated numerous times... this is S&W's opportunity to resurrect a modern version of it's 3rd gen pistols. Make it full size in multiple calibers and they get my attention.

TarDevil said:

Currently, it would just be another 9mm with no definitive mission it accomplishes better than what I now own. I've stated numerous times... this is S&W's opportunity to resurrect a modern version of it's 3rd gen pistols. Make it full size in multiple calibers and they get my attention.

Click to expand...

The market unfortunately wants the smallest, lightweight, less shootable, more recoil, and lightest competition like hair trigger as possible for carry. They also perfer plastic over metal and striker over DA/SA or SA hammer fired. Your wish is a pipe dream.

Styx said:

The market unfortunately wants the smallest, lightweight, less shootable, more recoil, and lightest competition like hair trigger as possible for carry. They also perfer plastic over metal and striker over DA/SA or SA hammer fired. Your wish is a pipe dream.

Click to expand...

Yet, 1911's remain a popular seller.

There's market room, if they'd do it.

TarDevil said:

Yet, 1911's remain a popular seller.

There's market room, if they'd do it.

Click to expand...

I am fairly new to the pistol market. Before 2022 I had a Glock 43 as my pocket/ankle carry gun.
Pistol purchases in 2022: Polymer - Glock 36, which I have decided to sell because it doesn't fit my meaty hands very well.
Metal - 1 Colt 1911, 4 Springfield 1911s, 3 Remington 1911a including a carry model
Considering a CSX because I much prefer metal frame pistols.

citizenconn said:

Considering a CSX because I much prefer metal frame pistols.

Click to expand...

...and a lot of shooters do.

TarDevil said:

Yet, 1911's remain a popular seller.

Click to expand...

Made by more companies than any other type of Pistol to boot.


Never actually seen a CSX in the wild though.

TarDevil said:

Yet, 1911's remain a popular seller.

There's market room, if they'd do it.

Click to expand...

1911s do not sell and are not anywhere near as popular as the double and polymer single stacks on the market. There's a reason why S&W stopped making them, and I only see a small handful of old timers who are still inquiring about them. 1911s are iconic American platform that will always have a following. They also have been used in American wars and issued to Special Forces which in itself made and keeps it popular simular no different than Berettas, M1 Garands, Glocks, Sig P320, Sig P229 etc. Old steel frame S&Ws do not and never had the same interest, sales, or pedigree that the 1911 enjoys. There is also the fact that the 1911, like the AR15, isn't patented. The lack of a patent is one of the main reasons AR15s and 1911s continue to boom and be popular. The 3rd gens aren't on the same level as 1911s.

I reckon they would sell, but would the amount of sales be worth the tooling and time as opposed to using those resources and money on something that will be more popular.

Styx said:

1911s do not sell and are not anywhere near as popular as the double and polymer single stacks on the market.

Click to expand...

errrrrrrrrrrrr there a X times the number of manufactures selling 1911's than poly guns. period the end.

I don't care what your or my preference is.. facts are facts.

Tell me why all these separate companies would go through the trouble?

tarosean said:

errrrrrrrrrrrr there a X times the number of manufactures selling 1911's than poly guns. period the end.

I don't care what your or my preference is.. facts are facts.

Tell me why all these separate companies would go through the trouble?

Click to expand...

[Edit]I misread what you stated at first...

I disagree with your facts. I do not believe there are more manufacturers selling 1911s vs polymer framed guns. Even if I say that is true, polymer frame handguns overwhelming out sell 1911s . Period end of point.

As I stated, polymer frame handguns sell more, are more prevalent, and are more popular with civilians, militaries, law enforcement, etc than 1911s. It's just a fact, and I prefer steel frame handguns and 1911s over polymer, so I am not bashing them. I am still not going to kid myself by saying they are anywhere as popular as polymer guns.

Styx said:

[Edit]I misread what you stated at and I disagree with your facts. I do not believe there are more manufacturers selling 1911s vs polymer framed guns. Even if I say that is true, polymer frame handguns overwhelming out sell 1911s . Period end of point.

Click to expand...

I do not care who outsells who. I stated a fact. I'll give you a hint though, its easier to count the ones that do not make a 1911/have not made a 1911.

Once again why are these companies in business if its a loosing ordeal, according to you?

tarosean said:

I do not care who outsells who. I stated a fact. I'll give you a hint though, its easier to count the ones that do not make a 1911/have not made a 1911.

Click to expand...

You say you don't care, but you quoted and responded to me saying it lol. I state "polymer handguns outsell 1911s", you quote me by saying more manufacturers make 1911s.... What does that have to do with what I stated, and if you don’t care, why did you quote it?

First off, you quoted me saying "1911s do not sell and are not anywhere near as popular as the double and polymer single stacks on the market," then you give information that has nothing to do with and does not refute what you quoted me saying. Now you say don't care? I never stated or said anything about manufacturers making more 1911 or polymer handguns, and that has nothing to do with my original argument. You are using a strawman argument.

Again, you created a new narrative to debate about, but I am interested in whether I am wrong or not. Please list all the companies that currently manufacture 1911s, and I'll list the ones who manufacture polymer handguns. I may learn something new.

Styx said:

You say you don't care, but you quoted and responded to me saying it lol. First off, you quoted me saying "1911s do not sell and are not anywhere near as popular as the double and polymer single stacks on the market," then you give information that has nothing to do with and does not refute what you quoted me saying. Now you say don't care? I never stated or said anything about manufacturers making more 1911 or polymer handguns, and that has nothing to do with my original argument. You are using a strawman argument.

Again, you created a new narrative to debate about, but I am interested in whether I am wrong or not. Please list all the companies that currently manufacture 1911s, and I'll list the ones who manufacture polymer handguns. I may learn something new.

Click to expand...

NM.

I refuse to even look at any of Smith & Wesson offerings, don't need or want any locks on my guns.