Range Report: Smith and Wesson CSX

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CajunBass

CajunBass

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I've always enjoyed being a "beta tester" so I bought a new CSX from the LGS a week or so ago.

I finally got a chance to run about 100 rounds through it this morning. Neat little gun. No malfunctions. I didn't shoot it any worse than I do most other guns. It's got a pretty good trigger, breaking between 4.5 and 5.0 on my trigger pull gauge consistently. Maybe not a target trigger, but not bad for a small self defense gun I don't suppose. I had no issues with the "false reset" that I've heard about on U-tube and different forums. But then I had to look up "Trigger reset" to figure out what they were talking about.

Being a small gun it's a little snappy, and the stippling is "agressive" shall we say. It didn't take off any skin, but I did know I'd been shooting it when I was finished.

Looks pretty good too, I think.

SWCSX.jpg

And fits a Don Hume J.I.T. hoslter for a Kimber Micro 9 pretty well I'd say.

SWCSXDH.jpg
 
Cool. I have a few other micro-9 pistols so I’m not in the market for another one, but I’m glad to hear your new CSX worked well and the trigger felt good when you were shooting it. :)

As for the gripping surfaces of the guns frame, that can always be addressed in a variety of ways if you find it too abrasive. (I always smooth out the radius on the trigger guards of my Glocks, the standard radius gives me a blister if I shoot more than 75-100 rounds through them at a time.) if you do choose to alter it, let us know what you did and how it worked out for you :thumbup:.

Stay safe.
 
Aggressive grip texture wears out my shirts pretty quickly.
For my M&P 9 2.0 I sanded the points off the stippling to save my cover garments. Saves the tender parts of the hand too.
 
CajunBass
I've always enjoyed being a "beta tester" so I bought a new CSX from the LGS a week or so ago.
Click to expand...

Well someone had to do it!

I checked one out last month and I was pleasantly surprised how good it felt in my hand. Definitely feels smaller than it appears in photos. So I will let all of you "Beta testers" continue your evaluations of the gun before I decide if it's a possible candidate for acquisition.
 
Had my CSX for it's first run last week and pretty much what the OP says was my experience. All 5 round X's at 5 yrd, 9&10 rings at 10 yrds. Slow fire, nothing fancy, very pleased. Easy choice to replace the LCPII for EDC on most days once I get some defensive drills in.
 
CajunBass said:
I've always enjoyed being a "beta tester" so I bought a new CSX from the LGS a week or so ago.

I finally got a chance to run about 100 rounds through it this morning. Neat little gun. No malfunctions. I didn't shoot it any worse than I do most other guns. It's got a pretty good trigger, breaking between 4.5 and 5.0 on my trigger pull gauge consistently. Maybe not a target trigger, but not bad for a small self defense gun I don't suppose. I had no issues with the "false reset" that I've heard about on U-tube and different forums. But then I had to look up "Trigger reset" to figure out what they were talking about.

Being a small gun it's a little snappy, and the stippling is "agressive" shall we say. It didn't take off any skin, but I did know I'd been shooting it when I was finished.

Looks pretty good too, I think.

View attachment 1058053

And fits a Don Hume J.I.T. hoslter for a Kimber Micro 9 pretty well I'd say.

View attachment 1058054
Click to expand...
Thanks for the review! I was able to rent one (for free) from my range tonight and ran about 30 rounds through it. I like the size, way it feels, and the fact it's all metal. I will say however that it didn't shoot that accurately for me. I shot a 1.0 Shield and a Shield Plus immediately after and definitely shot those better, although I realize now that the Shield Plus is significantly bigger. I put them side by side. I also assume that the Shield 1.0 is larger. So that may have affected the shooteability. Also, I have far more experience with Shields than the new CSX.
 
bannockburn said:
CajunBass


Well someone had to do it!

I checked one out last month and I was pleasantly surprised how good it felt in my hand. Definitely feels smaller than it appears in photos. So I will let all of you "Beta testers" continue your evaluations of the gun before I decide if it's a possible candidate for acquisition.
Click to expand...
It does feel good in hand. I overlaid it over a Shield Plus. It was way less in height. About the same length. So, it's smaller than I thought actually.
 
Autodidactic
It does feel good in hand. I overlaid it over a Shield Plus. It was way less in height. About the same length. So, it's smaller than I thought actually.
Click to expand...

If you want to visually compare dimensions between two guns, go to handgunhero.com. They have it where you can see the guns back to back, facing in, and facing out, along with their dimensions.
 
bannockburn said:
Autodidactic


If you want to visually compare dimensions between two guns, go to handgunhero.com. They have it where you can see the guns back to back, facing in, and facing out, along with their dimensions.
Click to expand...
Yeah, I was thinking of this when I wrote my comment. I wasn't certain if they had CSX in there yet.

It looks like the CSX is ever so slightly smaller than the original Shield. But, it still holds I think 3-5 extra rounds (10,12).

Smith & Wesson CSX vs M&P 9 Shield size comparison | Handgun Hero

Same with Plus. CSX slightly smaller, but mainly in the trigger area.

Smith & Wesson CSX vs M&P 9 Shield Plus size comparison | Handgun Hero
 
Autodidactic said:
Thanks for the review! I was able to rent one (for free) from my range tonight and ran about 30 rounds through it. I like the size, way it feels, and the fact it's all metal. I will say however that it didn't shoot that accurately for me. I shot a 1.0 Shield and a Shield Plus immediately after and definitely shot those better, although I realize now that the Shield Plus is significantly bigger. I put them side by side. I also assume that the Shield 1.0 is larger. So that may have affected the shooteability. Also, I have far more experience with Shields than the new CSX.
Click to expand...

You're right. The CSX is MUCH smaller than the Shield. I've got two Shields, a 2.0, and a 9mm EZ PC. The CSX looks like a watch fob next to them, yet it holds four more rounds (I don't even count the 10 round mag).

I don't shoot the CSX any worse than I did the Kimber Micro 9 I used to have, maybe I shoot it better. The Micro 9 had a much smaller grip, plus the slick grips on the one I had, would slip in my hand once my hand started to sweat. Sure, I could have changed the grips, but the main reason I bought the little thing was to be honest, because I really liked the grips, but that infatuation ended pretty quickly so that one went on down the road.

The CSX on the other hand had good stippling on the grips. Maybe too good. After the first range session my hand was stinging. On the advice of a lady from Glock Talk, I swiped an emery board from my wife, and just buffed up the stippling just a little bit to take the edge off. No more problems with that.

I've done another 50 or so rounds through it on my last range trip. No change in the gun. It sill functioned without a hitch. I took some shots seated with my elbows resting on the bench and proved to myself that my bushel basket sized groups were not the fault of the gun. Just the shaky old man holding it.
 
CajunBass said:
You're right. The CSX is MUCH smaller than the Shield. I've got two Shields, a 2.0, and a 9mm EZ PC. The CSX looks like a watch fob next to them, yet it holds four more rounds (I don't even count the 10 round mag).

I don't shoot the CSX any worse than I did the Kimber Micro 9 I used to have, maybe I shoot it better. The Micro 9 had a much smaller grip, plus the slick grips on the one I had, would slip in my hand once my hand started to sweat. Sure, I could have changed the grips, but the main reason I bought the little thing was to be honest, because I really liked the grips, but that infatuation ended pretty quickly so that one went on down the road.

The CSX on the other hand had good stippling on the grips. Maybe too good. After the first range session my hand was stinging. On the advice of a lady from Glock Talk, I swiped an emery board from my wife, and just buffed up the stippling just a little bit to take the edge off. No more problems with that.

I've done another 50 or so rounds through it on my last range trip. No change in the gun. It sill functioned without a hitch. I took some shots seated with my elbows resting on the bench and proved to myself that my bushel basket sized groups were not the fault of the gun. Just the shaky old man holding it.
Click to expand...
This is what I don't understand. Handgun hero shows the CSX as being roughly the same height and length of the Shields. But, yesterday in store the attendant and I overlaid a CSX over a Shield Plus and it was clearly smaller.

I don't know why, but I have a hankering for an all metal Smith semi-auto. Thanks for the beta testing ;).
 
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Ok. Maybe "watch fob" was a bit of an exaggeration, but that's more the way I "feel" about it. The CSX "feels" a LOT smaller to me I guess, but when I hold them up side by side, something I hadn't done until now, by golly, there isn't a lot of difference, except for the EZ PC, but that has a longer barrel in the first place. It's an almost exact size overlay for the SCCY CPX-2, only maybe a 1/4" or so shorter in the Shield 2.0, unless you don't count the beavertail.

(edited)_ThePack.png

Top left. Shield 2.0, Shield 9mm EZPC
Bottom CSX, SCCY CPX-2

The slide looks and feels a lot "shallower" I guess would be the word. The CSX has a "low bore axis" I suppose is the term. It sits very low in the hand, and the slide sits very low on the frame...or the frame is very shallow...call it what you will. With my hand in the proper position, my trigger finger extends to about the end of the muzzle, but then checking the 2.0 and the SCCY, that's about the same. The EZ again is quite a bit different, but it's clearly a bigger gun. The 2.0 and the EZ both have a grip I can really get my hand on. The SCCY is the same, but that's with the hook extension on the mag. Take that off and I'd bet it would be a two finger/half pinky grip like the CSX (with the twelve round).

Now that I think about it, here holding the four guns together, it's the low bore axis that gives me the impression that it's a much smaller gun. It sits really low in my hand. I can't say I've noticed any difference in the recoil, but then I've never really thought about it. No two guns ever recoil the same to me anyway.

More rambling. The two shields are single stacks, with eight round mags. The CSX and the SCCY are both double stacks. The CSX as pictured has the twelve round mag installed. The SCCY has a ten rounder. The CSX feels smaller. I'll bet a ruler wouldn't show it, but that feel is what led me to call it a "watch fob." Even the SCCY feels bigger in my hand.

One other thing I thought of. The CSX is very easy to rack. Not much different than the EZ actually. On the other hand, the 2.0 and the SCCY are much harder to rack the slide, something I probably wouldn't have noticed until I started fooling with the EZ. Now THERE is a difference. The CSX has "wings" on the back of the slide, similar to, but not as big as the ones on the EZ. Man, I could use those on the 2.0. I can cheat and use the red dot on the SCCY if I have too.

Sorry for all the rambling, but my eyes and the "feel" of things tell me something different than what rulers and such might say. Hope it's been some help.
 
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So, I totally have not heard about the CSX. I guess I'm out of the loop the past couple months. Where does this sit in the lineup ? What is its competition ? Didn't the Shield Plus just come out in the fall ? How do they compare size, weight, and capacity ?

-Jeff
 
My first ccw was an all steel Colt OM..It concealed ok and shot fantastic after installing a Bar-Sto barrel. But it was just too heavy....pulled my pants off my butt! Next was a first gen Ruger LC9. Light, could be concealed anywhere...but with the worst, longest, heaviest trigger I ever experienced on a gun. Most adequate for tire iron ranges...but I wanted something that I could hit with at gas-station-snack-shelf length. Thus the CSX...it checked all the boxes for me. It also has a Colt series 80 "type" firing pin block so in a Kydex holster I am comfortable carrying cocked and locked.
 
CajunBass said:
I've done another 50 or so rounds through it on my last range trip. No change in the gun. It sill functioned without a hitch. I took some shots seated with my elbows resting on the bench and proved to myself that my bushel basket sized groups were not the fault of the gun. Just the shaky old man holding it.
Click to expand...

I know what you mean. I haven't shot a CSX but I'm sure it would have the same problem as all the rest of my pistols. In our case it does seem to be the Indian instead of the arrow. No matter, I will keep shooting as long as I can hold me and the gun up. I might say a few bad words directed at my results but I'm not quitting.

I handled a CSX last Saturday. This particular gun ( just taken out of the box by the dealer) had a decent trigger but like others have said, S&W could have toned down the grippyness on the back of the grip. I have found this problem on every previous S&W of the series that I have handled. Some people might like it but if I bought one it would have sandpaper applied to the grip first rattle out of the box. I like the little gun as I prefer a safety and hammer but I am going to stick with my Sig 365 XLS. It checks more boxes than the Smith for me.
 
The day I got my CSX I chose to void the warranty and got deep into it (it is NOT the same as a 1911) and not only polish, but alter some of the components that led to the false reset. It is real and it is there.
I found much of it comes, or in my case, came, from when the trigger bar which was disconnected from the sear as the slide went back, snapped back into place on the lower portion of the sear in preparation for the next shot.
By polishing the upper and rear surface of that trigger bar and relieving the trailing edge of it, it went from a snap to a gentle slide.
It is possible that by design, the false reset may never be completely eliminated, but it certainly can be controlled.
In my gun I have to be carefully looking for it to find it. Given to another person with no knowledge of the problem, nothing would be noticed.
 
Mousegun said:
The day I got my CSX I chose to void the warranty and got deep into it (it is NOT the same as a 1911) and not only polish, but alter some of the components that led to the false reset. It is real and it is there.
I found much of it comes, or in my case, came, from when the trigger bar which was disconnected from the sear as the slide went back, snapped back into place on the lower portion of the sear in preparation for the next shot.
By polishing the upper and rear surface of that trigger bar and relieving the trailing edge of it, it went from a snap to a gentle slide.
It is possible that by design, the false reset may never be completely eliminated, but it certainly can be controlled.
In my gun I have to be carefully looking for it to find it. Given to another person with no knowledge of the problem, nothing would be noticed.
Click to expand...
I wonder if you could be a little more descriptive with pics on exactly where you polished.
 
CajunBass said:
I'm glad I'm not the only one. Yea..Yea...I got soft old man hands. My Father was a carpenter all his life. He'd have laughed at me for whinning about this. :rofl:
Click to expand...

I love aggressive grips, my 365 xl with Wilson frame shaved a good bit of skin off my palm on the first trip, but it sure didn’t slip in my hand. I call that a plus.

Just a new spot I need to get a callus going on my hand. I have a few, wife won’t let me touch her if she’s wearing a silk dress (Lord knows that hasn’t happened in a while!) cause of my hands.
 
I purchased a CSX and ran it thru some paces this past weekend. It performed without error and had no hiccups, albeit my first few shots thru it were 3" high and left ... that was due to a lack of full concentration on my part, grip and a short sight radius may have played a roll too, (allthough I have the same sight radius on several defensive pistols). I'm going to go with grip.. I'll switch over to the smaller grip next time out with it. When I bore down and really focused it shot where I aimed it. I used 115 gr FMJ Blazer ammo on this outing, I'll try some Federal 124 grain next time out to see if it makes a difference. Both the 10 round and 12 round magazines took a full load and presented no problems in loading. The only downside on the 12 round mag is the loose little spacer...I see why it's needed, but there has to be a better way. Annoying, but not a deal breaker. The trigger reset issue that is all the buzz isn't an issue in my book. I see there are some YouTube videos circulating on an easy fix for it if one finds it troublesome. The CSX trigger has a shorter reset than all my pistols with the exception of my Kimber Ultra.. now that trigger is really sweet..but then it's in a class of its own. When the SHTF and the adrenaline's cursing thru my veins I don't see where I'll be to very mindfull of its trigger reset double click.

I purchased this little gem because I was intrigued with all the offerings it has and to share the EDC duties with my Shield Plus and my Kimber Micro 9 Rapide. Currently I find myself carrying the Rapide more often than not because of it's smaller stature. In the right holster it's an extremely concealable firearm for IWB appendix carry. The CSX fits snugly in the Micro 9 holster. Once I have the CSX fully vetted it may get the more frequent nod. Because it's a SAO firearm I'm going to compare it primarily to my Kimber Micro 9 Rapide. I do really like my Shield Plus also, but have been bitten by the 1911 styled pistol bug.

Aside from its increased capacity, what I really like about it is the included separate reverse mag release button (something usually not found in 1911styled pistols). I have stubby thumbs and find it difficult working a thumb release. I find it easier to use my strong hand index finger to actuate it. I switch the release over on all pistols that allow me to do so. I really like the European paddle release and wish it were an option on all pistols.

Another feature that is likeable is the ambi safety. It's easy to switch off and on and its overall smaller stature doesn't have me bumping it on with my thumb from recoil when firing...that is an issue with my Micro 9.

Yet another very useful to me feature is the raised serration nub at the rear of the slide (like on the EZ's). It really assists my arthritic hands in racking the slide easily. Though they don't call it the EZ rack, I find the slide lighter and easier to retract than my Micro 9.

Another useful feature are the two interchangeable grip backstraps. It came with the large ones installed and they tend to fit my larger hands, but I'm going to give the small one a try also to see if it makes a difference in control.

In setting it side by side against my Kimber Micro Rapide..the CSX has a shorter grip height even with the 12 round mag. We all know that grip length/height is important in a conceal carry gun. It gives me an additional 5 rounds in the same package. The CSX is about 1/16" wider than the Rapide. Barrel length is negligible.

From an asthetic standpoint IMHO, the Micro 9 Rapide is a nicer looking firearm...sleeker, has finer lines and is a lot flashier...but this CSX has pushed a lot of the buttons on what I like in a firearm. Only time will tell if it turns out to be my favorite carry piece.
 
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