S&W CS45... interested in feedback!

[Daguerre]

I get the impression that the Smith & Wesson Chief Special 45 is a pretty great little .45. I would love to hear from owners about their experiences with this pistol.

 

[10-Ring]

I've shot the CS 9. Seemed like a nice piece. My only concern is the grip of the gun. If you fit the grip, they're fine. If not, there isn't much that can be done to improve them.

 

[Onslaught]

Ditto what 10-ring said.

I had made up my mind that the CS40 (same frame) was the PERFECT summer primary CCW for me. I found one brand new for $389, but after holding it, the grip just did not fit me at all. I spent 30 minutes trying like the grip, simply because the price was soooo great, but I couldn't do it. I walked out empty handed and completely disappointed.

I bought another Kahr instead.

 

[Charles S]

I have and carry a CS 45. I aggree with 10-Ring and Onslaught on the grip. Handle one and make sure the grip works for you.

On the plus side if it fits is will probably be a great gun. I have shot about 1000 rounds of ammo through mine in varius configurations and mine is very reliable. My current carry loading is the Georgia Arms 185gr Gold Dot in the +P configuration.

Overall the gun is very small and is light for a 45 ACP, but is not uncomfortable to shoot. Mine shoots to the point of aim and is about a 2.5" gun at 50 feet. I reallize this gun may be a fluke, but it is very accurate for a small gun.

I really like mine and I generally carry it in a Blade Tech IWB holster.

I really like this gun.

Feel free to E-mail me with any more specific questions.

Charles

 

[McKamie]

I've owned a S45 for about eight months now and I like it better every time I carry it... which is every day. I looked at every .45 on the market before I bought it, but all the folks in this thread who have said "make sure it feels right before you buy it" are exactly right. If you have small hands, you may not be comfortable with the trigger reach. If you have large hands, you may not like the shortness of the grip. I had shot a SIG P245 which also has a short grip, but I didn't like it. I have large hands and with the CS45 I curl my little finger under the grip and it works perfectly. It consistently shoots 1.5" - 2.5" groups at 7 and 10 yards, it's very comfortable to shoot, and it has never had a failure of any kind.

I have a SIG P220 which I have carried for 15 years... until I got the CS45. Now, the little Smith is ALL I carry.

To paraphrase a famous attourney: If the CS fits, you must get it!

Mac

 

[10-Ring]

Except for their Sigma line of semi's, the S&W semi's I've shot were nice shooters & felt well made. I've heard stories of feeding problems, QC/QA problems and issues concerning the grip.
Honestly, take a really good fondle before you purchase.

 

[fastbolt]

I've owned one since the stainless versions were released, and I have a friend that bought one of the earliest blued models, so I've had a chance to shoot them since they were first released. Rather than try to repeat everything I've previously written in answer to this question, though, if you don't mind I thought I'd post some links to other threads where this subject was discussed. While you'll read things I've written, you can also read feedback from others in these threads ...

http://www.smith-wessonforum.com/ubb/Forum12/HTML/001088.html

http://www.thefiringline.com/forums/showthread.php?threadid=140317&highlight=CS45+cs45

http://www.smith-wessonforum.com/ubb/Forum12/HTML/000883.html

http://www.smith-wessonforum.com/ubb/Forum12/HTML/000825.html

http://www.pistolsmith.com/viewtopic.php?t=9963&highlight=cs45+cs45

Aide from a couple of the very early issues regarding the overly tight barrel tab/breech face tolerances possibly present in some of the earliest pistols that left the factory, and the early magazines where the secondary indentations apparently weren't exactly positioned opposite each other on some magazines ... these have generally been reported to be great little .45's ...

Anytime a manufacturer makes a very small, large caliber pistol there's always the potential for short slide cycling and reduced slide mass/increased slide velocity issues to pop up ... especially in the hands of folks with "marginal" grip strength & "stability" tendencies ... S&W seems to have created a subcompact .45 that's very reliable in this regard, however ...

While the grip is "chunky", mainly due to the decreased grip height, and the rubber grip designed to cushion the sharp recoil of the lightweight pistol making it seem a little fat in the "girth" ... the front-to-back dimension isn't uncomfortable for a reasonable range of shooters. It's more comfortable, to my hand, than the similar dimension of the Glock G36, which really feels like a 2X4 without any of the cushioning.

The heavy DA trigger is necessitated by the shortest hammer spring used in a S&W TDA pistol, which is due to the shortened grip height.

If the CS45 doesn't fit your hand as well as you'd prefer, though, take a look at the 457S or the 4513TSW. They're compact, versus subcompact, but they aren't really that much larger ... 3.75" barrels versus 3.25" for the CS45 ... and might fit your hand much better, while still being reasonable sized for lawful CCW use, if that's a concern. Both the 457 & 4513 platforms are even more comfortable when it comes to perceived recoil, as well ... although that's all a very subjective thing ...

 

[MoreCowBell]

Thread Resurrection-Shoulder Rigs?

I've had a CS45 for several years and it's my favorite carry. I always wanted to try a shoulder rig for it but I haven't been able to find a leather one that listed this piece as a fit.
Anybody got any ideas?

 

[2cooltoolz]

You have me googling CS45 threads CowBell .

 

[Charles S]

Everyone needs one or two!

 

[MoreCowBell]

Nice outfit. What holster is that? Does the knife live in the holster too?
My chief's is the same color scheme. I never can decide whether I prefer the black gun. I'm pretty evenly divided in number between black and silver (alloy or stainless, no chrome). I lean toward black for concealment, white for impact.

 

[PX15]

FWIW:

I'm a big 3rd Gen S&W fan, but primarily in 9mm, and I only bought a CS45 because I have the CS9 and like it so much.

The CS45 has turned out to be my favorite of the bunch, and now is my larger caliber cc choice over the CS9 and my other 9's.

I echo those folks who say a person contemplating buying a CS45 (or 9) that holding one before hand is a good idea. Fortunately my medium sized hands are perfectly suited to the grips of the CS9 and CS45, but I can see where anothers might not..

Of course now that "Big Dog" here on the forum is making aftermarket grips that seem very popular with those folks who have them for these pistols just because the original grips don't work is no reason to pass one of these fine guns.

Just personal opinion, and yep I realize I'm the master of the "run-on sentence"...

Jesse

 

[Charles S]

The holster is a Blade Tech IWB holster. Actually it is an older holster that has been great. Their newer holsters are even better. The knife generally rides in my back pocket.

http://www.blade-tech.com/

 

[MoreCowBell]

Sorry Charles S, making a quick reply at zero dark thirty I miss-spoke.
I meant does the light live in the holster. It looks like there's an extra channel above the slide space. Probably just for the sight to ride out in.

I occasionally go out (not far) without a gun, but never without a light and a knife.
mcb