NRA Gun Of The Week: Smith & Wesson CSX

by
posted on July 1, 2022

The CSX from Smith & Wesson is a robust little pistol that, unlike like many of the striker-fired offerings that have come from the legendary pistol maker, provides users with a customizable micro-compact alloy frame and hammer-fired ignition. Watch the video above to see the CSX in use.

Man with handgun pistol wearing ballcap earmuffs glasses at white shooting range shooting pistol handgun smith&wesson csx hammer-fired semi-automatic nra gun of the week


Weighing in at just 19.5 ozs. unloaded, and measuring 4.6”-tall by 6.1”-long, the CSX is tailored for deep concealment, however, the CSX isn’t the thinnest micro-compact on the market, measuring just over 1" wide due to the ambidextrous safety and slide stop levers. A reversible magazine release button is included, too, so the CSX will perform admirably, regardless of hand dominance. Smith & Wesson incorporates a few creature comforts throughout the construction of its CSX. M&P-style stippling is found on the interchangeable backstraps and front strap, and EZ-tabs are at the rear of the stainless steel slide to provide added surface area for easier purchase and manipulation. A specialized treatment is applied for a durable and corrosion-resistant finish that gives the stainless slide a matte-black appearance. Further reducing glare, Smith & Wesson incorporates a series of straight-line serrations that run the full length of the slide’s top.

Smith & Wesson INC CSX handgun pistol grip module replacement part addon accessories


The sights on the CSX are dovetailed and can be used for tactical racking, should your support hand be injured or otherwise occupied, and are made of metal making for a three-dot configuration. Combined with the 3.1” stainless steel barrel, the gun is plenty capable of producing great accuracy during defensive drills. Throughout the CSX are burnished edges that makes for smooth holstering. In addition, the muzzle end of the slide is beveled and heavily melted, too. Our testers enjoyed the generous beavertail and trigger guard undercut, considering the shortened frame height and 9 mm chambering. The beveled ejection port is an added bonus, and the gun’s 12-round extended magazine in conjunction with the flush-fitting 10 rounder, is a powerful package for those looking for a more traditionally constructed pistol with a single-action arrangement that’s made to perform in the modern micro-compact market.

left quater view front csx smith and wesson handgun pistol 9 mm


Specifications:
Manufacturer: Smith & Wesson, Inc.
Model: CSX
Action Type: single-action, semi-automatic, hammer-fired centerfire pistol
Chambering: 9 mm Luger
Slide: stainless steel, Armornite finish
Frame: aluminum alloy
Barrel: 3.1" stainless steel, Armornite finish
Sights: dovetailed, three-dot
Magazine: 10- and 12-round detachable box
Height: 4.6"
Length: 6.1"
Width: 1.12"
Weight: 19.5 ozs.
MSRP: $609

Latest

heavy machine gun crew with DShK on tripod pointing in air above trees
heavy machine gun crew with DShK on tripod pointing in air above trees

Red Fifty: The Soviet 12.7 mm DShK Heavy Machine Gun

While the Browning .50-cal. M2 machine gun has been unequaled for more than a century, John Moses Browning’s genius design has had one significant 12.7 mm competitor: the Soviet DShK.

Support The NRA Youth Education Summit (YES) On Giving Tuesday

With more than 1,200 students having graduated from the program and over $700,000 in scholarships awarded since 1996, NRA's YES is an immersive leadership program for high school students eager to learn about the foundations of our nation, the importance of civic engagement and the role of the Second Amendment.

Rifleman Review: Remington 360 Buckhammer

Remington Ammunition's 360 Buckhammer is a straight-wall hunting cartridge that's designed to give deer hunters an ideal round for their Midwestern hunt.

New For 2025: EAA Girsan Witness2311 Brat, Match and MatchX

European American Armory Corp. (EAA) introduced an affordable variation of the double-stack 1911 design with their Girsan Witness2311 in 2023, continually adding additional chamberings and slide length options. New for 2025, the company is adding three new versions of the Witness2311 with the Match, MatchX and Brat models.

Review: Citadel Trakr

At less than 4 lbs., this repeating rifle is easy on the back while also being extraordinarily easy on the budget.

Freedom Munitions To Move Ammo Component Production To Idaho

Freedom Munitions has announced it will be consolidating its projectile component production from X-Treme Bullets out of Nevada into its Lewiston, Idaho, facilities.

Interests



Get the best of American Rifleman delivered to your inbox.