On The Range: Smith & Wesson CSX

by
posted on January 17, 2022
** When you buy products through the links on our site, we may earn a commission that supports NRA's mission to protect, preserve and defend the Second Amendment. **

Watch our American Rifleman range video above to see the new Smith & Wesson CSX in action.

One of the hottest segments of today's concealed-carry market is the so-called "micro-compact," and when looking at that market, it's dominated by polymer-frame, striker-fired handguns. Smith & Wesson went in a different direction with its CSX, which features all-metal construction with an aluminum-alloy frame and a hammer-fired ignition system.

Smith & Wesson created a worthy contender in the more-traditional marketplace of striker-fired handguns with the introduction of its Shield Plus, but to give consumers an alternative that stood out from the crowd, the company went back to the drawing board to create its CSX. In addition to its metal grip frame and hammer-fired ignition system, the pistol also features a bilateral manual safety and slide-stop lever. As configured from the factory, the gun also includes a right-hand magazine-release button, but the pistol ships with an additional magazine-release button that can be swapped out for left-hand use.

Other features of the Smith & Wesson CSX include a flat-faced trigger design that feel smooth and seamless, yet still includes a bladed mechanism for added safety. The guns are machined with serrations at the front and rear of the slide, and glare-reducing serrations also span the length of the slide's top. Each pistol is equipped with high-visibility night sights, and the gun also includes the same comfortable 18-degree grip angle found on its M&P handgun lineup for a natural point of aim. Interchangeable backstraps are also available for an improved hand fit, and the pistol is built with S&W's "EZ Tab," which reduces the amount of effort needed to rack the slide.

Suggested retail pricing on the Smith & Wesson CSX is $609. For more information, visit smith-wesson.com.

Latest

155th NRA Annual Meetings & Exhibits
155th NRA Annual Meetings & Exhibits

A Celebration of American Freedom: The 155th NRA Annual Meetings & Exhibits

With acres of exhibition space, addresses from NRA’s leadership, an epic country concert and literally tens of thousands of guns on display, the 155th NRA Annual Meetings & Exhibits in Houston­—and our nation’s 250th celebration—are not to be missed.

The "Dreaded Dry-Fire" Training Talk

Talk to the best shooters in the world, and you will hear the same story: the majority of their skill development did not happen on the range with ammunition. It happened with dry-fire practice.

U.S. Army Testing Improved Gun Barrel Material

In a joint collaboration with Geissele Automatics and Carpenter Technologies, the U.S. Army indicated that it's currently developing a new kind of steel for gun barrels that promises greater longevity and performance.

Rifleman Review: KelTec PR57

KelTec is known for its out-of-the-box designs, so when it came to designing a dedicated personal-protection firearm, the PR57, the company took a different approach than nearly every other firearm maker out there.

VOID Suppressors: Canik Joins the Silence Movement

Canik is largely known for its handguns, but with its new VOID line, the company recently joined the movement of manufacturers producing their own suppressors.

Falco Holsters Launches CarryArt Holster Series

Falco Holsters has officially launched its new CarryArt series, introducing two of its most unconventional designs to date: the CX14 Pineapple and CX15 Strawberry leather OWB holsters.

Interests



Get the best of American Rifleman delivered to your inbox.