2023 Handgun Of The Year: Smith & Wesson CSX

The concealed-carry pistol market is awash in largely similar, striker-fired, polymer-frame models, and it was a refreshing surprise when Smith & Wesson bucked that trend by introducing something completely different into that space. In his story “A Hammer-Fired Micro In Metal,” Field Editor Jeremiah Knupp found the single-action, aluminum-frame, hammer-fired CSX to be an easy-to-shoot micro-compact with ample capacity that was comfortable for all-day carry and indiscriminately ate all ammunition it was fed.

Featuring bilateral controls, interchangeable backstraps and a comfortable 18-degree grip angle, he also found it to be a pistol that will appeal to a great many shooters. “For the shooter who wants a high-capacity, micro-compact 9 mm Luger handgun with a metal frame and an external hammer, the CSX is virtually the only choice,” Knupp said. “Even if you’re not a traditionalist, the CSX holds its own with the striker-fired, polymer-frame models in this highly competitive category.”

“Since the launch of the M&P Shield pistol, Smith & Wesson has been invested in the compact concealed-carry firearm market. With the design of the CSX, we started with a fresh canvas, providing the consumer with a completely different option for concealed carry,” said John Myles, S&W’s senior product manager, in a press release announcing the new pistol’s launch.

Knupp further mentioned in his November 2022 article that, "The true engineering miracle of modern micro-compact handguns like the CSX is their omnivorous appetite. High-performance cartridges in small semi-automatic handguns used to be a recipe for a finicky eater, but the CSX consumed everything we fed it—from target velocity to +P, screwdriver-tipped Preferred Defense 65-grain Interceptor bullets to flat-nose target FMJs, without a hitch. Even when the slide dragging on the web of my hand noticeably slowed the action cycling, the CSX functioned perfectly. I just couldn’t make it malfunction. Accuracy across this wide variety of ammunition was also surprisingly consistent."

American Rifleman staff spent time on the range with Smith & Wesson's CSX, filming with the micro-compact pistol for "Gun Of The Week," noting on video that, "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." You can watch that Gun Of The Week video here to see the CSX in use on the range.

Between the fact that it virtually stands alone, and that it is a quality micro-compact 9 mm option that deviates from the status quo, the decidedly different S&W CSX earned our recognition as Handgun Of The Year. For more information, visit smith-wesson.com.

About American Rifleman Golden Bullseye Awards: Created more than two decades ago as a way to publicly acknowledge those firearms and shooting accessories from the previous year’s crop of new products that exhibited the highest quality, the most value or that offered welcome innovation, the Golden Bullseye Awards have become one of the gun industry’s most coveted honors. That's why the editors of this magazine take the responsibility so seriously when we meet annually to deliberate and ultimately decide upon the recipients—and the process seemed to be even more significant than usual this time in light of American Rifleman celebrating its 100th anniversary in July of 2023.