NRA Gun Of The Week: Smith & Wesson CSX

by
posted on July 1, 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. **

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

Freedom Ordnance FM9D 1
Freedom Ordnance FM9D 1

Review: Freedom Ordnance FM-9D

New small arms with groundbreaking designs are rare in an industry where new products tend to be evolutionary rather than revolutionary. Fortunately, Freedom Ordnance marches to the beat of a different drum and invested its creative energy into developing the unique, innovative FM-9D. 

Number of Retail FFLs Dwindling

The number of retail outlets with an FFL Type 01 license to sell firearms has declined by more than 13 percent in just the last five years.

Ammunition Depot and NRA Partner to Expand Support for Second Amendment Litigation

The NRA has invested more than $3 million in California Second Amendment litigation since 2021 and has provided support for Rhode v. Bonta; Ammunition Depot is launching a checkout donation option to help fund ongoing legal efforts.

The Murdoch & Co. EM85: An SA80 for America

Most modern service rifles are sold in the U.S. in semi-automatic form. There is one glaring exception, and that is the British L85. Murdoch & Co., an American company, is changing that reality with its EM85.

I Have This Old Gun: The British Brown Bess

One of the most iconic military longarms ever made, the British Land Pattern musket, more commonly known as the "Brown Bess," equipped British infantrymen across the world for more than a century.

Rifleman Interview: CCI Rimfire Ammunition

CCI’s rimfire offerings were part of the Plinkapalooza event in May.

Interests



Get the best of American Rifleman delivered to your inbox.