S&W CS9 thoughts?

[PX15]

FWIW:

I'm more "into" compact (sub-compact) and even full size 9mm pistols and I'm soon to be in the market for another pistol I don't need.

I will use this firearm for casual cc duty and pleasure plinking, (at self defense range, 7' or less).

Here's what I've had: (Or still have).

Taurus PT92 (not much of a compact, but I had one)
Star BM
Glock 26
Bersa Thunder 9/Ultra Compact
KelTec P11
Walther P1
Walther P5
Walther P99c/AS
Walther P99/AS
Walther PPS
H&K P7
Sig P239
S&W 3913
S&W 3913LS
S&W 6906
S&W 5906

As advancing senility slowly eats it's way through my old brain cells I need all the advice and suggestions others might offer in almost anything anymore, but for the moment I would just like to get input, advice, or recommendations for just those folks with personal experience with the 3rd generation S&W CS9.

Never held one, only seen photos..

I am a big fan of the discontinued 3rd gen Smiths, (maybe the only one left?) and I love my 3913LS..

So, if you have something to say about the CS9 that might give me a clue if one might be, or might not be, the next 9mm pistol for me, please sound off.

Thanks!

Jesse

 

[Dollar An Hour]

It should be a lot like your other 3rd-Gen DA/SA S&W's, but smaller!

After market grips are tough to find. You'd have to add NS if you want them (I like them on a CC pistol).

But it won't really do anything that your P99c AS doesn't already do.

 

[PX15]

Dollar An Hour:

My P99c/AS won't do anything for me anymore, as I made a bad mistake and sold it when I got my PPS.. I had thought the slim PPS a great replacement for th P99c/AS, being so much thinner, and with better three white dot sights, but my first PPS was a POS, and I sold the new replacement S&W CS send me..

My main complaint with the P99c/AS (which was an excellent pistol, and very, very accurate) was it's doublestack thickness in the grip.

Is the grip of the CS9 thinner than that of the P99c/AS?

Thanks!

Jesse

P.S. What is NS?

 

[Storm]

I like mine quite a bit. I'm not sure what it will add beyond your 3913 (I have one as well) but I enjoy having both. The CS9 is more compact in some ways but thicker. It's a great shooter. Comparing it to a PPS is apples to oranges (I have one also). For your described purpose the CS9 is perfect.
Around the north metro Atlanta area I've seen a bunch of them lately. BTW,you will find many 3rd Gen fans around.

 

[PX15]

Storm:

Thanks..

Seems like you and I have several pistols in common, do you happen to have an HK P7?



For sheer accuracy I've yet to see a standard production 9mm pistol any better. I hear the Walther P88 is very accurate, but it's seldom seen, very pricey, and too large for a cc firearm.

Thanks again,

Jesse

 

[fastbolt]

S&W contracted with Hogue to make rubber grips for the CS series. I was told their thinking was that the brisk recoil in the little guns would bother some customers, and that since lots of customers apparently liked aftermarket grips (like Hogue grips) they would probably like them on the little guns in the first place.

They're a bit chunky, though. More so the CS40 & CS45 than the CS9, although the CS9 does have a bit of thicker grip profile than the 3913 equipped with Hogue grips. It will probably feel a bit more blocky in the grip to you than the P99c.

I held off buying a CS9 for a while because I just didn't see how S&W could really improve upon what they'd accomplished with the 3913. I was (and remain) very pleased with my 3913.

It wasn't until I'd spent some range sessions with another instructor's CS9 that I really came to appreciate the slightly smaller (really only length-wise) CS9 and finally ordered one of my own. It was one of the later production models with the ambidextrous safety/decocker and metal Novak Low Mount sights.

Great little pistol. The Hogue grip actually fits my hand as if made with me in mind. A bit more snap than the 3913, but easily the equal of the 3913 in terms of reasonable accuracy. Surprised me.

The shorter hammer spring makes for a bit of a heavier feeling trigger in DA, though, or maybe it's just the leverage of the shorter stirrup (but normal drawbar, trigger & hammer). Dunno. Never bothered to check the trigger pull on my digital gauge. The practical accuracy I receive from the little pistol is just fine, though.

Handy little pistol, too. My alternate choice for jacket pocket (holstered) carry when I need something which prints less than my G26 (which has a blockier slide profile).

Reliability with the different training & duty ammunition I've used is such that the CS9 was the "yardstick" against which I measured my then-new G26 when it came to reliability.

It's a shame S&W discontinued the CS9 & CS45 pistols from the commercial catalog, but the market place seems to be increasingly turning toward inexpensive polymer pistols and away from metal-framed pistols traditional double action designs. More's the pity, in some regards, from my perspective.

The CS9 is one of the subcompact pistol I have no plans to ever sell. I'd keep it over the CS45.

Some clickable thumbnails:

CS9 with my 642





CS9 & 3913




CS9 & G26

 

[ldp4570]

I don't have a CS9, but have gotten to shoot a few, great little gun, but I like my 3913 better. You will be well served by either!!!

 

[PX15]

fastbolt:

Great, thanks for photo comparisons too!

I am 100% satisfied with my 3913LS. I don't expect the CS9 to be "any better", but I like having a variety of 9mm pistols in my cc firearms stash, and I think a CS9 will just make another nice cc option..

My main love for the 3rd gen Smith is the reputation, and my experience over 13 years with my original 3913 of absolute reliability. (I bought it new, and my adult Son loved it so much I have given it to him)

I kept buying the newest "holy grail", or "darling of the gun rags" for years, and now I have come full circle back to the 3rd gen. Smiths.

I've got a pristine Walther P99/AS for sale and as soon as it goes, I'll be looking for a CS9 to replace it.

Every person is a bit different in what "fits" his/her hands and needs, and I'll either think the CS9 is the greatest thing since sliced bread, or I'm liable to say, "well, crap, I prefer my 3913LS", but either way, I'll have a representative of what I personally consider to be one of the best pistols ever made by Smith & Wesson.

FWIW, I really like my 6906, and if "more rounds" is the question then the 6906 is the answer... Add the +2 mag extender, a 5906 mag and you have 15+1 rounds.

But the 6906 is just a tad too thick for casual cc unless you are going into the bad side of town buying or selling drugs, or if you just looking for some innocent Girl Scout selling cookies.

No, I don't buy or sell drugs, and I know you won't be finding any innocent girl scouts selling cookies there, but there are times (as with Chevy Chase in National Lampoon's Vacation) when at it takes is a wrong turn to find the climate change from safe to iffy in a hurry.

Those times mo' rounds are a good thing.

Thanks Again,

Jesse

P.S. Here's the pistol I carry 99% of the time.. Then when circumstances allow I add a 9mm..

 

[fastbolt]

De nada.

I also like the 6906. I carried one or another issued one for several years with good results. I miss carrying one, matter of fact. I've had the thought of maybe picking one up someday after I retire, if I can come across a later-production example in LNIB condition. I wouldn't turn down my nose at an early 3rd gen model, presuming it was in decent shape. I could always replace some of the parts with later-production revised parts.

Anyway, the CS9 isn't going to seem thick or chunky compared to a 6906.

The balance is going to probably feel a bit different in your hand, though, especially during live-fire. I'd probably call it a bit more 'lively balanced' & 'brisk recoiling'. Faster recoiling and maybe a bit snappier, if you will. Faster back on target.

Since the recoil spring is a non-captive, short, flat wound type, I tend to replace them in my CS9 & CS45 sooner than in my other S&W TDA pistols.

One thing I've noticed with the CS pistols, at least from my perspective, is that they generally seem to handle and shoot better on the firing line than they 'feel' when just handling them for examination and dry-fire ... but that's likely a very subjective observation.

 

[PX15]

fastbolt:

Thanks again!

Oh yeah, CDNN was selling NIB 6906's mfg. in 2006 recently for $399.99. That's where I got mine. I think they're sold out now.

I also bought my 5906 (2006 mfg) NIB for $399.99, but the 3913LS was $499.99 and was of Feb 2008 mfg.

CDNN is has been "bery, bery good to me."

Best Wishes,

Jesse

 

[fastbolt]

Yeah, I briefly thought about picking up one of the NIB 6906's being sold by them, but I'd already bought 2 guns in recent months and was considering a 3rd other one (which I did buy). I have other avenues for expending my 'disposable income', such as my new grand daughter ... and cigars, wine, port, bourbon and scotch, of course.

As much as I like the 6906 model and wouldn't mind having a personally-owned 6906, it's a bit lower on my list of 'luxury purchases'.

Someday, maybe ...

 

[modifiedbrowning]

I hear the Walther P88 is very accurate, but it's seldom seen, very pricey, and too large for a cc firearm.

I agree with all of the above, but I will never sell my P88 or P88 Compact (which is a nice sized compact and would work for CCW).

 

[JN01]

Grips on the CS9 are a lot thicker than the 3913. There is someone on the S&W forum modifiying 3913 grips for the CS9 however.

Try: http://smith-wessonforum.com/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/520103904/m/1901053223

 

[BIG DOG GRIPS]

Hello,
I am a new member here. I do most of my posting on the SMith and Wesson forum.
We do create replacement grips for all of the CS semi autos.
We have sold well over 100 sets of these and folks seem to like them and now we have also added a line called the Gator grips in which we customize all Delrin Grips for all models of the Smith semi-autos.
G
[email protected]

 

[BlindJustice]

Isn't the current production 908 & 908S inexpensive (exterior
finish ) versions of the CS9? That is the info I read in a
review of the 908.

Last I checked Hogue lists grips in exotic wood and other
materials for 3rd gen S&Ws.

Randall

 

[BIG DOG GRIPS]

BlindJustice
The 908 models are the inexpensive models of the 3913.
The Chief Specials are a bit smaller than the 3913 and the grips are not interchangeable without chnges being made.
G

 

[colt1903]

I agree that they shoot better than they feel. Here are two photos from 21 feet:

And here are two targets from 40 and 50 feet:

 

[BlindJustice]

WHat's the barrel length of the
3913 and CS9 models?

R-

 

[fastbolt]

3.5" for the 3913
3" for the CS9

 

[BlindJustice]

Thanks for the clarification, all.

I like the family of 3913/908 and CS9/40/45
but I have long if not beefy hands and would like
to hold one to see if they work for me.

Randall

 

[Lepouvantail]

Custom Combat Smith & Wesson CS9

This is a brief article that I wrote and it contains pictures. I am not very good with ICT and I cannot make the pictures between the text display. Can anyone help please?


The Smith & Wesson CS9 was made to a budget, with plastic sights and magazine release and the finish was not one of S&Ws best efforts. On the plus side, it is a well constructed, safe to carry cut-down version of the 3913. The barrel is a half inch shorter than before and the frame reduced by similar proportions making concealed carry just a little easier.

At this point it may be worth reminding ourselves of the main requirements for a concealed carry or back-up automatic pistol.

Firstly, and perhaps obviously, it must be as small as possible given the type of cartridge that it will be required to deploy. It’s no good having a pistol the size of a packet of cigarettes if it fires a .40 or .45 cartridge, because it will be unmanageable! The choice of holster is also important and is such an emotive subject that I am not going to pursue the matter, other than to say it largely depends on the build of the individual, weather conditions and a thousand personal preferences.

After the concealment issue comes the little matter of calibre choice. The 9mm parabellum cartridge is quite powerful (about 350 ft. lbs. of muzzle energy from a three inch barrel when loaded with a 125 grain bullet, much more energy with 115 grain JHPs) and small enough not to require a fat magazine that will swell the profile of the grip area.

Finally, the weapon must be easy to operate and fast to deploy.

Now we come to improving the CS9. For me, the pistol out of the box, although about the right size for concealment, is plain horrible. The rubber Hogue grips are fat and print under clothing. The magazine extension is simply profiled in the wrong direction i.e. the little finger is, by nature, the smallest, and therefore requires a smaller grip area than the other three, and there seem to be sharp bits sticking out all over the place.

So, here is the Custom Combat CS9!





Firstly, the pistol was stripped to the last component. The trigger and hammer were replaced with stainless items, the hammer having the addition of serrations to assist thumb cocking. All internal friction surfaces were hand polished and the main and recoil springs replaced with Wolff springs. The magazine disconnector and firing pin automatic safety leavers have been removed to improve reliability although the latter is frowned upon in some circles as carrying the weapon without applying the safety is potentially dangerous if the weapon is dropped with the chamber loaded.

The plastic, yes plastic, sights were replaced with iron items. I had a metal ramp sight similar to the original but decided on the earlier S&W item which I prefer because it doesn’t raise the profile of the slide at the rear and improves concealability when carried on the belt to the right. The plastic magazine release was replaced with a metal one, and the slide release and safety catch were re-profiled. The trigger guard was cut away on the right hand side to allow fast access to the trigger and the back-strap tang reduced in length and profile.

Then the frame and slide were polished to the extent that all the leading edges were removed so that the weapon does not cause ripped fingers when racking the slide as it did when in original condition.



Finally, the magazine extensions were re-shaped and the grips replaced with a pair of “Big Dog” grips which are truly superb and improve the concealment capability and grip profile of the pistol no end.

The CS9 now feels so much better and is truly a Custom Combat Concealable pistol.

 

[Storm]

The Smith & Wesson CS9 was made to a budget, with plastic sights

Not mine...steel sights.

 

[PX15]

FWIW:

Both my CS9 & CS45 came with metal Novak sights.. My CS45 was 09/06 mfg, not sure about the CS9.

Jesse

 

[Dollar An Hour]

My CS9 is a late production model and has metal Novaks...

BTW, anybody able to recommend some good holster makers for a CS9 OWB holster other than Kramer?

 

[furyalecto]

The CS9 will fit most 3913 holsters.

I have heard good things about http://www.lobogunleather.com/current_list_of_handgun_models_accomodated

He gets great reviews on a couple of forums & his site specifically mentions the CS9. I don't believe it takes too long to get a holster from him unlike some other makers right now.