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S&W CS9 CS40 CS 45
5mmgunguy
Member Posts: 3,092 ✭✭
Anyone have an experieince with the S&W chief special series? How dependable?
Comments
Think you would do better with a Glock. JMHO, of course
They are built for a compact carry series.
The ones I have had were very dependable.
as a rule I do not like the S&W centerfire auto pistols. IIRC these are based off Sigmas (crap IMHO), and I didn't like the M&P pistols either.
Think you would do better with a Glock. JMHO, of course
The Smith Chief series autos are NOT based on the Sigma, and there is virtually NO similarity there.
The Sigma is more or less a blatant Glock copy.
The Chief guns are based on the numbered series Smith autos, themselves all ultimately derived from the original Smith 39 9mm.
Major differences between the Chief autos and the Glock are that the Chiefs are all metal with alloy frames (not polymer) and have external safeties.
The Smiths are also traditional SA/DA guns, though its up to you to decide if you like that configuration.
The Novak sights on the Chiefs are actually quite good, IMO better than stock Glock sights.
The guns are reliable.
Downside of them is that they are a little "chunky", especially in comparison to some of the new super-small CCW guns (eg Kahr, Kel-Tec, etc) though this may not be such a downside as the bulk helps reduce recoil.
EDIT:
quote:5mmgunguy
Senior Member
1401 Posts
Posted - 12/26/2008 : 12:05:01 AM
Beantown...I thought the S&W CS9 and CS45 were DA only...not SA/DA.
You'd think so, but no. They are "traditional" double action, which is to say double-action on the first shot, then single-action on subsequent shots.
The hammers are bobbed, so you can't really thumb cock them, and as far as I know, there are no hammered variants. I also do NOT think these were ever offered in a DA-only form, though most of the other third-gen Smith guns are/were.
http://www.smith-wesson.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?catalogId=10001&storeId=10001&productId=12755&langId=-1&isFirearm=Y
As to how good these are, I think they do what they need to do, which is to say, if you like a small non-polymer traditional DA/SA auto pistol, they're actually pretty good.
I'd say the real competitors to these guns are not the Glocks, or even SW M&P models at all since those aren't DA/SA. The better comparision would be with the older SW99-compact guns, or CZ-75 RAMI guns, as those are also DA/SA (or a variant).
Its a question of hand fit, whether you like polymer or alloy frame (eg weight/recoil balance), what kind of controls you like, and what kind of capacity you need.
they are DA/SA first shot DA the rest SA
Best
I have seen the CS9 a glass bead finish and black matte. When did S&W make the black matte?