Is this like comparing apples to oranges? I have a chance of buying a 4006 Shorty40 MK3 but don't know that much about this particular model. The gun appears to bee in excellent condition. Although I'm not familier with the CS40 either that's what I've been looking for..

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UWTW&G !!

Shorty40 is hand fitted handgun with a match barrel.

CS40 is an assembly line gun. I think it falls into the valueline series.

Shorty40 is small enough for discreet CCW.
CS40 is smaller.

Depending on the price, both would make excellant carry pieces.

mags can be an issue due to price and availability with the CS line since they no longer make the CS40. but there may be a vendor or plenty on the used market, just dont know.

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Thanks. Smaller or thinner? Are the overall lenth about the same?

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UWTW&G !!

According to the Standard Catalog, 3rd Edition, the Performance Center Shorty 40 has a 3.5" Bar-Sto barrel with handfitted spherical bushing, a 9 round single stack magazine, and weighs 27 ounces. It has other special PC features.
The CS40 is reported as having a 3.25" stainless steel barrel, a 7 round single stack mag, a single manual safety, and weighs 24.7 ounces. Says it is Double action only.

Sounds like the CS40 is just a tad smaller, but not enough difference to count for much. Both are single stack, so you wouldn't think there would be much if any difference in thickness, but I do not know that for a fact.

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Ed

btw, if collector instincts are present with you, the shorty 40 had very limited production, plus it is a Performance Center piece....way more expensive.

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Ed

The Shorty-Forty is based on the 6900/4013tsw frame size. It is a double stack and will accept the full size 4000 series 11rd mags that will hang out a little. They make a adaptor that fills out the grip when used in these guns. The CS40 is just a tad shorter in length but with the Hogue grips is about the same thickness in the grip as the Shorty. Either would make a good carry gun, but the Shorty retailed for twice the price of the CS.

I've got a Model 410 so you think my 11round magazines would fit either of those 2?

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HughP, I just bought two CS40's. As best I can figure they were made from 1999-2001. Their low popularity was apparently due to sharp recoil, which I find no worse than a 3 inch light weight 45. Both of mine are DA/SA. A little creep in the triggers, it's not a big deal. The only range I have had these on since I bought them last week is a 50 foot range and I can do a good job of filling up a pie plate size Shoot and See target. You can chunk a lot of ammo in a hurry and stay on target. It does have some snap, but it's not a snub nosed .357 either. As soon as my new holster gets here I will make it a carry gun. I called Midway and they have all kinds of part and supplies for it. They are back ordered on mags, but they get those from S&W anyway. Try it you'll like it!

The 410 mags will fit the Shorty-Forty, stick out about a inch, the CS mags are unique to that gun.

Thanks all. Decisions - decisions.

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UWTW&G !!

Decisions????

what are the prices and we can help with those decisions!

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if you're gonna be a bear...

Haven't even found the right CS40 yet to compare prices. The friend wants $550 for the Shorty.

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UWTW&G !!

Performance Center Shorty .40 vs Regular production gun - apples to oranges.

If the price is right, I'd go for the Shorty .40.

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If this is a Performance Center piece, they had an MSRP in a range of $949 to $1,500....look in the current Blue Book, mine is a year out of date.

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Ed

550 for a shorty 40.

better buy it!

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if you're gonna be a bear...

I'd buy the Shorty for that price it's a good value and a nice pistol!

Buy the Shorty! If you don't like it you can sell it & buy 2+ CS40's.

Hi Hugh,
I went through this same process about a year ago, I have had Shorty 40s since they came out in '93/'94. I added a CS40 to the stable last year in hopes that the CS40 would replace the Shorty that I normally carry. Here is what I found, the bulk of the CS40 slide makes it a rather large pistol in comparison to my Shorty 40. The CS40 is 1/4" shorter in the slide, however the grip length is the same with the 2 pistols with the pinky extension on the Shorty magazine. If you put a flat butt plate off of something like a 4006 magazine it drops almost 1/2" off of the grip length of the Shirty 40 making it a shorter (grip length) pistol than the CS40. As mentioned the slide in the CS40 is just massive compared to the Shorty 40.

As far as quality the Shorty 40 wins hands down, being a PC gun the craftmanship is unmatched by any production 3rd generation gun. As SW CQB 45 mentioned the CS40 is a value line gun so the edges are as manicured and the machining isn't as elaborate.

$550 is a steel for a Shorty 40 in todays market, these guns normally run $700 to over $1000 when you can find them. My vote is for the Shorty, they are great guns. Mine are far more accurate than any of my production 3rd generation guns.

Here are a couple of pictures for you comparing the CS40 to some of my other 3rd generation guns...

CS40 compared to my 4003


Shorty40


CS40


You will see the differences in the magazine extensions on the two guns, the magazine on the CS40 actually sticks out of the mag well the length of the pinky extension. it holds a round under the pinky extension.

Both are great guns, the Shorty is just the pinnacle of the 3rd generation 40s.

Hope this helps.

Cheers,
Sam

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Beware the man with one gun...