One year as of today-I have been actively shopping for a CS9, preferably a DAO model. Yes, I have scoured the forum classifieds including high road and firing line and as well as my state board. Nothing has really come up that qualifies in the "reasonable" price range. I don't want an unfired safe queen.

Has anyone done a thorough comparison of the CS9 and M&P9c ? Some comparison pics would be great. I carry a 3953 now, but have the itch for something else.

T

Perhaps I should have posted this in the M&P Subforum? It is a reasonable question isn't it?

its a valid question and you may have to ask on the subforum....

i have been toying with the idea of getting something else myself. just dont know yet?????????????????

Having shot both, and owning neither, I'll opine.

Go with the CS9. Slimmer, reliable, can be found for less money, and with a better trigger than the M&P......and the CS9 is not butt ugly either!

Make sure it fits your hand though. Large hands may have trouble, as the grip is short. Good luck! Regards 18DAI.

18 is correct on the grip!!!

I can control but my pinky is always BARELY hanging on with a pinky extension and with the non extension, it rides on the bottom of the mag.

Keep your eye on Gunbroker. Two LNIB CS9D pistols sold, just a couple weeks back, for right around $400 each.

I don't have the time to get out the guns and camera right now, but here's some pics I took of a G26 & CS9, as well as a G27 & M&P 40c a while back. They may give you some idea of comparative overall sizes.

FWIW, while the CS9 has a somewhat greater 'height' at the rear (grip), and the grip tang of the CS9 sort of adds to the overall length, the slide profile is less blocky and shorter. Practically speaking, I notice less of an outline in some of my jacket pockets when I'm carrying the CS9 compared to when I carry the G26/27 in a similar manner.

CS9 & G26:

__________________
Ret LE Firearms inst & armorer

G27 & M&P 40c:

__________________
Ret LE Firearms inst & armorer

Fastbolt's post reminded me how deceptive pictures 'can' be. I had a CS9 and a Glock 26 at the same time a few years back. They look very similar in size when I checked out the above pics, but the CS9 seemed so much smaller in my hand and in my holster than the G26 did (even with the Hogue grips). In fact I sold the G26 because it just seemed to much bigger and blockier. I later sold the CS9 too (read as STUPID move) when the department said Glock .40s&w only. Just goes to show that you really need to put a gun n your hand to get an idea of it's size and how it feels. Everything is subjective.

Absolutely.

I've often added commentary to 'comparison pictures' I've posted which basically states that pictures can be deceiving in some aspects. For example, I have a couple of pictures of the CS9 & G26 stacked on each other. Because of how close I was to the camera, and the consideration that pictures really only give you a specific 2D perspective, both the CS9 and the G26 can appear to 'cover' each other depending which one is on top of the other. That's why I didn't use those pics this time around. It just 'looks' different in person.

I do tend to agree that the CS9 'feels' much smaller than the G26/27 and the M&P 40c, as well. It's a toss up which 'feels' smaller in my hand between the CS9 and the SW99. The relative thinness of the SW99 grip, even with the larger of the two inserts, sort of 'fools' my hand. The length and apparent width of the slide on the SW99 is larger, though.

Overall, I find the CS9 to offer me a rather lightweight, fast-handling, 'lively feel' in my hand during live-fire. The balance is more toward the rear, which probably helps with the balance being more in my hand and less out toward the muzzle, and the fast-cycling sort of seems to help in this 'perception', as well. There's some 'snap' to the recoil when I'm using +P and +P+ loads, but it almost seems that because of the short slide/barrel and the short run during cycling that the 'muzzle whip/rise seems less pronounced than when I'm shooting a couple of other small 9's.

Hey, dunno. I'm probably not describing it very well, and this sort of thing is very subjective to individual shooters when it comes right down to it, anyway.

Lots of folks seem to dislike the Hogue S&W had designed for the their CS series, but I find them to offer me exactly the sort of grip and recoil management characteristics I desire, especially in the CS9. The CS45 is a bit less to my liking as far as an 'ideal' set of grip stocks, but not enough to make me get out those extra original 4513TSW grips and start working to make something else.

Maybe I'm just lazy. I've fired several thousand rounds through my CS45 and haven't felt motivated enough to change them yet.

__________________
Ret LE Firearms inst & armorer

I agree completely about the weight distribution and recoil. Short slide equals short travel and less muzzle flip.

I remember a thread from several years ago (before I had to re-register) where a guy shaved down a set of CS9 Hogue grips. He removed rubber material from the side of the grips like he was grating Parmesan cheese. Gave them a rough texture, made them thinner, but kept the soft back strap which helped aid in recoil. I wish I would have kept the pics. I have often thought about trying to replicate his work. I don't think I have the skill or patience of Big Dog.

Any thought on the CS40 as compared to the CS9, and CS45? FWIW I have a Glock 26, but have never held any of the CS guns.

Bueller...Bueller...

IIRC the CS40 is the same size as the CS45. Slightly larger than the CS9 and holds one more round than the CS45. Hope this helps! Regards 18DAI

Yep, the CS40 was the same size as the CS45 (similarly to how the original 4013 was built on the first alloy .45 frame).

CS9/45 thumbnails: (Sorry for the blurry pics, but I don't have any newer ones at the moment)

__________________
Ret LE Firearms inst & armorer

My M&P 9c & CS9
I prefer to pocket carry so between the two,the CS9 with the "Big Dog" grips and Night sights gets the nod if I am not carrying something else

__________________
JR

Have you seen one like this?

Attached Images

S&W CS9D.jpg (116.5 KB, 233 views)

Thanks all!

Why would you not look at an "unfired safe queen"?. I've seen these sell for $450-$550.

About the same price as an M&P 9c, and a much better gun.

I was watching Top Shot the other night and they had some very interesting slow motion video of an M&P firing. It was fascinating to watch the M&P's polymer frame "flex"significantly during firing.

Depending on how you look at things, that might not be so bad, and the M&P is one of the better Polymer framed handguns. (I think the Walther PPS, for CCW, and the FNP and FNX for full sized guns, are by far the best of the plastic guns but that's another thread).

Still, it's hard to get that image out of my head and really supports my own opinion that metal framed handguns are the best way to go.

I'd take a LNIB $500-$600 CS9, CS40, CS45, 3913, 4014, etc., anyday over a new M&P

That's my favorite one!

I've wondered about that. I wonder if you can freeze the grips and take a belt sander to them like you can with recoil pads?

On a related topic, I've considered wood grips for my 5906. I'd really like to have some nice, yet thin, checkered cocobolo or rosewood grips. The Hogues look nice but are too thick for my tastes.

I asked Esmerelda about this, as she has some thin wood grips for 1911's and BHP's, but none for 3rd gens. Do you guys know of anybody that makes nice, yet thin, 3rd gen wood grips?

I'm with you tgardner. Been huntin a CS9D for a long time with no luck. I did luck into a CS45D a while back, and I'm very happy with it, but I'd still like to add the 9.

Hokie-I'd be interested in some thin wood grips as well, so please keep me in mind if you find some.

Looks like the one I just bought for $300.

Attached Images

	cs9-1.jpg (70.1 KB, 184 views)
	cs9-2.jpg (66.8 KB, 133 views)