Which 45 ACP, Mode; 457 or Chiefs Special?

My EDC is either a Kimber 3" Ultra CPD or the S&W "E" series Commander. I am looking at the S&W model 457 and the S&W Chiefs Special as another EDC.
The reason for it is that I am not 100% comfortable with the 1911 in condition 1 even though I have been shooting and carring them for many years.
For the people that have/had either one that I am looking at, could you give me the Pro's and Con's on each model?

"The reason for it is that I am not 100% comfortable with the 1911 in condition 1."

I am happy to see that at least another person has gone through this besides myself. I own a wonderful model 1911 but have never truly been comfortable with it in (condition 1). I almost always carried it in condition 3. I recently purchased a S&W Model 4566 because of my concerns. I am happy with the Model 4566. It fits my hand, and it shoots good. The decocker is there when I need it. The Model 4566 allows me to cock and shoot, or to just pull the trigger on the first round. If the hammer is cocked I just drop the decocker lever. My Model 1911 is a wonderful gun, but the Model 4566 just suits me better!

Either is a great choice, however the 457 is more commonly available than CS45 seem to be. I have a 457 and it is totally reliable with anything put into it....the CS45 will be the same in those regards but is smaller in the hand which may be a consideration.
I also have a 3913 and a CS9 which would be a similar condition as to what you are asking about. Even though the CS9 is smaller and I do have small hands, I prefer the slightly larger size of the 3913.
If possible try to handle each and go from there.
Simply cannot go wrong with either selection.
Randy

I have a 457 that I have carried almost daily for over 3 years. Great gun for CC, I perfer carrying the 457 over my Colt 1911.

I have both, think they are great guns. The CS45 seems to be a little harder to find at the moment. I have an easier time concealing the CS45 due to its slightly smaller size in both length and height. Don't think you can go wrong with either.

just noticed a CS45 in this forums "guns for sale" section asking $475, typically see prices for this gun somewhere in that range, some more, some less

I have been going through the same analysis and cannot find any 45 including 1911's that I like better than my 457. It shoots great and minimal recoil. I particularly like the decocker feature. It shoots better than my 9mm 669 anc no touble in concealing the 457

As I've said in previous posts, I like the 457 better because for me the CS45 is just too small for my hand. Also I've never had a FTF/FTE in either of my 457's no matter what type of ammo I've fed it; from the least expensive Winchester white box from Wally World to Hornady Critical Defense, and from 185 grain to 230.

growr is correct; if possible handle (and shoot) both to see which is better for you. But if you have large hands, I think you'll go with the 457.

I have both, and I consider them to be some of the best .45s ever made. The 457 is a little bigger, and heavier and it is my home defense pistol. I have the CS45 in black, with Big Dog grips and it is my No. 1, .45 CC. I doubt I'd ever consider selling either one.

If I was in a position of having to choose just one, it would be the CS45. You do have to look for them, but they are out there. Gun Broker has one, NIB for $700?

I am also looking for a compact S&W third gen .45. I ruled out the CS45 simply because I had a CS9 and thought it was too small for me. I have a 4566 that I carry either in a shoulder rig or in an IWB. It is a great shooter and I love it but it isn't an ideal summer cc gun. I am trying to decide between the 4513/6 or the 457. Can't decide. Guess I would learn to love either one. That's what's happened with all the other 3rd gens I have owned. Good luck in your search.

I own an 'original' (6-shot mag) 4513TSW and a CS45S (stainless slide). I bought both when they were still new models and have fired them a fair amount (I've lost count of the times I've replaced recoil springs in both).

Overall, while the CS45 is a dandy little TDA .45 pistol, I'd think the 4513TSW (and its 457/457S variation) might be a more attractive choice for some folks.

It's not an uncommon phenomena for the smallest .45 pistols to often be reported as being less tolerant of shooter & ammunition issues (especially relating to shooter grip technique offering anything less than a firm grip and locked wrist for frame support during cycling).

Also, as the slide run distance (travel) shrinks in increasingly smaller & shorter .45's, there may be some 'feeding/timing' issues arise when not only less-than-optimal shooter grip techniques are involved, but either lower or higher powered loads are introduced (like 'budget' loads on the lower end of the normal power range, or +P loads which slam the slides back with more snap).

Something else which might be a consideration is that the CS45 uses a 6-rd mag dedicated to it alone (a second set of indentations pressed into the mag walls to help prevent the displacement of the top round under the harsher recoil developed in the little gun), while the mags used in the old/current 4513TSW's (6 & 7-rd), as well as the 457's (7-rd) & the 4566/4506 (8-rd) mags just require the standard P-lip indentations. Due to the number of current style 4513TSW's & 457's produced, the 7-rd mags are probably going to be easier to find than the CS45 mags, on any given day (although all can be ordered through the factory).

The 4513TSW/457's can be used with stock grips or Hogue rubber stocks, but the CS45 only came with a set of special Hogue stocks made for the gun. The factory's reasoning (I was told) was that customers liked the aftermarket Hogue grips on other guns, and the extra cushioning of the short rubber grips made the recoil feel more manageable in the harder kicking Chief's Special pistols. personally, I find the CS45 grips to be a bit thick & chunky for my medium-size hands, but the CS9 grips feel like my hands had been used for the mold. Suit yourself.

I had Hogues on my issued current production 4513TSW, and after spending a couple of years shooting my 4513TSW in all kinds of weather, and having the stock grips be a bit slippery under the increased recoil of +P loads (when I was trying them as an alternative load), as well as when my hands and the grips were wet, I modified a set of Hogue grip stocks to fit the cutaway profile of my 4513TSW. They remain on there to this day.

Each potential owner will have to decide which model best suits their own experience, skillset and desires, though.

4513TSW old-style & CS45 (I'm posting thumbnail links to decent size images because the full-size pictures were HUGE when posted).





Old style 4513TSW with current production version:


The only thing that bugs me a bit about the current version is the separate accessory (light) rail. I don't use them, myself, but if I did, I'd prefer they'd have incorporated the rail into the frame like they did on the 4566TSW (and the full-size 9/.40's). I've seen a couple of the rails experience breakage on working guns which required replacement. I think if I had it happen to a personally-owned 4513TSW, I'd ask them to simply remove the broken rail and fill the dustcover holes with rivets, leaving the rail off. That's just me, though.

It's weird, but the CS45 was one of those guns which I really wasn't all that enthused about having bought for the first year or so. The 4513TSW was simply an "easier" gun to shoot. Better recoil management & controllability. The size of the CS45, while smaller in a couple of dimensions, wasn't really all that much smaller once you factored in the belt holster, too.

Day in & day out, I suspect the 457/457S/4513TSW might be a better choice for all-around use and a lot of shooting than the CS45 for a lot of folks. Maybe. Dunno. Not really my business.

I've run a lot more rounds through my CS45 than I have my personal 4513TSW, but looking back at it, I tend to feel that was because I was working harder to master the smaller CS45 with the chunky grip profile and the slightly increased felt recoil (muzzle snap/whip). (Also, why beat up my own 4513TSW when I can use & abuse the issued one? )

Best thing I could suggest is to try and find examples of both to shoot before deciding ... or do what i did and buy both, and then go back and forth about which one you like better for many years ... while keeping both. Dunno.

Good luck.

The 457 a very shootable firearm. It a little more square than the 4516 and does not have the ambi hammer drop. I'm not familiar with the CS45, but own a 457. It's easier to carry than my 4566. For concealment, I probably would try to find a 4516 simply because of the rounded edges. For just plinking, the 4516 also had a serrated bobbed hammer, the 457 did not. This made it easier to thumb the hammer back to single action.

I have many 45's that I can carry… Colt 1911 , H&K Full size and Compact , Para Ordnance P12 Limited Stainless , but the one I have on my hip right now is my S&W 457. It is a great carry gun and it cost 1/2 as much as my other 45's. I use to have a CS45 but I sold it. I think the S&W 457 is the most under rated handgun there is.