A CS9

[GaryS]

I've been looking for a stainless CS9 for several months now. As luck would have it, I stumbled onto a deal from a private seller. I'll defer on saying the price, because I don't want anyone to call the police to report me for stealing it.

Suffice it to say that I have sufficient money in the fund to do a couple of upgrades.

This was a former LE gun, however I'm not completely sure what that entails. I know that it has a metal recoil spring guiderod, but the disconnector and magazine release are plastic. It has ambi safety/decocker levers, but I don't know if that was restricted to LE or all later CS9s.

I called the Customer Service at the factory and got a nice young lady on the line. I'm not sure that she even knew what a CS or 3rd Gen gun is, but once I gave her the serial number and told her it was a "S", which stood for stainless, she was able to find the part number for the recoil spring and is sending on out to me at no charge.

She was also able to tell me that it was made on 9/19/2001. The serial number begins with VJD, so that was pretty close to my guesstimate.

Once the recoil spring comes in, that will be replaced as well as the trigger spring because I have one on hand. I also have a left side only safety/decocker lever. That will go down south for a shave and dehorn before I put it in the gun.

I had a "flat" slide lock, so that has already been swapped in.

It also has Novak low profile night sights. Trijicon told me that they are pretty sure they are their lamps and definitely can replace the front one. I'll send the slide off in the next week or so and see what they can do.

Oh, I found my pin gauges, which I put in a nice safe spot. So safe that I forgot where they were. That's an hour I won't get back. Now they're in the same box with the S&W parts.

Back to the gun. Once I get everything back together, I'll be off to the range for testing. I want to see what sort of ammunition it likes best, although 3rd Gens tend not to be too fussy. At least in terms of feeding, firing, and ejecting. Sometimes they like different bullet weights, but that's easy to figure out.

I'll also make a decision on the grips. I might just take a stab at doing my own modification to a set of Delrin grips.

I'll also have to figure out a holster.

Finally, if this all works out, I'm considering having the slide dehorned by breaking that shop edge and rounding it off.

I'm planning on keeping this one, so I'm willing to put some money into it to bring it up to date.

Oh, pictures, gotta have pictures.

It was pretty clean when I got it, so I just took the grips off and cleaned off the accumulation of cleaner that was under them. I gave it a quick lube as well. Once the new recoil spring shows up, I'll pop that on and head to the range.

Thanks for reading.

 

[TTSH]

Looks good GaryS! In fact, looks very good!

 

[BMCM]

GaryS,

Congrats on scoring a CS9 I suspect you're gonna be very happy with it.

Holster wise.... I can't recommend Kramer enough. I had them make me a horsehide #2 and a couple matching single mag pouches which came in two weeks ago. Beautifully crafted kit and stiff as kydex with excellent retention. Not especially cheap but then again...superior quality & craftsmanship never are.

I typically rig these inside my belt and not inside my waistband unless I want to be extra discrete. I can carry my 4506 comfortably all day in a Kramer #2... The diminutive CS9 just disappears like it's not even there, but I know it is

and the body side...

You know, come to think of it, I don't think I've ever replaced the trigger spring in any of my guns. Anyway, if you're so inclined to dig the thing outa there, I suggest directing your attention to the plunger.

That particular plunger in the pic is aluminum. Note how the end that goes inside the spring is beveled in a 90° included angle leaving a sharp angular edge at the major diameter. That edge can hitch on the spring coils as the trigger is pulled contributing to a crunchy trigger feel. Once you have the frame stripped down to just the trigger, drawbar, plunger & spring in there...cycle the trigger a bunch, If it feels a bit crunchy you either have a burr or some junk in the spring recess or... the plunger is catching on the spring coils as the spring is compressed.

You'll find plungers made of both steel & aluminum. Some machined angular like the one above, others that are just parted off with a flat end and still others shaped into a nice bullet point. The bullet point is what you want. A nice smooth curved end with no sharp angles to hitch on the coils. Same profile as say a 9mm ball round. Easy enough to do by hand...even easier if you have means to spin the thing. I chuck the plunger in my lathe, give it a quick re-profile with a 2cut file and polish with some 600 mesh emory cloth. Takes about a minute. A little dab of grease on the plunger and stuff it all back in the gun.

Cheers
Bill

 

[GaryS]

That's a typo, I meant to say firing pin spring. That aside if I ever do have to replace the trigger spring, I now have excellent advice.

I was happy with my original CS9, which I sold. I think I'll be even happier with this later production version. I'd like to pocket carry it, but that will depend on finding the right holster. I'm inclined towards Mika holsters for that.

Pocket carry is why I want the single side safety and want it trimmed down. I'll have to decide on the grips. I don't remember hating the Hogues on the other gun, but I didn't pocket carry that one.

Time will tell.

 

[Redcoat3340]

I love mine. Picked it up about a month ago and it's become my edc. Unlike many I find the stock Hogue grips fit just fine, I have no problem with them in either an Alien Gear or DeSantis E1 holster and I shoot it about as well as any of the smaller pistols I own.

 

[18DAI]

Congrats GaryS! The CS9s are great little nines.

I use a DeSantis Nemesis to pocket carry mine. Works great and is only around $21 at Academy Sports. Enjoy that fine CS9! Regards 18DAI

 

[Mercs]

Congrats Gary that’s a nice one! I do hope you get around to doing the slide work, I’d really like to see that


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[GaryS]

Thanks. I looked at that DeSantis, it looks nice. The one issue I have with my Bersa in the Mika is that it "tips over" and can be uncomfortable when I'm sitting in my truck. The DeSantis seems to have a "tail" that will help prevent that.

Once I'm ready to start carrying, I'll take a more in depth look.

Congrats GaryS! The CS9s are great little nines.

I use a DeSantis Nemesis to pocket carry mine. Works great and is only around $21 at Academy Sports. Enjoy that fine CS9! Regards 18DAI

 

[HOUSTON RICK]

I suspect you will enjoy your new CS9 and, if you do not have it already, the now requisite CS45, resistance is futile.

 

[GaryS]

As it happens, there is a guy on a local forum who has a CS45S listed with two magazines. I think it's a bit pricey at $550.00 as it has no box or anything but the gun and magazines.

I don't want one that much, but might make a lower offer.

I suspect you will enjoy your new CS9 and, if you do not have it already, the now requisite CS45, resistance is futile.

 

[TercGen]

Congrats on the CS9 Gary! Good holster suggestions so far, though this little gun can present difficulties in that department. I like a DeSantis mini belt slide for OWB, and either a sticky or a self-made with clips for IWB. My sticky holster works well for pocket carry too.

 

[GaryS]

Thanks. I got to the range today and put some rounds through it. It shoots well and is as accurate as any 3rd Gen gun should be.

I put 115gr, 124,gr, and 147gr rounds through it to see which it liked the best.

They all shot a little bit low as 20 yards, but that's more me than the gun. 115gr was the worst and also had the widest spread. 124gr grouped the best, and was only a bit low. 147 was a bit wide spread and was the only ammunition I had any difficulty with.

I was shooting American Eagle 147gr FMJ and for some reason the gun didn't seem to like it. The ogive was more conical than curved, if that makes sense.

If I pulled back on the slide to release it, the first round in a magazine wouldn't feed. Subsequent rounds fed fine, but for the first round I had to push down the slide stop. Just a bit weird, and maybe the new recoil spring will fix it. It didn't happen with the other rounds were were true round nose.

I have to see what else I have in the way o 147gr and try it again.

I also had trouble with two magazine I recently bought in anticipation of getting the CS9. It was nigh impossible to get the 7th round in either of them. I'd replaced the spring in the magazine that came with the gun and had no issues.

For those other two, I resorted to using my UpLula to get the last round it. They fed fine once the magazines were charged.

I'd intended to bring springs with me to the range just in case they needed replacing, but forgot to pack them. I put new springs in when I got home and will try them out next time I'm there.

For shooting, I liked the Hogues. They ate up recoil and the gun was very comfortable to shoot.

It's a keeper and will be carried with either 147 or 124 grn JHP, once I sort out which is actually better and get the other stuff done.

Congrats on the CS9 Gary! Good holster suggestions so far, though this little gun can present difficulties in that department. I like a DeSantis mini belt slide for OWB, and either a sticky or a self-made with clips for IWB. My sticky holster works well for pocket carry too.

 

[18DAI]

GaryS I had one that didn't like 147 grain. It patterned it in a 4 inch cluster at 15 yards. IIRC it was Winchester training ammo.

It did like 124 grain. But the sight picture was not the traditional "lollipop" sight picture. You had to put the front night sight where you wanted the bullet to go.

I would check those two additional mags you got to make sure the spring is not installed upside down. I have had a few over the years, including some new in the package, that came from the factory with the spring installed upside down. Regards 18DAI

 

[Mercs]

Gary, your gun sounds a lot like my old VJD serialized CS9S. Try the 124gr Federal HST, I found they are the most accurate out of all the defensive ammo I tried in mine. It’s a great round that doesn’t get clogged by clothing, so they expand very reliably.

Mine also had trouble feeding the AE147FMJFP, and I rectified that with a polishing treatment of the underside of the barrel hood. The bullet was finding resistance on that spot as it hit the underside of the hood and was being angled upwards into the chamber. Afterwards, it fed them flawlessly


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[mrmike7189]

I tried to find a cs9 for years and finally gave up(got a Glock26). Congrats on yours, it looks like a keeper for sure!
I second the Federal 124gr HST ammo selection. I've switched to HST exclusively in all my firearms. Great stuff!

 

[GaryS]

I give that a try. I think I might have a box of that in the ammo cabinet. I also have some Sig 124gr, as well as a couple of other brands.

What you describe could be what is going on with mine. I have a couple of brands of 147, so I'll try a different one and see what happens.

Oh drat! I have to go to the range and shoot some more. OH! The huge manatee!

I have a lot of 9mm because I shoot that more than any other caliber. I was wandering through Walmart last week and saw that they had 150 rounds of WWB 124gr FMJ for $9.00/box. I bought that just because.

Gary, your gun sounds a lot like my old VJD serialized CS9S. Try the 124gr Federal HST, I found they are the most accurate out of all the defensive ammo I tried in mine. It’s a great round that doesn’t get clogged by clothing, so they expand very reliably.

Mine also had trouble feeding the AE147FMJFP, and I rectified that with a polishing treatment of the underside of the barrel hood. The bullet was finding resistance on that spot as it hit the underside of the hood and was being angled upwards into the chamber. Afterwards, it fed them flawlessly


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That sight thing is a bit odd with the Novaks, but once you know it, you can compensate.

One of those springs was indeed in upside down. That is the red painted part was at the bottom. The other one had no paint and just looked a bit "odd." I reversed the one that was upside down and replaced the other one. That should fix whatever was going on.

That's why I have a package of single stack magazine springs in my parts box.

The one that came with the gun was perfect, I didn't even replace the spring.

GaryS I had one that didn't like 147 grain. It patterned it in a 4 inch cluster at 15 yards. IIRC it was Winchester training ammo.

It did like 124 grain. But the sight picture was not the traditional "lollipop" sight picture. You had to put the front night sight where you wanted the bullet to go.

I would check those two additional mags you got to make sure the spring is not installed upside down. I have had a few over the years, including some new in the package, that came from the factory with the spring installed upside down. Regards 18DAI

 

[gunhobbit]

Congrats GaryS! The CS9s are great little nines.

I use a DeSantis Nemesis to pocket carry mine. Works great and is only around $21 at Academy Sports. Enjoy that fine CS9! Regards 18DAI

Mine plays the pocket-carry game. If I'm belt-carrying, I go slightly up to the 3913. Not that there's anything wrong with the CS9 for the belt and I'm'a'gonna give it a try next time I think about it....

 

[GaryS]

For waist carry, I have several 39xx options and even a 6906. I did carry my first CS9 in a IWB holster when I had it.

This time out, it's going to be for pocket carry. Let others carry their plastic "micro" 9mm guns. I'll carry an all metal CS9.

Mine plays the pocket-carry game. If I'm belt-carrying, I go slightly up to the 3913. Not that there's anything wrong with the CS9 for the belt and I'm'a'gonna give it a try next time I think about it....

 

[TTSH]

This time out, it's going to be for pocket carry. Let others carry their plastic "micro" 9mm guns. I'll carry an all metal CS9.

Hey! Hey! Hey! I think I just detected a "micro-aggression" against us cheap plastic mini-mouse gun carriers!

Remember, some of us (yours truly included) are too old, fat and dumpy to do anything but pocket carry plastic. I have enough trouble keeping my pants up carrying plastic. When I put my CS40 in there, my pants almost instantly fall down... very embarrassing!

Yes, I probably should be using suspenders by now. Last I saw my suspenders, my grandson was using them as a fashion statement!

 

[gunhobbit]

Hey! Hey! Hey! I think I just detected a "micro-aggression" against us cheap plastic mini-mouse gun carriers!

I don't think my mom is going to let me reply to your posts any more.

Remember, some of us (yours truly included) are too old, fat and dumpy to do anything but pocket carry plastic. I have enough trouble keeping my pants up carrying plastic. When I put my CS40 in there, my pants almost instantly fall down... very embarrassing!

Yes, I probably should be using suspenders by now. Last I saw my suspenders, my grandson was using them as a fashion statement!

Holdup. Good company, highly recommended. Their "trucker suspenders" - or whatever they're calling them now - are the bees knees when it comes to helping hold up those Manly Metal Guns.

I gave up on plastic guns when I was 7 years old. Get some good suspenders and you, too, can move confidently into firearms adulthood!

ETA: Or shoulder rigs? I have one that I use very occasionally but I like the thing a lot....