CS45 vs 457

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I have a 457, but saw a nice CS45 for sale in a LGS this morning.

I don't need two 3rd Gen .45 guns, since I mostly carry 9mm.

If I go for the CS45, I'd just sell off the 457 and all of the mags to help pay for it.

I'd like to hear some pros and cons on both.

Thanks,

Gary
 
My 457 has Hogue's on it and feels pretty good in my hand. The OEM grips are just a bit too skinny to fit my hands.

I had a CS9 with stock grips and never really understood why people didn't like the feel.

Grips, like holsters are very person specific.

Speaking of which, if I do get the CS45 I'm going to need a holster, preferably IWB.

I also see that Midway has CS45 magazines on sale.


The CS45 felt bulkier in my hands than the 457. Could try to find Big Dog grips though.
 
Very tough choice, for me. For the last 4 days I have been alternating between my 457 and my CS45. The 457 all day, either working in the gun store or instructing on the range and the CS45 every night when I go on duty in the Magistrates office. Two similar, yet different guns that both excell at different tasks.

Pros - shared by both models - compact size/light weight/accurate/very good triggers and sights/bet your life reliable and look good doing all that. ;)

457 cons - plastic sights/Sharpie marker finish which wears rather quickly.......and badly/WILL RUST without weekly........daily proper maintenance.

CS45 cons - Hogue grip is a little short AND a little bulky (but does a great job mitigating felt recoil)/one less round than the 457/recoil springs are hard to find.......well.......pretty much everything CS45 related is hard to find and a bit expensive when you do find it/leather is VERY difficult to find fora left handed shooter and merely frustrating to look for for a right handed shooter/they dont still make the CS45. ;)

When I find my personal threat level is elevated (working in gun store on the edge of the hood - taking wife 2.0 to the mall at anytime of the day or night) I find I gravitate to the 457........and two spare mags.

When my personal threat level is low (District Court Judge surrounded by LE in the middle of the jail complex, or running to the stop n rob) I prefer the ease of carry and concealment the slightly smaller and slightly lighter CS45 affords me. And I am more accurate with the CS45. But am still working with the 457.

So, I vote that you get both. Because you really do NEED BOTH! Hope this helps! :) Best regards, 18DAI
 
You and TTSH have a different definition than "help" than do I. :)

Midway is selling CS45 mags for $26 and change. I've noticed a shortage of CS45 parts, particularly recoil springs. Midway has the outer spring, but not the inner. I suppose a call to the Mothership might be useful.

i did some preliminary looking for an IWB holster for the CS45, but not in depth searching... yet.

It looks like the 64-6 3" I had listed is sold. I'll know for sure tomorrow when I have the cash in hand. After that, I'll have 24 hours to think about just buying the CS45 and holding on to the 457. I suppose that if I don't like it, I can always sell the CS45.

Very tough choice, for me. For the last 4 days I have been alternating between my 457 and my CS45. The 457 all day, either working in the gun store or instructing on the range and the CS45 every night when I go on duty in the Magistrates office. Two similar, yet different guns that both excell at different tasks.

Pros - shared by both models - compact size/light weight/accurate/very good triggers and sights/bet your life reliable and look good doing all that. ;)

457 cons - plastic sights/Sharpie marker finish which wears rather quickly.......and badly/WILL RUST without weekly........daily proper maintenance.

CS45 cons - Hogue grip is a little short AND a little bulky (but does a great job mitigating felt recoil)/one less round than the 457/recoil springs are hard to find.......well.......pretty much everything CS45 related is hard to find and a bit expensive when you do find it/leather is VERY difficult to find fora left handed shooter and merely frustrating to look for for a right handed shooter/they dont still make the CS45. ;)

When I find my personal threat level is elevated (working in gun store on the edge of the hood - taking wife 2.0 to the mall at anytime of the day or night) I find I gravitate to the 457........and two spare mags.

When my personal threat level is low (District Court Judge surrounded by LE in the middle of the jail complex, or running to the stop n rob) I prefer the ease of carry and concealment the slightly smaller and slightly lighter CS45 affords me. And I am more accurate with the CS45. But am still working with the 457.

So, I vote that you get both. Because you really do NEED BOTH! Hope this helps! :) Best regards, 18DAI
 
I have never had a model 457. I bought a CS 45 new, and have carried it for many years. It is a great shooter, and is light enough to barely know it is there. I have bought a number of extra magazines from Midway. I carry 25 rounds of ammunition for it. It is my favorite pistol in .45 acp.
 
I have to agree with others, there's always good reason behind having more than one 45 single stack Smith. Get the CS45 and keep the 457. Same gun, different capacities and the CS45 is like the short fat bottomed twin and the 457 is more of the tall glass of water twin. Same blood line.

Once you pop you can't stop they say... I now have a 4513TSW, 4516-2 Custom Order, 4506 no dash, CS45D Stainless and the Billboard 1911. If I could find a sub 300 dollar 457 around I'd snatch it up. I've also been on the hunt for a mint 945 of any variation and those seem to just be getting more and more expensive.

SVT28










 
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That's interesting. I looked on a copy of the S&W semi auto parts list, and it you're correct. Part# 263310000 RECOIL SPRING-INSIDE $3.26

There is not "OUTSIDE" part listed. I have to wonder why the 457 has two springs, but the CS45 only has one.

Gary

Gary,

I think you'll find the CS45 only has 1 recoil spring.
They may have just listed it as an 'outer'.

Tom
 
That's interesting. I looked on a copy of the S&W semi auto parts list, and it you're correct. Part# 263310000 RECOIL SPRING-INSIDE $3.26

There is not "OUTSIDE" part listed. I have to wonder why the 457 has two springs, but the CS45 only has one.

Gary

CS40/45 use a flat wire spring.
4516/457/4516tsw/4013tsw etc. use two nested round wire springs.

John
 
... and I agree. :D

Don't know anything about the 457, but the Cs45 IMHO is an accurate little shooter. One of the smallest 45s acp's around.

Not that I am partial to it or anything like that but I cast my vote for "Yes you do".. :D
Cheers!
CS45Fan
 
Seems to me that if you find any gun in Massachusetts that you want, a good time to buy is now.;)

So count me in with the others on pullin' the trigger, Gary.

"AA in reverse" -- that's rich! :D
 
Seems to me that if you find any gun in Massachusetts that you want, a good time to buy is now.;)

So count me in with the others on pullin' the trigger, Gary.

"AA in reverse" -- that's rich! :D
I see that you get how it works in a heavily-restricted moonbat state. :) But in this particular case, the CS45 is a "listed" handgun and can be imported fairly easily if so desired. The trick, of course, is finding as good a deal (or better) on the Internet... not necessarily an easy or risk-free thing. :cool:
 
get the cs45. plenty accurate & eats anything. for ccw I just stick it in my right front pants pocket with a spare mag in the left front pocket. and no I don't wear oversized pants.
 
@Muzzleblast

What holster make and model is that?
 
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