05/23/2026
surprised me with their CSX-E. Normally only polymer frame Smiths and a J frame or two appear in our inventory. But when I first encountered a CSX-E, I was intrigued.
It feels good in the hand and points naturally. The thumb safety could be a bit wider, but it’s in the right place and easy to sweep off on the draw especially if you’ve spent any amount of time with a 1911. It points neutral/natural making the sights align almost on their own.
The SA trigger pull is short and breaks on the heavy side, but is improving the more rounds I put through it.
Recoil is softer than other guns in this size category, and also the slide is easier to rack than a lot of pistols. It comes with a variety of interchangeable backstraps to achieve the ideal fit, as well as 3x mags holding 12x 15, and 17 rounds respectively. Shown with 12 rounder seated, and 17 rounder in the mag holder.
My only gripes with the CSX-E are that you lose the rear sight if you mount an optic (I shoot this well enough with irons and I want to keep it small, so I probably won’t put an optic on it); I wish the thumb safety were a hair wider for more positive disengagement at speed; and I wish the trigger break was lighter and cleaner. Other than that, I think it’s a pretty dynamite little carry piece.
There don’t seem to be many holster options out there for it, but has it covered.
