S&W Shield Plus vs S&W CSX: Which One Is Actually Better?

I order a shield plus I will pick it up on Friday cause I couldn’t find it anywhere my local gun shop order it for me I watch all your vids on this gun is why made me purchase one I haven’t even held it I trust your judgement

Good review. Accurate all but your comment on the reset. The false reset isn’t the safety tab in the trigger, it’s a miss-timed safety bar with the seer, so you feel two separate spring tensions. . They doin a lot with the trigger. In order it pushes the trigger safety, the safety bar, the seer and the pin block, then bang. Pretty easy fix and ridiculos manufacturing can’t maintain the tolerance. Great design poorly executed! I’ve reworked just about everything in the gun. Now has great trigger at 4lbs, clean reset, slot in takedown you can remove with your thumbnail. I’d love for you to shoot it😊

It would be awesome to have a comparison between shield plus and Canik TP9 Sc

Did you have trouble removing the pin on the CSX when the gun was first purchased? I still haven't been able to get the pin out because it's extremely tight. I appreciate it if you can recommend something to me to be able to remove the pin with the ease that you did. Thank you.

I liked the way the Shield Plus fired, but I bought the CSX for its metal frame, smaller size, manual thumb safety (the one on the shield plus is pretty meh by comparison), and the fact it's a hammer fire. The trigger is definitely better on the Shield Plus, but I'm not super picky about how triggers feel. If it's good enough to work, it's good enough for me. Maybe if I were a competitive shooter it would be a bigger selling point, but for self defense, it just needs to be reliable.

I also didn't have a problem with the "false reset" on the CSX personally. The difference in travel between the first reset click and the last one is so miniscule that it really doesn't make a difference for me.

😂😂Shield call is shucks. You have an issue and not the gun csx

I want the Csx in 30 super carry

The Shield Plus is my current ccw and it's awesome. Great video

The Shield Plus can now hold 15+ 1 using the Equalizer magazine. I will also say the Plus has a great trigger. I am not a trigger snob but going from a Gen 1 Shield to the Plus I can feel that the Plus trigger is very nice right from the factory.

Awesome. Great video because while browsing i kept coming across it and wondering what is the difference? same price, company, size ect, all that you said in the video. So thanks for clearing up the differences between the 2. I think that it was just made for preference. If you are a polymer gun or glock fan vs a 1911 one. Some prefer metal and ect. I know that me and having 3 young kids always around i am more comfortable with my kimber due to the 1911 style. More control to me. I love that i can have one in the chamber with the hammer down and safety on and my toddler could not get hurt even IF he got ahold of it. But if im in a bad area or pumping gas, i can just pull that hammer back and be ready instead of waiting till i need to use it and having to pull the hammer then take off the safety. You cant do this with any other than a revolver or 1911 style. Thats just me though,

The CSX would've been a banger if it had a better trigger, was optics ready, was available in 30SC, and maybe also in stainless finish.

i have yet to find a gun the beats my shield plus pc for edc

You have the shield plus and the shield plus performance center. If I'm getting a shield which of these do you recommend

I've shot both and love both, but if I had to choose which one I would carry everyday, I would most likely go with the CSX if for no other reason than the slide being super easy to rack.

as a lefty i'm still going with the csx

There definitely seems to be consensus that the CSX has a few issues (including some complaints of slide bite) that prevent it from being great. It’s too bad because I really like the look, size, capacity, and unique action. Like you said, hopefully S&W fixes those issues and makes a great gen 2 version.

CSX needs a M&P Compact sized optic ready model, that would be super cool and unique

20 oz.

They fixed the trigger on the csx. I went to my local gun shop. I wanted to see how bad that false reset was. When they handed me the csx they told me S&W fixed the trigger problem. Sure enough they did. Added note: S&W changed the color for the mag follower from grey to blue. I don't know why, mabey if yall know let me know.

🇺🇦👍

CSX is a nostalgia buy. For one, CSX stands for Chief's Special X. It's why the frame is all metal aluminum alloy and the gun itself uses a 100-year-old system (albeit with some newer features like racking with the safety on) similar to the Chief's Special 9 which was aluminum as well. while the shield started as its own thing, the shield and shield plus are M&P series pistol. It's only right for a gun that has taken up the mantle from a series of excellent service revolvers and at least one auto loader. As for the trigger, it simply requires some breaking in. the takedown pin is annoying to say the least. Oh, and you can half-cock the CSX as you might a 1911 and it is safe to carry. I just got one because of guess what? nostalgia. Tip: If you're having issues with your CSX takedown pin, use the palm swell button punch that comes with the gun to act as a breach spacer when removing the takedown and it makes it significantly easier at aligning the pin without straining your hands or scratching the gun. They need to put this in the manual.

I have watched many reviews of the CSX and they all say about the same thing. One thing no one has mentioned is that the CSX is much easier to rack the slide than the Shield Plus. My husband has the Shield Plus and I cannot rack the slide without pain in my hands due to arthritis. I can rack the CSX without pain. My CSX never had the false reset that so many people experienced so I cannot speak to that. My trigger was a little rough at first, but after about 100 rounds it smoothed out just fine. The Shield Plus does have an optic cut, but only for certain optics. If you want a Holosun, you will have to have it milled anyway. Just my 2 cents.

“Why have this gun?” Because left handlers are screwed on a daily basis and S&W finally gives us mag release, slide release and a safety. Even the take down is on our side. Left handlers will love it. Also the false reset has been overstated and is not present on mine made in 2/2022. I think gun reviewers are watching other gun reviewers and repeating/hunting for the trigger problem however you are a savvy shooter and encountered it obviously so maybe you were the first to discover it?

Moist

The csx 9mm is a dream perfect for concealed carry with plenty of firepower with 12 round mags and to all new smith owners there are 4 smith and wessons that for this month are offering 3 free magazines pls get yours

The csx is one offering free 3 mags

What the difference between shield plus and performance center?

A Kimber micro 9 holster will work with the csx, they are basically identical in size

I was a huge fan of the csx and i
Didn’t have a single hiccup until i for some damn reason thought about the trigger reset I started having that problem I love the looks and and the feel, and the recoil and the accuracy but I had a hiccup when I needed it, to take out a coyote that was attacking my dogs, and I was coming home from work so it was what I had. I traded it for a sheild plus or

I really like this, but like anything else the first iteration sometimes need to get the bugs worked out. I’m hoping in the future they’ll have a version with night sights or optics ready options and they’ll fix the trigger. I like the way it looks and I like that it’s a little smaller. But there are a lot of things I really like about it. I’m happy with my shield plus and I had a shield for a few years before that but I think with a better trigger and a little refinement overtime I might like something like this even better. It reminds me a lot of my model for 11 that I got way back in the mid 90s.

I don't understand the 7 pound trigger pull mentioned..mine is about 4 1/2 and getting better each mag fired 🤷‍♂️

I bought a csx for summer carry, i haven't been able to get to many rounds through it yet....but i absolutely love the size and features. When i dont carry this i carry my p07.

I knew this was the answer before I watched because I did a similar comparison at the range, renting a CSX against my carry Shield.

I wanted to like the CSX, but that trigger is soooo wanky, both operationally and from an appearance standpoint.

I knew I was going to be disappointed when the rangemaster said before I entered the lanes "if you like it, I will make you a screaming deal on the CSX"

I shot several full mags through it, both tactical and for accuracy. Accuracy was fine, although the rental printed left and low. I actually gained more shooting satisfaction from my buddy's Ruger EC9 than the CSX.

When I returned it, I told the rangemaster, no screaming deal today... he just said he is not surprised & didn't even charge me for the rental which I appreciated.

If they put a regular 1911 trigger in the the CSX, I would have made the deal. The trigger sucks because it operates like a striker but is a hammer. If you can get past that, you might get used to it, but for me, too many steps to go through in a shooting situation

Read the manual it CLEARLY STATES "let the trigger out fully"... You implied a failure, that's a disservice to your viewers/fans.
Reasons to make this gun... Hammer fired, all metal, manual safety..... Alot of people like the way a all metal gun "feels in hand"... In a actual defensive shooting mode, I guarantee you will NOT be shooting to reset.

I look forward to a gen 2

I honestly dont know who they were trying to appeal to with the CSX, its just unnecessary. The shield plus is already amazing, just to release a inferior trigger on a hammer fired system.

CSX is a trigger update away from being the best concealed carry gun on the market.

CSX has a lot of features old skoolers of the 1911 crowd want- Metal frame, Safety, Hammer. Its rivals would be the Sig P938, Kimber Micro 9, etc. CSX up a little less space in the pocket than the Shield, though Im not sure which is slimmer. The shield does offer some caliber options that the CSX doesnt, and of course more aftermarket parts and upgrades.

Never had trigger lock issue. Maybe you got a bad one ?

I have S&W 9mm Shield Plus. Installed a 3 5/8 inch True Precision Treaded Barrel. Better lockup, Stability and Accuracy. Also Hogue Grip. I also have a S&W Shield. I upgraded the Trigger and installed a 3 5/8 inch Faxon Barrel. Also Hogue Grip. Reliability no change. Very accurate .Shooting 12 ounces hanging beer cans 20 yard easy and at 40 yards Body size Targets. I don't need the PC 4 inch Shield Plus. I also Have a SD9VE. Installed Apex Trigger, Slide Bar and Slide Lock upgraded to Stainless Steel. No Malfunctions. I also have a Great Condition S&W M&P 40 Police Trade in. The police officer must have upgraded the Trigger Springs. Still has the Henge Trigger, But it shoots very well and the Trigger feels good. Bought a Gun Light for it.

I got really excited when I first saw the CSX, I have a Kimber Micro 9 and I really like it. The capacity of the CSX makes it very appealing. I saw all the bad trigger reviews and it was disappointing. I finally went to the range and rented one. My wife and I shot it and both liked it. I hope to buy one in the future. I didn't have any problem with the trigger.

They do sell the shield plus in California but only with a ten round capacity

Both gun are excellent.... I like the CSX

Sorry, i have a CSX and i like it. Maybe im just old school; metal frame, external hammer and it shoots.

I just don't understand the hate on the csx maybe im quirky but I like to be different when it comes to guns sometimes I have a glock 19 I have several pistols but I just really like the csx but the trigger isn't very great

CSX

CSX has ambi slide release. Only micro 9 I can find for left handers.

I have several guns including Staccato CS, and Sig P365 AXG Legion, which is my carry gun. I am now looking for a pocket carry gun (I did have a P365X and didn't like it). I am looking at Sig P938, what do you think? Should I get that or shield plus or something else (Capacity and cost not an issue for me).