New CSX Micro 9 Pistol
Despite its diminutive size, the star of the event was the company’s surprise release CSX handgun. “This is the dark horse that we launched kind of unexpectedly,” explained Corey Beaudreau, Smith & Wesson’s media relations manager, when we caught up with him at the S&W booth.
With a metal frame and low bore axis, this hammer-fired micro 9 was the first gun most testers sought out at S&W’s range event. It offers a 10+1 capacity with a flush-fit magazine and 12+1 with an extended mag, both come standard with the gun. Being a small, single-action, hammer-fired gun, the CSX boasts a longer beavertail to guard the shooter’s hand.
Following the current handgun trends, there’s a flat-faced trigger with an integrated safety and front and rear slide serrations. Given the CSX’s size, Smith & Wesson beefed up the slide with raised tabs on the rear to support easier racking. There’s also an ambi thumb safety and slide release with a left-right swappable magazine release. MSRP for the new handgun currently sits at $609.
New .30 Super Carry Pistols
Joining the new CSX is a line of S&W carry guns now also chambered for the brand-new .30 Super Carry round. A blend of power and capacity, the round offers higher round counts than 9mm options and improved performance over .380 ACP.
Some members of the Smith & Wesson Shield line can now be had in the new chambering, to include the Shield EZ and the Shield Plus. They can host 10+1 and 12+1 rounds respectively with a standard magazine of .30 Super Carry, adding two additional rounds over capacities with 9mm in both guns. The extended magazine on the Shield Plus even offers full-size handgun capacities of 15+1 in a still easily concealed package thanks to the hybrid little cartridge.
New Volunteer Rifle
Escaping the world of concealable handguns, Smith & Wesson also showcased their new Volunteer Series of AR rifles. They’re offered in a variety of flavors along two main lines – Volunteer XV and the Volunteer XV Pro. Choices range from more traditional options with A2 front-sight posts to optics-ready variants and even a competition-ready Pro series complete with lengthy M-Lok rail and a Primary Weapon Systems muzzle brake.
Regardless of your personal choice, S&W also offers flat-faced triggers, B5 Systems stocks/pistol grips, and chromed firing pins as standard for the Volunteer line. MSRP on the new series runs between $1,049 and $1,599.
