Is everyone satisfied with the 9mm 7yd accuracy? What is acceptable? 3"?

The gun is capable of cloverleafs at 7 yds. Most shooters are not, especially offhand.

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Science plus Art

At 7 yards it should be closer to 1".

No problems with 1" groups at 10 yards shooting offhand with Shield 40.

Yep, except for the slight leftward group.

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at 21 feet mine is OK. I think I am getting 4" groups, nothing to write home about. My Glock is way more accurate. I have just ordered the Apex Duty Trigger kit and hopefully it will improve the accuracy.

What he said.

Modern firearms are more accurate than we are.

It's amazingly accurate, even in my crummy mitts with my lousy old blue eyes.

Accuracy is subjective - you probably know that. I'd go as far to say 1.5" 8 round group at 7 yards makes me happy for my 9MM Shield. I like shooting at a 10" round AR500 steel plate from 10, 15 and 20 yards. If I can consistently make it ring every shot I'm happy. Even happier when most hits remove white paint in the center. So I am satisfied with the EDC Shield 9MM accuracy. It certainly isn't a target pistol and was never meant to be. Just a good shooting carry pistol IMO. Just to note, I installed an Apex hard sear and had TFO sights installed. Both improved my perception of accuracy from this pistol. Good luck!

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Webfarmer

I think it all in the shooter. Shoot the gun more. Shoot different bullet weights to see what your gun likes. Practice makes perfect. I own a couple of firearms as much I would like them to be laser guided they are not. So I have to do my part to get them to perform the way I want. Maybe one day I can shoot the wings off a fly at 100 yards. One can dream. This target was at 15 yards. First time shooting 100 rds thru my brand new shield 9. Not my best, but I'll keep working on it.

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Bishop

Yes the Shield is accurate. I have the Shield 40 and also swap a 9mm barrel for practice. With slow two handed accuracy shooting, both barrels will shoot all rounds within a 2 1/2 inch circle, at 15 yards. That is standing, two handed, slow shooting, one round every 10 seconds. The POI is different as the 9mm shoots 2 1/2 inches further right and 2 1/2 inches lower than the 40, with the same POA. I keep the sights accurate for the 40 barrel, as that is my carry caliber.

Bob

I find the 124gr round to be more accurate than 115gr. Mine is only as accurate as my tri-focaled eyes. But in the hands of one of the range guys, it did a 2" cloverleaf at 15 yards with 124gr FMJ. There was a time I could do that, 40 years ago.

My 9 and 40 are very accurate. It's me that isn't...lol. I can easily put them all in a 1.5" group at 7 yards. Used to be much better, but my eyes and hands just aren't as steady as they used to be.


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My Shield 9 is plenty accurate for a self defense pistol. Is isn't a target gun or a range pistol. My all stainless steel gen 3 Smiths are more accurate and my 1911's and Smith revolvers are much more accurate. I have seen posts that claim the Shield is the OP's " most accurate handgun". What the hell are his other handguns?? The Shield is a great carry/SD gun, but a target pistol, not so much.

For me and my Shield(s), POI = POA to 15 yards.

All day long.

Like a boss.

My only other "small" pistol is trusty old 659 S&W . I've carried that heavy thing many a day. I always thought it to be a pretty decent pistol and I can hit a target relatively well.

BUT...

I got a Shield 9mm a while back when I decided to carry CCW pretty much all the time rather than just open carry when out in the deserts and such.
I have to say that when on a REST or at longer range the 659 will group a little bit tighter than the Shield but not much.

In actual 7-15 yard "accuracy" both pistols are about the same BUT I hit the targets quicker and with tighter groups easier with the Shield.
I find it easy to carry, easy to draw and acquire a good sight picture and VERY pleasant to shoot in general. I was having a bit of an issue, like many folks, with hitting low-left at first but that seems to have "cured" itself for the most part. Maybe a combination of getting broken-in and the shooter getting his grip and squeeze squared away better.

I just know that the Shield has almost every advantage to ME as a carry pistol and for occasional IDPA style practice / competition . The ONLY advantage of the 659 is it's huge magazine capacity. That, and it's just a purty gun in all it's stainless glory and fine quality materials and workmanship.

Even without the carry advantages of the little Shield, I find it easier to hit the target every time and it has had zero malfunctions for the first 1000 rounds which I got to this morning. It is an excellent defensive pistol IMHO, and MORE accurate than this shooter can equal . I'm quite satisfied with the Shield as far as it's operational characteristics. I WOULD like to see a bit better QC on fit and finish when compared to "high end" S&W pistols of the previous generations. Maybe not everybody wants to PAY for that, but I probably WOULD. I only buy a new pistol every 30 years or so and appreciate a piece of quality when I see it. As far as design and function though, I give S&W high marks.

I'm not a very experienced shooter, and I did NOT stay at a Holiday Inn Express last night ....

YMMV
JMHO

My problem is our Shield 9 is considerably more accurate for my wife -- Monday at the range she put 5 in the 10 ring you could cover with a silver dollar, turned to me and said "we have to keep that one". For 54 years she has been out shooting me.

My Shield is more accurate than me.

Observe the target. Most are grouped a little larger than a quarter but note two way off. Sure wasn't the gun.

If I had surgeon hands at 7 yards I have no question the Shield would punch one hole for all the rounds.

Pistols where the sights are closer together will not be as forgiving as longer handguns.

If I concentrate on keeping my wrist straight and squeezing not pulling the trigger my groups are tight. Shoot with a loose wrist pulling the trigger and the rounds are all over the target.

This isn't rocket science. Practice on technique and the Shield will not disappoint you as a CCW.

Russ

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