Went to the range with my out of the box Shield yesterday, and was pleased. If I do my part, the pistol is right on. The groups a more open than the rental gun the wife and I tried so maybe after a little break-in they will tighten up. Started with a full size silhouette shooting Remington FMJ at 30 feet:


Had a few flyers so I tried a training target, again at 30 feet, and was pleasantly surprised.

Men was consistently low and left. I noticed the rear sight was not centered and measured it. Sure enough it was off slightly. I used a sight tool to center and now it is dead on. Tight groups and consistent!

I will be the first to say I don't have a "lot of experience" shooting pistols. I have only recently begun to shoot the pistols I have with any regularity. (about weekly)
I have an older .357 and a .38. I recently added the 9mm Shield. Out of the box it was "decent", but now that I am over the 500 round mark, I am as accurate with it as the .357. I do shoot at varying distance each time I go shooting.
My group does open up more with the .357 at longer distance.....and I am not quite sure why that is.....if it is the weapon or me.
With the Shield, while every shot is not "dead on" they are more than just the general center mass.....probably cover with a "small dinner plate" at the 45' distance.
Have had some people say it is not needed to practice at that distance...my thought is if I am accurate at that distance should be fine up close.
All in all VERY satisfied with the Shield overall. I would assume yours will tighten up as the gun is worn in....but I wonder sometimes if it is us getting "used to the gun" or it truly being "worn in"................

I had to move my front sight to the left. After I did that I had them all within the 8 ring on a B27 silhouette at 25 yards. Not bad for a 3 inch barrel. Cost me about $50 to get the tools needed to move the sight without messing it up. I guess when S&W test fire it and it goes BANG that is good enough. The trigger pull on the shield is lightyears better then the 30S Glock I also brought. Good triggers make good shooters!