S&W Manual for the M&Pshield says, "Do Not adjust the rear sight". Anyone know why? The set-up appears to be the same as the the FS and C models. I can see there is very little latitude for adjustment, but it still looks doable!

mb

Why not go to the source and ask them? Call, don't E-mail, S&W at 800-331-0852. If they can't explain to your satisfaction ask to be transferred to the "Automatic Foreman". But, since the manual says don't do it, why are you questioning this information? I have to believe there is good reason for it!

If you look through previous posts on this topic, the shield typically has notoriously tight sights and if done incorrectly, the slide can be damaged. I have an MGW tool and have removed/replaced/adjusted my shield sights with out an issue. However, the tool does give specific directions as to how the slide needs to be positioned else risk damage. Ask S&W for specifics..

Thanks!

mb

The Shield rear sight is virtually the same width as the slide dovetail. You can't move it much at all without overhanging the slide. This thread may be of interest to you:

Shield sight change Picture heavy

You need to adjust the front sight on a Shield. The rear leaves little room to move it and is also very tight. Let me guess you are right handed and shooting to the left.

__________________
USN Retired/VN VET
M&P X5

The reason I asked about adjustment to the rear sight is because it is not centered on the slide . It is off to the left about
.025 in.

mb

Then by all means, loosen the set screw and move it back to the center.

Can you hit your target? Maybe that is where the rear sight needs to be for proper POI. Don't change it until you know it is wrong.

Mine was the same as yours out of the box. It did shoot left about 2" and it wasn't me. Front sight was centered per my dial calipers but the rear was off slightly to the left. To fix it, I clamped the slide in a vise with rubber jaws. I took the largest punch that would fit in the dovetail and ground one side of the punch flat to give as much contact area on the sights as possible. I then covered the tip of the punch with a couple layers of electrical tape. Mark the original location of the rear sight with a pencil so you can easy see when it moves. Loosen the set screw and using a large ball peen hammer and hit the punch. Start out with light hits and work your way up until you see the sights move. Once you have the sight where you want it tighten the set screw, wipe off the pencil mark with some gun oil, reassemble the gun and go test it out. Once I verified my was dialed in I removed the set screw and added a drop of blue Loctite.

Some folks say this can't or shouldn't be done. I had no problem moving the sight this way although it did take a few pretty good whacks to move it.

My wife's Shield shot consistently to the right and her front sight was off center to the left. Using the same procedure I moved her front sight. Not saying this is the only way to do it but this method worked for me.

Or you can buy a proper sight pusher and be done with it.

Ballistic147:
Thank you for the information on moving the rear sights! That is exactly what I intend to do! Per your detailed instructions, I am going to try to center them. I have loosened the set screw and will center them on the slide using my 5/16" brass punch/drift. The front sight is almost centered, off to the left of the slide by about 1/32".
Again, Thanks.

mb

1/32" is quite a bit, actually. More than .030.