I have a 9mm Shield. How can you tell if the sights need to be adjusted? Looks fine to me, but is there a way to measure?

Where is point of impact when compared to point of aim? All else is secondary.

Sights are adjusted for point of impact - not how they "look" on the gun...

Shoot 5 rounds off a bench at 21'. Use a two hand hold and rest your wrists on a sandbag. Hopefully, you'll shoot a 4" group or less. If it's centered on the target, all is good!

__________________
"I also cook."

POI is consistently left of aim. I am right handed and a new shooter.

Over the weekend, I shot 4 different S&W handguns, all larger than the Shield and all with 4" barrels or longer. I would assume these all had better triggers as well.

I was still to the left, but not nearly as much as with the Shield and I was able to adjust at self defense lengths and find the center of the target within 3-4 shots with each gun. I have 700 rounds through the Shield and I'm still off to the left.

To be honest, I was shocked at how much better I shot with these larger guns.

If you are consistent left with multiple guns and a new shooter work on your grip. Sounds like you are squeezing too hard, especially with your support hand.
Also check your eye dominance. If you are left dominant, but right handed shooting right handed that can cause consistent hits to left.

__________________
Straight shootin'
SWCA#2439

Next time you are at the range ask your range officer to shoot 5 or 6 rounds and see where his/her POI is. If he/she is dead on the problem is probably in your grip. If he/she is off target it is probably the sights and they can be adjusted to correct the problem. Happy shooting and good luck.

I should clarify the difference in targets. At my local range, I'm shooting a full size 18X24 silhouette. I am consistently in the 8, 7 and arm area with the Shield.

This weekend, I was shooting the larger guns but I was shooting a smaller 12X12 round target. And while I was still off to the left on my first few shots, I was able to hit the center mark within the next few shots on each gun. The big difference was that I wasn't off as much and I was able to correct it and hit where I was aiming.

I've been meaning to really test mine some. Mine has a factory green laser. Last time the laser was pretty much on, but the sights would have me shooting left. Would be nice to have them in sync...

Sent from my Moto G (5) Plus using Tapatalk

Fred Flintstone "EwwwwwwwBoy"

It sounds like you just need more practice. I think you may have done better with the larger guns die to the grip filing your hand more and having a longer sight radius. I did I do better with full size guns as well. I'd leave the sights and have somebody else shoot it and see if you hit the same area.

It's all about trigger control. The left, and probably low, is the shooter. Extreme amounts of dry fire practice is recommended.

With all respect (really!), my 9mm Shield shot left out of the box. My .357 does not. After 1200 rounds through my shield, I don't care if it's my grip, my finger pad or joint, or if I'm compensating for anticipated recoil - it's my gun and I'm comfortable with grip & finger placement - SO I adjust my gun to my shooting. I needed to drift the front sight 0.10" to the left. I bought & used a digital caliper, brass drift punch, and a small workbench vise with non-marring plastic jaws. I had already had tritium sights installed by a gunsmith, so the front sight's factory lock tight was already broken. Even so, drifting the sight takes a pretty hard rap on the punch! And with my own calipers I found the rear sight was off by 0.03, which I corrected.

I'm now getting 3" groups at 15 yards with the aim point in the center of the group, and my double taps are within a 6" group.

AND... if the groups start moving right, and my shooting still feels comfortable to my hand - I'll just move the front sight back toward the right.
PJ