A little surprised ... and disappointed

[Jambayzie]

I Got my shield 40 a couple weeks ago. My first trip to the range, I was all over the target with it, mostly to the left. I put it off to it being a new gun, the trigger being different and heavier than my Colt, the gun itself is heavier, blah blah blah.

Well last night, I got home and the Lasermax was there waiting for me. I installed it on the gun and adjusted it to where it looked like my sights were aiming. I dry-fire practiced a little, and decided to take it to the range this morning.

My first 2 mags were without the laser on. I sucked pretty bad. I turned the laser on, and my shots were still landing to the left. I adjusted the laser a little at a time until I was putting my groups into the ring. Then, using the sights, I saw that the laser was hitting the target to the left and slightly low so assuming that is where the bullet would go, the sights are pretty far off.

Is that unusual or is it pretty normal for a brand new gun to come from the factory with the sights far enough off that many shots didn't even hit the paper? My Colt has fixed sights, and I never had a complaint with them. I actually got quite good with it.

I know I can adjust the sights on the Shield, but ... I guess I expected from The Almighty Smith & Wesson that they would be good out of the box. Do you think the store I bought it from would do this for me? Or would I have to pay them to do it? Or should I just do it myself. Seems like it would be a pain to do it myself, at the range, move a sight, shoot, move it again, shoot, until I got it right.

 

[Der Biermeister]

It is a pretty simple and quick adjustment when in the hands of a gunsmith, although because you can really screw things up, I wouldn't attempt it myself. I think your lgs will do this without any qualms.

Since you've already got your laser pretty much sighted-in, they can use that as the goal.

 

[dullh]

Dry-fire practice should fix what ails you.

New guns are not "all over the place". Your first outing with it put it all over the place.

I would let someone with a steadier hand fire it. If they hit left, the trouble is the sights. If they hit in the middle, the problem is you. If you determine it is, in fact, the sights:

On the Shield you adjust the front sight only. The cumbersome way is to take a sight-pusher tool to the range with you. The easy way is to take a brass punch and hammer.

If you're hitting left on the target, tap the front sight more left.

If you're hitting right, tap the front sight to the right.

Assuming you're right handed, hitting left (especially low and left) is almost always a sign of a shooter flinching.

Have at it...

 

[BennyS]

Exactly what I thought, I was hitting left, so I attributed to a new gun. So the 25 year Leo next to me suggested I setup sandbag as a rest and see where it hits, I said great idea! Setup the sand bag at 7 yards and handed him my 9 mm shield with 5 left in the mag. He put five round in a half dollar dead center, I just keep practicing!

 

[k31scout]

Yes, sand bag it and see for sure where it's at. All I know is I have to give my Shield a really tight grip, much more than my other pistols and have to use the first joint rather than the pad of my finger to press the trigger. I recently got a LaserMax on mine but have not shot with it yet.

 

[duck32man]

Yes, sand bag it and see for sure where it's at. All I know is I have to give my Shield a really tight grip, much more than my other pistols and have to use the first joint rather than the pad of my finger to press the trigger. I recently got a LaserMax on mine but have not shot with it yet.

^+1...I was super discouraged with my shield the first time out and almost messed with the sights. I posted here and received good feedback regarding grip and trigger finger placement.

Next time at the range I really had to focus on these and the targets got better and better. I love my Shield and I'm thankful I posed the question before screwing with the sights.

Good Luck!

 

[shawn mccarver]

I assume you are right handed. If your hand is not directly behind the pistol (a common issue when shooters crank the gun around to get more leverage on the trigger), the pistol will recoil to the path of least resistance, which will be to the left, resulting in your shots all being to the left. This can be corrected in three ways: (1) change your grip; (2) adjust your sights (not easy on any S&W auto loader because of the way they are fitted so tightly in the slide); or, (3) use "Kentucky windage" and just aim the correct amount to the right.

The laser, of course, will cause you to shift your focus from the front sight, where it belongs, to the red dot on the target, which might be fine as long as your batteries work, but a disaster if you need to shoot by the traditional method.

 

[Utahshield]

Dry-fire practice should fix what ails you.

New guns are not "all over the place". Your first outing with it put it all over the place.

I would let someone with a steadier hand fire it. If they hit left, the trouble is the sights. If they hit in the middle, the problem is you. If you determine it is, in fact, the sights:

On the Shield you adjust the front sight only. The cumbersome way is to take a sight-pusher tool to the range with you. The easy way is to take a brass punch and hammer.

If you're hitting left on the target, tap the front sight more left.

If you're hitting right, tap the front sight to the right.

Assuming you're right handed, hitting left (especially low and left) is almost always a sign of a shooter flinching.

Have at it...

Your response is not correct for the Shield. With the factory Shield the only adjustment is for windage. Left to right adjustment . The front sight is basically fixed and the rear sight has a allen wrench screw that can be loosened to move the rear site to the direction you want to move the bullet. Before you attempt to do this make sure it's not you that is causing the bullet to miss the target. I've attached a good video explaining this concept.

pistol sight adjustment - Yahoo Search Results

 

[Utahshield]

I Got my shield 40 a couple weeks ago. My first trip to the range, I was all over the target with it, mostly to the left. I put it off to it being a new gun, the trigger being different and heavier than my Colt, the gun itself is heavier, blah blah blah.

Well last night, I got home and the Lasermax was there waiting for me. I installed it on the gun and adjusted it to where it looked like my sights were aiming. I dry-fire practiced a little, and decided to take it to the range this morning.

My first 2 mags were without the laser on. I sucked pretty bad. I turned the laser on, and my shots were still landing to the left. I adjusted the laser a little at a time until I was putting my groups into the ring. Then, using the sights, I saw that the laser was hitting the target to the left and slightly low so assuming that is where the bullet would go, the sights are pretty far off.

Is that unusual or is it pretty normal for a brand new gun to come from the factory with the sights far enough off that many shots didn't even hit the paper? My Colt has fixed sights, and I never had a complaint with them. I actually got quite good with it.

I know I can adjust the sights on the Shield, but ... I guess I expected from The Almighty Smith & Wesson that they would be good out of the box. Do you think the store I bought it from would do this for me? Or would I have to pay them to do it? Or should I just do it myself. Seems like it would be a pain to do it myself, at the range, move a sight, shoot, move it again, shoot, until I got it right.

S&W for most part the sights out of the box should be good to go. However, if you are new to shooting, or new to this gun, you should first determine if it is you or the gun that needs adjustment. Proper grip, trigger pull, proper sight alignment, breath control can greatly affect bullet impact area. These should be reviewed and practiced and if possible to have confirmed by another experienced shooter. Once you have ruled yourself from the problem, then sight adjustment may or my not be required. The factory S&W shield sights can be best adjusted on the rear sights only for windage. There is a allen wrench screw on top of the rear sight that can be loosened to make left or right adjustments to where you want the bullet to move on target. I have attached a video that explains it much better then the space I have taken up already. Good luck

pistol sight adjustment - Yahoo Search Results

 

[Rastoff]

Jambayzie,
You are a right hand shooter and you were shooting while standing and the gun was not supported except for your hands.

Am I right?

 

[SMMAssociates]

My NIB M&P40FS came through with both front and rear sights improperly centered. Shot all over the place. Wasn't me - I'm not exactly an "expert", but after more more than 40 years, the "new shooter" bug really isn't there, and I was aware of the potential "new gun" side of things.

That's when I looked at the sights.... Yech....

I centered them both, and then hit the range. Not quite there, but close enough for government work .... A little tweaking of the rear sight, and all was well.

(Cheated and used sandbags & a bench ....)

My other two M&P's had no such issues.

I don't have a Shield, though. I'm told that the rear sight on one of those was assembled by the same Samsonite Gorilla that puts Kimber rear sights on. As in "use a 20# sledge" to move one.... So, that's one for a smith or somebody who has an appropriate sight pusher. I have a pusher, but I'm not sure if it'd work. I used it on my M&P40C with success, but I'd call that luck. Swapping in a new front sight was a bear, though. The pusher I have wasn't quite right for that job. But I do know a few tricks ....

Regards,

 

[epj]

Read the Shield owners manual. Windage adjustment is to be accomplished by moving the FRONT sight. I know this is contrary to most conventional wisdom. You may think you can just loosen that little set screw and tap the sight over a bit. Doesn't work that way on the Shield.

 

[BennyS]

Your response is not correct for the Shield. With the factory Shield the only adjustment is for windage. Left to right adjustment . The front sight is basically fixed and the rear sight has a allen wrench screw that can be loosened to move the rear site to the direction you want to move the bullet. Before you attempt to do this make sure it's not you that is causing the bullet to miss the target. I've attached a good video explaining this concept.

pistol sight adjustment - Yahoo Search Results

I think you have it backward, I'm old but I'm sure the manual states front sight is adjustable for windage rear sight is not adjustable hence the red lockite

 

[KKECK5]

I as well had problems when first firing my Shield 40. I found that it was/is a lot of round for a small gun. Without any sight adjustment, after a few trips to the range it became my favorite gun to shoot, and the most accurate. This gun just get's better and better with use.

 

[rbuzz]

Directly from the Shield owners manual on the subject of sight adjustment:

• The rear sight is not adjustable. No attempt should be made
to move the rear sight on this model. Removal of the sight and
replacement should only be performed by a gunsmith who is
familiar with Smith & Wesson products.
• The front sight can be drifted left or
right to adjust windage.
Move the front sight in the opposite
direction that you wish the group to
move on target. For example, if the
group should move to the right, move
the front sight to the left (as viewed
from the rear). Use a brass drift or
punch to prevent marring the sight
when moving it.

 

[Der Biermeister]

No wonder the English language is so difficult to master:

wind·age (wndj)
n.
1.
a. The effect of wind on the course of a projectile.
b. The point or degree at which the wind gauge or sight of a rifle or gun must be set to compensate for the effect of the wind.
c. The difference in a given firearm between the diameter of the projectile fired and the diameter of the bore of the firearm.

2. The disturbance of air caused by the passage of a fast-moving object, such as a railway train.

3. Nautical: The part of the surface of a ship exposed to the wind.



Being a sailor -- I've always known what "windage" meant -- or I thought I did .

 

[Jambayzie]

See, some of you are not really reading what I wrote. I am not new to shooting a pistol. I am not as vastly experienced in variety as some of you, and surely am not an expert, but I am capable.

The first night I got the laser, I practiced (dry of course) with my grip and trigger watching the little dot on the wall until I got comfortable. I adjusted the laser to where my sights said the bullet would hit.

Then I went to the range. With the laser off, I used the sights alone and my shots were wide. I turned the laser on and my shots were wide again. I played with adjusting the laser until my shots went where the laser said they would. Not expert, mind you, but good. Then, with the laser still on, I used the sights. The laser was off to the left on the target. Aiming with the sights, the bullets went to the left, where the laser said they would.

I of course have no intention of substituting the laser for good fundamental aiming technique. As was mentioned, if the batteries go dead and I can't aim well using the sights, Uh-Oh! But it is a good tool to help during training. And, perhaps in this case, trouble-shooting. I am convinced that the sights are off. I hope you can see what I see here. Even with the naked eye, I can see that the rear sight is not centered.

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Uploaded with ImageShack.us[/IMG]This is why I want to address the problem. If the sights really are off, and the time comes, even if I was an expert, I would miss if I trusted them.

I have done more research and know what I have to do.

Let's say I am wrong and the sights are fine the way they are, it really is me and my sloppy technique. If I adjust the sight the way it says in the owners manual and on the advice of people more experienced than I am, as my technique gets better, won't I learn something? Should I be afraid to try something new? What's the worst that could happen? I have to put them back where they are now? I would not be doing anything permanent and burning a bridge here, nor would it damage the gun. (If I follow directions and don't do something stupid.)

I guess I'm a little taken aback at those whose first response is that it must be my technique because it would be impossible that the factory would ship a weapon that was not exactly perfect.

 

[arjay]

Adjust the sights to where you consistently hit.If you discover that your technique is off,and you change it,readjust as necessary.Its a lot like playing golf to the swing you have or the swing you're supposed to have.

 

[Rastoff]

Jambayzie,
Don't take it personally. Of course it's possible that your sights are off. However, the most common cause of low/left hits is the user. We see it here hundreds and hundreds of times.

Guys post how their gun is shooting low/left.
They ask how to adjust their sights.
Several of us ask if they shot from a rest.
The answer is almost universally no.
Then they go shoot from a rest and find that their sights were not off in the first place.

The shield trigger is mediocre by the most generous of standards. Lots of take up, some creep, heavy pull weight and too much over travel. Put all this together and it's very common to pull/push the shot off a little.

You can adjust the sights if you like. It won't damage your gun. As an experienced shooter you are already aware that when adjusting the sights it's imperative to remove all sources of error as much as possible. So, the gun must be shot from a rest to do it properly. This removes the human element as much as possible.

Again, don't take it personally. We are just trying to help you get the most from your gun.

So, was I wrong? Or are you a right hand shooter who was shooting off hand?

 

[Rastoff]

Oh yeah, one more thing. You didn't tell us what distance at which you were shooting. Your sight does look like it's not perfectly in the center, but it isn't off enough to cause you to miss the paper at normal self defense distances.

Where do you live?