Frustrated with Shield...

[BirdmanH54]

My wife was having the same issue until we put a Pachmayr grip on it, then all of the sudden, smack dab in the middle.

 

[BennyS]

Use a good straight edge and place it along the slide and measure distance between the sight post and straight edge. Measure each side and it will give you an idea of how off center it is. Use the same technic to center it.

 

[Vinney47]

It seems that a lot of people are really hesitant to adjust their sights... why? Especially on a gun with adjustable sights! If it's not hitting where you aim, just adjust it.

I may be alone here, but I'd have made an adjustment long before 600 rounds. There is something to be said about making sure you have good technique, but if it's a self defense gun you need to adjust the gun to yourself, and not the other way around. If/when the time comes to use it for self defense you need the gun to shoot at POA in your natural shooting way, you won't have time to adjust your grip and place your trigger finger "just so" to get that shot on target.

 

[SMR]

Don't give up! That front sight is supposed to be adjustable for windage. Tweak it a little to the left and see what happens. I'm surprised all different bullet weights are hitting at the same point (elevation wise). My experience with pistols has always been "lighter is lower". Good luck.

I was about to give up on it and sell it as I was that frustrated to no end. But after I seen that the front sight was misaligned I knew then that it wasn't me and that the front sight just needs to be aligned. Just talked to my local gun shop I bought my shield from and they told me to bring it in and they would fix it at no charge. So I'm extremely excited about that....

and I'm not changing any grips or anything on the gun to compensate for any flaws in my shooting mechanics. I've gotta make sure I fix me first before I fix anything else, and it was apparent that I was fine and the front site was the problem. Don't get caught up and trying other things until you fix your shooting mechanics first. I'm just glad it appears that I figured out what the problem was, and guess what folks sometimes its not the shooter and it is gun lol. this whole things had me going crazy and thinking I was starting to suck lol. Thanks for everyone's help and support much appreciated

 

[tpham32]

Yes! But again after looking at the front sight it is clearly misaligned to the right. I know, its "always you and not the gun!" "You suck the gun doesn't!" Yeah I know, but I'm positive once I adjust the front sight which agai. Is clearly off I'm pretty sure my POA will be where I want it and hits will be where they should be.

My front sight was misaligned a little bit to the right too when I was shooting left. I had my LGS center it and it was still shooting left at 7 yards. You can see it in my thread "Breaking in the Shield"

 

[SMR]

It seems that a lot of people are really hesitant to adjust their sights... why? Especially on a gun with adjustable sights! If it's not hitting where you aim, just adjust it.

I may be alone here, but I'd have made an adjustment long before 600 rounds. There is something to be said about making sure you have good technique, but if it's a self defense gun you need to adjust the gun to yourself, and not the other way around. If/when the time comes to use it for self defense you need the gun to shoot at POA in your natural shooting way, you won't have time to adjust your grip and place your trigger finger "just so" to get that shot on target.

Vinny you are absolutely correct sir. But I needed to make sure and rule out that it wasn't me. I now know that it wasn't me which is a relief, but it's also my fault that I never even checked to look at the front sight just assuming that the factory had it aligned right, so that is my fault and a mistake that I will never make again. I will never listen to them clowns again that say you suck it's not the gun. I've been shooting way too long and know what my capabilities are, and I know I can shoot, but I was really starting to question myself for the fact that I kept listening to its you and not the gun. sometimes it is the gun and again I'll never make that mistake again.

 

[SMR]

My front sight was misaligned a little bit to the right too when I was shooting left. I had my LGS center it and it was still shooting left at 7 yards. You can see it in my thread "Breaking in the Shield"

if mine is still shooting left after I get the sights aligned, then I'm selling it and just moving on.

 

[Vinney47]

I've been shooting way too long and know what my capabilities are, and I know I can shoot, but I was really starting to question myself for the fact that I kept listening to its you and not the gun. sometimes it is the gun and again I'll never make that mistake again.

This is what I'm talking about mostly. If the gun groups well, then it's accurate. If it doesn't hit the POA, adjust the sights.

To me, getting rid of a pistol that shoots straight but not on target because of a refusal or hesitation to adjust sights is like tossing out a rifle that shoots MOA because it won't hit the bulls eye without zeroing the scope.

All this self-doubting and frustration is needless, IMO. If you couldn't adjust the sights (or replace the sights with adjustable ones), then I could see the worry and frustration. But the answer is so bloody simple! It's clear the gun is accurate, and that the shooter can shoot (otherwise, the good groupings wouldn't be possible). Even if the front sight wasn't visible off a bit, the answer is the same - adjust it a bit to match your POA and POI. What's the point of adjustable sights if we are that hesitant to ever put them to use? It's a really desirable feature, the reviews on a model get docked if it doesn't have them. People will pay more for a model that has them.

I'm confident you will be shooting the bulls eye out of your targets after you get your sights adjusted. It just seems this whole issue of possibly giving up on the gun because you, for whatever reason, are THAT hesitant to adjust the sights (never mind it appears to be off) and making this big of a deal about it is much ado about nothing.

 

[SMR]

This is what I'm talking about mostly. If the gun groups well, then it's accurate. If it doesn't hit the POA, adjust the sights.

To me, getting rid of a pistol that shoots straight but not on target because of a refusal or hesitation to adjust sights is like tossing out a rifle that shoots MOA because it won't hit the bulls eye without zeroing the scope.

All this self-doubting and frustration is needless, IMO. If you couldn't adjust the sights (or replace the sights with adjustable ones), then I could see the worry and frustration. But the answer is so bloody simple! It's clear the gun is accurate, and that the shooter Canada shoot (otherwise, the good groupings wouldn't be possible). Even if the front sight wasn't visible off a bit, the answer is the same - adjust it a bit to match your POA and POI. What's the point of adjustable sights if we are that hesitant to ever put them to use? It's a really desirable feature, the reviews on a model get docked if it doesn't have them. People will pay more for a model that has them.

I'm confident you will be shooting the bulls eye out of your targets after you get your sights adjusted. It just seems this whole issue of possibly giving up on the gun because you, for whatever reason, are THAT hesitant to adjust the sights (never mind it appears to be off) and making this big of a deal about it is much ado about nothing.

vinny, it's not that I'm hesitant to adjust the sights, its just I had it in my head it was me and not the gun. All my guns I've ever owned I've never had this issue so I naturally just assumed it was me doing something wrong because it was my first compact gun with a shorter barrel. like I stated above it will never happen again that's for sure, and I'm sure once I get the sights aligned, I will be hitting center mass like I always do. I just had to rule myself out first.

 

[Rastoff]

I know, its "always you and not the gun!" "You suck the gun doesn't!"

I don't agree with that at all. If that's what you're getting from what I've said then I need to clarify.

Shooting from a rest is the only way to reduce the potential human error. Since you've shot from a rest, and are still shooting to the left, then I highly recommend adjusting the sights.

The M&P triggers are not great. This is just reality. Many, many people tend to have a little flinch with them. Even when they don't with other guns. Most of them have corrected their low/left shots by working on trigger control. Some have had bad barrels and still others have had misaligned sights. The goal is to correct the problem with as little fuss as possible. Once you've shot from a rest, then it's time to look at the gun. You're doing it right.

if mine is still shooting left after I get the sights aligned, then I'm selling it and just moving on.

This is not unreasonable. Some people just have trouble with some guns. I had a couple of Glock guns that I just could not get a handle on. No matter how I tried I couldn't group well with them. I sold them and haven't looked back.

 

[SMR]

I don't agree with that at all. If that's what you're getting from what I've said then I need to clarify.

Shooting from a rest is the only way to reduce the potential human error. Since you've shot from a rest, and are still shooting to the left, then I highly recommend adjusting the sights.

The M&P triggers are not great. This is just reality. Many, many people tend to have a little flinch with them. Even when they don't with other guns. Most of them have corrected their low/left shots by working on trigger control. Some have had bad barrels and still others have had misaligned sights. The goal is to correct the problem with as little fuss as possible. Once you've shot from a rest, then it's time to look at the gun. You're doing it right.


This is not unreasonable. Some people just have trouble with some guns. I had a couple of Glock guns that I just could not get a handle on. No matter how I tried I couldn't group well with them. I sold them and haven't looked back.

Rastoff, it is not you that I am referring to Sir.I posted a couple months ago after the first time I shot my shield and my shots were going left, & I was told its me not the gun.now I do believe that its not me and the sights that need to be adjusted on the gun. I am going to get them adjusted today and see how it goes the next time I go to the range. I hope it goes well as I really love the gun and don't want to let it go, but if I can't shoot it the way I want to there's no point in keeping it for my every day carry gun specially if I'm not comfortable and confident in it.

 

[much ado]

Shield Sights

Wish I had your problem. Mine is still hitting left of point of aim and the rear sight is shifted right of center and the front sight is shifted left of center. You "will" be able to center your groups from what you describe by moving the front sight to the left.

The formula for how much to move the sight is: 1.your sight radius divided into yards/converted into inches that you`re shooting, and knowing how far you are off at that range divided by the answer to the first part(I call the first answer movements). For example:The sight radius on my Shield,which has Ameriglo sights is 5 5/16 inches which is converted to 5.32 inches. If you(or me)is shooting 4 inches left at 8 yards then 8 yards X36 =288 inches. Divide 288 by 5.32 and that # is 54.14 movements. Then take the 4 inches you`re off and divide by 54.14 and you need to move the front sight .07 inch. Not too much in the scheme of things and certainly comes close to centering the sight as you describe it to the right of center.

For those that have said to bench it to see how far you`re off I don`t agree as the Shield (in this case)is likely to be used on the run and you might be lucky to use a 2 hand hold. If you do use a standing 2 hand hold the recoil arc and torquing effect will be greater than if you`re "cinched down" on a bench which you`re not likely to be in a defensive mode.

Good Luck, John

 

[Rastoff]

For those that have said to bench it to see how far you`re off I don`t agree as the Shield (in this case)is likely to be used on the run and you might be lucky to use a 2 hand hold. If you do use a standing 2 hand hold the recoil arc and torquing effect will be greater than if you`re "cinched down" on a bench which you`re not likely to be in a defensive mode.

Good Luck, John

So, you test to see how your gun is hitting by running and shooting at the same time?

 

[emory]

SMR, after seeing that group it just leads me to believe the guy at the factory doing the test firing must pull 'em to the right every time and your gun is adjusted accordingly.

I chuckled at the idea of a left handed test technician impatiently setting the sights on your gun right before clocking out at 5 o'clock.

You may wish to Google: "Sightmark .40 laser boresight". They can be had for about $30 and may save you some trial and error in your sight drifting adventures. Good luck, and be patient.

 

[CatSnipah]

I had to adjust my front sight, as well. Mine was doing almost exactly what yours is. I went through the same things, however. Checking my mechanics (this is my first subcompact gun), making sure my grip was good, etc.

About 300 rounds later, I used a laser to line up and check my sight. Sure enough, the front sight was off a bit. Moved it - pow. Shoots right down the middle. Of course, I don't necessarily group them super-tight, but I'm not a crack shot anyhow. And as long as I'm confident with it in a defensive situation, and can hit the center of mass, I'm happy.

 

[Nakanokalronin]

I sent a FS9 in for accuracy issues and although it was like a shotgun pattern, it was centered. After getting it back and seeing that all they did was adjust the sights, I took it to the range and noticed it was the same shotgun pattern, only all to the left. I knocked the sight back and at least it was centered again.

I think either their sight machine or the eyes of the people testing for accuracy need to be recalibrated.

 

[hogwylde]

I had a similar issue when shooting mine for the first time this weekend but I'm certain it must be me because I hit to the left with my Ruger as well, albeit my grouping is better with the M&P. But this is why practicing is so much fun!

The target to the far right was me playing around with both guns at a longer distance (~12 yards) with the same target and I was only able to hit the target twice with my LC9 (at 6 o'clock) and a miss at 9 o'clock.

 

[RussC]

SMR

I would have a skilled shooting friend that has not seen your targets or dicussed the issue with you give it a go.

I don't profess to be a seasoned shooter (2k rounds through my Shield ) but it has been my experience that a lot of my shots fall left and low.

It may be unorthdox but I can shoot my Shield more accurately when I squeeze the trigger with the first joint of my trigger finger. When I squeeze using the pad of my finger my shots are not near as tight and usually go left.

Russ

 

[SMR]

SMR

I would have a skilled shooting friend that has not seen your targets or dicussed the issue with you give it a go.

I don't profess to be a seasoned shooter (2k rounds through my Shield ) but it has been my experience that a lot of my shots fall left and low.

It may be unorthdox but I can shoot my Shield more accurately when I squeeze the trigger with the first joint of my trigger finger. When I squeeze using the pad of my finger my shots are not near as tight and usually go left.

Russ

Russ, I've tried it all. My front sight to s visibly off and even the gunsmith said it. I'm gonna say it, its not me its the gun. I have never shot left this bad with any of my other guns.

 

[2tango2]

How about a pic of the front sight? I'd like to see how badly it is misaligned


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