Going to put a sledge hammer to my M&P Shield

[rojasj]

Maybe I'm just venting here but I need some good opinions here as I'm about to put a sledge hammer to my 9mm M&P Shield and send it back to S&W in pieces.

I've had this pistol for about a year now and it constantly shoots way left but not low. At seven yards I'm hitting about two to three inches on left and at fifteen yards the shots would probably be off the target.

The front and rear sights are lined up directly over the center of the barrel and I'm using proper sight alignment. I had two other people shoot it and the same thing happened to them. I can consistently hit almost dead center out to 25 yards with my 4" GP 100, 5" SR1911 and my wife's 9mm PX4 Storm Compact that also has a 3" barrel. So it's not recoil anticipation.

Is it the heavy trigger pull that is forcing the Shield to move to the left on me and the three other people who shot it? I'm not against changing the trigger but I would at least like some opinions on this.

I did try to drift the front sight but S&W must have welded the sucker on becuase it would not budge a bit not matter how much I tried to move it.

 

[Mulebuk Sam]

Maybe I'm just venting here but I need some good opinions here

Venting is good, vent away.
After a years time I should think it's time to start aiming to the right.

 

[DocB]

Don't you just hate a gun that won't shoot to target no matter what you do with it. I have had several like that over the many years I've been buying guns. I sell them off within weeks of buying them. . .just don't have any use for guns like that. I will say, I've never had a Smith revolver with that problem (I don't mess with their autos much). I bought an old Target Masterpiece from the 1970's a few weeks ago. Popping tin cans at 25 yards. That's the kind of gun you want and the only kind of gun that I will own.

 

[OKFC05]

1. It is not possible to look at the sights on a gun and tell for sure where the POI will be. But straight down the middle sounds OK.

2. The Shield has a shorter distance from trigger to backstrap than the full size M&P, and the first thing I noticed was how easy it was to take a grip that did not press the trigger straight back, but instead pushed against the side of the trigger, causing it to shoot to the side.

For myself, I adjusted my grip so that I pressed the trigger straight back, and practiced dry fire and live fire to verify.

You can do the same, or you can add a grip sock or tape to the grip so that your trigger finger is positioned to press the trigger straight to the rear. If you don't, you will continue to shoot to the side.
And even though it is your hand that is the problem, we don't want you to hit it with a hammer...

 

[ParadiseRoad]

...instead of putting a hammer to it...why don't you put a file to it...like on the right side of the front sight...

 

[rojasj]

Venting is good, vent away.
After a years time I should think it's time to start aiming to the right.

Venting is good. But given that the three other guns I use have the "out of the box" sight alignment and I can hit almost dead center I don't think it's me per say.

 

[rojasj]

Don't you just hate a gun that won't shoot to target no matter what you do with it. I have had several like that over the many years I've been buying guns. I sell them off within weeks of buying them. . .just don't have any use for guns like that. I will say, I've never had a Smith revolver with that problem (I don't mess with their autos much). I bought an old Target Masterpiece from the 1970's a few weeks ago. Popping tin cans at 25 yards. That's the kind of gun you want and the only kind of gun that I will own.

Agreed.. and I can do do just that with my 1911, GP100 and my wife's PX4 Storm.

 

[rojasj]

Okfc05,

"And even though it is your hand that is the problem, we don't want you to hit it with a hammer"

I have to respectfully disagree with you on this one. I think it's a bit of **** ergonomics design on S&W's side. If it wasn't then why are so many people have the same issues and having to adjust grips to accommodate the pistol? Maybe I'm a bit ridged on this but I don't feel that a person should not have to adjust to their gun, it should just fit. It's not like a car that has position seats, mirrors and steering columns. The Shield actually fits very well in my hand and is very comfortable which is what is even more frustrating.

 

[alwaysoutdoors]

Just sell it and get a better gun

 

[Fishinfool]

Find a local gunsmith who has a sight pusher, adjust your sight to POA, and call it good. That is why they are drift adjustable. And hand / finger position on a handgun does play a big part in where you hit.

Whether the gun is off, or its just the way you hold it, don't matter. As long as you hold it the same way every time, and get the same results (shots to the left)., then adjust the sights to your hand / eye, and be done with it.

Larry

 

[rojasj]

Just sell it and get a better gun

Not to turn this into an ethics debate. However, I wouldn't do that for multiple reasons. The main reason is that the person I sell the pistol to may someday have to use it to save their lives. If I do not yet feel comfortable trusting my life to this gun why would I transfer that to someone else?

I'm sure the issue will get corrected and lets just say for arguments sake that it's a bad barrel. There is no loss in sending it to S&W for inspection and possible correction.

 

[rojasj]

Find a local gunsmith who has a sight pusher, adjust your sight to POA, and call it good. That is why they are drift adjustable. And hand / finger position on a handgun does play a big part in where you hit.

Whether the gun is off, or its just the way you hold it, don't matter. As long as you hold it the same way every time, and get the same results (shots to the left)., then adjust the sights and be done with it.

Larry

HA! We may have to use a air hammer to move the front sights.

 

[Bonephish]

It is not possible to look at the sights on a gun and tell for sure where the POI will be.

I check windage on my pistols using a Sightmark laser cartridge. You'll be able to drift your sights if you squirt penetrating oil on them (Kroil, PB Blaster...) and carefully try to move them using a aluminum or brass punch. If they still refuse to move, take it to a gunsmith.

 

[kramden]

I had to buy a sight pusher to move mine. They truly are TIGHT! Forget the the hammer and drift method. All you wind up doing is beating up the sight.

 

[Mulebuk Sam]

I'm sure the issue will get corrected and lets just say for arguments sake that it's a bad barrel. There is no loss in sending it to S&W for inspection and possible correction.

Um, interesting now the plot thickens.
(you kiddies are killing me here on this forum)

 

[alwaysoutdoors]

Not to turn this into an ethics debate. However, I wouldn't do that for multiple reasons. The main reason is that the person I sell the pistol to may someday have to use it to save their lives. If I do not yet feel comfortable trusting my life to this gun why would I transfer that to someone else?

I'm sure the issue will get corrected and lets just say for arguments sake that it's a bad barrel. There is no loss in sending it to S&W for inspection and possible correction.

I'm assuming since the sights are both in the CENTER of the barrel that a new owner can shoot it fine. I'm just saying get a gun YOU can shoot and move the Shield down the road. I never encourage selling a problem gun that needs work without full disclosure. However some people aren't meant to shoot all guns well. A GP100 and a 1911 are much easier to shoot than a compact gun of any maker. But thank you anyway for assuming I would just sell the messed up gun to some poor unsuspecting buyer......

 

[growr]

What an intelligent solution....smash the gun and send it to S&W. I am sure they will be stunned at your solution. Wonder why I never thought of it myself....

Randy

 

[berudd]

So, a couple of thoughts.

Have you shot the gun from a solid rest to confirm that it does or does not shot to POA? If you shot it from the rest and it hits where you aim, then it is not the gun. If it does not, either get someone with the correct tool to drift the sight or send it back to S&W.

You said that you should not have to adjust to the gun, it should just fit, or something to that effect. If you pause for a second, you'll see that's just not reasonable. No two people have the same hands. Guns of different models have different grips. Expecting all guns to alway fit perfectly for all people is again just not reasonable. From what I have read many people shoot the Shield, as well as other sub-compacts, to the left. It seems to be, in the opinion of some, to be the nature of these smaller pistols. I don't recall if my Shield is off to the left because I haven't shot it as much as my FS but the FS was off to the left as well until I adjusted my grip to get more finger on the trigger and firm up slightly with my left hand. That brought it in line just fine for me.

Just because several people shot it and it hit to the left does not necessarily mean the gun is off. Sure, it may appear to support the theory but unless at least one of them has shot a Shield to POA, or other sub-compacts, its also likely all shooters and not gripping the gun correctly to make it hit POA.

 

[ParadiseRoad]

...find someone with a Ransom Rest...and know for sure...

 

[LAA]

And to think my new Shield 45 ACP hit near dead center in the bullseye on it's first shot at 7 yards. More than pleased! My 9mm Shield does quite well, but I'm always low & left with my wife's Glock 43, if I don't consciously think about it. She has no problem with it.