Sight alignment tool?

[S&WForty]

I just got my 2013 Shield 1.0 back from S&W where the slide had to be replaced. They transferred most/all of the old components to a new slide. I can see the rear sight is a few hairs right of center, and the front sight is a hair left of center. These conditions should have me shooting to the right.

When S&W installs sights do they install them as close to the center line of the slide as possible, or do they have a fixture that shows them the alignment of the barrel inside the slide? I am curious if what I have noticed is intentional and compensating for how the barrel aligns in the slide, or if they simply didn't do the best job lining them up with the slide's center line.

 

[toad67]

I'd shoot it first, before moving the sights.

 

[GnarlsR2]

I would absolutely bench test it.

 

[Protocall_Design]

I think it's likely to shoot to the right. Shooting groups from a good bench setup will tell you. The target is the final judge.

 

[GnarlsR2]

This works great for me at the range for pistol.

https://a.co/d/0dsRr3B

 

[Alk8944]

Shoot the gun before doing anything else! It it extremely rare that any gun will shoot to the sights if they are placed exactly centered on the barrel or slide!

 

[GnarlsR2]

I just got my 2013 Shield 1.0 back from S&W where the slide had to be replaced. They transferred most/all of the old components to a new slide. I can see the rear sight is a few hairs right of center, and the front sight is a hair left of center. These conditions should have me shooting to the right.

When S&W installs sights do they install them as close to the center line of the slide as possible, or do they have a fixture that shows them the alignment of the barrel inside the slide? I am curious if what I have noticed is intentional and compensating for how the barrel aligns in the slide, or if they simply didn't do the best job lining them up with the slide's center line.

Just based upon the thousands of posts regarding S&W's poor warranty work or customer service support, it appears they would not do any sight adjustments or testing for accuracy.

 

[GnarlsR2]

.... It it extremely rare that any gun will shoot to the sights if they are placed exactly centered on the barrel or slide!

My 1978 Mark IV Series 70 does.

 

[S&WForty]

This works great for me at the range for pistol.

https://a.co/d/0dsRr3B

I appreciate all of the replies. Gnarls, I will get one of these. Thank you for the link!

I did shoot it Thursday night, and it was a hair to the right, but not bad. I have a 4.0" M&P10mm that shoots great (maybe my favorite trigger), and I compared them. At 5yds I shot 25 rds each where I had both eyes open and just put the front sight on the target spot and shot at a faster rate than when I shoot with must my dominant eye open and trying to line up both sights.

My 10mm group was 3.5-4.0" and the Shield40 was maybe an inch larger. I only noticed the slightly hitting to the right when trying to line up the sights with my dominant eye.

I defintely want it improved for target shooting, but for self defense, it's fine.