Yesterday I shot my new 9c from a rest at 30 feet to see exactly where it shot and overall accuracy.Elevation and grouping was quite acceptable for a compact striker fired pistol, but it shoots about 1 inch left.

My question, is the a trick for drifting the rear sight? I loosened the set screw and used a brass drift and hammer with absolutely no success. Even after mushrooming the brass drift and redressing it with a file I still could not get the site to budge. This puppy is tight, I mean really tight!

I finally reached the point where discretion kicked in and realized that nothing good could come from beating on this pistol any harder. Also I know 1 inch is still within minute of bad guy accuracy at normal SD ranges, but would still like the confidence of know point of impact is dead on. So are there any tricks besides finding a gunsmith with a sight pushing tool that will fit?

I have a 9mm 5' Pro, a FS 9mm and a Shield. The rear sights practically fell out of the Pro and FS after I loosened the screw. I spent hours trying to remove the rear sight on the Shield. I mushroomed and redressed an aluminum punch until it was only 3" long. I've soaked it in penetrating oil, heated and frozen the slide. I could not get it to move at all. I finally broke down and ordered a sight pusher. It should be here tomorrow. I'm keeping my fingers crossed.

I think the sight pusher would be your best option. Many ranges have such a tool and are willing to let you "borrow" it for a small fee.

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Don

Those sights are installed and centered at the factory by a hydraulic press and they are almost impossible to move. Even with a sight adjusting tool, turning the "corkscrew" seems like it requires a tire iron to get enough leverage.

I am betting you are right handed. If your hand and forearm are not exactly centered behind the pistol because you are wrapping your right hand around the pistol in such a way to get more leverage on the trigger by putting more of your trigger finger in the trigger guard, then one possibility is that recoil is moving the barrel a little left each time the pistol is fired, accounting for your shots being a little left. Use "Kentucky windage" and aim a little to the right. Or, you could center the pistol in front of your forearm and make sure you are not jerking it as the shot breaks.

Good food for thought here. As tight as the sight is I figured it must be pressed in but hopefully can be moved a little . I do have Kroil on hand and will try soaking it next. If that doesn't work then maybe the front will move easier since it has less bearing surface. If things still will not move then it might take a trip to the gunsmith.

I did try adjusting my grip on the pistol and different amount of finger on the trigger, but it still hit consistently left.

A question? Are you sure it's the gun? Might seem like a dumb question but if you don't bench rest the gun you'll never know for sure.

Also, as stated prior the sights are very difficult to move. I took the slide off mine and put it in a vise with two pieces of wood on either side. Even then you have to be careful. Kroil isn't going to work because it's pressed it. I used a brass punch about a quarter inch in diameter. I had to hit it hard!

Important! There is a spring and small metal disk under the sight!! This is the spring for the striker block. When moving the rear sight the spring and disk WILL fly out. But only if you remove the sight completely.

So move the sight only in the direction need and no more.

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Life Is A Gift. Defend it!

I was shooting it from a rest on the bench. I used a brass punch/drift but did not put the slide in a vise since I was at the range. If Kroil can penetrate any part of the dove tail then the added lubrication might help.

Thanks for the heads up on the striker block.

One has to wonder why these sights are fitted so tight in a dove tail? Yes the M&P is a duty pistol and subject to harsh treatment but the sight does have a set screw. If no movement is the goal, then why bother with a dove tail?

Seems to be the norm these days. Springfield XD's are the same.

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Life Is A Gift. Defend it!

I received the MGW 318 sight pusher today. It DID work on my Shield. I just put a couple layers of masking tape on the part of the tool that made contact with my slide and let the side drift over against it. As I mentioned in a previous post, I had tried everything...heat, cold, penetrating oil. I couldn't budge the rear sight no matter how much I pounded. I finally gave up because I was afraid I might damage the slide.

I was shocked how easily the sight pusher removed the sight. I put the tool in a vise and cranked it by hand. It just kept turning, but I couldn't tell if the sight was moving. I pulled the slide out of the tool and the sight had moved about 1/8". I put it back in and easily pushed the sight all the way out. My Apex USB is now installed and the grit is gone from my trigger pull. I'll get to remove the front and rear sight again in a few days when my Truglo night sights arrive.

I highly recommend the MGW sight pusher. If you are going to change more than one set of sights, it will pay for itself. I have 3 M&P's and a couple of friends who have them, as well. I think this tool will see plenty of use.

Success!

I field stripped the pistol and put the slide in drill press vise padded with two pieces of wood. After a couple very sharp hits with a hammer and brass punch the sight did move to where I wanted it. Now to try it again at the range.

With a drill press vise I can even take it to the range and C clamp it to the table if further adjustment is needed.