9mm shield shoots to the left
- Thread starter critterhorse
- Start date
I think it boils down to the fact that if you use the sights to compensate for the left shooting, you will find that you most likely need to drift the sights on ALL striker fired guns to fit your needs.
Literally, almost every right handed shooter shoots a little left with striker fired guns. That's just how it is. The mechanism (mainly the fulcrum trigger) tends to force people to curl their finger in such a way that they pull the fun slightly left.
It takes a lot of practice and trigger time, but learning to "finish flat" on the trigger will allow you to shoot dead center without drifting the sights.
I can't tell you how many times I've had a gun handed to me to shoot because the owner swears it shoots low/left. I shoot it and guess what? It shoots just fine.
This isn't always the case, but it very often is. Just something to think about.
I have also ben shooting low and left w/ my 9mm Shield. I have tried the advice posted here and it has helped 
My best so far at 20 ft is 6 in a 3 1/2" group and t floaters :O
Hopefully I can keep a constant 3" group at 25 ft soon
Thanks for the advice!
My best so far at 20 ft is 6 in a 3 1/2" group and t floaters :OHopefully I can keep a constant 3" group at 25 ft soon
Thanks for the advice!
Ole Joe Clark
Absent Comrade
scooter123
Member
The 9mm Shield also shoots left for Hickok45. If you don't know who he is take a look at his channel on Youtube. I expect that he's a much better shot than anyone posting in this thread.
Point is that the Shield is a very small pistol with a grip that could be best described as TINY. Means that trigger reach and finger placement issues will come up for anyone over about 4 feet tall. The solution is Practice, Practice, Practice, and a bit more Practice.
Point is that the Shield is a very small pistol with a grip that could be best described as TINY. Means that trigger reach and finger placement issues will come up for anyone over about 4 feet tall. The solution is Practice, Practice, Practice, and a bit more Practice.
Tradewind36
US Veteran
The Shield 9 is my first semi auto, only other semi auto I've fired was a Beretta 9 in the Army 16 years ago and not many rounds through that. No revo shooting either for over 20 years. My first visit to the range with my Shield 9 was fun, hits were pretty much evenly spaced around the center of the target, not low and left. Maybe too much experience with larger semi autos is causing the low and left problem with the smaller Shield.
karrrhu3
Member
Try this easy fix: keep your trigger hand relaxzored, while gripping tight with the other. Voilá.
Magload
US Veteran
70% of the grip should be with the support hand sure helped mine. I said it was shooting left so asked the range master to shoot it and he took the center out of the target at 7yds. I accused him of using Kentucky windage. Don
This graphic is excellent, I think it's the first time I've ever seen as good a depiction of the the cause and effect of "too much" or "too little" finger on the trigger.
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Magload
US Veteran
In my experience, I find that a better "press" on the trigger is more critical than finger placement. Whether you have too much or too little finger on the trigger, a straight rearward press is easily attainable, but practice can't be underestimated.
I agree with everyone who said, "Practice." after e few hundred rounds of concentrated practice your eyes and hands will find the best way to shoot. The body is an amazing device and adapts. I said concentrated practice. Try to always grip the gun the same way. Yes a concealed carry piece must be drawn "now." But the hundreds of rounds of slow and fast practice should aim for a consistent grip. I don't think a concealed carry piece lends itself to a dedicated "special" grip that is different from all your other guns. That is too confusing in the heat of the moment. A bullseye shooter can adjust their grip to something special. The concealed grip needs to be very natural. After that adjust the sights. Who cares if they "look silly."??
JTizel
Member
Everyone has great tips here. What helped me practice outside the range is dryfire with and without a laser on my shield.
Fair enough, however for the noob (me) it is hard to understand that concept. This graphic makes it pretty clear, and I've never seen it before, hence the comment.
No doubt it is different for different folks/firearms.
warriorsoul
Member
- Joined
- Mar 5, 2015
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As so many Shield owners I was shooting low and left. In the beginning it was extremely frustrating but the groups were tight and that was more than I could say about the air weight J-frame I replaced it with. Then I took a long hard look at my grip, even had a buddy spot me. That's when I realized my Glock, Sig, CZ, and full sized M&P were such great guns they helped hide or make up for my bad habits. I worked at it, dry fired, used a spotter, changed my grip and got better. I also ditched the crappy factory sights for a set of Ameriglo 3 dots.
Just want to update this thread, and ask a question as well.
After my last post, I've gone twice to the range so see if any improvement, from my continued nightly dry firing sessions. The previous trip is nothing to write about. But on my session yesterday, is something I'd like to ask about.
Shot my reloads, 100 rounds of 124 grain flat nose and 50 rounds of 147 grain RN. The first few mags were still low left about 3" at 8 oclock and a few rounds as far down at 6".
However, when I changed the way I was gripping the pistol, instead of having the thumb of my shooting hands over the thumb of my support hand, both pointing forward, I used my thumb to grip the pistol (like shooting one handed), and placed my support hand over it to grip the pistol. With this position, I was able to place 2 out 7 rounds inside the 1.5 x 1" stick on at 7 yards, the rest of the rounds were at the left edge of the stick on. Tried it again with the 8 round mag, and I got the same result! Shot the rest of my reloads, and placements were either inside, or at the top, bottom or left side edge of the stick on. When I didn't take my time or tried to shoot faster, rounds were landing at 2' at 9 o'clock. So pretty much, I was grinning while packing my stuff when it was over.
So my question is, Should I condition myself to hold the pistol this way, or should I keep trying to to grip it the proper way and just try to find other ways to center my shots?
After my last post, I've gone twice to the range so see if any improvement, from my continued nightly dry firing sessions. The previous trip is nothing to write about. But on my session yesterday, is something I'd like to ask about.
Shot my reloads, 100 rounds of 124 grain flat nose and 50 rounds of 147 grain RN. The first few mags were still low left about 3" at 8 oclock and a few rounds as far down at 6".
However, when I changed the way I was gripping the pistol, instead of having the thumb of my shooting hands over the thumb of my support hand, both pointing forward, I used my thumb to grip the pistol (like shooting one handed), and placed my support hand over it to grip the pistol. With this position, I was able to place 2 out 7 rounds inside the 1.5 x 1" stick on at 7 yards, the rest of the rounds were at the left edge of the stick on. Tried it again with the 8 round mag, and I got the same result! Shot the rest of my reloads, and placements were either inside, or at the top, bottom or left side edge of the stick on. When I didn't take my time or tried to shoot faster, rounds were landing at 2' at 9 o'clock. So pretty much, I was grinning while packing my stuff when it was over.
So my question is, Should I condition myself to hold the pistol this way, or should I keep trying to to grip it the proper way and just try to find other ways to center my shots?
Magload
US Veteran
Go to Youtube and search on proper grip and also on Google. I think you are on to something finding the right grip.
gatekeeper
US Veteran
My Shield 9mm shot to the left also, getting the sight corrected fixed it. Getting the correction was the difficult part. Ended up using the sight pusher from Maryland Gun Works.
