adjustable sights

[coyote454]

I posted this question on another thread but didn't get an answer so was hoping someone involved with gunsmithing might help.

I want to replace the fixed rear sight on my Shield with an adjustable unit but can't find any listed for the Shield, specifically. Many for the standard M&P, but wasn't sure if they'd be interchangeable with the Shield.

Any suggestions?

 

[robertrwalsh]

Off the cuff suggest is either leave it as is or be prepared to spend a lot of money. Probably not real helpful, but.......

 

[stansdds]

Welcome to the S&W Forums.

Forgive me if I am out of line, but the S&W Shield is a pistol designed purely for carry and defensive uses, not something that requires an adjustable rear sight. Many consider an adjustable rear sight to be something that can break, therefore, fixed sights are often preferred on defensive and carry firearms.

 

[epj]

The Shield rear sight is a bit narrower than the full size so the standard M&P rear will probably stick out over the sides of the slide. The sides could probably be trimmed slightly and cold blued. As noted above, the Shield is not a target pistol. If you are switching back and forth between heavy and light bullets, the adjustable rear might be useful.

 

[mckenney99]

If you really want adjustable sights, check out Novaksights.com. They have a couple different types available. As others have said however, the fixed sights work very well although due to age I tend to replace factory sights with Trijicon HD's, which are a little easier for me to pick up quickly.

 

[coyote454]

You're certainly not out of line, and I welcome any comments. While I realize the Shield is a close distance, defensive weapon, I'd still like to hit something more than a few feet away. I stuck in a laser "bullet" and found that at fifteen feet my contact point was about three inches high and two inches to the right. I'd like to be a little more accurate than that.

 

[OKFC05]

You're certainly not out of line, and I welcome any comments. While I realize the Shield is a close distance, defensive weapon, I'd still like to hit something more than a few feet away. I stuck in a laser "bullet" and found that at fifteen feet my contact point was about three inches high and two inches to the right. I'd like to be a little more accurate than that.

You don't need an adjustable sight if you are going to shoot the same load all the time. I shoot IDPA BUG Division with my Shield using 124gr handloads, and zeroed it with an FO front taller than stock and drifting the sight to correct windage.
Dawson Precision has the sight you need, and will install if you want. Suggest you call and ask for help/ advice.
Dawson Precision S&W M&P Shield Fiber Optic Front Sights - Dawson Precision, Inc.

 

[mscampbell2734]

You're certainly not out of line, and I welcome any comments. While I realize the Shield is a close distance, defensive weapon, I'd still like to hit something more than a few feet away. I stuck in a laser "bullet" and found that at fifteen feet my contact point was about three inches high and two inches to the right. I'd like to be a little more accurate than that.

So??

Seriously I'm not trying to be a jerk but have you actually shot the gun? Laser pointers are ok, and I mean just ok, for getting shots on the paper, not for final adjustment.

Once you shoot the gun them you'll know if you need to make a sight adjustment.

 

[stansdds]

You're certainly not out of line, and I welcome any comments. While I realize the Shield is a close distance, defensive weapon, I'd still like to hit something more than a few feet away. I stuck in a laser "bullet" and found that at fifteen feet my contact point was about three inches high and two inches to the right. I'd like to be a little more accurate than that.

Don't rely upon a laser practice round or bore sight to be an accurate assessment of where bullets will actually land. The laser round imparts no recoil on the weapon.

 

[WR Moore]

One of the multiple threads that needs a sticky is: "My ___________ shoots __inches/feet low at _____feet/yards. Where do I find a different sight?" Those problems are due to poor management of the trigger press.

With operator error eliminated, the vast majority of handgun users find their factory sights acceptable, or are able to make slight corrections for left/right. As noted above, where some widget thinks your bullet is going to impact is irrelevant. Where the bullet actually does impact is what's important. You should be able to drift a sight to correct for left/right issues-if they actually exist.

 

[coyote454]

So??

Seriously I'm not trying to be a jerk but have you actually shot the gun? Laser pointers are ok, and I mean just ok, for getting shots on the paper, not for final adjustment.

Once you shoot the gun them you'll know if you need to make a sight adjustment.

Yes, I've put a couple hundred rounds thru it and I always have to "adjust" where I'm shooting to get it near the center of the target. I'd just like to get it closer to center and trying different loads hasn't helped much. Maybe more trial and error when ammo becomes available again.

 

[mscampbell2734]

Yes, I've put a couple hundred rounds thru it and I always have to "adjust" where I'm shooting to get it near the center of the target. I'd just like to get it closer to center and trying different loads hasn't helped much. Maybe more trial and error when ammo becomes available again.

OK you've shot it and it's not hitting center. Next question is has anyone else shot it? Or have you shot it off a rest/braced to remove shooter error as much as possible.

The vast majority of guns are sighted pretty close when they leave the factory. Some do need adjustment but most of the time not hitting POA/POI is shooter error more then mechanical.

 

[ken158]

There are over a million Shields in circulation. The engineers that designed the gun also engineered the sights and these guns are made on CNC machinery. Ammo choices and operator trigger pull are the variables that will determine how well the gun shoots. Adjustable sights may be helpful if you want to shoot very light or very heavy bullets but I believe anything in the 115 - 147 grain range which is standard 9mm bullet weight, the gun will perform as designed but it is not a target pistol.

 

[Rpg]

The great benefit adjustable sights provide is a much better sight picture than is available from the fixed sights. That feature can improve speed in sight acquisition as well as accuracy.

 

[stansdds]

The great benefit adjustable sights provide is a much better sight picture than is available from the fixed sights. That feature can improve speed in sight acquisition as well as accuracy.

Not always. Some replacement adjustable sights that are intended to use the stock front sight have a very shallow sight notch.

 

[WR Moore]

Couple items here about other posts.

I have no personal experience with fiber optic sights. However, I've been on the same squad at matches as sponsored shooters who do. When the plastic rod breaks and departs-and they will-both accuracy and speed seem to significantly suffer. This costs points/time in competition. The stakes are much higher in self defense situations. Stick with steel sights.

The second item is learning the M&P trigger. Dry fire can be your friend here. How you shoot with a different trigger doesn't matter. You have to learn the M&P trigger. Swapping back and forth between different trigger systems doesn't help. As has been mentioned, try from a rest. Also have someone familiar with the M&P family shoot it.