Can't hit anything with my Shield!

[bharner]

If it makes you feel any better I've been shooting for a while and routinely shoot my M&P9c out to 50 yards. I've pegged many a squirrel in the head with either Ruger MKIII or a tuned pellet pistol. One time I got lucky and snagged a headshot on a walking coyote at 40 yards with my 4½" barreled 41 mag blackhawk.

Then I bought an LCP (before the Shield was out. It will probably be traded for a Shield this winter) . Anything beyond 7 yards was a pattern, not a group.

Fast forward 250 rounds when I had gotten the hang of the trigger and holding such an itty bitty gun properly and I could get out to about 15 yards with a decent group. Another 250 rounds lager and it tightened up a bit more. I did end up with some stronger Wolff recoil and main springs to reduce the felt recoil but I didn't do that til I was comfortable with the gun.

Subcompacts are tricky for anyone. Especially a new shooter. Go buy a bunch of ammo and save some money for a good hands on shooting class. Not one of the basic NRA classes (which are good for safety but usually only have you shoot 50 rounds) but one that has you run through 200+ rounds . While you're saving for the class read up on tips from well known competition shooters and use one of those diagnostic targets to practice on.

Tapatalk ate my spelling and grammar.

 

[team sidewinder]

Practice more.

Self defense pistols in the shield size are not target pistols. IMHO 10 yard groups are all that is to be expected from a subcompact CCW pistol like the shield. Most self defense distances will be even less than 10 yards and probably more like 20-feet where you don't even use the sights but better learn to shoot instinctive. A paper plate group size placed center mass on a human target will put the BG down. Shoot till your empty and then reload. ( Words to LIVE by )

If you want or expect better groups at 25+ yards with a pistol you better get a larger pistol with a longer sight radius.

 

[Edmo]

I don't think so. Practice and form affect accuracy.

Agree to disagree...

Practice and form are definitely key ingredients to accuracy. My point is a lighter trigger will go a long way to allowing the shooter to make consistently tighter groups.

With a small, light gun like the Shield an unpracticed shooter is at a disadvantage for accuracy. The "small and light" magnifies shooter technique problems. That short sight radius and the light weight will not help to dampen slight movements of the gun as you stroke the trigger. Add a heavy trigger and the novice shooter will move the gun around in the process of overcoming the heavy release. The gun in a practiced hand or in a rest may be inherently accurate, but the heavy trigger will induce movement and reduce practical accuracy to the average shooter. The aluminum J-frame with the heavy stock springs is another handgun which has this issue.

I'm not sure what the stock Shield triggers average, but I would guess mine is around 6-7 pounds. Given the option I generally like triggers in the 4.5-5 pound range for a self defense handgun. Unfortunately, you have to work on this gun to get it down to the 5 pound range. At least there are parts available (APEX) to lighten and smooth the trigger.

Edmo

 

[TNDave]

If you acquire some dummy rounds and mix them in your mags with your live rounds I predict you will catch yourself making an error in fundamentals.

 

[OKFC05]

Gun accuracy: mechanical ability of the firearm to send each bulet in the same direction.

Shooter accuracy: Ability of the shooter to point the gun in the right direction and operate the trigger without moving the gun.

It makes my teeth itch to hear "that gun is inaccurate because of the trigger." Certainly a shooter may be inaccurate because of inability to deal with the ergonimics of a particular gun.
A truly inaccurate gun will remain so even if shot from a Ransom Rest.

 

[growr]

The Shield and any other defensive handgun for that matter were NEVER designed to be a bullseye accuracy type of gun. Why are you shooting at 25 yards in the first place? You are trying to make the gun do things it cannot do and then complain about it.

If you need x- ring accuracy at this distance get a gun that was designed for that! Don't complain about what it can't do because it was not designed to ........

Many valid tips have been given as to how to improve your shooting performance.......I hope they work for you. If possible take a class with a trained instructor and watch things improve as well.

I don't believe that your gun is at fault..........

Randy

 

[old&slow]

I have a Shield 9 and beyong 10 yards can't hit anything and it is driving me crazy. Not sure what I am doing wrong. I do have limited shooting experience. I seem to hit low left. Went shooting today with my bro in law and shot his 1911 and shot great,the 9..not so good! I have been shooting with other people and they all do poorly with the Shield. I had sent it back to S&W and they say it's in spec.

limited experience & hitting low left ,, bet you're right handed.
The trigger pull on the M&P's are a much longer and heavier
pull than a single action 1911 trigger. Takes a lot of practice to learn it. Best practice is dry firing a unloaded firearm with out moving the front sight .

 

[kris7047th]

Have you determined which eye is dominant? I am right handed but left eye dominant .. can't hit a thing with a long gun focusing with right eye dominance. And why I shoot left handed with all shotguns and rifles closing right eye (but all are right handed guns)

I have weak optical muscles taking longer for both to work in unison, and right eye has poorer vision.

 

[taseal]

where do you live?

if you are near me in South FL, i'll take you out and see what's going on.

 

[Neumann]

Low left? You are flinching and anticipating recoil. Attribute that to lack of experience, lack of skilled instruction and a small pistol with a bite.

The best route is to get some one-on-one instruction from an expert. Self-help includes dry fire (lots of dry fire), concentrating on the front sight (you should always see it silhouetted in the muzzle flash), and calling your shots. Have a friend load a snap cap somewhere in the magazine, without telling you where.

 

[gamma72]

I'd like to know, what was your reasoning for getting the Shield?

For CCW the Shield will fit the bill nicely but practice to normal engagement distances is key to controling these light and short weapons. If you are looking for just a HD or range gun, then the Shield might be the wrong gun for you.

I hope you are not one of the folks that got caught up with the hype of small pistols without determining what you are going to use it for.

 

[RIDavid]

I bought the Shield because I am eventualy going to go for CC permit. You have to shoot to qualify at 25 yards. I know it is me and not the gun. I just didnt think I needed to buy a fullsize for range and a compact to carry.I do catch myself flinching sometimes. I am going with a LEO friend this weekend to shoot so I will see what he has to say. When I bought the Shield I didn't even know there was hype about it. I went looking for a compact 9 and looked at several others but this one just felt good in my hand and I knew S&W has a good product. Thanks for everyones help.

 

[gamma72]

you might want to qualify on a longer barrel if that is possible. longer barrels have a longer reach as far as accuracy is concerned because of the longer sight radius.

25 yards is a long ways even for an experienced shooter. little errors in your technique is greatly magnified by the longer distance.

My suggestion is start close and when you are happy with your accuracy, move the target back and repeat the cycle until you get to your intended distance. Also, make sure you take notice of your hold over. Hold over for your sight is different from 5 yard compared to 25 yards. Example on a man sized target, at 5 yards you can hold your sight at center mass and hit center mass. at 10 yards you might aim an inch or so higher to hit center mass. at 25 yards you might need to aim higher still to hit center mass. this is just an example and it's up to you to discover your hold over.

lots of ammo will be expended but you will get there. good luck.

 

[Tim_Ballz]

I did some trigger work and stippled the grip on my .40 and it greatly improved my accuracy. I shoot pretty decent at 40-55 feet!!

 

[Ram48]

I bought the Shield because I am eventualy going to go for CC permit. You have to shoot to qualify at 25 yards. I know it is me and not the gun. I just didnt think I needed to buy a fullsize for range and a compact to carry.I do catch myself flinching sometimes. I am going with a LEO friend this weekend to shoot so I will see what he has to say. When I bought the Shield I didn't even know there was hype about it. I went looking for a compact 9 and looked at several others but this one just felt good in my hand and I knew S&W has a good product. Thanks for everyones help.

25 yards seems like a long distance to shoot at for a ccw permit. Here in NC we shot at 3,5 and 7 yards. Are you sure it is 25 yards and not 25 feet?
I would think it would be really difficult to prove being in fear of your life with a BG 75 feet away.

 

[gamma72]

25 yards seems like a long distance to shoot at for a ccw permit. Here in NC we shot at 3,5 and 7 yards. Are you sure it is 25 yards and not 25 feet?
I would think it would be really difficult to prove being in fear of your life with a BG 75 feet away.

Agreed. sometimes feet and yards are interchangeable.

 

[Houdini1953]

In Tennessee to qualify you shoot 18 rounds at 3 yards (9 feet) 18 rounds at 7 yards (21 feet) and 18 rounds at 15 yards (45 feet) you must hit the paper (not the bullseye) but it is 2' X 3' 33 out of those 48 rounds, I think you need to look into your CCW quals more closely. 25 yards is 75 feet and unless you are an expert or at least a sharpshooter you will not be able to ever qualify.

Most self defense situations are less than 21 feet or seven yards if I lived somewhere that they expected me to be proficient shooting any handgun at 75 feet I would either practice like hell or move out of state, that is an unrealistic range for most handguns!

 

[RIDavid]

Training Requirements – No person shall be issued a license or permit to carry a pistol or revolver concealed upon his or her person until he or she has presented certification as prescribed in § 11-47-16 that he or she has qualified with a pistol or revolver of a caliber equal to or larger than the one he or she intends to carry, that qualification to consist of firing a score of 195 or better out of a possible score of 300 with thirty (30) consecutive rounds at a distance of twenty-five (25) yards on the army “L” target, firing “slow” fire. The “slow” fire course shall allow ten (10) minutes for the firing of each of three (3) ten (10) shot strings.

I think it's kind of far too but that's what I have to do. If it was 10 yards I would be fine,but 25 yards is pretty far. I'm going to practice with my bro in laws 1911.

 

[OKFC05]

Training Requirements – No person shall be issued a license or permit to carry a pistol or revolver concealed upon his or her person until he or she has presented certification as prescribed in § 11-47-16

Could you please identify the state?

 

[danysw]

Yes please could you tell us in which state is that?