First time shooting my Shield 9mm PEFECT except for

[rifmon]

The sights.

I ran 250 rnds of a variety of factory 115 grian FMJ.... All perfect! No slide jammed back. I am VERY pleased with the controllability of this relatively small light handgun! I like the trigger. I probably will not do anything with it as I prefer a relative heavy trigger pull for a self defense gun.

The sight was not drifted to total center at the factory Not too bad but noticeably towards the right looking at it from the rear of the gun. Also, the rear sight is slightly off in the same diection although not as bad. So the front and rear sights are sort-of agreeing with each other. Therefore the sighting system is towards the right of the barrel and as a result, all the groups at 7 and fifteen yards were just to the left of POA by an inch or so.

I knew about this off centered sight before I shot it today but I wanted to know if there were any other more important problems besides the sight. I called S&W customer Service last Monday morning and told the person about the sights and that I'd be shooting it soon to make sure that is the only issue. He told me they would send me a Fed Ex Pre Paid label with the auth number and center it for me. Very nice interaction and I have no problems sending it in but I asked him the turn-around time and he said it would possibly take a month!

He told me I'd need to send the whole gun in so they could adjust it, shoot it and confirm it's shooting POA, POI. (too bad they did not do that before it left the factory right?)

So here are my choices;

1 - Send it and lose it for a month
2 - Forget about it and live with it (I know that ain't gonna happen with my OCD!)
3 - Get a local gunsmith to adjust it (but I've read that these sights are really difficult to move!)

Anyone have a similar experience and what course of action did you take?

But overall, I am VERY pleased with my new Shield. Just a little bummed that I may need to lose it for a while.

 

[bsmiley]

Just get some night sights online and have them installed locally.

 

[rifmon]

Thanks. I did think of that but just not in the financial cards right now. Too many toys recent purchased.

 

[greeenteeee]

If they offered to fix it now, I'd bet they'd fix it later if you decide not to go with different sights. My fronts sights weren't perfectly center and assumed it was zero'd at the factory but still hits closer than I can POA to POI so good enough for me .

 

[ontargetagain]

My Shield 45 needed a little tweak to the front sight, I purchased a JMT sight tool and also knew I was going to pull the rear sight for some other refinement.
If by chance you live in my area let me know, we can adjust your sights while you wait.
Karl

 

[bsmiley]

Your local range might adjust the sights for a small fee.... then you won't have to send it back...

 

[Raisin]

You have lived without it all your life so another month should not be a real problem for you. On the other hand I doubt they would guarantee POA/POI on return to you either. If you plan to some day put night sights on it why not just wait until the money is in your toy box to replace them.

 

[Horn]

Likely Sooner

The sights.

I ran 250 rnds of a variety of factory 115 grian FMJ.... All perfect! No slide jammed back. I am VERY pleased with the controllability of this relatively small light handgun! I like the trigger. I probably will not do anything with it as I prefer a relative heavy trigger pull for a self defense gun.

The sight was not drifted to total center at the factory Not too bad but noticeably towards the right looking at it from the rear of the gun. Also, the rear sight is slightly off in the same diection although not as bad. So the front and rear sights are sort-of agreeing with each other. Therefore the sighting system is towards the right of the barrel and as a result, all the groups at 7 and fifteen yards were just to the left of POA by an inch or so.

I knew about this off centered sight before I shot it today but I wanted to know if there were any other more important problems besides the sight. I called S&W customer Service last Monday morning and told the person about the sights and that I'd be shooting it soon to make sure that is the only issue. He told me they would send me a Fed Ex Pre Paid label with the auth number and center it for me. Very nice interaction and I have no problems sending it in but I asked him the turn-around time and he said it would possibly take a month!

He told me I'd need to send the whole gun in so they could adjust it, shoot it and confirm it's shooting POA, POI. (too bad they did not do that before it left the factory right?)

So here are my choices;

1 - Send it and lose it for a month
2 - Forget about it and live with it (I know that ain't gonna happen with my OCD!)
3 - Get a local gunsmith to adjust it (but I've read that these sights are really difficult to move!)

Anyone have a similar experience and what course of action did you take?

But overall, I am VERY pleased with my new Shield. Just a little bummed that I may need to lose it for a while.

CS always tell you it'll be longer than it will be. More like two weeks.
I'd go ahead and send it in. I think you'll find your Shield just fine without a lot of mods. I agree with you about the trigger weight.
These are designed as SD pistols and server that well. Albeit there's been some posters bragging about accuracy at fifty yards.
I think that's bit of a stretch. Fifty yards? Only until I can get to my rifle.
Stay safe,
Poli Viejo

 

[swsig]

Your local range might adjust the sights for a small fee.... then you won't have to send it back...

This is good advice. My range (I'm a member) adjusted my Shield .45's sights for free. It took less than 1/2 hour to get them properly aligned. If you are a member of your range, or are otherwise a good customer, they may do it for free or for some minimal charge.

 

[rifmon]

My Shield 45 needed a little tweak to the front sight, I purchased a JMT sight tool and also knew I was going to pull the rear sight for some other refinement.
If by chance you live in my area let me know, we can adjust your sights while you wait.
Karl

I really appreciate you nice offer. I live in SE PA so that would be a long drive!

 

[rifmon]

CS always tell you it'll be longer than it will be. More like two weeks.
I'd go ahead and send it in. I think you'll find your Shield just fine without a lot of mods. I agree with you about the trigger weight.
These are designed as SD pistols and server that well. Albeit there's been some posters bragging about accuracy at fifty yards.
I think that's bit of a stretch. Fifty yards? Only until I can get to my rifle.
Stay safe,
Poli Viejo

Yes I agree and also think the factory sights are fine; no real need for night sights at this time. Now if the factory sights were plastic with the U shaped outline rear, then I'd be swapping it out now!

 

[rifmon]

Thanks everyone for the input!

I already know what S&W is offering and it may be only 2 weeks as was pointed out.

My outdoor range is pretty much unsupervised; no range officer....

My plan today is to call my local FFL shop and ask if he has the tool and capability to adjust these sights. I also will call my local gunsmith to ask the same. If I get a positive response, I may go that route instead of shipping it back for such a non-functional, non-technical issue.

My hesitation on the gunsmith or local FFL shop is due to several discussions I've read regarding the difficulty people have had moving the Shield's sights. I've even read somewhere that a gunsmith refused to adjust them due to the stubborn nature of the sights. Not sure if this is all true but that is why I'll be listening carefully to my gunsmith's response at my request. If there is any hesitation, off it will go to Smith and Wesson!

 

[rifmon]

One more thing; Half of my rnds fired were done one-handed and I noted the beautiful mild recoil and controllablity of this small pistol! I was getting 2 inch groups (albeit to the left) at 5 and 7 yards shooting with no support grip! I am thrilled with the behavior and performance of this gun and equally happy that the only problem I have is an out of spec sight!

 

[Zoner]

my Shield front sight was slightly off center to the right. I put the slide in a padded vice and put two layers of masking tape on the end of a punch and centered it myself with the punch and a small hammer

 

[Wee Hooker]

There is a very similar thread on a shield with off center front sight floating around here this week. Use the search function for all the info you could ask for.

 

[Farmer17]

A fiber optic front sight is only 25 or 30 bucks and not too difficult to install yourself, I'm planning on putting one on mine.

 

[rifmon]

So here's the outcome;

I called my gunsmith and told him the problem he said that sometimes these shields are incredibly difficult and trying to move the front and backside. He said it varies from sample to sample. He remembered one time where he needed to cut the back sight off it was so stubborn. He told me I would be better off sending it back to Smith and Wesson. They have extra sights on hand in case they ding my sites in their attempt to center them.

The fed ex label has been sent to me already. Today they told me 4to 6 weeks! Ugh well I hope it's less but as someone mentioned, I've lived without a Shield all my life so....

I'll live with my CZ and LCP for a while!

 

[mattwings]

I did my sights in 20 minutes with a good quality unversal pusher. I think anything is possible, but they werent a problem with the tool in my case.

 

[rifmon]

Well, that goes along with so many varied reports of success and failure in attempts to adjust these sights. I've read accounts such as yours as well as accounts of apparently welded front and rears. Your experience makes me think I may be waisting my time sending it back.

I need to go to my local gun shop to get a few things. I'm very friendly with the owner so you never know! "Sure, I'll look at it!" 10 minutes later - "There, centered!"

I'd be thrilled haha....

 

[martybee]

It could be...