Fixed sights

[PWGUNNY]

I am very close to purchasing a M&P 9mm full size. I notice that they have fixed sights. Is this an issue? I am new to pistols and not sure if I should be concerned about non-adjustable sights.
I am also hoping to buy the range kit that would have the extra mags and loader, the problem is I am in the awful state of NY with a 10 rd Mag limit. I see there is a MA compliant kit(10rd) in the catalog, could be hard to find though.

 

[Don 73]

First of all, let me express my sympathies about your being in the Gun-phobic State of New York (New Yorkers take no offense...the only things wrong with your state are it's Governor and the Mayor of NYC).

About your sights question, firstly these are not tack-driver pistols, they are meant for personal defense. They are very accurate, but adjustable sights are just another thing to worry about.

Secondly, you might spend hours trying to get the adjustable sights 'sighted in' only to find the next time you go to the range, they are 'off' again, and you'll spend another couple of hours trying to re-align them again, when in reality, it's not the sights, it's your technique that has changed.

I would suggest that you 'sight' your gun in using a stable rest and if you find the sights are truly off, most ranges have a fixed sight alignment tool that they will let you borrow or rent for a small fee. But I really doubt that you will find the sights off far enough to warrant messing with them. All the guns that I have fired with fixed sights are far more accurate than I am and what minute adjustments you can make are really negligible.

Instead, use the money for range time and ammo to improve yourself and perfect your technique. A tip I learned years back was to ignore the rear sights anyway and focus on the front sight and the target

 

[WR Moore]

As noted above, "fixed sights" is kind of a misnomer. It really means you can't screw with the sights with a screwdriver or dime. Windage (right-left) is adjustable by drifting the sights in the dovetail. Elevation changes require a slightly higher (lower the point of impact) or lower (raise the point of impact) front sight-if and where necessary.

You'll do well to initially assume that any deviation from where you want the bullet to be is due to errors in your trigger technique. Once you're printing tight groups, then you can consider the possibility that the sights need moved. However, they should be decently close out of the box. Assuming a correct sight picture: if you find your shots low, you're yanking the trigger. Off to the right or left, your trigger finger position isn't correct.

I used to insist upon adjustable sights. Untill I realized that once they were adjusted, I never moved them again in most cases.

 

[bearfoot]

good , honest info above.^^^^^ i used to always think i needed / wanted adj. sights on handgun weapons when i was young. once adj. sights are adj. to your eyes, they might not be zero for someone else, if used for home defense by another family member. have never fired a fixed sight weapon that was not accecptable from the factory. but some might need adj. . as your shooting improves, you'll try point shooting, front sight shooting. i always by end of range time go back to point or front sight usuage.

 

[PWGUNNY]

Thanks for the replies. What I've gathered is that it won't be an issue. I figured if it was, I would have seen a bunch of posts about it.
What I really want is the 9mm range/carry kit that has the extra mags and speed loader. The problem is I can't have mags greater than 10rd in NY. Maybe there is a way to get the kit with the mags swapped out?