Frustrated with Shield...

[SMR]

or myself. Below is one of my targets from today and this is the same consistent theme since Ive got my Shield 9. I posted on this before when I first got the gun, and I got all the advice and what not... "Im anticipating the shot/recoil, I'm jerking the trigger, Im doing this and Im doing that... So again, I am not new to shooting, was in infantry soldier, shot my XD9 great every time, not left! So, I have tried everything. Changing the positions on my finger on the trigger from, tip, to center of the pad, to just inside the joint... I am focusing so hard on the front sight, and just slowly pressing/squeezing the trigger until it breaks on its own and following through with the shot. I have put over 600 rounds down range working on all these things to make sure Im doing everything methodically and the right way, and yet the end result is always the same as the target posted below. I want to rule myself out as much as possible before I start to wonder if I need to adjust the sights a little bit. Had the guy at the range even shoot it today and he was left with it as well, but I have no idea as to what type of shot he is either. I really love this gun but am starting to wonder if its not for me. Maybe Im being to much of a perfectionist as my grouping is pretty good and not all over the place, but I sure would like them to be a little bit more center mass of the target and online. Any advice or help again would appreciated. Thanks for your time.

 

[ammodave]

No sermon from me about trigger pull. If you're confident you're doing your part, you need to adjust your front sight to the LEFT to change your point of impact. You may be able to correct the elevation problem by switching to ammo with heavier bullets if you're using 115 gr ammo now. Try 124gr and 147 gr ammo. If different ammo doesn't solve the problem, you will need to swap out your front or rear sight. A shorter front sight (or taller rear) will raise the point of impact. Good luck.

 

[ginzo]

That would be a close "center of mass" if aimed at a torso in self defense. I'm just sayin'.............

 

[Malpaso]

That would be a close "center of mass" if aimed at a torso in self defense. I'm just sayin'.............

That's a great point. The Shield is a personal protection gun, not a target gun. I understand your frustration, I'd be aggravated with the placement as well. But, you've got a great group. I'd bet you need to adjust the sights. BTW, what distance is that from?

 

[Venenoindy]

I just took my Shield 9mm out not to long ago and I'm doing the same thing and I'm not a new shooter either, what put me at ease was that I was doing the same thing with the four other handguns that I had with me. It's time for me to get some advance classes. So hang in there and try to talk to an instructor to see if your trigger technique is the issue (mine is) and just relax and have fun while learning that what I'm trying to do.

 

[Scottwig]

FWIW, I have two shield9s and I finally had to drift the front sight to the left on both of them. They shoot fine now. That corrected the shooting to the left problem, and putting the center white dot ON the point of aim brought shot up where it needed to be, too.

 

[VictorLouis]

Try grouping with your non-dominant hand. See where you end up with that before sight adjustments. Also, if you're going to adjust your sights, adjust them for your CARRY ammo, not whatever practice fodder you use.

 

[djk158]

I had a Shield 9 and it did the same exact thing. My shooting style worked with all of my other guns but this one consistently shot low and to the left. I was getting ready to adjust the sight but someone offered me $100 more than what I paid for it and it is their problem now. I have another Shield on order. I'll let you know how that one shoots.

 

[SMR]

Ammodave.. that target is from today. I shot HST 124 standard JHP, 147 Winchester standard JHP, 115 Critical defense JHP, Winchester 115 FMJ, Federal 115 FMJ all today with the exact same results, so its not diff ammo or weights. Its either me (more then likely but not 100% sure at this point) or possibly needs a sight adjustment...MALPASO.. I fully understand that the shield is not a target gun but self defense, but I still want it to shoot where I aim it esecially if God forbid i ever need it in a critical situation!! ... I don't really want to spend the money on an Apex trigger, but does that help with this gun? I've heard it does and I've also heard it doesn't. Thanks for everyone's replies... not wanting to give up on this gun but I want to be fully confident in it when I carry it.

 

[SMR]

Well it appears after much reading and searching that this is a common theme with this particular gun! Not sure exactly what that means.

 

[Old cop]

Maybe it's just me but that is not bad for a self defense gun.

 

[SMR]

Maybe it's just me but that is not bad for a self defense gun.

Lol thank you old cop, no its not but the problem is that is not where I'm aiming it, and unfortunately i am an anal perfectionist. As I stated above, with my XD9 my grouping is just as good or better but center mass, not LEFT on EVERY SINGLE SHOT! lol.

 

[ginzo]

SMR
I'm anal as they get, I'm pretty new to this handgun stuff. I started from scratch, and with help from forums like this, some days I shoot dead center, sometimes not. I have a .40 FS and a .40c.

That being said, I use 8" targets, I'm left hand/right eye dominant, I practice every way I can each and every range trip. (I understand it's static). 2 handed grip, strong/off hand, each eye separate, both open, 1 handed, so forth, see where I'm going? My range is out to 45' (that's the back wall). If I hit that target @45' in each situation, I've had a good practice. Obviously I start at 3 yards, and work out etc.

Now I'm up to drawing from a holster and firing, so it's a new game. Needless to say this I do at 7 yards for now. You may have heard this already, but shoot from a rest before you make any adjustments. I trust my gun with my life, and center on 8" makes me feel pretty confident. I just don't focus on the 10 ring as a gauge to my gaining proficiency.

Again, I'd take that group any day of the week!!! I'll follow this through in case you find an issue, and then maybe I can apply it to my own situation.

 

[NeoBuckeye]

I have the same issue, shooting my 9mm Shield low and left. No issues shooting my WAlther PPQ 9mm or .22LR Buckmark.
Just purchased mine Jan 4th, 2014, and have fired 200 rounds through it.
I was originally thinking it was still new and needed the "break in" period. My target distance is about 21 feet. I was thinking the issue is due to my larger hands and a small firearm.
I will watch this thread and see how this turns out for you.

 

[trophyhunter]

SMR, after seeing that group it just leads me to believe the guy at the factory doing the test firing must pull 'em to the right every time and your gun is adjusted accordingly.

Sure looks like your doing your part with the best of them. Adjust the sights and have fun with it.

 

[Cag01]

Mine was the same way. Always low and left. I was told to adjust or switch out sights. I wanted to upgrade to a night sight anyways so I am going to go with new sights. I love the gun though and as with you my groups are nice and tight just low and left. We'll see if that fixes the problem.

 

[SMR]

I did an update post, but I will go ahead and post an update here as well. I feel like an idiot now since I never actually looked at the front sight just assuming it was me the whole time and that the factory couldn't ha e misaligned the sight. Well after deciding to look at the front sight, it is definitely off and needs to be moved to the left which would explain why since day one and 600 rnds down range all my shots were to the left. I am going to make an adjustment to the front sight which I'm sure will put me back on point. I was seriously about to give up on this gun as my EDC as I love how it shoots but was starting to feel less and less confident in it if I was ever going to need it in real time. Now that I know the front sight is off I will have it corrected and shooting the way I know I and the gun are capable of shooting. Thanks for everyone's time.

 

[Rastoff]

Have you shot the gun from a bench rest?

 

[SMR]

Have you shot the gun from a bench rest?

Yes! But again after looking at the front sight it is clearly misaligned to the right. I know, its "always you and not the gun!" "You suck the gun doesn't!" Yeah I know, but I'm positive once I adjust the front sight which agai. Is clearly off I'm pretty sure my POA will be where I want it and hits will be where they should be.

 

[ammodave]

Don't give up! That front sight is supposed to be adjustable for windage. Tweak it a little to the left and see what happens. I'm surprised all different bullet weights are hitting at the same point (elevation wise). My experience with pistols has always been "lighter is lower". Good luck.