Moving front sight on 9mm shield

[davemercer]

I think I will need to adjust my 9mm shield sights just a bit. Want to fire a few more times to make sure not me.

Anyhow, I know adjustment via front sight, which I need to move a bit to left. Any hints beyond putting in padded vise and giving it old tap, tap with brass punch? I gather slide is a bit delicate so will not tighten vise much.

Anyone tried various solvents, put in freezer, etc with some success? Is it just press fit and if so how tight? Think any adhesive used like loctite. Thanks for any info.

 

[handgunner356]

Some of the sights are not bad but some can be a bear. Unless the front is off center with the bore I always go with the rear for adjustment. There is more meat on the rear to push against and less chance to damage it.

 

[Captain Skippy]

You can't adjust the rear due to the spring cap under it. You adjust the front in the opposite direction you want the bullet to go. Mine was a royal pain. I tried the vise with the slide padded with leather and a drop of oil on each side of the sight...barely budged it. Finally got my hands on a sight pusher made for the shield and it was much easier.

 

[handgunner356]

You would need to go pretty far off one side to have a problem with the safety plunger cap.

 

[dullh]

I don't know anything about vises and punches because I use a sight pusher tool.

If you use the correct tool you won't need any solvents, freezers, ferris wheels, whips, chains, good luck charms...

Since you didn't ask about the rear sight I won't address that...

 

[dullh]

You can't adjust the rear due to the spring cap under it.

Wrong-O Skippy.

Anything is possible with a sight pusher tool.

If you can't adjust the rear sight, then do tell how you move it to replace it when moving it is how you adjust it?

The book says adjust the front sight, I know...evidently so does the OP since he made no mention of the rear sight in the first place...

 

[Muss Muggins]

I think I will need to adjust my 9mm shield sights just a bit. Want to fire a few more times to make sure not me.

Anyhow, I know adjustment via front sight, which I need to move a bit to left. Any hints beyond putting in padded vise and giving it old tap, tap with brass punch? I gather slide is a bit delicate so will not tighten vise much.

Anyone tried various solvents, put in freezer, etc with some success? Is it just press fit and if so how tight? Think any adhesive used like loctite. Thanks for any info.

Let somebody else shoot it first . . .

 

[shawn mccarver]

I think I will need to adjust my 9mm shield sights just a bit. Want to fire a few more times to make sure not me.

Anyhow, I know adjustment via front sight, which I need to move a bit to left. Any hints beyond putting in padded vise and giving it old tap, tap with brass punch? I gather slide is a bit delicate so will not tighten vise much.

Anyone tried various solvents, put in freezer, etc with some success? Is it just press fit and if so how tight? Think any adhesive used like loctite. Thanks for any info.

Solvents, the freezer and so forth are just not reliable, and are not necessary. A brass punch is also not recommended, at least by 10-8 Performance. Watch this video and the installer explains why:

M&P Sight Installation Video | Modern Service Weapons

 

[epj]

Better yet, check out this thread right here on this forum, located just above your thread:
http://smith-wessonforum.com/smith-wesson-m-p-pistols/363455-shield-sight-change-picture-heavy.html

This should answer all your questions regarding moving or replacing Shield sights.

 

[EJSample]

Ed Sample

I bought A Shield (40 S&W) about two years ago, Went out shot it at a bush with both magazines to be sure they both worked, and then carried it for about a year and a half, But recently a friend and I went to his range at a nearby town, Shooting at ten yards I couldnt even get it on target, And shooting my other guns and my friends at 25 Yards was cutting the bulls eye out, Dont think it was me, Got a brass punch and the front sight wouldnt budge, ordered a really nice sight pusher and it still wont think about moving, Luckily I have a full size M&P in 40 S&W and a compact in 9MM, Right now I am carrying the compact, I plan on calling S&W to see if they might help, Will See ????

 

[epj]

I have run across Smith pistols that had Loctite under the front sight. Not necessarily a Shield, but it was exactly the same front sight on an older gun. I didn't know it had Loctite until I had removed it with a sight pusher and saw the red stuff underneath it. You might try heating the sight a bit. If it does have Loctite the heat will loosen it.

 

[kramden]

On the Shield the front sight is the only one that is adjustable. Get a sight pusher. The Shields front sight is in there TIGHT. The punch will only mess it up and will not move. When you do move it a little moves your POI a lot .

 

[T2C]

My Shield shot left, so I pushed the sight to the left to correct. I used a Fischer sight pusher to move the front sight on my Shield and it was extremely tight. It was a real bear to move.

If you are shooting tight groups at 25 yards, you can determine how far you need to push the sight to center your groups. If you are not shooting reasonably tight, concentric, shot groups, then I suggest waiting until you can. If you are carrying the Shield for self defense, I suggest zeroing the windage with the ammunition you intend to carry. With good ammunition, sub 4" groups at 25 yards are possible.

The 9mm Shield has a 5.25" sight radius. If the center of your Shield group is 3" left of POA at 25 yards you plug the numbers into the formula "Error x Sight Radius/Distance to Target = Correction". In this case it would be 3" x 5.25"/900 inches = 0.0175" sight correction.

You can measure the distance from the side of the slide to the side of the front sight with a caliper, then push the sight until you see a 0.0175" change. I have been doing this with rifles and handguns for 30+ years with a great deal of success.

If you are moving night sights, the use of a sight pusher is highly recommended. Pounding on a night sight with a hammer and punch can disrupt the tritium vial. You can easily turn a 10 year tritium sight into a 10 minute sight with a punch and hammer.

 

[TruckinThumper]

Let somebody else shoot it first . . .

this ^ UNLESS, the sights are not centered to the slide.

99.9% of the reason to move the sights is the grip nut, not the sights