New sights Shield 2.0 9mm

[Turq]

I purchased a set of Truglo TFX Pro's and hope to put them on tomorrow. For the first time I really looked at the factory sights, And noticed they are visibly off center. So I picked up some cheap calipers and measured. The front sight is 1mm off and the rear sight slightly less than that, with both off in the same direction.

I have not had the gun long, maybe 400 rounds or so. I will say I am not as accurate with it as I am with my full size, but can hit center form 7-10 yards without much trouble. And when I am off, I really feel like it's me being dumb and not the gun.

So my questions is, where do I put the new sights? Do I center them, which is what I had planned on doing? Or do I put them 1mm off like the factory sights? I'm confused as to why they would come off center from the factory, but am inclined to think it was just a mistake. Sorry if the pic is kind of blurry

Thank you.

 

[Jeppo]

I had a different model Smith that arrived with the sights WAY off center. I was convinced it was a mistake. I don't believe they're test firing magazines full of ammo to verify accuracy. I suppose they shoot a round or two verifying function only.

 

[Turq]

I had a different model Smith that arrived with the sights WAY off center. I was convinced it was a mistake. I don't believe they're test firing magazines full of ammo to verify accuracy. I suppose they shoot a round or two verifying function only.

I'm not sure if the pic does it justice, but my front is way off too. So I'm guessing you centered your sights, and were happy with it that way?

 

[Marshal Tom]

Center them and see how it shoots. That is the way they should be.

 

[ScaryWoody]

Use your caliper to find center. Mark with a pencil. Do you have a sight pusher? Makes it real easy.

 

[Turq]

Use your caliper to find center. Mark with a pencil. Do you have a sight pusher? Makes it real easy.

No pusher, Unfortunately I am going the caveman route. I'm not too worried about going in, but I heard coming out can be difficult. I do have a vice and a brass punch. Wish me luck! Thanks

 

[ScaryWoody]

Tape it off good. One errant blow can break your heart. Oil it up good before you start.

 

[Jeppo]

I'm not sure if the pic does it justice, but my front is way off too. So I'm guessing you centered your sights, and were happy with it that way?

Actually, I debated what to do but eventually the gun had to go back to the mothership for a bigger issue. They eventually centered the sights but I got rid of the gun before checking to see how well it shot POA.

 

[Jeppo]

Tape it off good. One errant blow can break your heart. Oil it up good before you start.

Kroil for a couple days before...if you have some.

 

[Rastoff]

Center of the slide is irrelevant. The slide isn't attached to the barrel. Shoot the gun from a rest and see if it's hitting center before blaming the position of the sights.

 

[Turq]

Center of the slide is irrelevant. The slide isn't attached to the barrel. Shoot the gun from a rest and see if it's hitting center before blaming the position of the sights.

Ok... except I didn't blame the position of the sights for anything. Actually on the contrary I blamed myself for any errant shooting.

I'm just wondering do I go center with the new Truglo sights? Or do I go 1mm off of center like the factory did? At least as a starting point.

And if I understand and can extrapolate your post correctly, what you are saying is the sight should be centered to the barrel. Which in my case may not be centered in the slide. And the factory compensated for this by installing my sights off center on the slide?

Looking top down the sights are way off center with the slide. However looking at it from the barrel side, If the sight is off center with the barrel, it's not noticeable by eye ( of course the whole reason for the new sights are because my eyes are bad lol). Interestingly, the sight seems to be centered with the top rifling in the barrel as well. Thank you! I learned something new.

I promise it's not loaded.

 

[Rastoff]

Ok... except I didn't blame the position of the sights for anything. Actually on the contrary I blamed myself for any errant shooting.

Yes, and in fact you're shooting fine with it based on what you said in the OP.

My comment is more general in nature. It's very common to hear people complain about the sights not being in the exact center of the slide. Some do it even before shooting the gun.

All any of us should care about is, are the bullets going where we want them to go? If they are, nothing else matters. If you're shooting this gun well, why change?

With that in mind, if you're going to change the sights, and you're already shooting in the center, place the new sights in the same location as the old sights. If you're not already centering the shots, start with the new sights in the center and then adjust as necessary.

Just be sure to use a rest to determine the accuracy of the gun. If you don't, any error could be you.

 

[Turq]

Thanks again. I am going to put the new ones in the same location and go from there.

 

[Jeppo]

Thanks again. I am going to put the new ones in the same location and go from there.

In the case I mentioned earlier, I was having a hard time getting shots where I wanted them. To do so, I had to aim a bit right. Wondering whether this was me or the gun, I shot it resting on my table and verified it was the gun. Only then did I bother to notice how the sights had been installed.

I second the suggestion that you shoot it from a rest before deciding where to position the new sights. You might save a lot of time and pounding.

 

[Rastoff]

Thanks again. I am going to put the new ones in the same location and go from there.

I think this is a wise course of action.

 

[Flintlock1]

Rastoff is correct, but I ended up tapping my Shield front to the left a tad. But that's because I have always had mediocre trigger technique. Same with my new 2.0. I'll be tapping it over as well.

Today I sent 900 rounds down the pipe, and they all printed in a nice little group consistently, but also to the left about 2" at 7 yards. The Shield was off (or, rather, I was off) about 1" at the same distance. Since moving the front on the latter, I hit the bulls eye pretty much all day long during slack plinking. I will say that the 2.0 does keep things tighter, probably on account of the longer barrel and sight radius.

 

[Rastoff]

The Shield was off (or, rather, I was off) about 1" at the same distance.

Sir, you are a rare individual. It's very rare that someone will admit it's them rather than the gun.

Normally I would counsel people to set the sights to the gun. The reasoning is the same as playing golf with a slice. As soon as you compensate for your very consistent slice, you'll hit the ball straight and off into the woods you go.

For most the same happens with shooting. When on a controlled range they shoot very consistently. Add the pressure of a defensive situation along with unfamiliar conditions and the shots don't go where intended.

So, my recommendation is to set the sights to the gun and work on shooting form. It worked for me.

Of course none of this set in stone. This is just what I normally recommend. If moving the sights works for you, do that. The only thing we really care about is getting the bullets to go where we want. Whatever you do to make that happen is the right thing.