PC Shield in low light

[qballwill]

I know this has probably been asked a lot, but i find everything except what I am looking for when I search.
Im seriously looking at getting my wife a 9mm shield for ccw. She has very little experience and I am only planning on buying now because of the the possibility of our next president being HC.
Because she has little experience, I am considering the PC version because I think the fiber optic sights will help her and the porting will help somewhat with recoil.
My only concern is her shooting the gun in low light. I know porting can be a negative when shooting at night because it can temporarily mess with your vision.
Any experience or thoughts on shooting this particular ported gun in low light or complete darkness?
Thanks in advance.

 

[OKFC05]

Well, you are going to get a lot of varying opinions. I offer mine based on many years of competition and doing NRA instruction.


I bought the standard Shield and added a front FO sight, but that is mostly to aid in shooting beyond 10 yds. At typical self defense distance ( like under 5 yds) the tendency is to look at the target and not see the sights at all.


When we do night shoots, regular sights are about the same as no sights, Tririum sights are some help, and red dot powered optics and lazers are best you can do.
The guns with red optics and ports (open guns) are not bothered by the flashes from the comps. If trying to use regular sights, any light in your eyes is troublesome.


In total darkness, target identification problems keep a prudent person from shooting at all.


If at all possible, I strongly recommend she take a basic pistol class and learn to shoot, and try several different handguns. Then when she picks one and says "I want this for my defense gun", say "OK Dear" and buy it for her. Half the women who come into my First Steps classes with a gun somebody else picked out for them start the conversation with "I don't like this gun."

 

[Ranger17]

i have the PC Shield with FO's and at least in a darker indoor range have been ok at low lights. And I've been told by the range officer that any 'flash' thru the ports is minimal in his opinion (he owns a std Shield). Both my wife and myself enjoy shooting this model, I really like the trigger vs my regular MP models and its muzzle flip seems a little lower than non-ported (or that's all in my mind lol). I am not worried about true dark conditions, If i cant see a target I am not pulling a trigger.

There is also a PC Shield with different sights (night sights) available, it wasn't of interest to me so i didn't pursue it further but here's the manu's link if it is available.
Performance Center(R) Ported M&P(R)9 SHIELD™ Night Sights | Smith & Wesson

 

[qballwill]

Well, you are going to get a lot of varying opinions. I offer mine based on many years of competition and doing NRA instruction.


I bought the standard Shield and added a front FO sight, but that is mostly to aid in shooting beyond 10 yds. At typical self defense distance ( like under 5 yds) the tendency is to look at the target and not see the sights at all.


When we do night shoots, regular sights are about the same as no sights, Tririum sights are some help, and red dot powered optics and lazers are best you can do.
The guns with red optics and ports (open guns) are not bothered by the flashes from the comps. If trying to use regular sights, any light in your eyes is troublesome.


In total darkness, target identification problems keep a prudent person from shooting at all.


If at all possible, I strongly recommend she take a basic pistol class and learn to shoot, and try several different handguns. Then when she picks one and says "I want this for my defense gun", say "OK Dear" and buy it for her. Half the women who come into my First Steps classes with a gun somebody else picked out for them start the conversation with "I don't like this gun."

I always preach the same thing about letting the woman pick out her own gun. My wife isnt ready to start to carry and the only reason I am rushing the purchase is because of the election. If she doesnt like the shield it can always become mine. lol.
My main concern is the porting at night and if it truly makes that much of an impairment in your vision regardless of whether it is for my wife or myself.

 

[Mister X]

I doubt the flash itself would likely present much of an issue although I wouldn't absolutely rule it out, but shooting from a retention type position can indeed be problematic with a ported pistol due to the hot, vented gasses possibly being directed into the face and eyes.

Considering the extremely close distances that civilian defense encounters occur and the need for threat focused shooting at close-quarters, the upgraded sights are not likely to be of any practical defensive benefit.

I haven't studied or researched it in too much depth, but I think a ported gun would be slightly less reliable. The porting not only reduces bullet velocity, but also slide velocity/recoil impulse which I think would make it more susceptible to limp-wristing type malfunctions. This would especially be a concern with a beginning woman shooter in the context of actual defense situations where you may have to shoot one handed, while moving or from an awkward position, i.e. a stable shooting platform not being established.

 

[TruckinThumper]

Shooting in dark? TLR-1

 

[Sunsetview45]

I have the Shield 9mm with a green crimson trace laser and can hit anything I point it at! Assuming I am not scare to death lol!


Sunsetview45 "I'm a girl [emoji151]" Smith & Wesson 9mm Shield, Sako Finnwolf VL63 243cal, Marlin 60 1982 model