Shield Suddenly Shooting Low? Stumped!

[AZ_M&P]

So I went to the range today to try out my new Model 442 Airweight, and once I was finished (nice little gun BTW) I decided to air out my 9 mm Shield. My first 8 shots at 30 feet not only didn't come close, I didn't even get into the outer ring! I brought the target in and saw that while I was holding on the bull I was hitting way low at 6 o'clock.

I ran the target back out and held a little high and managed to get on the target, but still hitting way low. I had a buddy of mine shoot the gun thinking maybe it was me, and he got the same results.

I went out and bought a box of range rounds to try different ammo - same result.

I'm stumped on this one. This gun always shot perfectly until today, and I have no idea what's going on.

Anybody have any ideas?

 

[Dandecoteau]

Most of the time your anticipating the recoil brining the muzzle down before the shot fires off. Have someone else shoot it and see how they perform. could be ammo, your grip, stance, could be anything.
Good luck

 

[ATF]

When did you last shoot your Shield? Changing from one gun to another can easily cause this because your grip changes and you have to get back to basics. Just ask any golfer.

 

[HarryD]

I'm not even going to guess why you shooting low suddenly but I would suggest cleaning it and next time at the range shoot it off of a rest and see how the group is. If it is still real low may need to send it in and have it looked at.

 

[RobzGuns]

If it's 'suddenly shooting low', it's not the pistol.
May be time to have someone load your mag with a Snap-Cap 'Dud' or two, to see if you are indeed dipping the pistol in anticipation of the recoil.

 

[AZ_M&P]

I had a buddy of mine shoot the gun thinking maybe it was me, and he got the same results.

Thanks anyway.

 

[RobzGuns]

Were you both shooting the 442 before transitioning to the Shield?
Going from DAO to Striker fire can mess people up for a bit, when going from a long/strong trigger pull, to a lighter Striker (or SA) trigger.

We're not saying that it definitely ISN'T the gun, but very seldom does any pistol (with a non-adjustable sight) go from shooting fine, to shooting low.

Take the shooter(s) out of the equation. If it's still shooting low from a rest, or you don't see any 'dipping' when you hit a dud (snap-cap), check with a RO, if it does the same for them, call S&W CS.

 

[SundownIII]

Looking at the target you posted, I would definitely suspect "shooter error" rather than a gun malfunction. Put it on a bag and reduce the potential "shooter error".

Looks to me like you're "pushing" in anticipation of recoil.

 

[AZ_M&P]

Were you both shooting the 442 before transitioning to the Shield?
Going from DAO to Striker fire can mess people up for a bit, when going from a long/strong trigger pull, to a lighter Striker (or SA) trigger.

We're not saying that it definitely ISN'T the gun, but very seldom does any pistol (with a non-adjustable sight) go from shooting fine, to shooting low.

Take the shooter(s) out of the equation. If it's still shooting low from a rest, or you don't see any 'dipping' when you hit a dud (snap-cap), check with a RO, if it does the same for them, call S&W CS.

Thanks, but no, he shot the Shield first. We actually swapped semi-autos) (he shot the shield, I shot his 9 mm) and I was spot on with his gun - he was hitting low with the Shield.

I understand why everyone would assume it's the shooter, but not in this case. I have a Crimson Trace laser on the gun that shows any drop or flinch in a heartbeat and I'm on target when the shot breaks. I even taped over the laser and went back to the iron sights because my first thought was that somehow the laser got out of alignment, but I still hit at 6 o'clock.

I've been shooting for some time now and I've never seen anything like this. I think I'm going to ask my gunsmith to check it out and see if he can find anything, or have him shoot it from a vise and see what he finds.

I just wondered if anyone else had ever encountered anything like this before.

 

[AGoyette]

AZ,
Sorry to say, but I agree with everyone else. I can shoot the 1911 .45 all day and cut holes in the target. Then I switched to the new Sig 938 which I have not shot as much and I was totally anticipating the shot and pulling it down. I then switched back to the 45 and noticed that I was now doing it with the 45. I ended the night shooting a mag through the 45 and paying attention, no pull downs. Oh, I have shot for over 20 years. Just because people have shot a long time, does not mean that they can't pick up bad habits. You might shoot one gun fine, and next gun, not so fine.
When I was shooting my M&P 9c a lot, (this is even before Apex parts) I was dang accurate with it. I have not been shooting it as much and my groupings are not tight at all. Lots of pulled down shots. Keep in mind, I am used to the 9c, but switching from gun to gun is/can be difficult. Even when you are shooting a gun you have shot well before, but have not shot it in awhile.

 

[rwsmith]

You are right....

If it's 'suddenly shooting low', it's not the pistol.
May be time to have someone load your mag with a Snap-Cap 'Dud' or two, to see if you are indeed dipping the pistol in anticipation of the recoil.

Circumstances can deteriorate your shooting technique. I never had problem with flinch even with my .357 until I started using an indoor range. The close quarters immediately gave me a flinch I didn't have before. I may have to double up on the hearing protection.

 

[Smoke52]

Here is my uneducated guess. Ammunition change? Perhaps to a cartridge with a lighter bullet?

My .38's are shot using 158 grain. Lighter bullets hit low, heavier ones hit higher. Same with my Shield. 115 grain hit low and 124 grain are where I want them to be. Can only assume that 147 grain will be high. but have never tried them.

 

[growr]

It's the law....all Shields are pre-programmed to shoot low and left. Usually starts when they are fresh out of the box however...

Randy

PS. Just being a smarty here! LOL

 

[Magload]

As long as someone else added a little levity to this so will I.
Maybe the gun was just tired and was having a problem getting it up. The bullet that is.

 

[rwsmith]

Be sure to....

Please let us know when you find out what the problem is.

Is is possible that the barrel or however the barrel is supported could shift to align the barrel chamber high???? I'm really grasping at straws with that I know. I believe that an inaccuracy from shot to shot can be a problem in some auto pistols by the way the barrel returns to position, often caused by the bushing?? But rather than shot variance, you are reporting consistent low shots. Another thing that could happen with the same effect is that the slide could be slightly off position when in battery throwing the sights off. Ok, weird. But what causes inaccuracies in auto pistols if the barrel is bored good? Anybody got a Ransom Rest?

 

[Gunney57]

I seem to have a shift shot to shot possibly being set straight when dropping the mag or field stripping. This is a new gun. A 30 year LEO backed this up and said to return the gun for repair! Let me know if any of these actions seems to temporarily "fix" it, only to return later. Thanks

 

[Gunney57]

My shield was returned to S&W and they replaced the barrel. That was all that was supposedly done. But all accuracy problems have been erased(besides my own).

 

[martybee]

Here is my uneducated guess. Ammunition change? Perhaps to a cartridge with a lighter bullet?

Lighter bullets hit low, heavier ones hit higher. Same with my Shield. 115 grain hit low and 124 grain are where I want them to be. Can only assume that 147 grain will be high. but have never tried them.

I concur. My shield appears to hit low with 115gr./high with 147gr. The 124gr. are a closer match POA/POI.

mb

 

[GetRekt]

I concur. My shield appears to hit low with 115gr./high with 147gr. The 124gr. are a closer match POA/POI.

mb

That will almost always be the case, and it's basic physics. Lighter bullets will shoot "flatter" up close because they are fast. They are on the way out of the barrel before the recoil starts most of the time.

Heavier bullets are slower, and tend to be affected by the muzzle rise.

It may sound ridiculous, but it's a well known phenomenon.

 

[hoc9sw]

I see very different behavior between bullet weights in my Shield, and have to stop for a second to consider what I'm shooting.

124g does appear to be (and has been said by the CS folks) the design load for the shield.