Which night sights do folks recommend for Shield?

[neil0311]

I bought a Shield Plus when they first came out and before the 3.1" barrel version with night sights became available. The typical M&P white dots just aren't doing it for me, so looking to swap for night sights.

Curious what others have used and prefer. Obviously it's based on personal preference, but interested to hear the pros and cons as you see it between sights like TruGlo, Trijicon, etc, and fiber optic, tritium, etc.

 

[mckenney99]

I am 62 going on 63 years old so my vision is not what it used to be. I want night sights that are rugged with a good record for durability, to me that means Trijicon. Their HD sights with the orange front dot has become my goto sights and I install them on all of my new pistols. Trijicon is the only night sight provider that has a relamping program that means you can send them back when they become dead or dim and for a nominal fee they will install new tritium lamp elements. Their customer service is top rate also.
Trijicon HD™ Night Sights for Smith & Wesson Pistols | Trijicon(R)

 

[Rob613]

Ameriglo on my Glocks, this set...

 

[ultratec00]

One vote for Ameriglo, except I trend towards the I Dots. Their front sights are very distinct and stand out.

 

[dirty & hairy]

Ameriglo Hackathorns

 

[jurek]

I'm a big fan of Trijicon.

I used TruGlo TFX on few handguns, but found Trijicon HD/HDXR better, especially for defensive shooting.
They worked almost identical, but during stress or timed drills Trijicons gave me faster and more accurate shots.

 

[ShieldDriver]

My current favorite is XS DXT2 but it's hard to go wrong with any of the big four. My XS are super fast on target and excellent build quality. I also have Ameriglo Agent, Trijicon HD, Mepro Tru Dot and as stated above, all are excellent.

 

[oldiegoldie]

Trijicon all the way. a little more expensive but worth extra cost to me.

 

[Lock n' Load]

TruGlo Tritium Pro on my M&P Shield and M&P Bodyguard 380 for 6 years now. Dead on accurate and no loss of brightness yet. LGS that I purchased from installed them free of charge in minutes while I waited.

 

[jjmIII_Ruger]

One vote for Ameriglo, except I trend towards the I Dots. Their front sights are very distinct and stand out.

Had a set put on mine before the first round was fired. LOVE them!

 

[CB3]

Smith & Wesson M&P Shield (PLUS) Ledge Straight Eight Night Sight Set - Heinie Specialty Products, Inc.

Proper Sight Alignment - Heinie Specialty Products, Inc.

I like to keep it simple and robust. I have had these night sights on three Shields and they are great. The ledge design is a must for carry guns IMO, and the simplicity of the “Straight Eight” concept is all I need. They are expensive, and worth it. The tritium lamps are small, visible in low light, but they basically disappear in regular daylight, giving a crisp black sight picture without colors and big white rings that make a front sight too wide.

Other brands like Trijicon are absolutely great, but different.

I have found that large dots and colors are distracting because I focus on the target for defensive shooting, not the front (or rear) sight. My presentation aligns the sights, not colors and large sizes.

At close range (0-4 yards) I don’t need sights, just point and shoot fast.

At medium range (5-10 yards) I need them aligned adequately but not perfectly as speed is still more important than precision.

Beyond 10 yards I need more precision and can take a little more time, I figure. A wide notch rear and a slim front sight are more accurate for me.

A big, ringed, colored front sight almost filling a rear notch—sometimes set up with different outlined colors than the front, is a lot to process and demands close focus. That’s the opposite of being threat focused.

I know I will still focus primarily on the target threatening me at that 10+ yard distance rather than a little piece of metal in front of my nose. That’s just counter-intuitive to try to make your brain focus on something other than the threat. A wide notch rear and thin front sight allow me to see the target better while still allowing for sufficient precision.

But mostly now I use red dots, as they fulfill all the requirements above and more.

 

[Spats McGee]

I went with Truglo Tritium Pros on my Shields and have been very happy with them. I can't find them on the Truglo website right now, unfortunately.

 

[gc70]

Trijicon Bright & Tough

 

[newpewpew]

I put Truglo TFX combination fiber/tritium with orange front ring on mine

 

[Brother_Love]

I put Truglo TFX combination fiber/tritium with orange front ring on mine

That’s what I’m getting for mine. How was the install? I’m going to attempt my install myself. Thank you

 

[Spats McGee]

And FWIW, I simply had my gunsmith swap the white dot sights from my Plus with my night sights from my 9mm Shield 1.0. I dropped the slides off one day at lunch and had them back the next day, no machining required. Thus, it would appear (to my mechanically-challenged eye) that the slide cuts on the 1.0 and the Plus are the same.

 

[Groo01]

Groo here
I got fiber optic sights.
Gave up on "glow in the dark " sights years ago.
If the sight is bright enough to see at twilight it is too bright at full dark.
If the sight is good for full dark , can't see them at twilight.
Would spend the money on a good hand light and a way to carry both.
Then work out hand holds for both.
And do much one handed shooting [as you should be doing anyway]
Ps , don't like gun mounted lights on handgun except for
one handed use like opening a door.
Rather a primary "light saber" so as not to cover with the muzzle
things you don't want to put holes in

 

[McChemist]

TruGlo TFX Sights

I put Truglo TFX combination fiber/tritium with orange front ring on mine

I had my gunsmith install them on my M&P9 M2.0 Compact (4 in). They behaved as promised. They do help focus the eye and I like them. I purchased as set for my Shield Plus and will have installed as I wait. I would recommend using a gunsmith.

Now if I could just find a source for spare 13-rnd magazines, that would be great. I even called S&W and they wete out. They appear to be havling problems getting spring steel for all of their magazines.

I guess all this will be straightened out in a few months as the ountry and the economy spin up to speed.

 

[Fly1920]

For older eyes only

I use a Crimson Trace grip laser on my shield. At my age, and given the size of the pistol, this option works best for me.

 

[mrpski]

I am 62 going on 63 years old so my vision is not what it used to be. I want night sights that are rugged with a good record for durability, to me that means Trijicon. Their HD sights with the orange front dot has become my goto sights and I install them on all of my new pistols. Trijicon is the only night sight provider that has a relamping program that means you can send them back when they become dead or dim and for a nominal fee they will install new tritium lamp elements. Their customer service is top rate also.
Trijicon HD™ Night Sights for Smith & Wesson Pistols | Trijicon(R)

Yep those big orange dots (I am partial to Big Dot Sights) work great for old eyes and get this, ANYTHING happens to a Big Dot (I lost it first time shooting because I did not tighten it down enough) Big Dot replaces it no questions asked, forever!