Today I’m going to show you the best m&p shield night sights.
In fact:
I’ve hand- tested over 10 sights alone for this review.
The best part?
I’ve sorted the sights by use. So whether you’re on a budget or need the best 9mm m&p shield sights, you’ll find it here.
Let’s dive in!
The 4 Best M&P Shield Night Sights
If you’re pressed on time, here’s a quick list of the best sights for m&p shield:
- Trijicon Night Sight: Best Overall
- AmeriGlo Tritium I-Dot: Best for the Budget
- TRUGLO TFO Tritium: Best for 9mm
- XS Sight Systems: Best for Home Defense
1. Trijicon Night Sight: Best Overall
Whether you’re an everyday carrier or just have a firearm for self-defense, you can’t go wrong with a Trijicon sight.
Significantly more useful than the stock sights on most handguns, the Trijicon Night Sight is one of the best sights for M&P Shield.
This is the sight that I use on all of my handguns.
Of course, if you’re looking for a rifle sight you’ll want to go with one of these.
Trijicon is a well-known name in the business. Some of their biggest customers are the United States Marines, the United States Army, and Law Enforcement.
If it’s good enough for them, it’s good enough for me!
Keep reading and I’ll tell you exactly why you’re going to want these sights for all of your handguns.
Sight Design
Not an issue with these, as they’re iron sights.
The great thing about these sights is the photoluminescent paint that immediately draws the eye to it.
That makes target acquisition incredibly easy.
You don’t need batteries and the paint isn’t going to wear off easily.
It’s perfect for setting on your bedside table, so that you can easily locate your firearm in case of an intruder.
This makes it perfect for home defense.
Eye Relief & Eye Box
Since these are made to be mounted on handguns, eye relief isn’t a huge issue.
That said, I found it incredibly easy to consistently hit my targets at the range at multiple distances.
The 3 green dot tritium night sights are incredible. Combined with the serrated U-shaped rear sight it pulls your eye to the front post.
The photoluminescent paint means you can use this sight in the middle of the day, at dawn, or in the dead of night.
No matter when you need to use your firearm, if it’s got the Trijicon Night Sight on it, then you’ll be ready.
Durability
Normally iron sights are pretty flimsy. I know I’ve had my issues with more than a few.
That’s not the case here. Not only is Trijicon known for making incredibly durable equipment, but they went out of their way with this one.
It’s got a steeply hooked front surface, which means it’s great for one-handed slide pulls.
The tritium gas lamps, which are the main feature, are contained in protective aluminum cylinders and they’re cushioned by silicone rubber.
Elevation & Windage Knobs
Again, not an issue here. Once your sights are mounted, that’s it.
No need for constant adjustments like you would have on a rifle.
Parallax & Magnification
None to report.
Your magnification is going to be as good as your eyesight and what you know you can reliably see.
These are definitely meant for close-range situations, whether tactical or home defense.
Mounting & Rings
It comes with everything you need to mount it, but you’re probably going to want to take it to a gunsmith to have it done.
Why? Because the fit is extremely tight and it’s a huge pain to try to do yourself.
Spend the money and let someone else deal with the headache.
I do recommend investing in a holster for your firearm though. This is the one I use for my M&P.
If you’re looking for something more efficient while you’re being active, say for law enforcement, then check out this list of holsters we recommend.
Is the Trijicon Night Sight worth it?
It’s not only worth it, but it’s also one of the best iron sights I would recommend for your handguns.
Let’s review:
- Incredible durability
- Doesn’t need batteries
- Can be used at any time of day
- Perfect for home defense or tactical use
- Photoluminescent circle for target acquisition
If that doesn’t convince you, maybe the limited lifetime warranty will. Trijicon stands by their products, so if there’s ever anything wrong with your sights, they’ll make it right.
Take a minute and go check out the Trijicon Night Sight for yourself. You won’t be disappointed.
- Trijicon HD Night Sights
- Fits the S&W M&P Shield
- Tritium-filled glass lamp provides superior illumination in no light or low light conditions
2. AmeriGlo Tritium I-Dot: Best for the Budget
The AmeriGlo Tritium I-Dot is one of the best low light handgun sights I have ever used.
The price point makes this an obvious purchase that I haven’t regretted for a second. I can admit I get a little impulsive with my firearm purchases.
This was one that truly worked out.
Here’s why the AmeriGlo Tritium I-Dot was one of the best upgrades I have made to my M&P shield home defense setup…
Sight Design
In the daytime, the AmeriGlo Tritium I-Dot has done an amazing job improving my target acquisition.
The large orange dot in the front is easy to focus in on and makes my usage of the sight a dream.
At night, the trijicon inserts glow more than bright enough to be used reliably in any condition.
Where I believe this sight truly excels would be for home defense use. Whether it’s daytime or low light situations I know I can count on this sight.
My M&P shield sits right in my bedside table every night and the addition of the AmeriGlo Tritium I-Dot has fixed all my previous worries about the firearm.
Durability
Right out of the box you can tell this is a well machined set of sights.
The price to quality ratio on the AmeriGlo Tritium I-Dot is unparalleled. You can tell they didn’t skimp in any category.
The high quality plastic these sights are constructed with has taken a beating out on the range.
I have had sights that have chipped, snapped, or simply faded after short term use. This is not the case with the AmeriGlo Tritium I-Dot.
The M&P shield with night sights has truly been one of my favorite handgun sight setups to date.
Speaking of handgun sights, if you’re looking for an LPVO optic, I’d recommend checking out my 1-6x scope guide.
Mounting & Rings
Although I have installed handgun sights myself before. I have begun getting them professionally done which is what I would recommend in this case.
I have found my sloppy hands can sometimes mess up or prolong the process. I have read the fit on the M&P shield is extremely tight.
Although if you feel inclined and have a sight pusher at your disposal go at it!
I am lucky enough to have a friend who is far better than me at installing.
Although it is not needed, I did add a Streamlight Tactical pistol mount flashlight.
- Designed to securely attach to M&P Shield 40/Shield 9 specifically
- Ultra lightweight and compact
- Batteries can be replaced while light remains mounted on gun
If you plan to use this handgun for home defense, this is a mandatory addition in my book.
The flashlight has only improved an already great home defense set up.
Is the AmeriGlo Tritium I-Dot worth it?
The AmeriGlo Tritium I-Dot brought new life to my M&P Shield.
The sights are everything you want in an amazingly affordable package. The M&P shield sight upgrade is a must to get the best out of this handgun.
Here’s why:
- Durability
- Pricepoint
- Target acquisition
If you still can’t decide whether the AmeriGlo Tritium I-Dot is for you, I would recommend giving it a try. It truly is a great upgrade for the M&P Shield.
- AmeriGlo, Sights/Lasers/Lights
3. TRUGLO TFO Tritium: Best for 9mm
If you’re looking for the best sights for your 9mm no matter the time of day, look no further than TruGlo TFO.
Not only do you get tritium sights for the dark, but they also have fiber optics for daytime!
You’ll get the best of both worlds with these sights.
To learn what makes these sights exceptional, keep reading…
Sight Design
Regular iron sights are great for daytime and shooting at the range, but if you’re in a self defense situation, you need something you can rely on day or night.
The TruGlo TFO combines tritium and fiber optics, which gives you the same bright sight picture no matter the amount of ambient lighting.
If someone breaks into your house in the middle of night, being able to see your sights can save your life. With these sights, you have that ability without having to worry about whether you’ve replaced your batteries recently.
With the TruGlo TFO the front sight is green and you can choose from green or yellow rear sights. I personally prefer the green, as it immediately draws your gaze to the green front sight.
On top of that, the front sight glows brighter than the rear, which also helps bring your eyes to the front and promotes amazingly fast target acquisition.
Compatibility
The TruGlo TFO fits most Smith & Wesson M&P models, including SHIELD and .22 models, SD9 and SD40.
I wanted a M&P Shield sight replacement that would give me better target acquisition in case of nighttime home invasions and am very pleased with these.
I think it’s the best M&P Shield 9mm night sight and will never go back to using the plain iron sights on my home defense weapon.
Since these are made for the S&W, you can check these guides for great sights for other .22 pistols or glocks.
Durability
When buying a sight system, you want to know that it’s going to hold up and stand the test of time.
That’s why the TruGlo TFO is made of CNC-machined steel that’s extra tough and durable.
On top of that, it has a Fortress Finish Coating that gives it even more protection.
These sights were built to last and they also come with a 90 day warranty.
One of the things that I love most about the TruGlo TFO is that it is compact and snag-free. This means it fits easily in the holster that I already had, so I didn’t need to buy something new to accommodate it.
I’ve been using mine for almost a year now and I’m pretty rough on my weapons. These sights are still in pristine condition.
Mounting & Rings
Now let’s talk about the worst part of the TruGlo TFO, which is that you really need a professional gunsmith to mount it for you.
Trying to remove the stock sights yourself is extremely difficult and you don’t want to damage the sights or your firearm. You’ll need specialized tools that you’re not likely going to want to buy or try to figure out how to use.
Once the iron sights are removed, it’s pretty easy to install these sights, but it will make your life a million times easier if you just have a professional taking care of it for you. That way you don’t have to worry about any damage to the sights or your gun and you’ll know that it’s done right.
Is the TruGlo TFO worth it?
Getting sights that work great for you 9mm in any lighting can be a challenge, but the TruGlo TFO is up to the task.
It features:
- Tritium for night
- Fiber optics for day
- Compact and durable
- Brighter green front sight
- Choice of yellow or green rear sights
If you want to buy the best night sights for your S&W M&P, I highly recommend the TruGlo TFO. Try it for yourself and you won’t be disappointed.
- FASTER TARGET ACQUISITION - The better you can see your handgun sight, the better you can shoot; The TruGlo TFO Night Sight, compatible with Smith & Wesson Handguns, is perfect for high visibility and...
- MAXIMUM BRIGHTNESS - Whether you shoot in daylight or in complete darkness, this compact Gun Sight gathers all existing light and holds it tight for unmatched visibility; In addition, concealed fiber...
- UNMATCHED VISIBILITY - The TruGlo combination of glow-in-dark Swiss Tritium and Fiber-Optic elements provides consistently bright picture in all conditions; The TFO technology ensures 24-hour...
4. XS Sight Systems: Best for Home Defense
When your home has been invaded, every moment counts. Don’t waste vital time fumbling in the dark, trying to get your sights on target. You need to be able to make every shot count. You can’t afford to miss.
Let me introduce you to the best night sights you’ll ever use…
Sight Design
I installed XS Sight Systems Big Dot on my EDC Smith & Wesson Shield 9mm and I love these things. I find these much easier to line up than the factory sights my shield came with.
I have this big white dot version…
…but XS Systems makes several different color options.
- Larger front sight improves the speed of front sight acquisition
- White dot reflects light for best visibility in low light
- Express rear prevents obstruction of front sight when moving
The front sight is an oversized white circle with a green dot tritium center. The back sights have a slight “v” with a white stripe. Line up the white stripe with the green dot and fire away.
The front sight stands out like a ping pong ball on the end of my gun. It’s attention grabbing and very easy to focus on in low light. The green tritium dot in the center is very bright and eye catching as well.
Design
While the front sight seems to be overly large, the XS Sight System Big Dot set has a pretty low profile design. It doesn’t snag on my clothing or holster during my draw.
In fact, I found these fit well in the holster I already own without modification.
Use
If you find yourself awake in the middle of the night because someone smashed through your front door, you’ll find yourself disorientated. It’s very common for folks to experience tunnel vision in high stress situations and have difficulty focusing on their sights.
When your life’s on the line, you’ll only have half a moment to respond.
It’s imperative that you are able to line up your sights quickly, accurately, and without hesitation.
When I draw my gun, my eyes naturally fixate on the giant white circle and glowing green dot. Getting on target becomes less conscious and more reflexive. All I have to do is “dot the ‘i’” and pull the trigger.
Without my glasses or contacts, I really struggle to see the factory sights on my handgun. If I’m caught by surprise in the middle of the night, I might not have time to put my glasses on before confronting my aggressor.
I don’t have to worry about that with these sights. I can see my XS sights with naked eyes.
Mounting
XS Sight Systems are supposed to replace your factory shield night sights. They come with all the hardware you need to make the replacement.
I found them fairly easy to install, just be sure to follow the included instructions. Don’t use a punch or press to install them or you’ll have a lot of trouble.
Durability
The XS Sight System is made of steel. The sight posts are very durable and have held up to the everyday wear and tear that EDC guns usually face.
Some users have commented that the white dot peeled off over time, but that can be fixed with a little bit of epoxy or a call to the company. They have been pretty good at replacing defective sights.
Is the XS Sight System worth it?
At about a hundred dollars, these sights are a worthwhile upgrade on your current defensive handgun.
Here’s why:
- Green tritium dot
- High visibility in low-light conditions
- Faster target acquisition with over sized sights
Do yourself a favor and install quality XS Sight Systems night sights on your defensive handgun now before you need them.
- Larger front sight improves the speed of front sight acquisition
- White dot reflects light for best visibility in low light
- Express rear prevents obstruction of front sight when moving
You can thank me later.
If you’d like defensive optics on your home defense AR, this scope for 5.56 or a thermal scope are great options.
Now It’s Your Turn
I hope you enjoyed my best m&p shield night sights guide.
Now I want to turn it over to you:
Which sight will you pick for your pistol?
Let me know by leaving a quick comment down below.
I would prefer the TruGlo TFO night sights for me personally, but I have a question I hope you could answer. Would these sights go on a S&W M&P 9mm Shield EZ PC ??? PS- I really liked your article. It answered a lot of my questions. Thanks.
Will these sights go on a canik tp9sf elite…if not both able to fit… would front site work?