About a month ago I was at a friends house and saw a small pistol target taped up on their wall. Whats that about, I asked. They said it was for their laser target practice system.
Huh..wha…come again?
My friend had one of these. I’m going to try and explain this, but really the video does a much better job.
You buy this kit and use it in conjunction with your smartphone. You set the smartphone on the included tripod and aim it at the target that youre going to use. You then drop a little laser module into the chamber of your firearm. Each time the firing pin hits the back of the laser it sends a little pulse out the barrel and onto the target. The smartphone, which is scanning the target, logs where the ‘shot’ hit, scores it, tracks your time between shots, and shows the motion of the gun (your follow through).
When it’s -12 outside and the snow is a foot deep, this thing is perfect.
The product is Mantis Laser Academy I got the 9mm version which means that not only can I drop the laser into my Glocks, but I can also drop it into my 9mm carbines and use them as well.
The software that you download to your phone includes shooting drills of all sorts, the kit comes with a dozen different types of targets, and the metrics are quite useful for measuring progress.
For me the practical use of this is it lets me practice drawing, getting a good sight picture, and smoothly pulling the trigger…..critical skills.
I ordered mine from Amazon for around $160 and I feel it is worth every penny.
Because the laser is actuated by the firing pin hitting it, that means you have to cock/reset the striker after each ‘shot’. For what I’m doing, which is practicing my draw and target acquisition, this isn’t a big deal..Im only firing one shot per cycle. However, there are aftermarket Glock triggers/slides that are made specifically for dry fire practice that avoid the whole issue. And, if youre shooting a DA/SA auto, you’ll have no issues.
They also make an AR version which is more money, but it features a replacement bolt carrier that is designed for dry fire exercises. Considering what 9mm and .223 costs are these days, for just practicing gun handling and sight acquisition this is a ridiculously economical way to do things. Plus, there’s that convenience of not having to pack up your gear and head to the range.
Good info – thanks!
I saw a system like this at a show last year and got a “deal” when I got it so, paid about the same price as your find. I like using it with our iPad as it’s a bigger screen for my old eyes.
https://www.strikeman.io/
I wish they had a product that didn’t require a government tracking device.
You can use it with an old phone that is no longer connected to a carrier. Doesn’t even have to be on wifi.
Thank you for the reply. I was looking for a system that didn’t require a phone.
The wife and I bought the 9mm one a few months back. We are really enjoying it. My wife has really improved because of it.
Dry-Fire mag.com has a system for glocks with a self resetting magazine and laser.but it is quite a bit more expensive though
I have one, it is well worth it. I use it all the time.
I’ve been thinking of buying the Mantis X It attaches to the light rail on your pistol and you can also put it on your rifles. I have a bunch of Cabelas points so I can get it for a little less than $100.
A bit more expensive, but looks way more fun – I’m saving my pennies for it:
https://coolfiretrainer.com/
Kurt
I purchased one of the original Coolfire training kits some years ago. I have nothing but nice things to say about its ability to let you train draw, grip, stance, and movement, with multiple shots, in the comfort of your own home.
My only warning is to learn from my mistakes: it is easy to create training scars when using systems that don’t generate full recoil. Be rigorous and train with live ammo often to make your your grip isn’t getting sloppy.
One reason I bought a P220 was that because of the DA/SA trigger, I could get a laser bullet and practice dry fire with it whenever. Which has worked out phenomenally well. (OTOH, the target made by the same manufacturer is a total p.o.s., btw.)
Which I still do 10-20x/day, at random items in sight in the 20’x40′ barn over my left shoulder.
Pull, aim, and fire hits on the first and subsequent shots is the name of the game, which is really the only practical accuracy that matters IRL, for that matter.
And even with presbyopia, hitting a hat-sized target at 40′ in low light on the first shot ain’t that hard, if you practice.