Firearms training should be regularly practiced by every shooter to hone and maintain skills and safety standards, no matter what the skill level is. I live by the motto “there is always something yet to learn”, and indeed I find this to be constantly true. But live fire training, as educative, productive and fun as it is, can be extremely expensive, time consuming, potentially dangerous and also sometimes simply impossible. And here is where alternative training methods come in – such as Laser Ammo’s dry fire training system (here is the Laser Ammo shop link).
Essentially, it all revolves around a laser emitting module that is available either in red visible or IR, that in its most basic form is a simulated ammunition cartridge called SureStrike that can be modified to fit different calibers, and that can also be purchased integrated in other forms, such as the Laser Ammo Flashbolt for AR15/M4 platforms (additional bolts for other platforms like the FN SCAR are also available), gun barrels, flash hiders, or even embedded in firearm replicas – based on high-end licensed airsoft guns – that simulate recoil, operation and handling of the original firearms, called Recoil Enabled arms. Safety in all these products is inherently at the highest level.
However, the Laser Ammo environment includes a lot of products, all compatible with the above mentioned SureStrike Laser cartridge modules. How to choose what is better for a neophyte and what for the more experienced shooter? And what about the pros, either LE/MIL or IPSC competition athletes?
Let’s start from the basics, and lets lay out a Laser Ammo product roadmap from novice user all the way to master – which will have huge impact on the live fire performance at all levels!
The Laser Ammo SureStrike Cartridge
First off: the cartridge. It is better to choose a red visible laser as a first SureStrike cartridge as it affords the prime advantage of showing the POI of the beam. IR lasers are best left for a later stage, as they are indeed more efficient with the additional Laser Ammo gear such as reactive targets or simulator but are… invisible.
Many options for the cartridge are available, such as multicaliber kits and if you own a Glock or SIG 320 pistol, a kit that includes both a dedicated and specific SureStrike cartridge and the just released SureStrike Mag (shop link) allowing for automatic trigger reset, is available.
It is important to highlight the importance of automatic reset of the trigger for striker fired pistols here, as the SureStrike cartridge by itself needs arming the slide each time a shot is fired; a double action gun like the Beretta 92 or a CZ 75 can be used as-is although of course each shot will have the DA pull and weight every time. A Dry Fire Resetting trigger for the Glock pistols can also be optionally purchased.
However, to start dry fire laser practice, the simple 9mm laser cartridge is enough, as it can also be configured to be used with other calibers, i.e. in a 12 gauge shotgun and in this case it is especially efficient in pump-action shotguns as it allows dry fire full cycling with laser operation.
The red visible laser of the SureStrike allows for basic, although very proficient, dry fire training by itself, especially if used with inexpensive reflective targets, as the POI is clearly visible even at distances. The beam duration is a few milliseconds long, exposing any potential trigger control issues by the shooter and allowing to visualize them as “short streaks” instead of “spots”.
Laser Ammo: the targets
As a reactive target, it is suggested to start with the Laser Ammo LaserPET II (shop link) single target interactive system, that is also recommended for a number of training drills that do not involve rapid fire or shooter movement, with a preference to accuracy and control. NOTE: the LaserPET II is also available as a bundle with a SureStrike Cartridge included.
The LaserPET II is recommended for neophytes as it promotes firearms safety, trigger control and the included six programs and timer allows to dramatically improve reaction times, precision and handling.
As the shooter improves, it is possible to perform additional exercises and drills at a higher level with the LaserPET II, and it scales nicely working within the more advanced Laser Ammo I-MTTS Arena target kit (shop link).
And since I mentioned the Arena kit, it is available in a three or five target set with remote controller; both kits allow a more articulate and dynamic training experience, with 7 built-in drills, and as it is recommended for a more advanced shooter as it is best used with an auto resetting trigger system or even a Recoil Enabled replica pistol or rifle (shop link) from Laser Ammo, powered by CO2 cartridges, for realistic slide operation, recoil, rapid fire and timed multiple shot strings. The I-MTTS Arena is also suitable for long gun training such as rifles and pump action shotguns.
The possibilities are endless, as the targets talk to the remote controller up to about 6-7 m distance. The targets have also a stand-alone mode without controller that allows them to be independent and placed at any distance from each other or the shooter – or even in separate rooms and environments, a training scenario that will highly appeal professional users such as LE and military operators. Additional Interactive Multi Training Targets can be purchased as needed.
Professional, LE and Military-Only systems using the same technology of the IMTTS Arena are also available, such as the CQB in a box and Shot on Body for force on force – but this is better explored in an upcoming dedicated article!
Laser Ammo Smokeless Range
The pinnacle of mastery with the Laser Ammo system, which again can be seamlessly used at the same time with the interactive targets, is of course the immersive and engaging video projector-based Smokeless Range 2.0 Shooting Simulator (shop link).
It is based around a modular software package and a dedicated hardware kit that uses a high-resolution real-time feedback camera that detects the POI of the Sure Strike cartridges. Additional hardware is needed to set up the system, namely a good, hi-res DLP video projector, a mainstream sized Windows PC or laptop, and a decent audio system to enhance the experience. What makes this system extremely productive is the possibility of tailoring the simulator to the specific needs of the shooter, from IPSC matches, to hunting scenarios, even game settings! all to way to extremely serious and high end military and LE situational training with live action video clips, the Video Scenario Trainer Pro and VST control Station, reserved to professional customers. Twelve optional and additional modules are available for the Smokeless Range today, and continuously updated, plus new modules are added every year. The IR SureStrike cartridges are extremely efficient with the Smokeless range, and in the case of the Recoil Enabled replicas, IR is mandatory.
To wrap up, mastering the Laser Ammo dry fire training system, means essentially mastering live fire shooting – any increase in skill, speed, accuracy and safety handling is directly translated to real life use of our firearms. Safety is paramount and is reflected in every detail in Laser Ammo’s products.
Our readers can take advantage of a 5% discount on all orders using the code a4s in the cart at payment!
For more information please visit the Laser Ammo website.
