Training Archives

Mantis Laser Academy and Mantis Blackbeard Dry Fire Training Tools

Written by Nick Wong on November 15, 2021. Posted in Accessories, Range Gear, Shooting, Training. Leave a Comment

There’s dry fire training, then there’s next level dry fire training! That’s where the Mantis Laser Academy and Mantis Blackbeard come in.

Dry fire training allows you to practice your firearm handling skills at home. You can practice holster draw/firing/re-holstering, reloading, strong hand firing, weak hand firing, malfunction clearing, and more. When dry fire training at home, you should always remember the fundamental rules of firearm safety, and ensure that there is no live ammunition around.

The older Mantis X systems use a picatinny rail mounted laser that works in conjunction with the MantisX smartphone/tablet app. You can print your own targets and trace your muzzle movements and shots. Mantis released their Mantis X training system several years ago, and I got to test this out at SHOT SHOW 2020.

The next level is the Mantis Laser Academy. The Mantis Laser Academy comes in 2 versions – the Standard Kit (shown below), and the Portable Kit (which is actually included in the Standard version). The Standard Kit costs $149 and the Portable kit is $99.

The Portable Kit contains:

Pink Rhino Laser (Caliber Specific – available in 9mm, .380 ACP, .40 S&W, .45 ACP, .38 Special, .357 SIG, and .223/5.56)
Set of 5″x7″ Smart Targets (w/ blue reusable sticky putty)
Mini Tripod & spring loaded Smartphone Holder
Laser Cartridge Extraction Stick (a wood dowel)
Carrying Case

The Standard Kit adds on:

Large Tripod & screw-adjust Smartphone Holder
Set of 8″x11″ Smart Targets
Target Stand Holders (5)

Both kits contain a Pro access code to the Mantis Laser Academy App. This is extremely useful as this grants you access to the full suite of drills, including multiple target drills and even 2-person Duel drills.

While the Laser Academy Kit does not come with many instructions, setting up the app is extremely straightforward. You can see which drills are included in the Free version vs the Pro version. Once you create your account and unlock the Pro version using the code included, you have full run of the app.

I setup a couple of targets and started testing them out. The first gun I used was my SIG P226 with the RXP slide with the SIG Romeo 1 Pro Red dot sight. I found that the Pink Rhino laser was not quite the same as a laser boresighting cartridge – it was not quite lined up with my sights/red dot. This is adjustable by using the “shoot to calibrate” option in the settings of the app. I found myself using this a good deal as I tested the cartridge in 5 different pistols. Besides the P226, I tested this system using a Beretta M9A3, Walther PDP w/ Holosun HS507C, Glock 19 and Glock 48.

Handguns used for testing: Sig P226, Walther PDP, Glock 19 Gen 5, Glock 48, Beretta M9A3

I setup a couple targets using the stands as well as my phone using the tall tripod. I found that the tripod and phone holder were nice and compact, but the angle adjustment was a bit rough – either my phone was usually pointing too high or too low – not directly at the targets. When extended high, the phone would tend to shake especially while being used – so it was a little hard to hit buttons and adjust. This was definitely because the tripod has such a long center pole that it’s fairly unsteady at full extension. Once you are adjusted, however, it’s not bad – this is where the Start/Stop control target comes in very handy so you do not have to touch the phone.

Mantis Laser Academy App and 2 targets. Practicing Close Contact from Holster drill.

The drills had a great variety – I especially enjoyed the holster draw drills. Unfortunately, with striker fired guns you have to rack the slide slightly after each shot, so I tended to stick with the 2 double action hammer fired guns – the Beretta M9A3 and the Sig P226. They were easier to shoot multiple times without having to rack each time – I just had to deal with the long heavy double action trigger pull. A couple things I’ve noticed is that the app sometimes has an issue with reading targets if the lighting is not adequate. I also recommend measuring your distance to the targets, and calibrating the shots to that distance for maximum accuracy.

Sometimes the app would not recognize some of the targets. The middle left target is not highlighted in blue indicating a target area. it still detected targets hung sideways.

The calibration options in the app are excellent – and some are fairly needed. The shot calibration is key. I also played around with the shot detection feedback (the app would tend to hear shots when none were taken). For drills with repetitions – you can adjust the reset time – the time needed to re-holster and make ready. You can also change the number of reps and the countdown timer. One nice setting was that you could change the shot sound from normal loud shot to suppressed.

With multiple targets, you can create your own drill. In this, I shot each target once, then cycled through each again. The shots on multiple targets are color coded per target, and show your score and time in between shots.

The Mantis Blackbeard ($219) works well as an addition to the Laser Academy. It contains a special unit which replaces the Bolt Carrier Group and Charging Handle on a standard AR15. This is the self contained laser unit as well as the mechanism that resets the hammer on your AR15. The battery that triggers the laser and reset is conveniently located in the magazine portion, that is shaped like a 20-round magazine. The kit comes in a nice travel size case and includes a micro-USB charging cable and Allen key to adjust the laser. This is extremely important as you will need to sight in the laser. The switch on the unit changes the laser from momentary (when you pull the trigger) to always-on for sighting in. The battery has 5 LEDs which light up when charging, showing you the charge level of the battery. On full charge it should last about 10,000 “shots”. This is a nice hefty battery – it took overnight to charge to full power (when it arrived it was at 2 lights – less than half charge).

The AR I chose to install this on is my New Jersey legal Non-NFA “Other” firearm. The bright red color of the Mantis Blackbeard shows up nicely so you can tell at a glance that it’s setup in training mode. When dry firing the Blackbeard makes a clicking type sound – you can hear it actuate and reset the hammer. The trigger feels exactly the same as if you’re firing live ammo – the pull and reset are exactly as I expected. When I sighted in the Mantis Blackbeard laser I had to take the height over bore into serious consideration. With a 50/200 combat zero, the dot should end up 1.9″ below the actual point of aim at 10 yards. If you use an AR15 for home defense – this is something you need to remember and train with, and the Blackbeard does help you visualize this in a way you normally can’t do while pulling the trigger in your own house. Another benefit is that you can train with your AR platform firearm through simulated room clearing or check the potential areas of engagement in your house and see where your rounds will be hitting vs where you’re aiming.

Mantis Blackbeard installed shows up nicely with the red charging handle/bolt carrier/magazine to make it easily recognizable that the firearm is setup for training.

The larger 8″x11″ targets from the Training Academy made it much easier to engage targets with the Blackbeard from a longer distance. I was able to get 7 and even 10 yards of distance in my basement which worked out fairly well. The targets are meant to be engaged at a fairly close distance, but with the height over bore issues with a rifle, you really can’t do that very well. One slight nitpick is that you can’t easily transition from an AR with the Blackbeard to the Pink Rhino laser on the training academy without making some concessions for laser accuracy – you can only calibrate the app for accuracy by position for 1 laser, not multiple.

It’s very easy to just pull the trigger and keep whanging away at the targets since you don’t have to worry about changing mags or ammo costs. With the multiple target option in the Training Academy app, you can shift targets easily as well and still keep proper track of your shots. This also makes you quite aware of your trigger pull weight – as many shots can wear down your trigger finger! This AR is using a standard mil-spec trigger group. An upgraded trigger would definitely make a difference.

Engaging multiple targets at 7 yards range.

I thoroughly enjoy training with the Mantis Laser Academy and Blackbeard system. With these dry fire training aids, you can keep your skills sharp, and make a marked improvement on your skills without spending thousands of dollars in ammunition. Practicing concealed carry draw, holster draw, and practice engagements or room clearing in your house are all practical training you can’t replicate at home with live ammo, and this is the next best thing! Visit Mantis at https://mantisx.com/

The Mantis Laser Training Academy and Mantis Blackbeard were provided for testing purposes by Mantis.

Range Day With A Purpose

Written by Maksim on August 31, 2020. Posted in Shooting, Training. Leave a Comment

Remember when you acquired your first firearm?

For most gun owners, that time was both exciting and scary! On one hand, you acquired your first handgun and had hopefully gone to the range. At the same time, let’s admit it, unless you were in the military, you were at least a LITTLE bit afraid, either of scratching up that shiny new bluing, not being able to put it back together after cleaning, or even leaving it unattended. After a while however, you become accustomed to it and it becomes “yet another gun.”

Much in the same way, I look at “going to the range.”

It is the near universal experience of gun ownership. You purchase your gun and then you end up going to the range to shoot at least once or twice a week for the next 3 to 6 months. Every trip is exciting as you become more and more proficient with the gun and discover your passions for different firearms. At some point however you average day in the range goes from 4 or 5 boxes of ammo to a mere social event and 1 or 2 boxes of ammo becomes the norm. Simply put, going to a typical range and standing in a port and shooting at a bullseye or a zombie target was no longer fun or appealing. If you are at the range, it is typically to function check your gun, chrono your loads or just to make sure the gun works and remains rust free after that unfortunate boating accident.

This is why I believe in and encourage community members of all experience levels and interests to go out and try some form of matches, whether it is steel matches or one of the practical shooting sports such as IDPA or USPSA. Not only is it fun, but it is also a great way to take your shooting skills to the next level.

But what if you can’t do that?

I recently came across some targets made by REFactor Tactical. The company is a veteran lead business catering to military and civilians, offering products and solutions for on and off the battlefield.

One of their solutions is their line of shooting targets which I have come to call “Targets With a Purpose.”

There are 4 that I have come to really appreciate.

The first target is your standard USPSA/IPSC Practice Target. Generally I am a fan of using the thick cardboard targets for nice clean holes and the ability to paste them. This lets you use use the targets for quite a long time. Unfortunately there are a few downsides. First, a pack of 25 or so has some weight and they take up quite a bit of space to store. Secondly, it is not so easy to use the cardboard targets at many indoor ranges. The challenge is, with a cardboard target, you are attaching the head next to the carrier, so unless you want to risk destroying range equipment, a good portion of the target is unusable.

The REFactor Tactical target is printed on paper with wide margins. As such, you can easily use them at an indoor range or outside with wider target stands.

When it comes to rifles, my favorite target is the Hitman Target. The target comes complete with a grid overlay which is extremely helpful for sighting in a rifle with a new optic.

Once dialed in, the left side of the target has bullseye target grids ranging from 1″ to 3″ boxes. They are great to use for 1 MOA groups out to 300 yards.

The right side of the target features similar triangles and a bullseye target on the bottom.

Even though it is meant for rifles, this target is also great for handgun training at close ranges.

The other two targets are meant for “gun work,” or targets designed to work on the fundamentals of shooting.

The IQ Target is a full sized target made up of a combination of shapes, colors, numbers and letters. This allows the shooters or instructors to create a variety of shooting problems to solve. IT could be simple as “on command, draw and fire 2 rounds at the Square 2” or “on command, turn, then draw and fire 2 rounds at all of the green circles, reload and fire 2 rounds at all of the blue triangles.”

To make the IQ target even more effective, REFactor Tactical offers playing cards/shooting decks which contain various exercises ranging from static shooting to more difficult turn, draw, move and reload ones.

At a recent range day, I really enjoyed practicing with these targets and the cards. What is quite eye opening for me was finding out that despite not having difficulties with accuracy, I had real issues shooting triangle shapes, typically shooting just below them.

Perhaps to make it even more challenging, I practiced with a completely different handgun than I am used to shooting, a Smith & Wesson M&P 9mm versus my go to 1911s and CZ 75 SP01 Shadow Custom. To make it even more interesting, I alternated the magazine between my regular match loads and Speer Gold Dots +P ammo. (Or perhaps I just happened to leave my gun game guns at home and the M&P was the only handgun in the range bag with some ammo.)

Using ReFactor Tactical Targets for training

Finally, the other target that I believe would be of great interest and benefit to gun owners is the Essentials Shooting Target,

It is a full sized target of various sized squares and circles, along with a bulls eye. It was designed around a 150 round drill which covers multiple aspects of pistol marksmanship including slow aimed fire, strong and weak hand shooting, target transitions, speed changes, drawing and reloading. You can find the drills in their book, the “Essentials Shooting Guide” or simply create your own drills.

Bottom line, these were some of the best targets I have shot in the last 15 years. Factoring in that you are supporting a veteran owned company who produces the targets in the United States at very reasonable prices, there are no reasons why a few of these are not in your range bag for your next trip.