Ever Seen One of These? Swedish Marksmanship Training Machine

[HGM22]

I stumbled across this:

http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=290505986

Looks kind of neat. Anyone ever try one out? Good way to practice on the cheap maybe.

 

[Captain Brown Beard]

I've always been skeptical of methods of practice that don't actually involve putting rounds down range, unless you were practicing a draw. But for $120... doubtful.

Also, these things are old hat. They've been around since the early 1900's I believe. American Rifleman had them in one of their "75 years ago" bits. So maybe they work, maybe they don't, either way you're better off doing the real thing.

 

[jcwit]

They really take into account recoil to control/eliminate flinch.

 

[Apple a Day]

I've always been skeptical of methods of practice that don't actually involve putting rounds down range, unless you were practicing a draw. But for $120... doubtful.

One book, "Swedish-made Marksmanship Training Machine And Me: This Sort of Thing Is My Bag Baby", by Austin Powers.

 

[Kaeto]

The U.S. Navy used to use something like this during the Dreadnought era to train the shipboard gunners.

 

[EddieNFL]

I've always been skeptical of methods of practice that don't actually involve putting rounds down range, unless you were practicing a draw. But for $120... doubtful.

Also, these things are old hat. They've been around since the early 1900's I believe. American Rifleman had them in one of their "75 years ago" bits. So maybe they work, maybe they don't, either way you're better off doing the real thing.

Every world class shooter I'm familiar with includes dry firing in their training regime. Wtach HP shooters during the prep periods of a match.

 

[Captain Brown Beard]

That's a bit apples to oranges though. When these world champion shooters you mention dry fire, they aren't doing so to test their accuracy. That's more for grip, trigger control, draw technique, etc. I do the same thing, that's not what the gadget linked at the top is for.

 

[tekarra]

I agree with you Captain. There may be a place for that type of equipment but it does not beat sending rounds downrange.

 

[Centurian22]

I heard of one of these in an ebook one time referencing a time long ago when marksmanship was taught in middle and high schools. I have never seen one outside of that. Awesome find!

 

[Nushif]

So how does it actually work?

 

[Ryanxia]

I agree that training needs to involve actual shooting but this could definitely help practice trigger control. I often 'practice' with a handgun by placing a round on top of the slide and dry firing without it moving.

 

[OcelotZ3]

How they work:

http://www.rifleman.org.uk/Sub-target_devices.htm

My father had one of these, I sold it on eBay years ago:
http://www.rifleman.org.uk/Hollifield_Dotter.htm

And for handguns:
http://www.19thcenturyweapons.com/908/dotter.html

 

[shootniron]

I just use doorknobs and all kinds of things around the house for my marksmanship training.