Laser Training kits

[Wapato]

With the family I have a limited ability to get to the range, and even when there they have strict rules against drawing from a holster or anything like that, or moving around.

So I was thinking about getting one of the laser kits out there where you put something in the barrel of your gun and it registers hits.

At face value you'd think it would help with trigger control and keeping you honest about gun handling.

So I'm wondering:

-Are they actually useful, or would I do just as well with the snap caps I've already got? Could that build in any body habits?

-If they are useful, is there a particular model anyone recomends? One for a 9mm pistol might be sufficient, but if possible it'd be nice to be able to use it with a .45 pistol, 357 mag revolvoer, rifle and shotguns.

 

[basicblur]

I'm sure they're useful, 'specially for newer shooters.

I saw LaserLyte's system on Guns and Gear last week which looks interesting. I like the fact that after multiple shots, you can shoot the lower left target to get all your hits to display so you can see your pattern-you shoot the lower right target to reset the unit.

Probably not that bad a price, but I'm waiting for 'em to get in circulation to see how much under MSRP they will be.

 

[JoeSlomo]

-Are they actually useful...

The visual feedback provided by a laser can certainly prove to be useful for a wide variety of supplemental training tasks.

would I do just as well with the snap caps I've already got? Could that build in any bad habits?

The visual feedback provided by dryfire comes from the sight picture you see when you break the shot, IF you are disciplined enough to look for it. Sloppy dry fire practice will indeed lead to sloppy live fire practice. Use of a laser can very well help keep a shooter honest, as the visual feed back is much more prominent and easy to see than sight errors alone.

Bottom line: Lasers, like dry fire, are excellent tools to supplement live fire training, but neither can REPLACE live fire training.

 

[markule]

My two cents:
I have the laserlyte LT pro (small red unit) and the target. 300 bucks total. I have already saved that in ammo, to be honest. Buy batteries at dollar tree, they last about a week. It's been a long time since I've done any shooting, might as well be a new shooter.

I have definitely seen improvement in my shooting using the laser trainer. One, the target lets me shoot repeatedly and look for patterns (if I were a better shot i'd be looking at groups. I'm not). I aim for the same point for each shot then see what the results are ONLY after I hit the display spot. I also, by shifting my aim, watch for the laser spot when I pull the trigger to make sure it's not waving about during firing. I have a sig p238, so the unit actually goes into the chamber so no round can get in there. If it didn't, I'd probably use a snap cap. Since it only sticks out of the barrel a little, I can carry it in holster, practice draw and shoot. During the day, I carry my pistol as I normally would but with the trainer in. When I leave my office I make sure the target is on and weapon clear. Just before I enter I make sure the weapon is clear, reholster, then enter, draw, fire. Repeat. Display. Diagnose.

However, what I really like is being able to take a short break, like five minutes, fire a few magazine equivalents, then get back to work. Repeat as needed. I probably get in about 100 shots a day that way, and it's very much helping.

And fun. That's worth it too.

 

[Big Boy]

They make real, metal, blowback versions of most guns now days in air soft form. That's what I would practice with if you wanted some training.

 

[Strykervet]

You could set up the army laser boresight kit to do this. Nobody ever did it wholesale, but we used to use it at the SDM school. We'd use it when it was raining (most of the time at Ft. Lewis) and we weren't at the range, until we built a covered airgun firing line. If you can set up an air rifle range in your backyard (you don't need much) then that is even better.

Anyway, you could set up the boresight. When the hammer hit the firing pin, it would project the light for a second, if I recall right. Or it would flicker or flash. Basically you would aim and call your shot to practice. It was a good enough training aid we taught it to SDM's to practice when they were in the barracks and couldn't get to a range. I don't know how much those army boresights cost, I bet they were expensive, but they would work on several calibres.

Another cheaper alternative is just dryfiring or using the snap cap and focusing on a good sight picture and calling the shot. The laser is nice, and of course we used 'em because we had 'em, and I'd use it today if I could justify the cost of a boresight, but I don't know if I'd pay $300 for just what this did. I just dryfire now. But that is me.

We also brought up the old dime drills at the school. Putting length of cleaning rod in the barrel and balancing a dime on it and aiming and pulling the trigger. Try to balance the dime. You can use a penny and work your way to a dime if need be. A buddy helps, but not needed.

Other things you can practice when not at the range are mag changes blindfolded, drawing, and malfunction drills. The more it becomes muscle memory and the less you have to think about it the better off you are if you ever have to use it.

 

[Deaf Smith]

Just make your own! Spring air-soft Glock 26 ($24 or so bucks), laser with pressure switch, super glue, and a dremal tool.

I did!

Deaf

 

[Wapato]

Interesting comments on the airsofts. How similar are they to firing a real gun?

So if I go with a laser trainer than it sounds like Laserlyte is the only one with some reputation around here.

 

[basicblur]

So if I go with a laser trainer than it sounds like Laserlyte is the only one with some reputation around here.

Dunno 'bout that, but it's probably the cheapest one around? I assume it's just another case of the technology getting around and coming down in price, but the LaserLyte system does look cheaper than any previous stuff I've seen, which was probably geared more towards organizations ($$$$). Looks like you can get a LaserLyte target and one caliber specific or universal laser for not much over $200 on Google Shopping.
Even though it appears to be built cheaper, it doesn't have to be as rugged as some of the previously offered stuff. Only other unit I've paid much attention to is Beamhit, and it's a LOT higher in price!

The hit pattern storage and reset of the LaserLyte does look interesting, rather than just recording hits?

Beamhit @ Magill's

Newer/fancier Beamhit?

Beamhit may be the model and not the company-I'm having little luck trying to find a home page for Beamhit. I also get hits for L3 Communications (EOTech) for Beamhit systems, but now we're probably talking really pricey, military style stuff, although I didn't go through every system on their site.

 

[Deaf Smith]

Interesting comments on the airsofts. How similar are they to firing a real gun?

So if I go with a laser trainer than it sounds like Laserlyte is the only one with some reputation around here.

Wapato,

The Airsoft I got was the same size and shape as a Glock 26, my carry gun. Fits same holsters to.

That allows me to draw and hipshoot at will and since it has the same pointing characteristics as the 26, then the 'feel' transfers. So on the range with my AACK .22 unit that I fit on the 26 that allows me alot of practice. A real lot!

And I can do all this left or right handed. I also have an all metal Glock 26 (aluminium, used to make holsters) and that allows me to do all kinds of fast under t-shirt draws (again either hand) and get gun handing skills I could never do on any range.) If I goof up a draw and drop the gun, the aluminium one, well no biggie, right?

Deaf