My current arrangement remains a bit experimental, but I've been fooling around with laser/IR based training stuff since Daisy came out with their buggy Quick Skill system the 1980s.
The setup above uses a firing pin activated cartridge that momentarily projects a visible red dot, plus an electronic target to register hits. I prefer the visible laser over versions that project an IR dot, since the latter are more difficult to zero. With the visible dot you don't necessarily need a reactive target, as long as you're close enough to see it.
The current version of these laser cartridges go for around $20, and if you want a reactive target add another $20-25.
Quick single snap shots with a hammer-fired auto pistol may have some training relevance, but otherwise this has been more of a toy for me.
I have a .38 Super barrel for my Handi Rifle that can use a 9x19 cartridge, but I've found the intensity of these cartridges is too short-ranged (around 12-15 ft.) for useful rifle practice with my reactive targets.
There are other variations on this basic theme that work with smart phones, which may offer more desirable features. Personally I like dumb phones. Also if you have cats and they happen to spot the momentary dot, things can get interesting.
There are full-blown laser rifle/target systems available for setting up a biathlon course in areas where live ammo poses unacceptable risks or where governments hate on firearms. With much larger power supplies built in, they are useable to 50 meters. They also cost like the dickens -- here are some setups of this sort:
Rifle Classic biathlon rifle is a new mid-range tagger that has been added to the line of 2.0 laser biathlon. It has preserved the weight and dimensio
laserwar.com
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