Laser Ammo Training Technologies has developed a dry fire training system that will benefit shooters at all levels. Instructing new shooters many times present common troubles. Some of the most prevalent shooting errors seem to be recoil anticipation (or flinching) and difficulty aligning sights and obtaining an appropriate sight picture.
Using lasers as a training aid during firearms training can be both a benefit and an obstacle. Although the use of lasers can demonstrate to the shooter that they are flinching or that their sight picture and sight alignment is incorrect, it has the drawback of allowing shooters to compensate without correcting the behavior. This adjustment may camouflage the true underlying behavior. As an instructor and a new shooter, one would think that the primary goal is to develop the best habits right from the beginning. No one likes to fail and it can be embarrassing, (this can be especially true for law enforcement officers).
The use of continuously running lasers typically used or firearms training tempt the shooter to cheat and adjust the placement and movement of the laser. In order to adjust however, the shooter must focus downrange. This is exactly what new shooters must avoid. If a firearms instructor does not detect this adjustment, the behavior can quickly turn into a habit. The danger in focusing downrange as opposed to the sights is that the shooter will not learn to trust and develop their fundamental shooting skills. This sort of correction is common with new shooters who shoot at paper targets. It is interesting to ask shooters where they are aiming when they shoot, even if they have a good grouping at center mass. At times shooters will admit that they are aiming somewhere other than center mass to adjust for their bad habits.
The Laser Ammo SureStrike dry fire training system eliminates the problems presented by continuously running lasers. Laser Ammo resembles a cartridge. It contains a battery-powered laser. The ‘laser bullet’ is dropped into the chamber of the firearm. Then a safety pipe (adjustable for long and short barrels) is inserted through the muzzle of the firearm. The safety pipe and the laser ammo are screwed together and maintained in place with an orange safety nut. The safety nut is a visual indicator that the weapon is safe and does not contain live ammunition. The pipe and the safety cap allow the laser to project from the barrel. Once installed, the shooter can release the slide and begin dry fire practice. During dry fire practice, the shooter does not know where the laser is until they pull the trigger. Laser ammo is activated by the firing pin striking the bore-sighting cap. Once fired a laser is projected for a split second. Allowing the shooter and the instructor to quickly observe the end result, while simultaneously preventing the shooter from correcting their actions.
Unfortunately dry fire practice requires the shooter to charge their firearm after every shot. The shooter loses their grip in order to accomplish this and it prevents the observation of follow-up shots. Follow-up shots tend to reveal the inconsistent management of recoil anticipation.
Laser ammo certainly provides benefits that are worthy of the investment. It is a tool that can be used regardless of the accessibility of a range. The Laser Ammo SureStrike 9mm dry fire training kit is priced at $159. Adapters are available for other calibers, revolvers and shotguns, at reasonable prices (around $8). Replacement parts are also available. The kit is guaranteed for 5,000 shots. The kits can be purchased at www.laser-ammo.com~Sara Ahrens
This product was provided for review by the company.
