Virtual Shot - Pistol

  Virtual Shot has come out with their multi platform dry fire mount. I previously reviewed the original mount and app here: Virtual Shot Review. So I won’t be covering much on the APP or rifle parts of it. The new Virtual Shot mount has pistol and scope style mounting platforms that give it even more usability. I’m mainly going to focus on the pistol mount.

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  The Virtual Shot shot mount has been upgraded from the original. The mount now has a stouter mounting stem. This stem is the base part in which you can mount the picatinny, pistol, or scope adapters to. When I say stouter, the mounts are now more robust than the original. The stem is also where you mount your phone. The actual phone mounting is way better than the original. It also accepts larger phone sizes. This new phone clamp also holds the phone better than the original Virtual Shot mount. The mount also uses thumb screws to adjust everything. All of this makes a better mounting system for your dry fire practice.

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   To change the mounts, Virtual Shot includes a screwdriver and some other parts. Essentially you unscrew that stem system and install whichever mount you want to use. The picatinny adapter is used for both the pistol and AR style mount. It just gets flipped over and mounted differently. For the pistol, there is also an angle mount that extends the phone mount past your muzzle, and then hooks to your pistol's front rail. If using it on a rifle scope, the new ring style scope mount is used to install on the ocular eyepiece of your scope. This sets the phone in front of your scope, so you can use the Virtual Shot system just like you would your normal scope, well kind of. It is still slightly different from shooting in real life, but nothing major.

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  Now it’s time to get into the pistol mount and what it does. Since the Virtual Shot is a system, of course you have to mount it to a pistol. The app asks all kinds of questions to make sure everything is unloaded and safe. I used the pistol mount on a Lone Wolf framed pistol, so a Glockish style handgun. Part of the reason I did this is because I used a TTrigger dry fire magazine. The TTrigger mag is currently only made for Glock style pistols. The TTrigger mag allows for the trigger to reset continually on the pistol it is installed on. The TTrigger mag also makes a clicking sound every time the trigger is pressed, think dog clicker trainer. Your phone picks up the clicking sound, so the Virtual Shot app knows you're firing a shot. If you are using other pistol platforms, a DryFire magazine does the same thing. Now, the Virtual Shot app did have a few problems always picking up the sound. Did it cause problems? Not really, because most of the time you can just re-pull the trigger. It did make the “Pistol Competition” harder for me since it had moving targets. Virtual Shot recommends the DryFire mag, so it may work better with the app then the TTrigger mag. If you happen to have an airsoft or pellet pistol that uses some sort of propellant, the mount will also work with those, unloaded of course. Virtual Shot includes a blast diverter to divert that muzzle blast gas away from your phone. Overall I was happy with how the TTrigger mag worked with the Virtual Shot system. After all, it’s way better than just old school dry fire.

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  There are some new items in the app. Most of these apply to the new pistol stuff. There are pistol training videos and competitions. All the other aspects of the app will now allow you to use the pistol. As one can expect, the training videos are just exactly what they say, training videos. The Competition section is pretty cool. Every month Virtual Shot has some sort of competition in this section. Sometimes it’s rifle, sometimes it’s pistol, you get the idea. But what is cool about this section, is that you play for actual prizes! You compete with other people using the app. I did get 2nd or 3rd once with the pistol. Since I received the Virtual Shot stuff for free, I didn’t feel right getting a prize, I think I may have talked them out of it. I will mention that it took me forever to get the score I got. But don’t fret, it takes your highest score no matter how many times you try. It really is pretty cool testing your skills against other people from around the world.

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  When using the pistol in the Virtual Shot app, there are different sight options. These different sighting options haven’t changed, but some of them are more rifle’ish. There is still a red dot, circle dot, crosshair, AR style front sight, etc. All of these can be sized up or down. I tended to use the circle dot or just plain red dot. You can also move them around the screen. This movement allows you to line the sighting system up with your sights. If you are using an actual red dot, just line the apps dot up inside your dot, as you are looking through it. I used an iron sighted pistol. So I lined the red dot, in the app, up with my sights, then turned it to super small. This allowed me to use the iron sights. I will say that I quickly went to the circle dot and used it instead of my pistol's iron sights. It would be nice if they had a pistol front sight, similar to the AR one, to use in the app. But, the way I did it worked fine. 

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  The new mounting systems from Virtual Shot is far better than the original one. Yes, the app still has all the great features it previously did in my original review. The new “play with friends” and “competitions” are the only real new app features, and they are pretty neat. Having the ability to play the “mini games” and “challenges” with a pistol brings a whole new aspect to the Virtual Shot system. If you are looking for something different to help you with your dry fire practice, look into the Virtual Shot system.

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Firearms Insider Reviews - 8 Key Points

Claim to Fame:

Dry fire training aid

Target Market:

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Those who want a unique dry fire experience 

FNBs (Features & Benefits of this product):

• New mounting system for phone

• Pistol mount option

• Scope mount option

• Effective bullet drop and wind drift

• Customizable ranges

• 100+ shooting levels

• Mini games

• Practice ranges

• Shooting analytics

• Video Shooting courses

What other aesthetic options or finishes are available?

None

What others are saying?:

Nothing really found on just the pistol portions of the app

Link to other reviews:

TFB review of original Virtual Shot

Price point:

MSRP = $149.00

TTrigger mag as used - $104.99

I need it now! Availability:

Virtual Shot

Our Rating:

Pros:

• Great dry fire training aid

• New mount is nice

• Scope mount ring

• Better picatinny mount

• Pistol mount

• Can be used on airsoft pistols

Cons:

• Doesn’t always pick up clicks from dry fire magazines

• Apps auto reset is a little slow

Score: 7.50 Good

Favorite Link:  Original Virtual Shot Review 

MAG 40 AAR

Written by: Rob S.

I have taken several training classes, during which, MAG 40 was a topic of discussion.  The Massad Ayoob Group (https://massadayoobgroup.com/) hosts the MAG 40 class, and although I have heard of Mas, I had not entertained taking his class.  Based on Feedback from other students, I decided to take the October class.  

When you register, in addition to the application, you are required to submit proof of a clean criminal history.  This can be done by attaching a copy of your Concealed Carry permit, Law enforcement credential, or FBI records check.  This was a first for me as other instructors only asked for my demographic information and payment. This additional step is designed to ensure students are trustworthy and reliable members of society.  I was then sent an email with a map of the area, recommended hotels, and items to bring to the class.

The course is divided between 20 hours classroom and 20 hours range.  It was held over 4 days from Wednesday through Saturday. The posted 10 hour days seemed long but we were told that this allows for students to attend the class and minimize the time you have to take off work to travel to and from the class.  

NOTE - If you take the MAG 20 Class or MAG 20 Range you are getting the same information; MAG 40 is both MAG 20 classes at one time.

We started with the Class at 8:00 on Wednesday with registration, introductions and right into the lecture.  The class lecture is a series of recorded videos by Mass, primarily from 2013. This is important as the lectures videos, tests and notes are discoverable evidence and can be presented in court.  This is helpful in educating the jury on self defense laws. Mas made a point that while a witness can be cross examined, it is hard to do so with a video. He introduces each video and answers questions afterwards.  Be prepared as most days were longer than 10 hours. During this class I took so many notes I had to purchase a second notebook and then filled that one!

The video lectures will cover:

• Ability, Opportunity & Jeopardy

• Color codes of awareness and the OODA Loop

• Standards of Proof

• Tueller Drill

• Affirmative Defense

• Court cases

• How to document training so it can be used in court.

• Selection of counsel

There is a ‘proprietary’ lecture section which Mass requested we keep it confidential.  I will honour that request but can say that the information provided was that which I have not heard from other instructors.

Once we have the range safety briefing in the classroom we head out to the range.  Mas covers the shooting activities in the class prior to heading to the range. The day is divided 5 hours lecture and 5 hours range to balance the week out.  The schedule was modified due to anticipated rain on Saturday. At the range I noticed they had a minimum of 1 (Volunteer) RSO for every two shooters on the line.

Students were divided up into two groups so only half the students are on the line at a time.  The group not shooting is expected to watch the shooting group, load magazines or hydrate (you will be constantly reminded to drink water).  

While some instructors have their favorite shooting method (weaver, Isosceles, Chapman etc.) Mass makes it clear he does not care which one you use, try them all and use the one which works best for you. You will shoot from all three positions from  standing, crouching and kneeling during class and on the shooting test.  

   They place a STRONG emphasis on safety, maintaining a full time paramedic with trauma kit and AED on the range..  The rules are simple:

Your first range safety violation results in removal from the range for the rest of the day.  

Your second violation results in expulsion.

Conclusion 

While some instructors have flashy internet profiles and can be borderline annoying, not so with Mass, who doesn’t have a Facebook page.  Mass brings a lifetime of knowledge and experience to the class which he presents in a logical, straightforward [no BS] manner.  

This class was more than worth the price of admission and I highly recommend anyone who carries a weapon.

Items I should have brought:

• Extra Notepad(s)

• Pens

• Folding Chair (there is no seating at the range)

• WATER

• Rolling Rock, Extra pale longneck bottles! (for Mass) 

Overall Costs of course

$   700 Course Cost *

$   400 hotel

$   100 meals

$   120 gas and misc travel expenses  

$1,320 TOTAL

Score: 9.50 Amazing

* Herman gave a $100 discount for early registration..

Volquartsen Custom Scorpion .22 LR Pistol Review

Review Picture 4

Written by: Ryan Michaud

The .22 rimfire pistol market is one of variety. From inexpensive plinkers to tricked out, high performance raceguns, I don’t know of a market that offers the discerning consumer more choices in terms of fit, finish & quality. In contrast to a few years ago, .22 rimfire ammunition has started to make a comeback in areas where it was scarce for quite some time, and that has made taking these rimfire pistols back out to the range much more of a possibility. Gone are the days of 99 cent Winchester White boxes of 50 rounds like I remember, but .22 LR still offers good performance and practice options at a far reduced price compared to full size centerfire ammunition. As mentioned before, there are many different tiers of .22 LR pistols. The Volquartsen Custom Scorpion is definitely securely placed in the top-tier of .22 LR handguns; it is a lightweight .22 LR Pistol designed for high performance and is equally at home in the competition arena, or out in the field.

The Volquartsen Custom Scorpion can mount many optics such as this Burris Fastfire

Back in March I did an interview with Scott Volquartsen of Volquartsen Custom about their business. I came away impressed with their commitment to quality as well as to their employees & customers. Scott stated that Volquartsen had worked to make the finest rimfire handguns and rifles for competition and other uses that money could buy. We spoke about potentially having me test a handgun, and after NRA Show 2015, we spoke about what my desires would be if I was contacting Volquartsen to purchase a custom .22 LR handgun. I told Scott that if I were to call and order one, I would want a handgun that could fill a couple roles: competition & handgun hunting. I am a fan of hunting with handguns, and many .22 pistols simply aren’t precise enough for small game hunting. I have also thought about getting involved in rimfire competition, and would want a handgun that could fill dual roles. Scott suggested their Scorpion line, with a 4.5” barrel, the 1911 style VC Target frame, and Fiber optic front sight with the Volquartsen Target rear sight. The handgun would be fitted with all Volquartsen internals and would have an accessory rail on the top if I desired to mount any optics.

The Competition Bolt is coated in a variety of finishes for superior performance.

The Scorpion is a combination of the Lightweight VC Target Frame and the LLV Upper. It comes standard with the Volquartsen Competition Bolt. The Volquartsen Competition Bolt is CNC Machined and ground for superior tolerances, fit and finish. It features the SureStrike Firing Pin and the Exact Edge Extractor to ensure reliable feeding & function. The bolt is also offered with four different coatings, Diamond Like Carbon, Chromium Nitride, Titanium Nitride and Titanium Carbo-Nitride. The example I have here has the Diamond Like Carbon Coating. I can attest to the reliable functioning of the bolt and pistol, as I put a little over 3,000 rounds of various brands of .22 rimfire cartridges through the pistol in about a months time with not a single malfunction. This was with extremely minimal lubrication and almost no cleaning aside from wiping the bolt with a soft cloth.

The VC Target Frame and LLV Upper combine to make the Volquartsen Scorpion

The VC Target Frame is manufactured by Volquartsen, and is offered with a MKIII style grip angle or a 1911 style grip angle. The example I have is the 1911 style frame. It is CNC-machined from aluminum alloy and with a 6oz base weight, is very light and handy. You can get the frame in a variety of finishes & colors, with the Black, red, blue and OD green frames being Type III hard anodized and the Silver frames being NiB coated. The VC frame is fitted with all Volquartsen internals, including the Accurizing Kit with Extended bolt release, CNC Machined Target Trigger, Wire EDM Cut Target Hammer and target sear. It also sports a CNC machined disconnector, extended safety and in the MKIII models, a spring-loaded magazine ejector for positive ejection of spent magazines. Volquartsen has eliminated the magazine disconnect from this frame as well. Their trigger is outstanding, with minimal take-up and an adjustable overtravel stop. The manual lists the trigger pull weight at 2.25 lbs and I found this to be true, with the average over 10 trigger pulls reading between 2.25 and 2.3 on my Lyman trigger pull gauge. I cannot say enough good things about the trigger on this pistol.

The Volquartsen Target Rear with Fiber Optic Front presents a fantastic sight picture

The LLV Barreled receiver/upper is hard anodized & CNC machined. The receiver and barrel shroud are precision machined as one piece from aluminum alloy. An integral picatinny rail is machined into the top of the receiver for easy mounting of any of the optical sights available on the market today. It is fitted with a precision stainless steel barrel that is machine-honed and lapped and is available in either 4.5” or 6” lengths. The standard configuration LLV comes with 1/2 x 28 muzzle threads with either a thread protector, or with their LLV compensator.

The LLV Compensator mates perfectly with the LLV upper and tames the mild .22 LR recoil to almost nothing.

  My example has the LLV Compensator which functions very well and tames the already mild recoil of the .22 Rimfire down to almost nothing. The pistol runs well with a suppressor too, as you can see in the video. You can also choose any number of sight options, such as Hi-Viz front and Tritium rear, Hi Viz Front and Target rear, or Volquartsen Target sights. You can also opt to not have sights installed and simply use electronic optics.

Grip options for the VC Target Frame include Volthane Target Grips or Laminated Wood Target grips for the MKIII style grip angle, and Aluminum Grips or the Hogue Monogrip for the 1911 Style Grip angle. My example sports the Hogue Monogrips. They were very comfortable and made the gun easy to handle, especially after many hundreds of rounds downrange in a single session. This whole package comes in at under 2 lbs.

Multiple brands & types of ammo were used in the evalutation

At the range, I found the Scorpion to be incredibly accurate and fast. From close-up shooting on multiple steel targets as fast as possible, to 45, 55 and even 60 yard shots on an 8” steel plate, the Volquartsen Scorpion delivered. I fired many different brands & loads through the Scorpion over the test period, and the pistol functioned flawlessly with every single one. I used CCI Mini-Mag .22 LR hollowpoint 36 grain, Winchester Super X .22 LR round nose 40 grain & Aguila .22 Pistol Match 40 grain LRN. Also mixed in there were some Winchester 40 grain Dynapoints during the suppressed fire. At about 25 yards, the CCI Mini Mags were the most accurate for me, with groups of 0.58” being common.

It seems my particular sample really likes the lighter weight 36 grain bullet of the Mini-Mag. The rest of the ammunition didn’t shoot as tight groups for me, but all were well under an inch from a rest at between 25-30 yards. I had the most fun doing rapid fire steel drills on multiple 8” steel plates from 15 yards. It is REALLY fun to run this pistol fast.

Groups like this one (minus those two flyers from a previous group; the sticky fell off) were commonplace with the Volquartsen Scorpion at 25 yards

The Volquartsen Custom Scorpion is really an outstanding .22 pistol. The combination of high quality features really make for a handgun that is a cut above the rest in the rimfire pistol world. When I spoke with the folks at Volquartsen, I said that I would want a pistol that would be equally at home out in the field hunting small game as it would be in the competition arena. This pistol really delivers. It is eminently customizable to fit your needs, and  you can tell the people at Volquartsen really care about the desires of the customer. Every question/request I had was answered in a timely manner and with a high degree of detail and explanation. With a price range between $1,175 and $1,236 depending upon chosen options, it is definitely in the higher range of .22 pistols, but you are getting a high quality, high performance handgun that will definitely last you a lifetime.

Firearms Insider Reviews – 8 Key Points

Claim to Fame: Super High Quality .22 LR Pistol intended for competition or target shooting use.

Target Market: Shooters who need a .22 LR pistol for competition or small game hunting.

FNBs (Features & Benefits of this product):

• High quality internals

• Light weight

• Superb Trigger & Sights

• Optics Mounting Options

• Fantastic Customer Service

• Support a family-run firearms business

What other aesthetic options or finishes are available?

• Black, Red, Blue & OD Green Type III Hard Anodized

• Silver is Nickel Boron (NiB)

• Target Grips

• Aluminum Grips

• Various Options for Compensators

• 1911 style or MK III Style Grip Frame

Price point:

MSRP = Between $1,175 and $1,236 depending upon chosen options. This is a custom pistol.

I need it now! Availability: You can purchase the Volquartsen Custom Scorpion directly from Volquartsen Custom.

Pros:

• Custom built to the user specifications

• Uses high quality components for the internals

• Trigger is AMAZING.

• Coated Competition Bolt almost eliminates the need for lubrication.

• Reliability over 3,000 rounds with almost no cleaning whatsoever is amazing in a .22 rimfire pistol.

• Accuracy is top-notch even at long distance.

• Worked fantastic with a .22 LR suppressor. Very very quiet and accurate. Also, the sights can be used with the suppressor attached.

Cons:

• It is definitely in the upper end price range for .22 LR pistols. However, this isn’t really a “con” as it IS a high quality custom .22 LR pistol intended for the highest levels of rimfire competition.

95

Our Rating: 9.5 AMAZING!

Visit Volquartsen Custom for more information and to place an order!

Visit Ryan Michad over at Handgun Radio and the Handgun Radio Facebook Page

LaserLyte Trainer 22 LT-LR Review

Training with a 22 caliber pistol or rifle used to be the cheapest way to shoot all day, but these days with ammo availability thats no longer the rule of thumb. While some turn to dry fire practice in the comfort of their own home, there's a limit to knowing precisely if your shots are breaking true at your intended target reference point.

Laser products help achieve precisely that, giving the shooter instantaneous feedback as to where that hypothetical bullet would have gone in relation to your sight picture and trigger press. LaserLyte has produced a number of different caliber laser product that interface directly with your own gun so that you can train with the same controls, weight, and familiarity of your own firearm. The Trainer 22 LT-LR was recently release and is uniquely universal to 22 caliber firearms. Be it 22 lr, 22 short, 22 long, 223 Rem, 22-250 or any other cartridge in the 22 caliber family, the LaserLyte Trainer 22 LT-LR simple installs through the muzzle and into barrels with a minimum length of 1.875" inches. There is a small black plastic arbor on the end of the Trainer that expands when an even smaller screw is tightened, which lets the use firmly install in a barrel with enough friction to prevent it from falling out due to gravity.

I found that for use in a pistol, double action is best to have. That way you don't have to rack the slide and reset the trigger each time, you can just keep pulling that bang switch while pumping up your finger strength in the process.  For my T&E I used a Ruger SR-22, but a revolver or other semi auto with a hammer should work well too. The width of the trainer at its fattest point is about 3/4 of an inch, so depending on your gun of choice it may or may not be wider than the muzzle, thusly interfering with the holstering of the firearm.

The T&E model I received worked during the first day of experimenting but a week or so later when conducting the official review the laser seemed to have some problems. The activation became inconsistent, and then non existent altogether. I did replace the 1x1632 coin battery and it functioned consistently once again, however the brightness of the laser was not enough to activate some LaserLyte Laser Plinking Cans I was testing for another review. I used a different manufacturer's laser boresight to verify the targets functioned properly and that the Trainer was the issue. This is reflected in my rating, which will be updated when the manufacturer gets back to us.

Being 22 caliber, the manufacturer claims it is compatible with multiple 22 caliber platforms, but not specifically any type of model. I found that while it will mount in the barrel of a Ruger MKIII 22lr pistol, a 223 Rem AR-15 Carbine, and a 22-250 bolt action rifle, it will not necessarily activate upon dry firing. The sound and concussion from the trigger/sear/hammer is what makes the laser activate, and the potency of that effect really varies in every firearm. I do believe that longer barrels are a contributor in dampening the sound from reaching the Trainer. Racking the bolt, charging handle, and slide would set off the laser but the dry fire of the trigger in most cases would not. Based on my experience using the firearms I had access to, I would say this product is ideally meant to work best in pistols, even more so in revolvers because the solidarity of the frame would allow the transfer of energy from the hammer to the Trainer most efficiently.

From a design and operation standpoint, the on/off of the Trainer is very minimalistic. You just unscrew slightly to cut the battery off from completing the circuit. This isn't ideal, especially when the exterior of the Trainer has no texture, so big fumbly fingers like mine had difficulty unscrewing the two halves especially if overtightened during use. I had to be extra conscious not to overtighten the Trainer.

Overall I would say that malfunctions aside, this training aid is very useful for dry fire practice indoors, especially when used in combination with a laser compatible electronic target system, like the LaserLyte Reaction Tyme Target (see FI review).

Firearms Insider Reviews - 8 Key Points

Claim to Fame: Simply the easiest way to train without ammo for any of your 22 rimfire pistols.

Target Market: Gun Owners who want to add laser functionality to their dry fire practice, safely and indoors.

FNBs (Features & Benefits of this product)

• Compatible with: 22LR, 22WMR, 22 Short, 22 Long, .223 REM with at least a 1.875" barrel
• Length: 3.0 inches
• Diameter: .20" Min./ .76 inch Max
• Battery Life: 10,000 shots
• Batteries: 1 x 1632 Lithium
• Activation: Sound of striker or hammer

What other aesthetic options or finishes are available?:  none

What others are saying?:

Price Point:

• MSRP: $120.95
• Retail: $109.99

I need it now! Availability: Readily available at Brownells.com or Amazon.com

Our Rating: UPDATE +-Easy to operate +-Short enough to fit most pocket pistols or snubnose revolvers +-Battery life is high, batteries are hard to find + Tested and confirmed functional in Ruger MKIII Pistol, Ruger SR22 Pistol, Ruger 10/22 rifle, AR15, and Savage 22-250 rifle + Customer Service was very responsive in replacing first malfunctioning laser Trainer with a correctly working model

• No knurling to assist with unscrewing, which is the only way to preserve batter life.  Overtighten= Bad Time

Score: 8.5 Great* *Score increased after initial defective model was replaced and reevalutated

LaserLyte Laser Plinking Cans Review

Plinking cans has been the quintessential method of target practice since the dawn of the first firearms. Cowboys would shoot empty bean cans out on the range to hone their skill. Heck, even today there's still something so iconic about setting up empty cans, taking 10 paces, and then trying to knock them down with the speed and accuracy like that of the legends of the Wild West.

With modern ammo prices and range fees, plinkin' ain't cheap! That's why this product from LaserLyte is so exciting. With the Laser Plinking Cans, you can literally plink all day long indoors til your heart's content, without blowing through costly ammo, picking up brass, or putting on pants for that matter!

The Laserlyte Laser Plinking Cans are small, like a classic can of V8. They have a solonoid wired to a receiver, so when the target area gets hit with a laser, a plunger is extended out the bottom about half and inch which will topple the device over. After you knock down all targets, simply push the plungers back in and set them back up. It's easy to see with just the first time knocking one over how fun it is, it rushes over you and puts a smirk on your face.

In testing the Laser Plinking Cans, I found that the receptors are sensitive to more than just a laser. The wrong indoor lighting and even natural light from outdoors will set the can off, resulting in an auditory CLICK, CLICK, CLICK, CLICK of the solonoid tripping until you either switch the unit off, or cover the target from light and move it to a darker location. Reading other reviews online I see more users have had the same difficulty. It's an unfortunate flaw of oversensitivity that really detracts from the enjoyment of using them, as you try different corners of the room or switching off lamps and lights desperately trying to keep the cans from "prematurely plinking" themselves. Not to mention that the cans themselves are dark colored, so you may find using these as a low-light scenario training aid more difficult, but a roll of flourescent paper with a hole cut out would be an easy remedy to help put these cans in your sight picture when in a dark room.

Another issue I had is that the set does not come with a laser device. You must buy separately a laser training product (preferably LaserLyte) in order to use these cans effectively by dry firing. For the price tag of over $100 dollars and the seemingly simple design / manufacture of these cans, I would assume including one of their training guns would have been feasible for around the same price point. If you already own an actual gun that you'd like to practice with, you can buy a laser cartridge for it.  The only hangup being if its not a double action firearm, you will have to rack the slide each time, resetting the trigger in between engaging the cans.

Overall, these are a novelty BUT a very enjoyable niche target that will offer safe practice indoors. New or unexperienced shooters should really enjoy using these, especially with a plastic blue gun with a laser trainer installed as it takes some of the intimidation factor out of the equation while still being able to practice the laws of gun safety and the fundamentals of proper shooting technique. As easy as these plinking cans will become a party game to some, it can still be a vital training aid used to teach new shooters or help experienced shooters perform better.

Firearms Insider Reviews - 8 Key Points

Claim to Fame: The LaserLyte® Laser Plinking Can Set provides hours of training and entertainment indoors or outdoors without the cost of ammunition or the time spent cleaning up.

Target Market: Both new and experienced shooters with existing Laserlyte products who wish to practice with reactive targets indoors.

FNBs (Features & Benefits of this product)

• Weight: 4.25 ounces/.12 kg
• Length: 3.82 inch/9.7 cm
• Diameter: 2.00 inch/5.1 cm
• Battery: 9V       
• Battery Life: 8,000 Tip Overs

What other aesthetic options or finishes are available?:  none

What others are saying?: “The LaserLyte worked as they advertised. The laser light had to be in a room with ambient light no direct sunlight or any direct light that could hit the can sensor. The pop out plunger would activate continuously. If I try to use the laser light outside it had to be at dusk no sunlight even in the shadows the ambient sunlight with activate the sensor on the can. The laser light would work well in a room that had no light but the outside ambient light through a window with covering or In a garage with soft-light. It did work outside but with very low light, there was no problem using a laser out to 25 yards to activate the sensor on the laser light. I would recommend this product, but be advise to the buyer you will have limitations to the use of this product." Amazon Review

Price Point:

• MSRP: $115.95
• Retail: $94.99

I need it now! Availability: Readily available at Brownells.com or Amazon.com

Our Rating: + Cans are easy to operate / install battery K +-Provides new shooters a safe atmosphere to practice + Gives experienced shooters a fun training aid - Very sensitive to ambient light, can be frustrating to find an adequate place they will work - Can itself is black with dark red graphics and target area is murky red color and hard to adequately see in low light were laser performs best - Would like to see training pistol (blue gun) included

Score: 7.0 Good

Radetec Ammocontrol Digital Counter for an AR 15

The Radetec Ammocontrol Digital Counter is an interesting piece of gun gear.  At first I was like, "are you telling me that people can't count and figure out how many shots they have fired or have left available?"  But then I realized that I was coming from the mindset of taking practice shots at the range.  So I thought about it some more and realized that this piece of gear does have some niche uses.  The one that stands out most in my mind is magazine changes.  If you are training for tactical situations, the timing of changing out your magazines could be critical.  The Radetec Ammocontrol Digital Counter will assist you in figuring out the best times and or situations to change out those magazines.  On top of all that, the counter is light weight and super easy to install.  Overall, this a real nice piece of training equipment.

By Glenn Girone

Firearms Insider Reviews - 8 Key Points

Claim to Fame: Digitally track how man shots were fired or are remaining.

Target Market: From tactical trainers to every day shooters.

FNB's: (features and benefits of this product)

• Displays exact # of rounds left inside the magazine either by digital screen or by manual activation button
• Displays exact # of shot fired on the digital screen
• Polymer construction - highly shock and temperature resistant
• Auto dim feature for low light situations
• Light weight
• Uses 1 CR2016/CR2032 battery

What other aesthetic options or finishes are available?:  Currently, Radetec only offers this product in black.

What others are saying:  From great to horrible, the reviews are mixed.  Check out the link and review below.

• The Truth About Guns

Price Point:

• MSRP - $225.00
• Retail - $149.00

I need it now!  Availability:  You can readily find this available at Radetec or Amazon.

Our Rating:

+-Not obtrusive +-Easy attachment +-Great for teaching fundamentals and timing of reloading

--Expensive

Score: 7.0 Good

LaserLyte Reaction Tyme Kit Review

The Laserlyte Reaction Tyme Kit is a laser training system that consists of a Universal Pistol Laser Trainer, a Trigger Tyme Compact Training Pistol, and a Reaction Tyme Target. Universal Pistol Laser Trainer:

The Universal Pistol Laser Trainer is a laser unit that fits slips into the bore of any pistol, from 9mm to .45 cal. This is accomplished by an arbor that screws into the rear of the unit, which expands as you tighten the screw. The front end of the unit is tapered, to keep the laser centered in each caliber. Once installed, the laser will activate whenever the striker or hammer of the pistol falls. It runs on three tiny 377 tablet batteries. The unit comes with three pre-installed and three more for replacement. There is a small plastic disk to keep the batteries separated from the circuit during storage and shipping. Make sure it’s removed before use, or it will not work. The way the laser is activated is that the unit is “listening” for the striker/hammer fall. This means that, if the circuit is complete, during storage, the batteries will run down very quickly. The laser is easily seen indoors, but I believe Laserlyte should offer a green option, for outdoor use. That would allow you to get out to longer ranges, while still having the benefit of not having to spend money on ammo. The manual says that the unit requires at least a two inch barrel, and I confirmed that it would not fit in the standard 1.875" J-frame barrel, without impeding the cylinder rotation. Laserlyte has incorporated a plug that goes on the end of the battery cap that you can flip over and stick it into the battery compartment. This disconnects the circuit, while also keeping everything together. This system could be done a little better, because it is just a rubber plug that can be knocked out, if it’s bouncing around in a bag, or something. I would prefer a threaded cap, to keep it all together.

In my traditionally rifled barrel, the arbor slipped right in when tightened properly. In my Glock, with polygonal rifling, the arbor would grab the rifling, and tighten itself, causing it to flare out even more and get stuck, before it is fully seated. This is easily overcome by making the arbor loose enough to where it just barely engages the rifling, but will tighten up as it is inserted. The laser unit will fit into the bore of a .380, but it was very tight in my Kahr CW 380, so it had to be loosened.

When I first got my kit, the laser unit was faulty. It would activate properly, but it was very dim. I contacted Laserlyte’s customer service, and got a response within an hour. The representative sent me out a new laser, along with a return sticker for the faulty one. She was even kind enough to throw in a 12 pack of replacement batteries. This was about as good of a customer service experience you could get.

Trigger Tyme Compact Training Pistol:

The Trigger Tyme Compact Training Pistol is a completely inert training pistol with a resetting trigger, which means that you don’t have to do any additional actions between each trigger pull. It has a bore that will accept the Universal Laser Trainer. The resetting trigger makes an audible “Click” that is picked up by the laser and activates it. I do not have a trigger pull gauge, so I was not able to actually test it, but it feels a few pounds heavier than my Glock stock trigger. The pistol has basic, black sights on it. They are very similar to the basic Glock sights, just without the white dot and box. The Laserlyte website states that the dimensions are very similar to the Springfield XD-S. The grip is very slim and short. The rear beavertail of the grip has relatively sharp corners, so it can be rather uncomfortable to train with. I decided to file and round the corners to make it a little easier on the web of my hand.

When I ordered this kit, I did not realize that it came with the compact version of their pistol, so once I tried the compact one out, I ordered their full-size, which is very similar in dimensions to the Glock 19/23. It has the same sight and trigger. It will fit in my Concealment Solutions hybrid holster, but not in the Serpa holster, because the “slide” is a little thicker. The beavertail is not sharp, like the compact version, which is very good, as it’s actually comfortable to use. I would also like some type of false magazine that stores the laser with the pistol, when not in use.

Reaction Tyme Target:

The Reaction Tyme Target is an electronic, reactive target that is designed to be used with Laserlyte’s laser trainers. The target area is about three inches square. It has two different modes: Reaction and Normal. The Reaction mode will light the entire target red. You then have a couple of seconds to react, and shoot it, before it turns off. If you successfully hit the target, in the allotted time, it will blink and beep twice, letting you know you hit. The target will continue to light up red at random intervals of three to five seconds, until you switch the target off. In the Normal mode, the target stays unlit, until you hit it with the laser. Each time you hit it, it will light and blink, letting you know you’ve hit the target.

The target runs off of a three AAA batteries. It seems to be very sturdy. It also has a hole in the back, so you can hang it on a screw or nail.

The Reaction Tyme Kit, as a whole, is a very good training aid. I would prefer the option to order it with the Compact or Full-Size pistol. It would also be nice to have a second target included, so you could practice transitioning between each target, but they are offered for sale separately.

If you are in need of a laser training system, this is a very good option. You may even be able to call or email Laserlyte to get them to sell it to you with the full-size pistol. You could buy each component separately, but you save about $60 by buying the kit. I would recommend this kit to any shooter wishing to get some inexpensive trigger time in.

Firearms Insider Reviews - 8 Key Points

Claim to Fame: “One-stop system of entry level laser training” - Laserlyte

Target Market: Pistol shooters looking for a safe, laser training option

FNBs (Features & Benefits of this product):

• Universal laser unit
• 9mm - .45 cal
• Pistol is “Training” blue
• Red laser
• Reactive target

What other aesthetic options or finishes are available?: All of the items are only available in one color: blue pistol and red laser unit.

What others are saying?: “By practicing with a device that replicates DAO triggers in-general you are gaining/polishing trigger skills that are universal to all pistols with DAO triggers.” – Eric, AmmoLand

Price Point:

• MSRP = $219.95
• Retail = $149.99

I need it now! Availability: You can get the Laserlyte Reaction Tyme Kit at Brownells and Amazon.

Our Rating:

+-Resetting trigger +-Universal Laser +-Reactive target +-Great customer service +-Full-size pistol fits well in my hand

--Compact pistol is a little uncomfortable --No storage compartment for the laser --Laser battery plug is prone coming out, when not in use --Laser should be offered in green, for outdoors use

Score: 8.0

Laser Ammo - LaserPET Electronic Target

Laser Ammo - LaserPET Electronic Target This is a great way to practice at home without shooting up your house. It’s pretty simple to use and comes with instructions(who uses them?) Shooting it with the Laser Ammo Sure Strike provides instant feedback if you hit it. It has three modes, all which can be used to improve your overall shooting. Using the hit counter mode you can work on your trigger control and it keeps track of your hits. The shot timer mode is for working on your quick draw/first shot from the holster. Lastly is the magazine change mode in which, you guessed it, you practice fast mag changes. One thing I found this extremely useful for is teaching new shooters proper technique in a safe environment. I’m sure you’re as at home on the range as I am but a new shooter may be more comfortable learning to “shoot” in the safety and comfort of their own house, away from other shooters. Most of all you don’t have to worry about be shot by an overly excited person waving the gun around because “They hit the target!!!” even though I still yell if I get swept by the muzzle. The only issue I had with the timer is that I tossed it on my bed with the tripod attached and folded underneath and it broke it open like a clam shell. It was a nightmare and a half to get it back together with how the buttons fit in it. After I got it back together I threw some super glue on it and it’s been good ever since. Granted, if I had removed the tripod I probably never would have taken it apart. Hopefully you guys will learn from my mistake. Firearms Insider Reviews - 8 Key Points Claim to Fame: Improves drawing, target acquisition, and trigger squeeze.

Target Market: Home defenders, police, military

FNBs (Features & Benefits of this product):

• 1.8x1.8" laser sensor
• Bright numeric LED display
• Buzzer
• Changeable target cards to modify target area size and shape.
• Tripod and wall mounts
• AAA Battery operated
• Operational Mode: Hit counter - this setting will count the shooter's consecutive hits
• Operational Mode: Shot timer / Fast draw - this timer will show the accurate time from buzzer to hit
• Operational Mode: Magazine change - this mode will time the shooter as if they were changing a magazine and subsequently count how many times the shooter can hit the target within 5 seconds
• Built in timer
• Input for external sensor

What other aesthetic options or finishes are available?: It’s only available in one form, regular.

What others are saying?: “...improved my trigger control and accuracy 150%”- amazon.com “Works with LASERLYTE Trainer Pistol Universal.” - midwayusa.com

Price point:  MSRP = $119.95 laser-ammo.com Retail = $112.75 amazon.com

I need it now! Availability: Check your local gun shop or anywhere that has gun stuff. Or if you live by me, I’ll let you borrow it.

Our Rating: + 3 operational modes. + Multiple target inserts. + Standard tripod mount and wall mount. + Collapsible tripod. - Broke when I tossed it on my bed. - Hard to put back together if opened.

Score: 8.5

Smart Firearms SF3

By Steve Remy

One of the most dangerous things new and experienced shooters do, is draw their handgun from a holster and fire it at a target in a quick fashion.  Websites like YouTube are full of videos of beginners and experts shooting themselves during the holster draw and/or return process.  No matter how many times someone hears, “leave your finger off the trigger until ready to shoot”, it always seems to happen.  It's nearly impossible to critique yourself during the holstering process to be sure it never happens.  In the same fashion, unless someone is given the opportunity to train in a one-on-one environment, it is nearly impossible for an instructor to catch incidents of fingers being placed on the trigger before someone is ready to fire.

In walks the Smart Firearms SF3 training firearm.  The SF3 is a training device that gives near-immediate feedback to users who place their trigger finger on the trigger before they are ready to shoot.  When a user places their finger within the trigger guard and doesn't pull the trigger to shoot within about 3/4 of a second, the SF3 sounds a fairly loud alarm to notify the user and any instructors in the area that a violation has occurred.  The SF3 is also smart enough to wait a few fractions of a second before sounding an alarm.  This allows users to pull the trigger and “engage” their target without the alarm sounding.  When the user pulls the trigger, a “bang” sound is emitted from the device.  As with a real handgun, users are given two options of what to do when they draw their weapons: 1. Keep their finger indexed on the frame of the handgun, or 2. place their finger on the trigger and pull it to simulate firing the handgun.

 The SF3 mimics the shape and weight of a loaded Glock and fits holsters designed for the same.  I first tested the SF3 in a Safariland duty holster and the SF3 performed as designed.  I then tested the SF3 in a Galco leather concealed carry-type holster designed for concealment.  Within this holster the SF3 alarmed as if something within the holster was tripping the trigger guard sensor.  I retested the SF3 in a kydex concealment holster as well and it had the same problem alarming itself within the holster.  I attribute the false alarms to either an overly sensitive sensor, or the sensor design itself.  With the current design, even the slightest encroachment of anything (i.e. clothing, holster etc.) into the trigger guard seems to set it off.

 Overall I really like the concept of the SF3 as a training device for firearms instructors and law enforcement trainers to use in their classes.  Given the problems I had with the sensor, holster selection for the SF3 is likely key to make it operate as designed.  I’d like to see a redesign of the sensor in which it only alarms when something passes the midway point within the trigger guard, which would reduce incidents of accidental alarms.  I’d also like to see a removable magazine and a slide capable of manipulation so users could practice reloading drills too.  In addition to this, as nitpicky as it may sounds, I’d also like to see a more realistic trigger pull and trigger reset.  This may seem minor, but the more realistic a training tool performs, the more likely users are to fall back on their training with the device.  Another neat feature built into the device is the ability to turn off the sensor and use the gun strictly for dry fire practice. This is yet another reason why a more realistic trigger pull and reset is important.

 UPDATE: I spoke with the president of Smart Firearms (Mike Farrell) regarding the issues I had with the sensitivity of the sensor in concealment holsters.  Mike was extremely open and honest regarding the challenges they face with concealable holsters and their SF3.  Mike stated their target market at the present time was uniformed law enforcement officers and their training departments.  Typically these officers use holsters that have internal parts which don’t encroach within the trigger guard for retention.  This is why the sensor is designed the way it is.  There seems to be a compromise between sensor sensitivity and accurate performance.  Mike mentioned a multitude of variables that can affect the sensor from finger size to skin tone.  There is a fine line between dialing down sensitivity to reduce alarms in concealment holsters, and dialing it down too much which could miss actual trigger guard intrusions by users.

In the end, Mike admits that concealment holsters don’t work well with the SF3.   Which I can’t fault them for because their target market is presently uniformed law enforcement officers.  He indicated that Smart Firearms was in the process of redesigning certain attributes of the SF3 to make it more compatible with concealment holsters and non-LE users.  I’ll definitely keep my eye out for these redesigns because the potential target market of non-LE shooters has a lot to gain from a device like the SF3.  The training this device can reinforce is too good to limit to the LE community!

 Firearms Insider Reviews - 8 Key Points

Claim to Fame:  A life-like handgun training device that demands safe firearms handling.

Target Market:  Uniformed law enforcement officers.

FNBs (Features & Benefits of this product):

• Durable design that can withstand the vigors of law enforcement training.
• Auditory warning when fingers intrude into the trigger guard without pulling the trigger.
• Ability to pull the trigger to simulate firing and engaging threats.

What other aesthetic options or finishes are available?:      Yellow

What others are saying?:  “The SF3 takes the training gun concept to a new level”  SinistralRifleman

Price point:

• MSRP = $349
• Retail = $349

I need it now! Availability:  Readily available online  at Smart Firearms.

Our Rating:

+ Sensor accurately picks up trigger guard intrusions. + User ability to engage targets by pulling the trigger without being “penalized” by an alarm. + Rugged design and bright training firearm color. + Dry fire mode availability. + Responsiveness of company representatives to product concerns.

-  Unrealistic trigger pull weight and reset. -  No removable magazine. -  Slide is unable to be manipulated. -  Although not their target market, incompatibility to concealment holsters is a little bit of a disappointment.

Score 8.0 (Great)

Steve’s links:

steve@firearmsradio.tv

Firearms Radio Network