Looking for the best way to dry-fire train at home using your own gun?
Training with laser cartridges that fit in your real firearm might be the key.
You get to use your actual trigger and also immediately see where you hit…without having to go to the range or spend money on ammo.
It’s a no-brainer if you’re serious about your trigger pull.
Summary of Our Top Picks
-
-
Runner upCounts your hits, has a shot timer, speed shooting capabilities, but only comes with 1 target.
-
-
High-Tech Dry FiringMantisX Firearm Training System
Device attached to your front rail and gives feedback to your phone via Bluetooth.
Table of Contents
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Best Laser Training Ammo
LaserLyte Cartridges
The best-known laser cartridge comes from LaserLyte. My 9mm cartridge has been chugging past 5,000 dry fires.
Prices accurate at time of writing
Prices accurate at time of writing
And when the back-end rubber “primer” finally wore out from being hit by my striker/firing pin…LaserLyte sent me a replacement for free.
It fits well in all my handguns and the o-rings are solid.
A little pricey at first glance…but think of all the ammo you will save. Say 20 cents a pop for 9mm…I would have spent $1,000 already!
What do you think? Give it a rating below!
Pink Rhino Laser Bullet
Pink Rhino also makes decent laser cartridges that are very similar to the LaserLyte.
Prices accurate at time of writing
Prices accurate at time of writing
It doesn’t fit as well in all my chambers compared to the Laserlyte cartridge, but they are less than half the price.
After 1,000 fires it is still going strong.
Laser Ammo SureStrike
Laser Ammo makes quality stuff. We cover the SureStrike Premium Kit and targets in detail in our full review.
If you have 9mm, .40 S&W, and .45 ACP…this may be the kit for you. The adapters allow you to shoot all three for a price that’s cheaper than getting three separate cartridges.
Prices accurate at time of writing
Prices accurate at time of writing
SIRT
Instead of using just a laser cartridge, the SIRT is a full-sized Glock laser platform.
SIRT is short for Shot Indicating Resetting Trigger. It utilizes two different lasers, one to show where you are aiming during the trigger pull and then a second to show where you are when the trigger breaks.
Prices accurate at time of writing
Prices accurate at time of writing
And as the name implies the trigger automatically resets without needing to rack a slide, which speeds up the training process.
It’s pricey but is a perfect solution when you want an authentic stock trigger without using a real firearm.
Best Laser Targets
Now that we’ve gotten the cartridges out of the way…let’s look at what you can shoot.
And since these work by detecting light from the laser, they might not work in bright areas (turning on my photography lights activated them) or outside.
LaserLyte Steel Tyme
I’m sad that the Reaction Tyme (bulls-eye target above) is no longer being produced. It was the most cost-effective and simplest design but has seemingly been replaced by the Steel Tyme.
Prices accurate at time of writing
Prices accurate at time of writing
Luckily, the Steel Tyme is also pretty good. They are compatible with the LaserLyte cartridges or the standalone LaserLyte training pistols.
When you hit it…you hear a satisfying steel gong sound. They seem to work reliably as well.
Laser Ammo LaserPET II
My favorite for its different modes is the LaserPET II. The only downside is you get one target versus two targets compared to the LaserLytes.
Prices accurate at time of writing
Prices accurate at time of writing
But you get…
- Hit Counter Mode: count and hear your hits
- Shot Timer: see your reaction time from a buzzer until the first hit
- Speed Shooting: how many times you can hit in 5 seconds
- Double-Tap: time between your first shot and second shot
These are great options for those who want extra metrics or a bit more fun and challenge while training.
LaserLyte Quick Tyme
We haven’t got on our hands on one of these to try them, but they look promising.
The LaserLyte Quick Tyme differs from the other LaserLytes in that it shows you exactly where your hits are in addition to having the built-in shot timer.
Prices accurate at time of writing
Prices accurate at time of writing
Other Training Gear
MantisX
This is one of the most high-tech ways to diagnose your shots. The device attaches to your front rail or magazine base and gives feedback to your phone via Bluetooth.
They currently have three models that range in price from $99 to $249, with their middle and top-tier options working for both dry fire and live fire.
After each shot, the MantisX will tell you where you moved, how much you moved, and how to correct it.
Prices accurate at time of writing
Prices accurate at time of writing
Check out our full MantisX Review — spoiler alert, it’s pretty awesome.
We’re also really digging the Mantis Laser Academy — check out our review here!
Snap Caps & Dummy Rounds
These don’t have cool tech in them, but they do keep your guns safe while dry firing. Great for use with the MantisX and other systems or just on their own for malfunction drills.
Not all guns require the use of a dummy round to protect the firing pin, but it’s always a decent idea to have some on hand.
There are a lot of snap caps and dummy rounds on the market, so be sure to take a look at the Best Dummy Rounds & Snap Caps For Dry-Fire Practice!
Final Thoughts
Now you’re ready to up your dry-fire game with some of our favorite laser cartridges and laser targets.
How is your experience using any that we recommended? Any systems that we missed? If you’re looking for more tips…check out How to Shoot a Handgun More Accurately.
FAQ
It’s generally safe to dry fire a modern centerfire pistol. You might want to reconsider or get a dummy round with older or rimfire firearms.
Around 300-400 clicks but always be sure to check the rear for excessive wear before each dry fire session.
Yes, Glock says it’s ok but a snap cap or dummy round is recommended for extensive dry fire training sessions.
The post Best Laser Targets & Ammo for Dry-Fire Training in 2023 appeared first on Pew Pew Tactical.
Looking for the best way to dry-fire train at home using your own gun?
Training with laser cartridges that fit in your real firearm might be the key.
You get to use your actual trigger and also immediately see where you hit…without having to go to the range or spend money on ammo.
It’s a no-brainer if you’re serious about your trigger pull.
Summary of Our Top Picks
-
-
Runner up
Counts your hits, has a shot timer, speed shooting capabilities, but only comes with 1 target.
-
-
High-Tech Dry Firing
MantisX Firearm Training System
Device attached to your front rail and gives feedback to your phone via Bluetooth.
Table of Contents
Loading…
Best Laser Training Ammo
LaserLyte Cartridges
The best-known laser cartridge comes from LaserLyte. My 9mm cartridge has been chugging past 5,000 dry fires.
Prices accurate at time of writing
Prices accurate at time of writing
And when the back-end rubber “primer” finally wore out from being hit by my striker/firing pin…LaserLyte sent me a replacement for free.
It fits well in all my handguns and the o-rings are solid.
A little pricey at first glance…but think of all the ammo you will save. Say 20 cents a pop for 9mm…I would have spent $1,000 already!
What do you think? Give it a rating below!
Pink Rhino Laser Bullet
Pink Rhino also makes decent laser cartridges that are very similar to the LaserLyte.
Prices accurate at time of writing
Prices accurate at time of writing
It doesn’t fit as well in all my chambers compared to the Laserlyte cartridge, but they are less than half the price.
After 1,000 fires it is still going strong.
Laser Ammo SureStrike
Laser Ammo makes quality stuff. We cover the SureStrike Premium Kit and targets in detail in our full review.
If you have 9mm, .40 S&W, and .45 ACP…this may be the kit for you. The adapters allow you to shoot all three for a price that’s cheaper than getting three separate cartridges.
Prices accurate at time of writing
Prices accurate at time of writing
SIRT
Instead of using just a laser cartridge, the SIRT is a full-sized Glock laser platform.
SIRT is short for Shot Indicating Resetting Trigger. It utilizes two different lasers, one to show where you are aiming during the trigger pull and then a second to show where you are when the trigger breaks.
Prices accurate at time of writing
Prices accurate at time of writing
And as the name implies the trigger automatically resets without needing to rack a slide, which speeds up the training process.
It’s pricey but is a perfect solution when you want an authentic stock trigger without using a real firearm.
Best Laser Targets
Now that we’ve gotten the cartridges out of the way…let’s look at what you can shoot.
And since these work by detecting light from the laser, they might not work in bright areas (turning on my photography lights activated them) or outside.
LaserLyte Steel Tyme
I’m sad that the Reaction Tyme (bulls-eye target above) is no longer being produced. It was the most cost-effective and simplest design but has seemingly been replaced by the Steel Tyme.
Prices accurate at time of writing
Prices accurate at time of writing
Luckily, the Steel Tyme is also pretty good. They are compatible with the LaserLyte cartridges or the standalone LaserLyte training pistols.
When you hit it…you hear a satisfying steel gong sound. They seem to work reliably as well.
Laser Ammo LaserPET II
My favorite for its different modes is the LaserPET II. The only downside is you get one target versus two targets compared to the LaserLytes.
Prices accurate at time of writing
Prices accurate at time of writing
But you get…
- Hit Counter Mode: count and hear your hits
- Shot Timer: see your reaction time from a buzzer until the first hit
- Speed Shooting: how many times you can hit in 5 seconds
- Double-Tap: time between your first shot and second shot
These are great options for those who want extra metrics or a bit more fun and challenge while training.
LaserLyte Quick Tyme
We haven’t got on our hands on one of these to try them, but they look promising.
The LaserLyte Quick Tyme differs from the other LaserLytes in that it shows you exactly where your hits are in addition to having the built-in shot timer.
Prices accurate at time of writing
Prices accurate at time of writing
Other Training Gear
MantisX
This is one of the most high-tech ways to diagnose your shots. The device attaches to your front rail or magazine base and gives feedback to your phone via Bluetooth.
They currently have three models that range in price from $99 to $249, with their middle and top-tier options working for both dry fire and live fire.
After each shot, the MantisX will tell you where you moved, how much you moved, and how to correct it.
Prices accurate at time of writing
Prices accurate at time of writing
Check out our full MantisX Review — spoiler alert, it’s pretty awesome.
We’re also really digging the Mantis Laser Academy — check out our review here!
Snap Caps & Dummy Rounds
These don’t have cool tech in them, but they do keep your guns safe while dry firing. Great for use with the MantisX and other systems or just on their own for malfunction drills.
Not all guns require the use of a dummy round to protect the firing pin, but it’s always a decent idea to have some on hand.
There are a lot of snap caps and dummy rounds on the market, so be sure to take a look at the Best Dummy Rounds & Snap Caps For Dry-Fire Practice!
Final Thoughts
Now you’re ready to up your dry-fire game with some of our favorite laser cartridges and laser targets.
How is your experience using any that we recommended? Any systems that we missed? If you’re looking for more tips…check out How to Shoot a Handgun More Accurately.
FAQ
It’s generally safe to dry fire a modern centerfire pistol. You might want to reconsider or get a dummy round with older or rimfire firearms.
Around 300-400 clicks but always be sure to check the rear for excessive wear before each dry fire session.
Yes, Glock says it’s ok but a snap cap or dummy round is recommended for extensive dry fire training sessions.
The post Best Laser Targets & Ammo for Dry-Fire Training in 2023 appeared first on Pew Pew Tactical.
