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
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Runner upCounts your hits, has a shot timer, speed shooting capabilities, but only comes with 1 target.
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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
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25% off all OAKLEY products - OAKLEY25
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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
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25% off all OAKLEY products - OAKLEY25
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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
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25% off all OAKLEY products - OAKLEY25
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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
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25% off all OAKLEY products - OAKLEY25
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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
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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
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25% off all OAKLEY products - OAKLEY25
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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
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25% off all OAKLEY products - OAKLEY25
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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
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25% off all OAKLEY products - OAKLEY25
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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
Is it OK to dry fire a pistol.
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.
How long do snap caps last?
Around 300-400 clicks but always be sure to check the rear for excessive wear before each dry fire session.
Is it ok to dry fire a Glock?
Yes, Glock says it's ok but a snap cap or dummy round is recommended for extensive dry fire training sessions.
42 Leave a Reply
I've been happy with G-SIGHT. Their full package comes with extra batteries, replaceable rubber strike pads, and multiple o-rings to ensure a good fit. Comes with an app for the iPhone that takes a picture of the target then tells you where the laser dot hit. Got it in .45 ACP and 9MM.
Disappointed that you just rerolled an old paper without update. There is more out nowadays.
Mantis also has a laser option now, the Mantis Laser Academy Training System. Works well.
Very helpful, but can you update for 2021 please? Many new systems and your input is great. Thank you.
any updates yet?
an ad for one on Facebook (the book of lies and deception), lol. It is called TurboTact drill laser and the reviews say that this is a great tool to have to train with. But my thing is, is that I feel like a lot of those are bought reviews, kinda like the reviews on Amazon. I like coming here to get my info and I use a few other sites as well. But I love the review he did on the Hellcat. :)
I have the MantisX and it helps a lot with trigger pull detection. It pretty intuitive and has some really in depth data feedback. I find it challenging trying to get as perfect a trigger pull as possible which makes it fun and effective. I also have the iTarget Pro system but noticed you didn't mention it in your write-up. It has helped me tremendously with trigger pull also. But it really has helped me with my draw stroke and attaining a good sight picture. It's very responsive close up, at distance and even in low light. The timer feature in Quick Draw Mode is awesome. The phone cradle is a hassle at times especially with larger phones and their protective cases. Also, I haven't noticed an update to the app in a few years. I don't know if I've just missed it or if the devs aren't supporting the app anymore. There could be a few improvements to the app. Great article as usual.
I am looking for a laser cartridge for my S&W Victory 22 and haven't been able to find one - does one exist?
Check into the Mantis. It is not a laser system, but can cure all your shooting defects quickly while dry firing. To protect the firing pin and beech face, use plastic dry wall anchors. Get the The Hillman Group 370326 Ribbed Plastic Anchor, 4-6-8 X 7/8-Inch, Yellow, 100-Pack from Amazon. Normally, only two work well in a mag.
I've been looking for a .22 cal laser cartridge also. So far, have not found any being produced. I have 9mm & .40 S&W lasers and they work great. So I use them in dry fire exercises to improve my sight picture and target recovery that has translated to better live round shooting with my Glock 44-22.
Would love to subscribe to your YouTube channel, but currently refusing to get involve with YouTube as much as possible. Have you thought about posting on Rumble.com? If you would I would be sure to subscribe.
No plans to post anywhere but YouTube currently, the reach of YouTube is too great and the other platforms too small.
I agree with ScottN. How much work is it to upload to Rumble also? YouTube does not support your mission of educating gun owners and the curious. It is a shame you are so dismissive of a quickly growing platform that supports 2A rights.
Sorry, it's not really up to me. I'll pass on your comment though.
YouTube is too big of a platform to dismiss "on principle" also. That is also a shame.
Two years later, I agree with the others. YouTube hates us and would ditch anything 2A or firearms related in a split second if they thought they could do it without losing a lot of money.
No hit arms laser bullet I heard was dependable
Perhaps you can do an update. There seem to be many new lasers such as LaserHit, iTargetPro and others. There also seem to be training systems like Lasr, SureStrike Pro, iTargetPro. With the high price of ammo laser training is a good way to polish our skills.
I have an iTargetPro and I am very satisfied with the product with the exception of the cell phone cradle quality, which I think should be a little stouter.
do Sirt pistols activate the Laserammo targets?
It's my understanding they do. But for just a few $$$ more than the price of a SIRT pistol you can get a REAL SA/DA handgun like a Taurus G2 and a $40 laser.
Before I found this article, I was looking at laser snap-caps and found iTargetPro which is not included in your review. I found those you reviewed, and finally I found LaserHit. I confirmed that your review is relatively current, so was hoping you might look at those two, possibly test, and add some comments about them.
Nor do you mention the fact that these laser cartridges will not work on striker or single action pistols. Having to rack each round is very useful training....
I've been ready to purchase a dry fire system for a while now, but none of these companies are making it easy. Their descriptions are not very helpful. It seems that not a single one of them offer a description that makes it all clear. In fact the descriptions are so bad that it makes me wonder if it's deliberate. Come on guys, a clear description of your product is much easier than you think. Doesn't anybody want my money?
So am I understanding right that even at cheapest setup at near $110 for laser/target combo, one can just get the high tech option for $40 more or at a discount compared to the more expensive options. Why would someone not do that then?
The article stated that you would show us dry firing targets and ammo that we could use with our own gun.
I only see one, the Mantis x.
You didn't include itarget either.
Very disappointed!
I need to be able to use my own gun so I can become familiar with it and it's trigger, etc.
Really...is this all there is???
I have iTarget Pro with .380 and .357 cartridges. I am pleased with iTarget Pro.
My biggest challenge is where to set up my target.
Love my iTarget 9mm. Shoot indoors 27 ft. ITarget on tripod and iPhone coupled with AppleTV and laptop. In this way I get instant feedback... This setup helped me a lot to progress. Besides that I’m very satisfied with the service. Quick response and no bullshit about xtra end caps.
Thank you for this! So are you using the sled w/ phone holder or posting your target in a convenient location and putting your phone in a stand/holder?
I want the system that uses a projector and camera.
You will need to download targets from the internet and save them as JPG/PNG. Save the images on a USB stick. Most projectors support these formats. Project the target you choose on any available wall. You may need to pause the target picture so it doesn't scroll to the next target image. A cellphone tripod will be needed to hold the phone steady. Launch I Target app from your cellphone and start dry fire shooting.
I recommend dryfireonline.com or shootoff
I'd recommend the iTarget. There is a tiny bit of setup compared to dedicated targets, but it works pretty nicely. My phone is an android Samsung S8.
my wife just got me one for Christmas and I love it instant feedback on my dry fire with my 1911 the I target is realy nice
Problem with Mantis is that it will not fit your holster ....
Depends on the holster. I got my p320c rx skins from swaprig.com, and one skin fits the romeo reflex with the mantis on, and another fits the romeo with a c5l laser/flashlight mounted. Your mileage may vary.
You can mount it on the mag base plate.
No iTarget? Damn I hope this PewPew is not part of a good ol boy network. I just want to know what's best out of what's out there. Please be inclusive of everything. These are all mostly the same company.
Hi Andre, I based mine on the best selling/reviewed on Amazon. At the time of writing I couldn't find much on iTarget. But when I update this article I'll try to get my hands on one!
The mobile device (smart phone) based laser training systems are getting popular. How about a comparison on these systems: G-Sight Laser Training Pro, i-Target and etc?
Hi. May I ask what you think of the LaserLyte Laser Trainer Pistol Full Size GLOCK 19? I play with airsoft so I doubt the laser cartridges or laser outer barrels would fit into my airsoft model (WE G17/34). This seems my onl;y choice for silent play. Please correct me if I'm wrong.
I found the Reaction Time on sale and got the 2 pack. It's great and I get to use my own gun. I place them at different heights and use the timer to get maximum training.