Gear and Equipment Recommendations
We get asked all the time “what gear should I buy?” or “what do you recommend?”. Well, here is a list of everything we use, or know is a good solution that you may want to consider.
Why CoolFire Trainer?
Realistic
Our System fits in your actual pistol, allowing you to control the recoil of each shot and train with a level of realism that airsoft guns and pellet guns simply cannot compete with.
Safe
Your live barrel is removed from the firearm, so there is no chamber and, therefore, no way to introduce live ammunition.
Cost-Effective
Your investment pays for itself by the time you finish the first CO2 tank, yet it gives years of use.
CoolFire Trainer
“CoolFire Trainer is the innovative world leader that provides a realistic, safe, and cost-effective way to dry fire using your own handgun anytime, anywhere. To this day, we are still the only innovators that provide this technology.”
— CoolFireTrainer.com
What We Think
We’ve been using CoolFire Trainer for several years now. We think it’s the BEST overall Dry Practice training tool you can get. Combine this with our next recommendation (MantisX) and you have an amazing Dry Practice combo!
This product replaces your barrel with theirs, making your firearm not capable of accepting live ammo…..you can train anywhere 100% safe! This system allows you to train with a level or realism you simply can’t get with any other Dry Practice product out there.
This is an exceptional tool for every level of shooter. There really are no drawbacks to using this……just get one!
“Improve Shooting Accuracy
94% of shooters improve after using MantisX for just 20 minutes.”
— MantisX.com
What We Think
We’ve been using this product (MantisX x10 Elite) for several years now and it is an outstanding tool for Dry Practice. This system is like having your own coach with you, assessing your shooting and challenging you with shooting drills.
Combine this with CoolFire Trainer and you have an elite level Dry Practice system that will make practicing fun and very effective.
There are massive advantages to using this product, for ALL skill levels. But we did experience a bit of falloff with accuracy on the feedback while using this if you are a professional shooter. If you have questions about why we say this, please contact us to discuss. With that said though, we HIGHLY recommend this product to everyone.
WHAT IS MANTISX?
MantisX is a data-driven approach to mastery. While attached to ANY firearm (pistol, rifle, or shotgun), it analyzes every shot and generates actionable data you can use to improve.
MANTISX
DryFireMag
The Good and the Bad
Advantages
With the DryFireMag, practice the kind of trigger action that builds correct muscle memory – even double taps. Now, practice exactly as you would shoot when that real life situation presents itself. Trigger control has to be second nature.
Works with the MantisX system
Small and easy to travel with. You can take this with you on vacations, business trips, etc.
Shortcomings
Limited to ONLY Glocks and Sig P320 pistols
Does NOT work with CoolFire Trainer
You must have solid firearm safety protocols to remove any chance of accidentally introducing real magazines with live ammo.
“Unless you have a DryFireMag
…you need to rack it before each shot – building muscle memory that could get you killed”
— PoliceOne.com
What We Think
We’ve been using DryFireMags for professional use while instructing and certifying Gov’t officials for a couple of years now. They are a very effective tool that allows you to practice trigger pulls without having to rack your slide each time to reset the trigger. We cannot stress enough how bad racking your slide every time between trigger pulls is, it could literally train you to do that in a real life and death situation!
If you have a Glock or Sig P320 pistol, this may be a great solution for you to use. This product works well with the next one, the Strikeman dry-dire training system.
“LaserLyte Cartridges
The best-known laser cartridge comes from LaserLyte. My 9mm cartridge has been chugging past 5,000 dry fires.”
— PewPewTactical.com
What We Think
We’ve not used this system but have heard good things about it and others similar to it. The advantages of a laser system is that the laser is being “shot” from inside your chamber, through your barrel, and onto their special targets. This will give you perfect accuracy with knowing where your point of aim and point of impact are.
The link we provided is to PewPewTactical.com’s updated review of several different laser training devices. PewPewTactical has proven to provide some rock-solid advice and we have no problem in recommending them as a good source of information.
Combine one of these laser cartridges with a magazine that resets your trigger for you, like the DryFireMag reviewed above, and you have a pretty darn good setup. The biggest shortcoming to this system though, is that it will not cycle your slide for you and provide recoil like the CoolFire Trainer does.
The Good and the Bad
Advantages
Very precise feedback since the laser is “shot” from your chamber and through your barrel.
Small and portable. Remember though that you MUST put this laser cartridge in your checked bags when traveling as TSA will not understand that it’s not a “live round”.
If you combine these types of products with something like the DryFireMag reviewed above, you create a good system for Dry Practice without creating poor muscle memory from racking the slide between trigger presses.
Shortcomings
The biggest drawback is that many pistols will require you to rack the slide between trigger presses. This is a very bad habit to have, as it’ll build muscle memory to do this and could result in you racking live rounds out of your pistol during a life and death situation.
Does NOT work with CoolFire Trainer
You must have solid firearm safety protocols to remove any chance of accidentally introducing live ammo.
You typically need special targets to shoot at, which is an extra cost.