Anyone use laser guided training?

[gorenut]

Since I can't make it to the range as often as I want to practice, I want to get something that I can use to train at home. Anyone have any experience with any laser guided training devices? I found some:

http://firstshotcounts.com/index.html

http://www.laserlyte.com/Laser_Training_System/Landing_Page/index.html

http://www.onpointsupply.com/cart.php?target=category&category_id=2591

Any experiences, recommendations, where to buy, input, etc appreciated.

At the very least, I might just get something cheap like this:

http://cgi.ebay.com/NEW-PISTOL-LASER-SIGHT-H-K-HECKLER-KOCH-USP-9MM-45-/120621326127?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item1c15975f2f#ht_4763wt_1139

Since I'll only be using it for training, won't really need to be all that reliable/durable.

[vincnet11]

Just play with an airsoft, its cheap, BBs are cheap too.

[ExtremeX]

The bullite and laserlyte looks cool, but all that stuff looks pretty expensive. I don’t know how much it can really help you either.

For that type of money, I rather just buy ammo, and find time to hit the range.

No substitute for range time, none of these lasers are going to simulate the recoil aspect.

[gorenut]

I don't see Airsoft as real training unless the trigger, etc is exactly like the real thing.

I think if anything, laser devices will help trigger control. I know it'll never replace real ammo, but after the initial cost, it'll cost nothing more other than maybe replacing batteries to use it.

[9mmepiphany]

I think if anything, laser devices will help trigger control.

as hard as it may be to believe, trigger control is learned by feel, not by sight...you shouldn't confuse you subconscious, when learning the trigger, with trying to align the sights

go here:

http://www.graygunstraining.com/8.html

ping the link and you'll get a free copy of Bruce Gray's Dry Fire Packet

[1911_Mitch]

-----

[lugar]

I used a laser to help with trigger control. Dry fired 1/2 hour a day until it became muscle memory to not have the dot move DA or SA. I went from embarrassing to proud in two weeks.

[elSquid]

The wall drill:

http://pistol-training.com/drills/wall-drill

Best part? It's free!



-- Michael

[gorenut]

Haha, the wall drill sounds like something you can do while dropping a deuce as well. Very handy.

[Old4eyes]

Here's the link to my review of the LT-PRO that I wrote up in the XD forum:

http://www.xdtalk.com/forums/sa-xd-xd-m-accessories/151075-laserlyte-lt-pro-review.html

Synopsis: If you can deal with handling small parts (batteries and the fine threads of the two halves) it is a good aid to training IMHO.

Laserlyte will be making a target box, a receptor box that you shoot at and reveals where you hit when you shoot a specific circle. That will come out in November according to an email query I made.

Expensive? A little bit. But at $90.00 and if it lasts 1000 strikes on 1 set of batteries (it's touted for 3000, but it does fire off when your rack so you'll get less that 3000 strikes), that's cheaper than 1000 rounds of 9mm / .40 / .45.

I bought mine at Midwayusa.com . If you go for that type of thing, you want the LT-PRO rather than the Laserlyte trainer. The laserlyte trainer is about $35 bucks cheaper and handles more calibers, but it sticks way out from the barrel and you can't practice drawing and firing from a holster. The LT-PRO is limited for 9mm to 45 barrels, but it is shorter than the cheaper device and can go into a two inch barrel.

[gorenut]

Thanks for the heads up. I was actually factoring the cost as being cheaper in the long run when it comes to ammo cost, etc as you mentioned. Again, I am in no way seeing this as a replacement for actual range time. Nothing replaces that.. and this is coming from someone that even got rid of his .22LR kit for P226 because it didn't really satisfy my training. This is moreso for me when I simply don't have time to go to the range. I honestly get the urge to practice everyday after work, but I simply don't have the time to do it. I'll still regularly make range trips (thats what my membership is for!)

PS: If I were to get one, makes me glad all my guns are donned with hammers. No need to rack the slide after every shot.


PPS: Just read your review. Thanks for that, very helpful. I might just pick one up. I dry fire practice at home, but it is still hard not getting any kind of feedback. As you mentioned in the review, having that laser blink 1/10th of a second would register like a hole in paper. Reflective tape idea is very good, as I want to focus on front sights but would still like some kind of feedback.

[rtadlock]

I had a Laser Lyte that I used with my 1911. I think it was about $80. It worked pretty good and I think it did help me but it stopped working after a couple of months.

[Old4eyes]

Here's a Youtube link showing the laserlyte pro being used against their targeting box which is supposed to come out in November. If you watch the beginning it says that box is MSRP $199. Ouch.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q9_qMxHj0Mw

I will add that the laser does go in cockeyed on occasion. You pull it out rotate it some to get the correction and put it back in. As I point out in the review I posted on the XD forum, it's a dry firing aid. It will show if you are jerking the trigger (alas, my problem). It obviously won't help in flinching. But where it really shines (pun semi-intended) is bringing the gun quickly to firing position and fire, and you see where it would have hit as opposed to where you thought it should have hit.

I'm on my 3rd set of batteries, I try to get 3-4 training session / week with 20 minutes or so of workout.

[bryan28]

I have cheap airsoft quality lasers but they do the job because I dry-fire with them as opposed to actually shooting it (they would lose zero after one shot anyway). By video recording a target while dryfiring, you see how much the laser moves. This gives me more proof than watching how much your own dots move.

It also helps train hand-eye coordination that you'll get faster acquistion time even after taking off the laser

[gorenut]

I have cheap airsoft quality lasers but they do the job because I dry-fire with them as opposed to actually shooting it (they would lose zero after one shot anyway). By video recording a target while dryfiring, you see how much the laser moves. This gives me more proof than watching how much your own dots move.

It also helps train hand-eye coordination that you'll get faster acquistion time even after taking off the laser

yea, as mentioned, I flirted with that idea. I found some cheap ones on ebay for 30 bucks. The problem with that is that I might be too tempted to just stare at the laser instead of the sights. With the laser training devices, I can put a piece of foil at the end of the hall way and get instant registration if I hit the target. All my attention wills till stay at the sights.