14 Fantastic Dry-Fire Firearm Training Tools
I have compiled a list of various products and tools used industry-wide to enhance dry-fire and laser simulation training. The benefits of Dry Fire practice are well-recognized and allow anyone to improve their shooting skills dramatically.
So here are some of the top tools and educational products I've used to aid in my dry-fire practice.
1: SIRT Training Pistols by Next Level Training
The SIRT (Shot Indicating Resetting Trigger) Pistol by Next Level Training is the industry's most recognized training pistol, and it is my favorite. The SIRT is available for most of the most popular everyday carry (EDC) guns from Glock, Smith and Wesson, and Sig Sauer.
Lasers are available in green or red, and the larger models have removable magazines. The guns have a “take-up” laser and a trigger with the approximate weight of the genuine firearm. The models even have a functioning rail for accessories.
Learn about the SIRT in this review.
Shop SIRT Pistols by Next Level Training.
2: LaserDot Trainer
Laser Inserts allow you to drop a laser-activated cartridge into the chamber of your real firearm. Made popular by Laser Ammo, a laser is emitted each time the firing pin strikes. Great tool.
Find out how you can use the LaserDot Trainer in your dry fire practice.
3: LASR App – Laser Training Software
The LASR (Laser Activated Shot Reporter) software is a phenomenal tool to facilitate more effective dry fire training. It will work with any laser training device like the SIRT or the Laser Dot Trainer.
LASR works on any windows based computer. LASR X is a version of LASR that works with any Apple device. It is hard to do it justice in just a sentence or two but trust me; you will want this. It will run specific drills, call reloads, work with multiple targets, provide shot times, and endless other unique features.
Learn more about LASR and its capabilities in this review.
4: MantisX Rail Mounted Device That Sends Shooting Data to App On Your Phone
MantisX is the original system for diagnosing shooting problems. It mounts to your gun and sends data back to an app on your phone after each shot. Targetize is a new product on the market that very clearly has attempted to copy the MantisX. These tools greatly enhance both live fire and dry-fire training.
5: Glock E-Trainer
The Glock E-Trainer is a simple device that is attached to the slide of your Glock handgun. It prevents the trigger from breaking and prevents the firing pin from releasing. So the Glock-E-Trainer allows operation of the trigger without needing to rack the slide to reset the trigger. As a result, the Glock-E-Trainer is a very economical and simple device that plays a good part in any dry fire training strategy.
How can you use the Glock E-Trainer in your practice?
Shop the Glock E-Trainer Here.
6: BarrelBlok & Mag Blok
BarrelBlok, which comes with MagBlok, is a great tool to ensure safety and eliminate potential training scars simultaneously. For a reasonable price, you have the comfort of knowing, AND SEEING, that your firearm is safe while also being able to rack the slide without slide lock.
I like BarrelBlok so much that gun manufacturers should include it with every gun sold.
Learn more about the benefits of BarrelBlok and MagBlok here.
7: Snap Caps or Dummy Rounds
Dummy rounds are fantastic for both dry fire and live-fire training. An affordable tool that everyone should own. Did you know you can use special dummy rounds designed to produce a type three malfunction?
Learn more about the type three malfunction rounds here.
8: CoolFire Trainer
The CoolFire training system replaces a few simple internals of your real firearm and operates on gas. It allows the user to use their real gun for real training with a laser point of impact. Available for many popular handguns, the CoolFire system isn't cheap but is hard to beat for real-life simulation.
Learn more about the CoolFire Trainer here.
Shop The Cool Fire Trainer Here.
9: DryFire Mag
DryFireMag is an innovative product. Essentially a replacement magazine for your Glock or M&P that allows the trigger to operate and reset without racking the slide. Instead, there is a very audible clicking sound with each trigger squeeze, and it beats racking the slide.
10: Airsoft Guns
There are a lot of Airsoft guns designed to look and feel like your real firearm. These often have some amount of recoil and can be outfitted with laser emitting barrels or inserts.
11: TACOST Training Cards
This fantastic training program built into a deck of cards comes from Jeff Gonzales and the team at Trident Concepts. There are three different “decks” you can buy—one deck designed specifically for dry fire with a SIRT or other laser simulation training gun.
Shop TACOST Training Cards here.
12: Dry Fire Training Cards
The cards include more than 50 proven dry fire drills shooters use to help develop skills. These cards are a great and easy resource to help your practice sessions stay fresh and well-rounded.
Shop Dry Fire Training Cards here.
13: Live Fire Drill Cards
It may sound weird that we would list something called a “Live” Fire Drill Card along with other Dry Fire tools. However, these drill cards are fantastic for live and dry fire practice sessions. Unlike other “drill cards,” these cards have illustrated, and detailed instructions for industry-standard drills AND include space to record one's score and track progress over time.
Learn about using the Burnett Live Fire Drill Cards in this video.
Shop Live Fire Drill Cards here.
14: Dry Fire Primer Book
This book was previously only available for Kindle but now is in print. This book is an excellent tool for any gun owner starting regular dry fire practice.
Here is a review of this book from A Girl and a Gun.
Shop the Dry Fire Primer Book Here.
In Summary
Hopefully, this gives you a firm overview of the various tools and products available to enhance your dry fire practice and experience! Let us know about your favorite products in the comments below.
If you have a 1911 cal.45 pistol with hammer a #2 pencil with eraser at strike point in the weapon, put a piece of paper up securely and from about 6 in. aim at your dot or what ever you put there and snap shoot at the target and reduce the size of your group with practise
Jacob,
Like you I have just about every dry fire training tool. I have found that the best thus far is the Cool Fire Trainer. It is specific for YOUR firearm and The LASR training software. I’ve tried SIRT, DryFireMag, Airsoft and they all fall short of my needs and expectations for a number of reasons. From the inability to practice reload drills, to horrible triggers, to just a limited number of choices of firearms for training. CoolFireTraining to me is the closest to simulate live fire. Im glad that MantisX make the mounts on the mags. When It was mounted on a pic rail you couldn’t draw from a holster (flashlight holsters might work, never tried it)