OutdoorHub Gift Guide: Dry Fire Training Aids to Prevent Cabin Fever

OUTDOORS

   12.19.22

OutdoorHub Gift Guide: Dry Fire Training Aids to Prevent Cabin Fever

The holiday season is already starting to bring in an absolutely crazy amount of snow into some of the most northern regions of our country. While down here in the mid-south we’re simply dealing with a lot of moisture and cold, the point still stands that the winter months often make it extremely difficult for a lot of us to make it to the range before the sun sets. Dry Fire practice at home with our rifles and pistols is great for maintaining proficiency but we’re lucky enough in this day and age to have access to better technology that not only allows us to get our dry fire reps in, but also track our progress, and see where we’re coming up short. For this edition of OutdoorHub’s holiday gift guide, we’ll be giving you some options for the best dry fire training aids out there that you can pick up for yourself, or for a loved one who just needs a bit more trigger time but can’t always make it to the range in these cold winter months.

More OutdoorHub Holiday Gift Guides:

OutdoorHub Gift Guide: Dry Fire Training Aids to Prevent Cabin Fever

OutdoorHub Gift Guide: Dry Fire Training Aids to Prevent Cabin Fever

1. Mantis X10 Elite Shooting Performance System

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Mantis X10 Elite Shooting Performance System

The Mantis X10 Elite has our most inclusive feature set. It works with pistols, rifles, shotguns, and bows, at home and at the range, in dry practice, or live fire (including CO2). The Mantis X10 Elite is your all-in-one training solution.

Analysis features include:

  • Muzzle trace
  • Trigger control analysis
  • Shot timer
  • Smoothness analytics
  • Consistency comparisons
  • Recoil analysis
  • Holster draw analysis

App features offer:

  • Training modes/drills
  • Courses
  • Coaching tips
  • Historical Tracking
  • Groups and Messaging

Pros/Quite affordable and can help shooters overcome hard to break habits

Cons/Not really fun or engaging for some

Bottom Line/A great no-nonsense way to shore up your dryfire training

2. DRYFIREMAG Training Magazine

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DRYFIREMAG Training Magazine

Trainers agree that DRY FIRE practice is the best way to learn to shoot well. It makes the pistol a part of you. However, there is a real problem with dry fire practicing the standard way. When the trigger is activated and the firing pin is released, the shooter’s hand must be used to reset the firing pin by cycling the slide. Only then can the trigger return to its reset position. Can you stay on target while this is happening? Is this the muscle memory that you want to build? Absolutely NOT!

This problem is solved with our DryFireMag. Now, with the DryFireMag, when you activate your trigger, you get the feel and sound of the firing pin release. With both hands still in the firing position and staying on target, you simply let the DryFireMag reset the trigger with a snap, and you are ready for your next “shot”. Now, that’s the kind of action you need to build the correct muscle memory! It has to be second nature when a real-life situation presents itself.

Pros/Automatically resets your trigger for a more efficient dry fire session

Cons/Currently only avaialbe for a limited amount of handguns

Bottom Line/Works great stand alone or even better when combined with a laser training aid

4. A-ZOOM Snap Cap Dummy Rounds

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A-ZOOM Snap Cap Dummy Rounds

Machined, aluminum body with synthetic, cushion primer withstands repeated cycling. Shaped like loaded rounds for correct loading and feeding. Improves shooting skill, gun handling. Handgun shooters can practice reloading, and trigger squeeze. Competitive shooters and hunters can improve rifle handling proficiency.

Pros/Avaialbe in virtually every cartridge offering on the current market – for both handguns and rifles new and old

Cons/Quite expensive per unit

Bottom Line/A great way to demonstrate various malfunction clearing and loading/unloading tecniques with new shooters

5. Blowback Laser Trainer

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Blowback Laser Trainer

There’s only one training handgun that gives you the real recoil and feel of using a firearm in the field. Blowback simulates the real weight, mechanics, and conditions of shooting to give you the most realistic tactical simulation possible. You don’t get the real experience until you feel the Blowback!

It’s not a toy. Our system is designed for dry fire and recoil practice for armed forces, law enforcement, security details, armed guards, self defense, personal protection instruction, and more. We use real ejectable magazines, functioning slides, accurate sights, and more precision machines and weighted to give an exact simulation of a real 9mm handgun. The CO2 cartridge (not included) creates real recoil with each shot to make training conditions as real as possible. The laser reacts with the blowback shooting target to give you precision markers, audio feedback, and scoring on your performance. Experience the best.

Pros/Features blowback action for a more realistic experience

Cons/Not compatible with real handguns

Bottom Line/A great training alternative that completely removes any sort of live-fire firearm from the equation.

6. Mantis Laser Academy Training Kit

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Mantis Laser Academy Training Kit

Laser Academy allows you to TRAIN AT HOME and at your convenience. Get quality reps with your own equipment and experience a higher level of dry fire training with positive results you can see and feel. Laser Academy’s variety of drill options also keeps things fresh for shooters, making practice feel more like a game and less like a chore.

Pros/A more dynamic dry fire training experience

Cons/Requires a subscription for some of the more advanced features

Bottom Line/A great way to improve your shooting skills especially for concealed carry or competition purposes

Is it safe to Dry Fire my guns?

Generally speaking yes. However, there are a couple of caveats to this statement. While most modern handguns and rifles are safe to dry fire, older handguns and rifles may not be so great to dry fire, and doing so may end up damaging your firearm. If you’re unsure about whether or not it’s safe to dry fire your handgun or rifle, you should first check the owner’s manual. If you’re still unsure after that, a surefire way to make dry fire safe on all firearms is to use snap caps or a spent casing (just make sure it’s actually not live!)

How do I make sure I don’t accidentally shoot off a live round by practicing dry fire

The best way to practice dry fire training is to remove yourself from any sort of live ammunition. If you intend to practice reloads with your magazines, its best to designate those magazines as separate items specifically set aside from dry fire practice. In addition, you can remove yourself from an area where you’d normally handle your guns just to make sure there is no chance that any live ammunition or loaded mags accidentally make their way into your gun during dry fire practice! Just be vigilant and remember – checking the condition of your gun is not only free, but it could also save you a lot of time and frustration in home repair bills.

Are laser training aids dangerous?

In general, there are two types of laser training aids available online: laser training pistols and laser cartridges, which are available in common calibers to fit your personal firearm(s). Both are beneficial for dry fire training, but let’s compare the two options so you choose the path that’s right for you. Of course, there’s nothing wrong with investing in both laser options, but both offer different pros and cons, and both can still post a risk of damage to your eyes or the eyes of others if shined directly in their eyes. It’s probably best to only use these laser training devices on paper targets like they are intended to be used.

Avatar Author ID 693 - 809733198

Luke is currently a full-time writer for TheFirearmBlog.com, OvertDefense.com, AllOutdoor.com, and of course, OutdoorHub.com. Luke is a competitive shooter, firearms enthusiast, reloader, outdoorsman, and generally takes an interest in anything that has to do with the great outdoors.
Luke is also a private certified pilot and is currently pursuing his commercial pilot’s license in the hopes of becoming a professional pilot. Some of Luke’s other interests include anything to do with aviation, aerospace and military technology, and American Conservancy efforts.
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