What Adapter do you need for your MantisX?
The MantisX Shooting Performance System uses a sensor which easily attaches to any firearm using a picatinny rail, collects data on your shooting technique, and displays actionable data via a smartphone app to help shooters of all levels improve. While the quick detach lever makes the sensor easy to attach to the firearm, it still needs to have a secure location to attach onto. In this article, we will go over how to identify if your firearm has a rail and, if not, what options there are to attach the sensor to your firearm. Don’t worry, we have a solution for just about everything.
Does my gun have a rail?
The rail of the firearm is used to mount accessories like optics, flashlights, or lasers, and come in a variety of types and locations. On a pistol, the rail is typically under the barrel on the frame and when in use often has a flashlight or laser attached. Rifles however, can have rails on the top, bottom, and/or each side. Shotguns are going to be more variable, and may or may not have a rail of some type built in, but typically there are aftermarket rail options.
When identifying that your firearm has a rail or not, keep in mind that there are multiple types of rails, so you may have a firearm that has a rail but is not the compatible picatinny rail. The rail should be visually identifiable, but the user manual, website and other online resources can also be referred to.
These photos show examples of firearms that have no or incompatible rails. Notice that in two of these examples, there is what looks to be an indentation for accessories to attach to, but that the end is closed, meaning no item can slide onto the rail. While these are rails, they are proprietary in nature.
Alternatively, these examples show compatible rails that while look different, use the standard picatinny setup. Notice on the two pistol images that the end of the rail is open, allowing for slide on from the front.
Don’t have a rail, unsure if it is compatible? Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered. We can help with identifying what options are available for your particular gun to mount the MantisX sensor.
Will this fit my firearm?
The MantisX sensor fits picatinny rails, one of the most common mounts across firearm platforms, but can easily attach to others with an adapter. Mantis offers a variety of adapter solutions to add the appropriate picatinny to your gun.Each of our MantisX product pages have a convenient flyout on the right hand side which opens a pop up allowing you to select the make and model of your firearm to search our rail database.
Now you have the information on how to identify if your gun has a rail and how to look it up. Next, let’s take a look at why an adapter may be needed.
Why use an adapter?
You can also use an adapter for the sake of convenience. If your rail is currently occupied with another accessory, the right adapter choice means not having to remove that accessory each time you practice.
For holster work, any shooter who does not have a light-bearing holster can utilize an adapter on the bottom of the magazine with their regular holster. The sensor does fit into the flashlight area for many light-bearing holsters.
Regardless of having a rail or not, an adapter can still be advantageous and allows for more creative dry fire.
Types of Adapters
There are three models of MantisX and the X10 Elite version comes with two adapters: the universal magrail adapter and the BR7 Barrel Mount Picatinny Rail Adapter.
The Universal Magrail Adapter comes with a high-strength VHB adhesive tape to securely bond to the bottom of an existing magazine floor plate. The sensor then easily slides on and locks in place. The adhesive is strong enough to last through live fire and magazine drops, but can also easily be removed if necessary. This adapter is perfect for practicing holster draws, and the X10 Elite exclusive drill, Holster Draw Analysis.
The BR7 Barrel Mount Picatinny Rail Adapter comes with 4 spacers and can be attached to the barrel of a rifle or shotgun with an outer diameter of 15-24mm. Additional barrel mounts are available in other sizes.
Another option is to use an adapter to add a traditional rail underneath the barrel of your gun. The Recover Rail accomplishes this by attaching two plastic halves on the frame and requires no modifications to use. Each rail adapter is gun-specific, and we offer options for the most popular handguns on the market today.
Changing out the floor plate of your magazine to one with a built-in adapter is another great way to create an attachment point for the sensor. Many shooters have a dedicated training magazine filled with dummy rounds and/or a tap rack training round where the floor plate adapter will feel right at home. If you have an X3 or X10 Elite, grab this mag for live fire training as well. Mantis offers this adapter for the most popular pistols on the market today including in 10 round versions. If you don’t see one for your gun, you can always request a rail adapter, just fill out the form with your make, model, and caliber.
The BR4 Bore Rail Adapter is a good solution for revolvers and is caliber specific. These bore adapters can be used with other firearm platforms that use one of the included calibers. Four adapters are included that cover 9mm / 357 / 380 - (also works with 38 Sp), 40 cal / 10mm, 44 Mag, 45 ACP / 45 Colt. These adapters are inserted into the muzzle end of the barrel and should be used for dry fire only.
While made for the air rifle and pistol competition crowd the flexible competition rail mounts are versatile with their unique elastic strap. These can be mounted to the air cylinder or directly to the barrel.
Magpul’s M-LOK technology has become widely adopted, and many rifles have reduced their picatinny space in favor of the lightweight M-LOK. Since many accessories still offer picatinny attachments, the easy solution is to create an adapter that allows a small section of picatinny to be mounted into the M-LOK. The MantisX sensor is no different, and can be mounted to our 3 or 5 slot picatinny rail for M-LOK.
Lastly, we offer another picatinny rail adapter that can be used to mount to bows since the MantisX 10 Elite unit can connect to our archery app. Attach this adapter to the sight with the included screws for a stable mount.
Mantis has multiple solutions to mount the MantisX sensor even if your firearm does not have a native rail or has a proprietary one. Some highly popular firearms fall into the proprietary rail, like some Glock, Sig, and Walther models. However, this may be generation dependent and can be easily misidentified. Other possible rail types that would need an adapter include weaver, dovetail, and keymod.
If you are unsure of what your gun has and what adapter options are available to you our Customer Service reps are available by chat, phone, and email. All our representatives are US-based firearm enthusiasts and happy to help with any questions you may have on adapters or Mantis products.
Kayla House
Author