How to Improve Shooting Skills with the BlackbeardX

AR Dry Fire Practice Made Simple

The MantisBlackbeardX combines the two most powerful training platforms available - the MantisX and the Mantis Blackbeard. Additionally, it unleashes a completely new capability that the world has never seen before: in-depth dynamic shooting analysis. BlackbeardX goes far beyond a shot timer - it includes motion-based analysis of your efficiency in a high-speed, multi-target engagement. It analyzes your economy of motion across multiple dimensions, giving you real-time feedback on where and how you can improve your dynamic shooting. Currently available for any AR-15 and Sig Sauer MCX platforms (with more models coming soon).

 

Person Installing AR 15 with BlackbeardX Attached - Mantis BlackbeardX in Hand Ready for Dry Fire Training - Mantis Holding AR 15 with BlackbeardX Auto Reset Trigger Attached - Mantis

Enhance Dry Fire Training with Shooting Drills and Real-Time Feedback

Genius? Yes. Complicated? No. The BlackbeardX connects to the existing MantisX Pistol/Rifle app via Bluetooth, and gives you access to all the drills and courses you are already accustomed to. Additionally, new drills are unlocked and displayed automatically when connected to a BlackbeardX.

How does Blackbeardx Improve Training?

Each of the dynamic shooting drills gives you a score (0-100) based on a combination of three factors:

Analyzes On-Target Delay Score

Most shooters delay on target for longer than they need to. This metric tells you exactly how long you delay - and how much faster you could go with the same level of accuracy.

 BlackbeardX App Screen Showing Shooting Platform: Pyramid Drill for On-Target Delay Score  Laser Target Showing Delay Score from Dry Fire shot on AR using Blackbeard

Assess Over Travel Score for Multiple Targets

Multi-target transitions are often accompanied by moving the gun past or through a target before coming back to take the shot. BlackbeardX quantifies the egregiousness of the over-travel movement.

 BlackbeardX Laser Training App Showing Over Travel Score with Delay time Dry Firing AR 15 - Mantis   Laser Target on App Screen Showing Overtravel Score after Dry Firing AR 15 

Helps You Find Effective Transition Paths when Shooting

The most efficient path between two targets? A straight line. Deviate from that path, and your score decreases. The more efficient the path, the more effective the shooting.

BlackbeardX Training App  Showing Transition Score to Help Shooter Improve  Laser Target Showing Shot Transition Path during Dry Fire Shot on BlackbeardX 

Combining these three metrics with a visualization of your shooting scenario crystallizes understanding we never had access to before.

 

More Capabilities of BlackbeardX:

And there's more.

Compare Sessions to Find Specific Areas of Improvement

Comparisons: Compare your session to previous session or those of other shooters. Every dimension is comparatively scored, with overlaid visualizations to easier distill strengths/weaknesses and consistencies/inconsistencies.

BlackbeardX App Screen Showing Delay Time Shot Comparisons  Shooting Feedback on BlackbeardX App Showing Shot Score Comparisons from Dry Firing AR  Laser Target on App Screen Showing Transition Score and Comparison to Help Shooters Improve

Heat Maps to Trace How Movement Impacts Speed

Heat Trace: a quick toggle enables you to see where your speed changes are impacting your movements, and how your movements are impacting your speed changes .

BlackbeardX AR Laser Target for Dry Fire showing Shot Score for User 

Adjust Drill Settings Based on Skill Level

Drill Settings:  You can set the allowable/acceptable on-target delay, the start buzzer timing constraints, and par times.

 BlackbeardX Showing App Screen with Drill Settings and Adjustments

Analyze Phase Times in Detailed Shot-by-Shot Breakdowns

Phase Times: A detailed shot-by-shot breakdown of how long you stayed on target post-shot (goal: minimize this and start transitioning sooner), how much time was spent transitioning, and how much time you stayed on target pre-shot.

BlackbeardX App Screen Showing Shot Breakdown and Transitions

And this is just the beginning.  Expect regular, significant, free MantisX Pistol/Rifle app updates. 

We can't wait to see how quickly you improve using the BlackbeardX.  And if you already own a Blackbeard, you'll just need to upgrade the magazine, available here.