Dry Fire Training: Laser Pistol Or Laser Cartridge? That Is The Question

Dry Fire Standoff: Laser Training Pistol vs. Laser Cartridge with Your Personal Handgun

When it comes to preparing for possible real-world scenarios, there’s no such thing as too much training. For this reason, we target practice at home using either laser training pistols or cartridges.

Dry fire training is a great way to keep your shooting skills sharp and improve your accuracy both on the range and in real-world situations. Both laser pistols and laser training cartridges are great options as they provide visual feedback with each trigger pull. They can be paired with apps like Mantis Laser Academy that record each shot and provide drills to keep your training fun and engaging.

While both are beneficial for dry fire training, there are distinct differences between them. Let’s compare the two options so you choose the path that’s right for you.

FUNCTIONALITY

Laser pistols, often resembling popular firearms in appearance and operation, are standalone devices designed explicitly for laser firearms training. These devices are equipped with integrated laser modules, which emit a visible laser beam (or sometimes infrared laser) upon trigger pull, simulating the discharge of a live round. Laser pistols provide shooters with a familiar shooting experience without having to rack the slide between each trigger pull. Thus allowing them to practice their shooting fundamentals, sight alignment, and trigger control in a manner akin to live fire.

Keep in mind that dedicated laser training pistols can vary, even when they match your make and model.  Some laser pistols are lighter and made with more plastic, thus they tend to contain no moving parts other than the trigger and possibly a removable magazine. While the gun itself may feel familiar when held, you don’t have the benefit of familiarizing yourself with your exact weight, trigger break or racking your slide to clear a malfunction.  Higher end laser pistols will be closer replicas of real firearms with a form factor and trigger as close to real as possible.  These more realistic laser pistols do come with a higher price tag but also are the most beneficial for dry to live training.

dry to live training.

Our Mantis TitanX raises the bar for at-home dry fire training by combining realistic feel with smart feedback.  It connects to the MantisX Pistol/Rifle app, giving you real-time feedback and motion analysis with every shot. Its exclusive dynamic drills show how efficient you are between two targets — measuring transition path, over-travel, and delay on target so you can pinpoint what’s holding you back.  Plus, it’s optic-ready and comes with two weighted magazines, so you can practice your reloads effectively. In short, the TitanX gives you everything you’d expect from a high-end laser pistol — plus smart coaching and data tracking built right in, all at an affordable price.

On the other hand, laser training cartridges offer a more versatile and cost-effective approach to laser-enabled training.  Note that a laser cartridge does not change the operation of the firearm, a striker-fired gun will need to be manually racked, unlike a double action.  Depending on the use case the need to rack can become a limiting factor in training.  Regardless of action type these laser cartridges are inserted directly into the chamber or barrel of your actual firearm, effectively converting it into a laser training tool.  This means one laser cartridge allows you to train with any firearm of the same caliber.   Compatible with a wide range of firearms, including pistols, revolvers, and rifles, laser training cartridges provide shooters with the flexibility to train with your preferred firearms, maintaining familiarity with your grip, sights, triggers weight, break and reset.

Both laser training cartridges and laser training pistols are particularly advantageous for dry fire laser training. They allow shooters to practice in virtually any environment, from the comfort of your own home with your own gun. Plus it will save a lot on ammunition costs.

OVERALL COST

When considering the differences between laser pistols and laser training cartridges, several factors come into play, each influencing the suitability and effectiveness of these training tools for individual shooters. One notable distinction lies in the cost and accessibility of the devices.

The current market for laser training pistols are in the range of $100-$1,000, with some exceeding this depending on how intricate of a system you’re looking to build. The higher in price they go, the more realistic and more features they have, such as using accessories or optics, and offering electronic or gas-driven blowback for sight disturbance.  Some have unique features like our TitanX laser pistol is the only one to offer shooting diagnostics and feedback. If you’ve opted for a blowback system that uses compressed air, then you’ll have to factor that into your overall cost, compatibility, and maintenance.

Conversely, laser cartridges are relatively inexpensive and are widely available. The Pink Rhino Laser Training Cartridge is a prime example of a high-quality, high-rated training laser that’s available in the most common handgun calibers, and priced around the same as a week’s worth of commuter coffee, $39.97.

Without a doubt, both the average laser training pistol or the laser training cartridge will save you money. The cost per trigger pull is substantially less than an actual bullet leaving the chamber on the range.

CUSTOMIZATION

Furthermore, the level of customization and adaptability varies between laser pistols and laser training cartridges. While some laser pistols come with no ability to accessorize, others have adjustable sights, trigger weights, blowback, optic ready, accessory rail and other configurable settings. Thus allowing shooters to tailor their training experience to meet their specific needs and preferences. Remember, the more customization that you add the more costly this will be.

For the vast majority of gun owners, you may not choose to accessorize your training tool at all and instead opt to switch your accessories between the real firearm and laser pistol each session. But that can become tedious nd some accessories are not meant to switch without being setup again.

Conversely, laser training cartridges offer a standardized approach, compatible with a wide range of firearms (caliber specific) without the need for modifications or adjustments. This versatility makes laser training cartridges an attractive option for shooters seeking a simple yet effective solution for dry fire laser training and target practice.

SO WHICH OPTION IS RIGHT FOR YOU?

Regardless of budget, there are pros and cons to both options for the everyday firearm owner who wants to keep their skills sharp. When it comes to laser pistol features, it simply boils down to this: the higher the cost, the more features available and the higher level of realism offered. The primary benefits being the auto resetting trigger so you don’t have to break position between each shot. The best laser dry fire training systems are usually not the cheapest, but there’s a reason for that.

When it comes to the laser training cartridge, the realism with feel, weight and accessories is greater, however it falls short on rapid engagement, speed, recoil realism and the inability to auto reset the trigger. This is assuming, of course, that you’re not using the combination of a blowback system in addition to a laser cartridge or a double action firearm.

No matter which training option you decide on, the suite of MantisX training products can suit any training scenario, from dry fire to live fire practice. The TitanX laser pistol unlocks coaching and shooting analytics via app feedback or can be used on its own or with other laser enabled apps.  The Mantis Laser Academy app and our unique set of printable targets work with laser pistols and laser cartridges allowing you to train when and where you want.