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I have had the opportunity to attend the SHOT show for several years and one thing that I noticed on the increase is the number of shooting simulators and laser training systems.
The availability, convenience, and economics of dry-fire training and laser training make these training systems great supplements for the fundamental training every officer needs. However, live fire qualification is a MUST for any law enforcement officer.
Common barriers to live-fire training include limited access to safe shooting facilities, man-power shortages, and the cost of ammunition. Considering these challenges, shooting simulators and training systems become a smart investment for individuals as well as agencies.
I want to emphasize that there is no complete replacement for actual live fire training. However, live fire training is time-consuming and expensive. It requires going to the range, setting up the targets, the system, and the course of fire. Following that are safety checks, briefing the students, and issuing of all safety equipment. Next, everyone working together on the firing line only going as fast as the slowest person (or target). And then finally cleaning up and paperwork. After four hours you have a whole 30 minutes of trigger time at best.
Everything you do right up to and including the trigger press makes a difference in shot placement. Focusing on grip, draw, and presentation often leads to successful qualification. Creating those neuropathways, or muscle memory, can be done with a sound laser training program. Laser training allows the student to work on sight alignment & trigger press for accuracy with corresponding reactive targets. There are unlimited shots and very little set-up time to make the most of your training time.
I am not advocating a brand or product mainly because there are more than I have had the opportunity to familiarize myself with, but I have had great success with a product called “Laser Ammo”. They have laser guns, laser guns with recoil, targets with different training options. Using these resources and my imagination, I have been able to create hundreds of scenarios. I use this product for both Law enforcement and civilian training from basic fundamentals to advanced elements such as moving & shooting, shooting from cover, and instinctive shooting drills. With minimal set-up time, the cost per training hour becomes reasonable and efficient. (Efficient; one of my favorite words as a training officer.)
The market is definitely growing from a basic laser “gun to target” system to “interactive firearms training simulators” and “virtual reality” training options. There are a variety of options at different price points. Grants and creative funding options enable acquisition of a system that can benefit your agency and provide your staff the best opportunity for their confidence and success.
Stay safe!
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