John reviews the MantisX Firearms Training System and puts his biology to the test. For a second opinion on the Mantisx Firearms Training System Sensor see AmmoLand writer, Mike Searsons take : MantisX Firearms Training System App and Sensor Review.
U.S.A. –-(Ammoland.com)- Football players are getting bigger and faster. Baseball players are hitting and throwing the ball harder than ever before. In every sport the current players are better than ever. We owe this to advancement in technology to increase the speed, strength, and skill of the athletes. We are finding by using modern science technology we can unlock our full potential.
Now that technology has come to the shooting sports. Enter Mantis with their MantisX training system. This is one of the most advanced training method currently on the market. Biofeedback has been used by professional athletes across all sports. Now we, in the shooting sports, have access to it.
Biofeedback is training using electronics to gain control over normally involuntary function. This is at the core what the MantisX does for the shooter. Every shooter has small movements when they shoot. A lot of these movements can not be detected by the human eye or feel.
This is where the need for a “smart” device comes into play to detect these small movements.
MantisX Firearms Training System
The MantisX is a small device that connects to the rail of your firearms. It connects via bluetooth to the free MantisX app (available of the Apple App Store and Google Play) that is installed on your Apple or Android device. This enable instant feedback from your firearm to your phone allowing the shooter to make corrections on the fly.
For some reason I have never been accurate with my Springfield XD Mod.2 chambered in .45ACP as I have been with my other .45ACP handguns. Before getting rid of it I thought I would try the MantisX to improve my shot using the XD. Could the MantisX save my XD from the secondary gun market? I decided to give the MantisX two weeks to help me improve my shots.
The way the MantisX Firearms Training System works is to take small measurements on how your hand moves when you pull the trigger. These are converted into a score based on a 100 point scale. The higher the score the less movement in your hands. Scoring a 100 is impossible without the use of a vice. In my experience with dry firing I could get high 90s after two weeks. During live fire my top score was in the mid 90s, but this is only after working with the MantisX for a couple of weeks. When I started out I was shooting in the high 80s during live fire.
The MantisX also lets you know why your firearm moved. Whether you anticipate the recoil, or your trigger finger is too deep, the MantisX will let you know and suggest how to correct the problem. It gives you easy to read feedback along various charts and graphs. This is all done in real time. I was able to make corrections between shots.
It also tracks your progress of your training over time. This was great because I could see my improvement over a set time period. This let me find what training worked for me best. I noticed I improved more from the dry fire training I was doing than from my live fire training.
This came as a surprise to me because I assumed I was benefiting more from live fire training. Without some sort of device I would never have known what to train. I was able to tailor my training to what works best for me.
Not only can the MantisX be used with live fire and dry fire drills, but it can also be used with CO2 guns and airsoft guns. I did not get a chance to train with CO2 or airsoft guns, but I can easily see how the MantisX would be helpful with both of those as well.
Mantis updates their app every 4 to 8 weeks. These updates adds functionality and features. Mantis also gives you a link on their website where you can request a feature to be added. This is very nice because if you don’t see something you would want you can just ask for it to be added.
This gives the customer a sense of ownership and also leverages the Mantis customer base to improve the product. If one customer wants a feature added chances are so do others so this helps Mantis figure out what is most important to it’s customer base. Tech companies have been using this approach for years. It is nice to see someone in the firearms industry finally using this method.
The MantisX doesn’t require batteries. It has a built in battery that is rechargeable via included USB cable. The battery life hasn’t been an issue for me at all. I used it for multiple range trips and dry fire exercises before recharging it, but for the most part when I got home from the range I just plugged it into my computer and went to clean my guns. You shouldn’t have to worry about it going dead on you at the range if you use it like I did.
The one thing that jumped out to me is the packaging. Bill Gates once stated that the packaging is the most important thing because if the packaging looks cheap no one is going to want your product. Mantis took this to heart. The device is well worth the price, but the packaging lets you know you are not buying a cheap product. The MantisX comes in a miniature Pelican case. Inside the case is a foam lined interior with a cutout section that keeps your MantisX safe.
I am captaining a team for a shooting competition in May for an organization I am a member of. Each region of my state is sending a team for a one day winner take all event. What these other teams don’t know is my team is going to using 21st century training. We will be training with the MantisX. Some people might consider that cheating, but “if you ain’t cheating, you ain’t trying.”
The MantisX can be purchased at www.mantisx.com
About John Crump
John is a NRA instructor and a constitutional activist. He is the former CEO of Veritas Firearms, LLC and is the co-host of The Patriot News Podcast which can be found at www.blogtalkradio.com/patriotnews. John has written extensively on the patriot movement including 3%’ers, Oath Keepers, and Militias. In addition to the Patriot movement, John has written about firearms, interviewed people of all walks of life, and The Constitution. John lives in Northern Virginia with his wife and sons and is currently working on a book on the history of the patriot movement and can be followed on Twitter at @crumpyss or at www.crumpy.com.
I have been very impressed with the MantisX so far. We took it out on the range with 5 different shooters and everyone saw improvement with the feedback from MantisX.
Doesn’t replace a good human trainer, but it is great for dry and live fire. A few bugs that no doubt will be worked out. Worth the low cost. You will never be perfect with it, but it will help you improve.