{"id":411893,"date":"2023-12-18T11:00:59","date_gmt":"2023-12-18T17:00:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/gunmagwarehouse.com\/blog\/?p=411893"},"modified":"2024-10-16T09:46:33","modified_gmt":"2024-10-16T14:46:33","slug":"mantis-x3-shooting-performance-system-does-it-work","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/gunmagwarehouse.com\/blog\/mantis-x3-shooting-performance-system-does-it-work\/","title":{"rendered":"Mantis X3 Shooting Performance System: Does It Work?"},"content":{"rendered":"

With ammo prices high and life keeping me busy, it gets harder and harder to find the time needed for range training. I\u2019m sure that\u2019s the case with many of you as well. The Mantis X3 Shooting Performance System may be the best way to improve your accuracy both on and off the range. It gives real-time feedback on what you need to do to become more accurate. This could be too much finger in the trigger guard, not enough, pushing, anticipating, etc.<\/p>\n

No matter what it is, the Mantis X3<\/a> gives constructive feedback and even shows you pictures of what you\u2019re doing wrong. This system is not only a great device for beginning shooters but experienced as well. I\u2019ve said before, that if you carry a gun, you should practice on the range regularly. While that doesn\u2019t change with the Mantis system, you can take it with you for better feedback on the range. It also works with dry-firing your gun; so you can practice at home too.<\/p>\n

How does the Mantis X3 work?<\/h2>\n

The \u201csystem\u201d includes a physical attachment that goes on a Picatinny rail and an app downloaded on your phone. Don\u2019t get this system confused with the laser academy, because it\u2019s completely different. While the laser academy requires you to set up targets and calibrate them, the Mantis X3 doesn\u2019t need anything but the attachment on your gun and an app. However, this means your gun will need a Picatinny rail to work. It can be on a handgun or rifle.<\/p>\n

\"Mantis
The Mantis X3 training system.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The kit comes with a charging cable. I recommend charging it all the way before use. While it\u2019s charging, download the \u201cMantisX\u201d app on your phone or tablet. I like the tablet more because it\u2019s easier to see for some of the system’s programmed drills. I\u2019ll talk more about that in a second. When you get the app downloaded, it will ask you to create an account. This requires an email address, username, and password. They don\u2019t start blowing up your email, so don\u2019t worry about that.<\/p>\n

Once you\u2019re logged in, place the Mantis X3 on the gun you plan to train with. The app will ask you to connect to the Mantis X3. Press the small button on the bottom of the unit to turn it on. A green light will show you it\u2019s charged and ready to connect. Now, press connect on the app and the system will sync and the app will open. You will want to calibrate it first, but don\u2019t worry. This takes about four seconds.<\/p>\n

Calibrating and Getting Started<\/h2>\n

With the app open and connected to the system, find the first drill you want to try. I recommend doing the \u201cOpen Training\u201d first. When you click on it, there are four options along with a green \u201cstart\u201d button under them. Click the \u201cforward\u201d button on the far right. It will instruct you to set the gun down for this. A red status light appears for a couple of seconds and it\u2019s done. The second button from the right tells the system if you’re dry-firing or doing live-fire drills.<\/p>\n

I would start out with dry-firing to learn the system, so make sure it says \u201cdry.\u201d The third button from the left is set on right-hand by default. If you\u2019re a lefty, tap it to switch to left-hand. I\u2019ll get to the settings button later, so leave it for now. You’re ready to start the drill. But first, double-check your gun again to make sure it\u2019s empty and no live ammo is in your magazine. Depending on your handgun, you may want to keep the mag out because you will need to reset the trigger (rack the slide) every time you shoot.<\/p>\n

Press the start button. There is no timer. The system can tell when you\u2019re shooting, so don\u2019t rush. Pick any small object as a target (pointed in a safe direction) and pull the trigger. The system will record how accurate your trigger pull was. For example, it may read 87.8%.<\/p>\n

Using the Mantis X3 System and Running Drills<\/h2>\n

The Open Training method just records your trigger pulls and gives feedback. You can shoot, rack the slide, and shoot again as many times as you want. The more you do it, the better feedback it will give you. I recommend firing at least 10 times before you click on stop. When you click stop, it gives you an average score and feedback on how to improve. When my wife tried it, the system told her she had \u201ctoo much finger in the trigger.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Manits
The Mantis X3 Open Training drill. [Photo: Jason Mosher]<\/figcaption><\/figure>Sure enough, she was using the bend of her finger over the trigger. When she used just the pad of her finger (the flat part on the end), her score went up. This method helps you work on your trigger pull at your pace. If you close and reopen it to see those four options again, click on the settings option. You can adjust a few things here. If you have a goal in mind, let\u2019s say 95%, set the \u201cpassing score\u201d to that. If you always want to do 10-shot drills, turn the \u201cshot count\u201d from 0 to 10.<\/p>\n

When the settings are how you want them, hit “done” and continue with the drill. This same drill works by dry fire or on the range with live ammunition. Of course, you get even better feedback when the gun is going off. However, I think both are needed to improve accuracy. When you dry-fire the gun, you can focus more on your trigger finger and be steady. That carries over to the range as you condition your body to adjust to the gun’s kick.<\/p>\n

Shoot, No Shoot Drill<\/h2>\n

The system has a lot of drills to pick from. One of my favorites is the \u201cshoot, no shoot\u201d drill. For these drills, I recommend turning on the audio feedback setting. From the main menu, click “settings” on the far bottom right. This is the main settings page. Near the bottom of the page, click the audio feedback setting. Then, click “audio-to-speech” and turn on \u201cscore\u201d and \u201cdirection.\u201d Your device will now talk to you as you shoot.<\/p>\n

\"Shoot
Of course, you want to be further away than this, but you get the idea. [Photo: Jason Mosher]<\/figcaption><\/figure>Go back to the training menu (far bottom left button) and then find the “shoot, no shoot” drill. The app is going to flash a color on your screen, so I just use my phone or tablet as the target. Place it somewhere you can see and aim at (make sure the gun is safe and unloaded). When you hit start, you will hear a voice that says, \u201cShooter ready.\u201d When you hear the beep, you shoot if the screen is green. If it\u2019s blue, don\u2019t shoot.<\/p>\n

The app will not only track the accuracy of your trigger pull but also the time it took you to pull the trigger once you determined it was okay to shoot. The faster you respond, the less accurate your trigger pull is. However, the more time you take to pull the trigger, the longer your response time. It cycles through 10 rounds of this before ending the session and giving your stats.<\/p>\n

\"Mantis
The app gives you feedback and shows what to correct. [Photo: Jason Mosher]<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Final thoughts<\/h2>\n

On the main menu, there are 14 total training sessions along with 8 courses you can take. Each training course you click on pulls up instructions on how to complete it. Again, you can perform any of these by dry-firing at home or on the range with live ammo. The courses included with the program include:<\/p>\n