Best Dry Fire Training Systems (2026): Mantis X, SIRT and Laser Trainers

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Quick picks

• Best overall: Mantis X10 Elite — the most complete motion-sensor trainer, with trace, trigger analysis, draw analysis and a Recoilmeter.
• Best value sensor: Mantis X3 — the core trace-and-trigger experience at a lower price.
• Best for gamified practice: MantisX Laser Academy Training Kit — laser hits scored against smart targets through the app.
• Best for holster/draw work: SIRT 110 Training Pistol — a dedicated, non-firing trainer so a live gun never leaves the safe.
• Best budget for Glock owners: Dry Fire Mag — a drop-in magazine that resets the trigger for repeat pulls.

Dry fire safety first

Every tool on this list is meant to build real skill, but none of it matters if the basics slip. Before any dry fire session:

• Unload the gun completely, and rack the slide or open the cylinder to confirm it's clear.
• Remove ALL live ammunition from the room — not just from the gun, but from the space you're practicing in.
• Check twice. Visually and physically inspect the chamber and magazine well a second time before you start.
• Use a safe backstop direction at all times, even though the gun is unloaded. Treat every rep like it's loaded.
• Use snap caps if your gun's manufacturer recommends them for dry fire, especially with rimfire or older firearms.
• When the session is over, say out loud "practice is over" before you reload or reholster a live gun. This verbal cue is a well-known range-safety habit that helps prevent you from switching back to a loaded firearm on autopilot.

This is general, widely practiced range-safety guidance, not a substitute for your firearm's owner's manual. Always follow your gun maker's instructions on whether and how to dry fire that specific model. Never mix a dry-fire routine with live ammunition in the same session, and store all firearms locked when you're not actively training.

The four types of trainer

"Dry fire training system" covers a few genuinely different approaches, and the right one depends on what skill you're trying to build.

• Motion sensor units (like the Mantis X line) clamp onto a rail or accessory point and use an app to track muzzle movement, trigger press, and timing — in both dry fire and live fire.
• Laser cartridges drop into the chamber and flash a laser when the striker or firing pin falls, so you can see point-of-aim versus point-of-impact on a target or through a companion app.
• Dedicated training pistols are non-firing replicas built specifically for dry practice — no live-fire capability at all, which makes them a good option for holster and draw work.
• Resetting-trigger magazines drop into your actual (unloaded, checked-twice) pistol and reset the trigger after each press, so striker-fired guns can be dry fired repeatedly without racking the slide between shots.

Comparison table

The picks

Mantis X10 Elite — best overall

The X10 Elite is the top of the Mantis motion-sensor line, and the feature list shows it: muzzle trace, trigger-control analysis, holster draw analysis, a Recoilmeter exclusive to the X10, and a built-in shot timer. It runs on a rechargeable battery rated for 8-10 hours, connects over Bluetooth LE, and doesn't require a subscription to use the core features. It ships with rail adapters and works across pistol, rifle, shotgun, and even archery setups, which makes it a reasonable one-time purchase if you shoot more than one platform. It also pairs with a SIRT pistol or a DryFireMag, so it can slot into either of the other systems on this list rather than compete with them. It's priced at $249.99 at MantisX and is also listed at SCHEELS.

Check price at SCHEELS ›

Mantis X3 — best value sensor

The X3 strips the Elite's feature set down to the essentials: trace, trigger analysis, and a shot timer, with the same 8+ hour battery life and a 2-year warranty. It's made in the USA and mounts the same way, though rail adapters for different firearms are sold separately. If you mainly want to see your muzzle movement and trigger press cleaned up without paying for draw analysis or a Recoilmeter, this is the more budget-friendly entry point into the Mantis ecosystem, priced at $169.99 at SCHEELS.

Check price at SCHEELS ›

MantisX Laser Academy Training Kit — best for gamified practice

This kit swaps the rail sensor for a laser cartridge nicknamed the "Pink Rhino," which flashes when the trigger breaks. Paired with the Laser Academy app and the included 5x7 in smart targets, it scores your hits in something closer to a game than a spreadsheet, which can help with consistency for newer shooters. It covers a wide spread of calibers — 9mm, .40, .45, .380, .38/.357, .357 Sig, .223/5.56, and 10mm. One thing to keep in mind: with a striker-fired gun, you'll need to manually reset the trigger (by racking the slide) between shots unless you pair the laser cartridge with a resetting magazine like the Dry Fire Mag. The Standard kit is $159.00 at MantisX, with a Portable kit available at $99.00.

Check price at GunDeals ›

SIRT 110 Training Pistol — best for holster and draw work

The SIRT 110 from Next Level Training is a dedicated training pistol — it never fires live ammunition because it isn't built to. That makes it a solid choice for repetitions where you want zero chance of a live gun being involved at all, particularly holster draws and presentation work. It uses a Shot Indicating Resetting Trigger with a laser, weighs about 2 lb, and is available with a red or green laser and metal or polymer slide, built on a Glock 17/22 form factor. Pricing runs from $239 to $439 depending on which options you choose, through Next Level Training.

Check price at GunDeals ›

Dry Fire Mag (Glock 17/19) — best budget for Glock owners

The Dry Fire Mag is a drop-in magazine, not a modification to your firearm — it replaces your magazine, not any internal parts, and fits Glock 17/19 Gen 3-5 pistols as well as the PSA Dagger. Insert it into your unloaded, double-checked pistol and it resets the trigger after each press, letting you run repeated dry-fire reps without racking the slide. It can also pair with an optional iDryfire laser cartridge for visual feedback, and with the Mantis X sensor if you want data layered on top. One caveat: it may not work reliably with aftermarket triggers. At $94.99 on sale (regular $99.99) at iDryfire, it's the least expensive way into resetting-trigger practice for Glock owners.

Check price at GunDeals ›

Which one should you buy

If you want one tool that covers trigger control, muzzle trace, and draws, and you're willing to spend the most up front, the Mantis X10 Elite is the pick — and it's flexible enough to later pair with a SIRT or Dry Fire Mag if you expand your setup. If you just want the core trace-and-trigger feedback without paying for draw analysis, the Mantis X3 gets you most of the learning value for less money.

If you're newer to dry fire and want something that feels more like a game than a drill, or you don't want to buy a sensor at all, the MantisX Laser Academy Training Kit is worth a look — just plan on racking the slide between shots unless you add a resetting magazine.

If your priority is practicing draws and holster work without a live gun anywhere near the equation, the SIRT 110 is built for exactly that, at a higher price point that reflects it being a standalone dedicated pistol.

And if you shoot a Glock 17 or 19 (or a PSA Dagger) and want the cheapest way to get repeated resetting-trigger reps at home, the Dry Fire Mag is the budget-friendly starting point — remember, it's a drop-in magazine, not a gunsmith modification.

Whichever system you choose, consider pairing it with time behind a qualified firearms instructor. Dry fire at home builds mechanics, but in-person coaching catches habits a sensor or laser can't.

Where to find the current deal

Prices on dry fire gear move around with sales events, so check our daily deals page for the latest pricing on the picks above before you buy. If you're also shopping for home-defense gear, our Black Friday home-defense gear deals roundup is live as well.

FAQ

Is dry firing bad for my gun?

It depends on the firearm. Many modern centerfire pistols are designed to tolerate dry fire without damage, but some rimfires and older guns should not be dry fired without snap caps to protect the firing pin or chamber area. Always follow your gun maker's manual on this rather than general assumptions.

Mantis X or laser trainer?

A Mantis sensor gives you data — muzzle trace, trigger press quality, timing — regardless of whether you're dry or live firing. A laser trainer gives you a visual point-of-impact cue that's easy to read at a glance, especially against a target. Some shooters use both, since the Mantis X10 Elite is designed to pair with resetting-trigger magazines and training pistols.

Can I use the Mantis with live ammo?

Yes. Per the maker, both the X10 Elite and X3 are designed to work in dry fire and live fire, so the same sensor can follow you from home practice to the range.

How often should I dry fire?

Short, focused sessions tend to be more useful than long, unfocused ones — a few minutes of deliberate trigger press and sight alignment work generally beats an hour of going through the motions. As with any training routine, this is general advice; adjust based on your own goals and, ideally, input from a qualified instructor.