Benefits of Training with The Mantis BlackbeardX
Morgan Rogue 07.06.23
I’ve been using the BlackbeardX for many months now, I don’t even know the exact number; time flies when you’re having fun!
I wanted to talk about the benefits that I’ve seen as well as bust some common misconceptions about the BlackbeardX so there’s no confusion about the best ways to use this amazing dry-firing tool.
Let me first say that I am a big fan of dry firing. It’s been a huge part of my life and I can attest to dry firing helping me to steady my gun, proper grip, drawing from holster and much more. Dry firing has been around for decades and the best of the best realize the importance of it.
Dry firing isn’t a replacement for getting to the range, it’s just a way to get some practice in between range time. The best shooters in the world use dry firing as one of the many tools in their belt to improve their skills.
BlackBeardX MSRP: $319
So why the heck would we use the BlackbeardX as a training tool for our AR-15?
Here’s how it can help:
- It offers a trigger reset just like the original Blackbeard, this allows us to keep pressing the trigger without having to reset.
- It connects to the MantisX app and when it’s connected, it shows AR-15 specific drills and data. The MantisX app will coach you and tell you what happened before and during the shot during a specific drill.
- It also gives you general data like on-target delay score (how long you delay on the target), over-travel (multi-target acquisition), and transition path (path between two targets).
- It emits a laser which shows you a visual representation of where your shots are landing. Though we do have to keep in mind sight over bore between the BlackbeardX laser and our sights.
Here’s how it won’t help:
- It’s not to be used to sight in. The sight over bore just doesn’t make this a viable option to sight in your rifle. I would never use this dry firing tool to sight in to begin with, even if it was an option. If you want to sight in your firearm, go to the range.
- Won’t help with any recoil management, but let’s be real, the AR-15 has very little recoil. And again, this isn’t to replace time at the range.
The BlackbeardX is easy to use. Just replace your bolt carrier group and magazine with the BlackbeardX BCG and magazine and you’re good to go!
I don’t have nearly enough time at the range as I would like so being able to train with my AR-15 at home is a huge benefit to me. I see direct results at the range from dry fire training at home.
With the original Blackbeard to simply have the auto-resetting trigger and laser was already a huge help, but to now have the added benefit of the Blackbeard connecting to the MantisX app, it shows me data and analytics that I never knew existed before.
I can’t dry fire without the BlackbeardX anymore because of the data I’m getting and the results I’m seeing by getting that coaching and feedback from the app.
Take your AR-15 training to the next level with the BlackbeardX!
