Mantis Blackbeard for Indoor Training

[McAlligator]

Bought a Mantis Blackbeard laser trainer.  I bought the green version but it is $50 more versus the red.  The Blackbeard uses your upper/lower and resets the trigger automatically.

Next I downloaded the free LaserHIT app on an old iPhone.  I chose the LaserHIT because it can pickup green lasers; many of the other apps have trouble with green lasers.  Additionally, if you already are invested in other laser targets they may/may not be able to detect green lasers. *If you have problems with faux hits on the app go into settings and pick "other" training system.

I'm using (free) zoom to mirror the iphone to an iPad for viewing my hits.  I also bought a iPhone tripod for $11 off amazon.

Finding a long enough stretch in my house where I can shoot prone was a bit tough, but I found a place where I can post a target 36 ft from the muzzle.

Using powerpoint I created squares target scaled down for 36 ft (36/300=0.12) (4MOA x 1.047 inches =4.188) (4.188 x 0.12 = 0.50 inches squares)

Pros:  The system accurately detects and displays the shots.  It is very close to shooting a .22LR AR on a live range.

Cons:  Depending on the distance you post the target from your muzzle you may have issues with getting the laser to co-align with your optic.  The laser is adjustable for windage & direction to some extent but it has limitations.  The laser will also walk after prolonged shooting and will need to be re-aligned occasionally. 

With the price of ammo being what it is, this could save a lot of money vs live firing.

[Moy]

The auto reset on that is super slick.

How tall is the magazine?  It looks a smidge too tall for me for off hand.

I have half a mind to get the no-laser one just for the reset-ability, and use it in combination with Scatt.  I could run rapid fire practice then, sort of (except the lack of recoil is kinda cheating).

[McAlligator]

The mag appears to be 20 rd length, though I havent checked one side-by-side. 

Mantis sent me a 2nd unit to compare against the first.  The 2nd one won't co-align either but, after messing with it, it's a limitation based on the height over bore and the short distance I'm trying to co-align at.  It will co-align at distances 25m+.

However, my solution ended up being I remembered I have a knock-off acog that is a pretty good fake someone gave me.  I had planned to try it on a .22 and had forgotten about it.  I put it & the mantis on a spare upper and adjusted the scope to the laser.

I also made scaled down AQT target based on the distance from my muzzle to target and can now shoot simulated AQT that feels pretty accurate. 

Overall, the experience is very, very similar to shooting a .22 AR.  The trigger resets and you can do mag changes. 

My biggest issue now is trying to keep the cat away from the laser.

It's pretty worthwhile IMO.  When we're watching a show at night and a commercial comes on I'll jump up and shoot 10 rounds standing.

[FiremanBob]

Wow, that's cool. We just bought the Mantis X10 and really like how it gives you a map of the entire shot process including the steady hold.

[Just 2B Difficult]

The Mantis Blackbeard is a very interesting tool for the AR. I have found it to be very helpful in dropping splits and getting a feel for a new trigger. The offset/zeroing adjustment is handy and the thing to remember is that the camera can be set up closer to the target than the firing position for scale purposes. The laser academy app is a money pit that's most unnecessary from what I can tell. It is picking up the green laser reliably for slow fire and rapid fire as applicable to this discipline. When the splits dip below 0.25 second it seems to pickup two thirds or less as evidenced by the increased splits and actual shot count. The laser hit app requires one to select laserhit HD cartridge in order to register shots reliably below a 0.5 second split. Both programs have their strengths and weaknesses. I do not think that the Mantis should be so heavily monetizing the app when all the products cost over $200. The app support should be free. The device should also have been provided with more comprehensive start up instructions. I didn't think I should have to figure everything out with the product from YouTube. I had a battery that refused to take a charge initially. I had no information àbout the battery levels or expected charging time. I also had to lube the reseting ram as it was initially hanging up. Those were the only issues. It has now run over twelve thousand cycles without further issues.

I wish there were something that was more precision focused for the Blackbeard. One could then shoot an entire Appleseed 25 yd in an indoor setting and this could be used to expand the audience perhaps even more.

[Salty]

I've been using the Blackbeard for a month now and I really like it. I agree with the challenge about finding a spot in my house long enough to make the laser line up with my optic. Another challenge is that I made some AQT targets that were scaled for 13 feet. I found that when I shoot at them my .22 laser is more like a .75 caliber bullet on the target. Was this hit in the 5, the 4, or the 3? All of the above!

If you've got a spot outside where you can dry fire without the neighbors calling the cops, the green laser is very visible in the daylight.

[Just 2B Difficult]

I found that when I shoot at them my .22 laser is more like a .75 caliber bullet on the target. Was this hit in the 5, the 4, or the 3? All of the above!

If you've got a spot outside where you can dry fire without the neighbors calling the cops, the green laser is very visible in the daylight.

Are you certain your laser is collimated to the bore properly and not bouncing off the top or bottom?