Having a wide range of tools to hone your skills is beneficial, and it is no doubt that dry fire is an integral part of a training regimen. Virtual Shot has added a new layer to dry fire to make it a bit more fun and effective as a training aid.

They did a fine job showcasing the product, and as we have had it for about four months now, I will share my thoughts,

As reviewed here, you will notice I have configured the cradle to hold my CZ SP 01 Tactical. I chose that pistol because of the Picatinny Rail allowed ease of mounting the Virtual Shot as well as since it is double action, I do not have to recock the pistol after every dry fire. The mount can be configured to mount not only handguns but rifles with Picatinny Rails and scoped rifles, giving the system great versatility.

Once you open the app, you are prompted to verify your firearm is empty—an excellent idea.

You will see the main menu screen where you can access over 100 different ranges and games to aid your shooting skill.

You can build your range if none is precisely what you want.

 

They have several steel challenges.

Plinking games, zombie survival, and hunting are just a few.

There were a couple of things that I think could be improved upon. The instructions on configuring the mount were all videos of the various parts being moved into place. I would have liked some still images and text to accompany the audio and video instructions. After about five to six minutes of running it with a handgun, your arms will tire, so I bet some of this could be alleviated if I demo the unit with a lighter pistol.  This is not near the issue with a rifle. Also, the unit can be run with airsoft and the like.

One excellent touch was a series of short video classes in the app that could be accessed to reference the courses during dry fire.

Virtual Shot recommends an Android made in 2019 or after or an iPhone 6 to ensure running the app quickly, as it requires some processing power. The app monitors where the phone is and how it moves to show you the changing environment, and the phone mic picks up the hammer fall to register a shot. You have a built-in shot timer and scorecard within many ranges.  Because it is all app-based it will be updated and improved upon over time.

Will this replace live fire? Absolutely not, but it is another valuable tool in your toolbox of learning. The Virtual Range is $150, and they often have 10% off sales; it would be an excellent addition to your dry fire training or even introducing someone to shooting sports. I believe this is a very innovative tool, and overall, the developer did a fine job bringing this to fruition.  If this interests you even in the slightest, I highly recommend checking out Virtual Shot’s website, as they did a fine job showcasing their product.

By Hunter Elliott

I spent much of my youth involved with firearms and felt the call early on to the United States Marine Corps, following in my father's and his brother's footsteps. Just after high school I enlisted and felt most at home on the rifle range, where I qualified expert with several firearms and spent some time as a rifle coach to my fellow Marines. After being honorably discharged I continued teaching firearm safety, rifle and pistol marksmanship, and began teaching metallic cartridge reloading. In the late 1990s I became a life member to the National Rifle Association and worked with the Friends of the NRA. Around that time my father and I became involved with IDPA and competed together up until he passed away. I began reviewing firearms for publications in the mid 2000s and have been fortunate to make many friends in the industry. Continuing to improve my firearms skills and knowledge is a never ending journey in which we should all be committed. I am also credited as weapons master on a few independent films.

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