Firearms Training Archives

MantisX Firearms Training System Review

The MantisX Firearms Training System uses hi-tech to identify shooting errors and corrections.

Mantis is a new firearm accessory company based out of the Chicago suburb of Oswego, Illinois. The Mantis website describes the company as, “gun nuts, with some heavy geek seasoning and a deep passion for our families and our future.” Their first big development has been the new MantisX Firearms Training System.

The MantisX is a really fantastic shooting aid incorporating a mountable sensor and a Wi-Fi app. The MantisX sensor mounts to the shooter’s firearm from several different options. Using proprietary designs, the MantisX Firearms Training System records firearm movements during the shooting sequence for every shot made. This recorded feedback can provide immediate remediation for shooter’s as well as guidance towards the cause of errant shots.

DISCLAIMER NOTICE: The BlueSheepdog Crew received a MantisX Firearms Training System for review without any promises or agreements on our final opinions of the product. We are not affiliated with MantisX and have not received any financial benefit from MantisX other than the use of one of their systems. BlueSheepdog does not sell advertisements or sponsorships on our site to avoid any conflict of interests. We do participate in the Amazon Affiliates program. This site is funded when readers click on the links in our articles. Any purchases provide us a small percentage of the final sale, without raising the price you pay.

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Winning Deadly Force Encounters

By Aaron 3 Comments

EDITOR’S NOTE: This is Part II in a series confronting the lack of proper firearms training in modern law enforcement. In Part I we covered the importance of transitioning to targets that focus the officer’s shots into the key upper chest targeting areas of the heart and lungs of the adversary. In Part II we present the arguments for proper targeting, with an anatomical analysis to verify our reasoning.

In a deadly force engagement the threat must be stopped as quickly as possible. Firearms instructors have a duty and responsibility to train their students to win – not just survive a deadly force encounter. Winning means the officer was mentally and physically prepared, observed and identified the lethal threat, engaged and subdued the lethal threat, and was legally justified in his or her actions.

Winning encompasses surviving, but surviving on its own simply means the officer did not die from the encounter. Winning leaves the shooter mentally and physically prepared to continue with life in a healthy way.

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Self-Defense Targets: Training to Win

By Aaron 1 Comment

Police firearms training in the 1960’s. (Photo from NRA).

The firearms community has grown phenomenally over the last 25 years, and continues to show amazing improvements in manufacturing, innovation, and skills training to complete the experience. These advancements have helped law enforcement respond to increasingly complex critical incidents. The development of highly accurate bean bag rounds as a less lethal option, polymer striker-fired handguns that reduce weight but improve accuracy through consistent trigger pulls, and the implementation of the Taser are just a few of examples of technological advances that have enhanced the law enforcement response to threats in our communities.

However, despite all the impressive improvements there is still one area that remains a matter of significant concern in use of force training – the targets that we engage in practicing deadly force engagements. Though we have made significant steps beyond the simple bulls eye targets of the early 20th century, the silhouette targets being used by too many are simply preparing officers to fail.

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Got Ammo? You Better Stock Up!

By Aaron Leave a Comment

An armory from Southwest Solutions.

Have you checked your department’s armory lately? If not, you had better convince the people in charge to start stocking up like a modern-day Prepper! How many hollow point duty rounds do you have? If you think you have enough, you might want to think again! Those agencies caught by surprise when the civilian ammunition market was choked dry during the height of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars, would do well to pay attention to the military’s latest move that could have significant impact on civilian and law enforcement ammunition supplies.

The United States Army has been in the process of defining the bidding process to prospective manufacturers for the Army’s new “XM-17” Modular Handgun System. The official move towards the XM-17 have been years in the making, but in recent months the decision has been solidified, and the bidding process has already begun. This new handgun system has been talked about for years, as the decision to replace the 30-year old M9 (Beretta 9mm) has been on the table for several years now. However, one particular comment about the proceedings should have every civilian law enforcement agency at full attention, and preparing for a new crunch in the availability of duty ammunition.

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Professional Shooters Talk Pistol Grip

By Aaron Leave a Comment

Perhaps the most indicative feature of pistol shooting in relation to accuracy is the shooter’s grip on the handgun. In the above video shooting professional Michael Seeklander, of Shooting Performance (as well as Personal Defense Network and Top Shot Season 1), breaks down some key fundamentals in the shooter’s grip that can provide an outstanding grip and form, while seriously reducing recoil effects.

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Should Officers Use Their Front Sights During A Gunfight?

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About the Force Science Institute

The Force Science Institute (FSI) is a research organization founded by Dr. Bill Lewinski, PhD. in Mancato, Minnesota. Dr. Lewinski is a 30-year clinical psychologist in human behavior who has focused his career in the area of police psychology. He created the Force Science Institute and dedicated its research to the study of human perception and reactions during dynamically developing situations, emphasizing the response of police officers during use of force encounters.

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Rob Leatham Talks Trigger Pull

By Aaron 1 Comment

Rob Leatham professional shooter and instructor

Rob Leatham – Professional Shooter/Trainer

Rob Leatham is a world renown professional shooter sponsored by Springfield Armory. During his time competing in professional shooting competitions he has amassed an impressive list of credentials and awards to prove he is the real deal when it comes to shooting handguns.

Here are just a few of Rob’s accomplishments:

6-time IPSC World Champion
20+ USPSA National Title Holder
Law Enforcement & Military pistol trainer for 25+ years.

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Roll Call: A BSD Challenge Video!

By Aaron 2 Comments

The Passenger Side Approach is a critical component of officer safety during traffic stops.

A little over a week ago I started the Quarterly Challenge on BlueSheepDog. The intent of the challenge was to keep officers sharp on some of the most critical skills necessary to survive the streets. I haven’t receive very many responses or comments so I have no idea how well the Q1 Challenge was received. There were four challenges included in the first quarter (Q1) challenge:

2015 BSD Q1 Challenge

Perform (10) perfect handgun draws in a row before each shift (Safety Check!)
Review at least (1) officer involved shooting (OIS) video per week for lessons learned
Accept the 100% off-duty firearm carry challenge
Plan at least (1) special family event each week.

Roll Call Video below!

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UTM Civilian Target Ammunition (CTA)

By Aaron 3 Comments

Universal Training Munitions Civilian Target Ammunition

Universal Training Munitions has announced the release of their Civilian Target Ammunition (CTA) at the 2015 SHOT Show. The CTA round is based on the similar UTM Target Bullet Round (TBR) that is used in military and law enforcement training worldwide. The U.S. Military, and several law enforcement agencies have been training with the UTM Target Bullet Rounds for nearly a decade. There have been over 198 million rounds made to date, in a wide variety of calibers.

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Officers Charged in Careless Deaths

By Aaron 2 Comments

Barely two months into 2015, and we have two police officers, from different large police agencies, criminally charged for the reckless or negligent killing of another human being. Sadly, I have to agree with the criminal complaints and I’ll explain.

The Oath of Office

When you swore the oath to become a police officer, you entered a profession with tenants that call you to rise above the expectations of the rest of society. That oath puts a spotlight on you both on and off-duty, because a free nation demands that those who the people have given authority to arrest, be free from immorality, incompetence, and illegal nature.

When the office of police officer is carried out with integrity and zeal for justice, the entire community proudly proclaims it’s just and honorable nature. When the office is misused or abused, the community properly excoriates those who have violated such a sacred trust. That trust is also held by the officers you work for, and a failure to uphold that standard of your oath rightly brings a higher level of scrutiny because of the higher level of trust.

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