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But is it Actually as Good as Live Fire Training? (Ft. Mantis)
Description
State of the Second hosts John and Kaylee sit down with Grant from Mantis, a firearms training company that uses technology to help shooters get better. Grant explains the core idea behind the products: assess your trigger press, tell you what you're doing wrong, and tell you how to fix it, all to improve marksmanship and gun handling. Safety comes first and effectiveness second. He walks through the lineup on the table, including the Blackbeard, an X10 that drops into your AR as a bolt carrier group and charging handle so your own rifle becomes the training tool. It resets your trigger, sends a laser downrange, and gives feedback on your trigger press. A dedicated training gun and a 3D-printed pistol prototype with a realistic Legion-style trigger round out the demo.
The conversation digs into why dry fire with feedback matters. Grant compares it to the jump from film photography to digital: you can now see what you did wrong and fix the root of the problem instead of compensating for it. He's clear that Mantis does not replace live fire or simunitions, and he encourages people to train with a qualified instructor. The tools save ammo and range time and let shooters work on fundamentals like grip, sight picture, and trigger press before they ever load a round. He covers what's coming next, including augmented reality that scans up to 10,000 square feet of a space and drops in targets, heart-rate monitors, shock pads, and a physical device for round count that would open up mag changes and more dynamic drills.
The back half turns personal and political. Grant is originally from Regina, Saskatchewan, and is now an American citizen. He talks about Canada banning AR-style rifles using an event where, he says, no ARs were used and none of the firearms involved were legally obtained. That experience is a big part of why he supports the Second Amendment. He and the hosts discuss the leaderboards and community Mantis builds, float the idea of a GOA group, and talk about how working in the firearms industry can get you treated differently or quietly pushed out of other fields. Grant left the high-end spa business at the peak of his career to chase work he loves, and his advice to anyone weighing a similar leap is simple: it's scary, but it's worth it. The episode wraps with details on finding Mantis at GOALS, booth 900.
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Questions this episode answers
What does Mantis do, and what is its core training philosophy?
Mantis is a firearms training company that uses technology to help shooters improve their marksmanship and gun handling. It assesses your trigger press, tells you what you're doing wrong, and shows you how to fix it, with safety first and effectiveness second.
How does the Mantis Blackbeard work, and what's the advantage of swapping in your own bolt carrier group?
The Blackbeard is an X10 that drops into your AR in place of the bolt carrier group and charging handle, so your own rifle becomes the training tool. It resets your trigger, sends a laser downrange, and gives feedback on your trigger press.
Does dry-fire training with Mantis replace live fire or simunitions?
No. Grant is clear that Mantis does not replace live fire or simunitions and encourages training with a qualified instructor. The tools save ammo and range time by letting shooters work on grip, sight picture, and trigger press before loading a round.
What is Mantis building next, beyond augmented reality, like round count and dynamic drills?
Grant describes a physical round-count device that would open up mag changes and more dynamic drills, plus heart-rate monitors and shock pads. The augmented reality system scans up to 10,000 square feet of a space and drops in targets.