Since day one of the academy our firearms instructors have preached to us about the importance and value of "dry firing" our pistols. It is basically exercise for our shooting muscles. While I completely agree (I'm a firearms instructor, too) I have to admit there are a few key things we get from making the gun go boom that just aren't there when dry-firing at home. The most obvious is the recoil, second only to the ability to see where your shot landed. LaserLyte has accomplished the second goal in helping you see where your shot ends up with its line of training gear.

LaserLyte currently makes several different products to "up the game" for dry firing practice. At the core of this system are simple laser-enabled "dummy rounds" that can be inserted into the chamber and produce a brief red dot on the target when the shot falls.

Laser Trainer cartridges are constructed of machined brass so they won't damage the bore of your gun. They have rubber O-rings to ensure a proper fit and feature a firing pin-enabled activation switch. The cartridges are also rimless, meaning they won't be extracted. Once you seat the cartridge into the chamber you can squeeze the trigger and run the action as long as you like. To remove the cartridge, simply use a soft rod from the muzzle end (I used the rubber eraser of a pencil for my Glock) and pop it out of the chamber.

If you're looking for more options and a little more feedback, LaserLyte also packages this technology into its "Training Tyme" kit, which includes a plastic safety pistol with an automatically resetting trigger, the "Laser Trainer Pro" module, and an electronic "Reaction Tyme" target. The target itself has two modes: one that reacts each time a hit is scored, and a "reaction time" mode that randomly illuminates the target for three seconds.

The pistol can be used alone for trigger press practice. Insert the laser module and now you can also see where your shots fall. Incorporate the target and you'll not only see your shot, but you'll get instant feedback in the form of a flashing LED and audible beep when you score a hit.

I used mine both with the included training pistol and with my Glock 23. Although the training pistol's ability to automatically reset the trigger is nice (and it actually has a nice, crisp trigger), it lacks the feel of my real gun. The cartridge seemed to work better and I never had an issue with it.

My only complaint about the LaserLyte system is the inability to adjust or "zero" the cartridges to a specific firearm. While novice shooters may not notice the variance from close distances, most experienced shooters will place their targets much farther out and this becomes a problem. My example was about one inch high and left at 15 feet. Move out to the 25-yard line and this is a significant problem. This gripe aside, LaserLyte has a winning system that I'm sure will greatly improve your shooting skills.

The TrainingTyme kit has an MSRP of $219.95 and the .40cal Laser Trainer cartridge is $104.95. Comes with a three-year warranty; made in the U.S.

A.J. George is a patrol sergeant with the Scottsdale (Ariz.) Police Department who also serves as the SWAT team’s crisis negotiation supervisor.

LaserLyte Training Tyme Kit Specs:

Reaction Tyme Target:

Works with any LaserLyte Trainer

Target with 2.5-inch-diameter shooting ring

Batteries: 3 x AAA

Battery Life: 6,000 shots

Weight: 4.25 ounces

Dimensions: 1x3x3.74 inches

Range: 50 Yards

LaserLyte Trigger Tyme Compact Pistol:

For use with LaserLyte LT-PRO and LaserLyte Trainer targets

Materials: glass-filled nylon

Weight: 10.4 ounces

LT-PRO Universal Pistol Laser Trainer:

Length: 2.1 inches

Diameter: 0.5–0.1 inch

Runtime: 3,000 shots

Batteries: 3 x 377

Price of Kit: $219.95