A computer developer has put together an app, combined with a round that contains a laser (actuated by the firing pin), and a target like contraption that you dry fire with. Once you have calibrated your phone in the cradle that comes with the contraption onto the target that the phone will be sitting in front of, you can dry fire at the target with the laser round in the chamber, and the phone will register the placement of hits on the actual target, from the laser. The dry firing of the firearm will actuate the laser in the dry fire round for a second, while the phone will capture the exact placement of the laser on the target and record it, both recording it once for the single shot, but also recording every other shot taken previously. So you can have a sort of dry fire group as it were. This is almost as if SIRT guns meet phone technology, similar to the German coach we blogged about previously that uses a laser affixed to the end of his competitors air rifles, so he can watch their fundamentals at work. If you are interested in the setup, the individual has an IndieGoGo campaign set up, where there are different options to select as to how to help fund the product. Right now they are at 70 backers, hoping to raise $75,000, which I think might be a bit of a stretch with this sort of product. But the basic buy in package is $89, with a cheaper option at $49 which just gives you the cradle/sled the phone is on. Current calibers are for mainstream handgun calibers, 9mm Luger, .38 ACP (Pretty sure he means SPL) .45 ACP, and .223 REM.

From the creator-

iTarget offers safe, fun and inexpensive way to practice target shooting at home, using your actual firearm. iTarget uses a Laser Bullet and a phone app. Shaped like a real bullet, the Laser Bullet goes into an actual firearm and shoots a visible red laser at a paper target when you pull the trigger. The iTarget app uses the phone’s camera to “see” where the laser hit, and is able to mark that location on the phone’s screen. In effect – it’s like shooting virtual bullets from a real gun. iTarget begins its IndieGoGo crowdfunding campaign next week and its demonstration video has already received over 27,000 views in its first week on Facebook. iTarget creator Joe Crouch says, “The gun community has been waiting for an affordable Laser Training System and the reception to iTarget has been amazing. We are relying on word of mouth and social media to spread the word, and so far people are really excited by what they see!”

I could see something like this being very useful for practicing that trigger control and sight picture that all shooters sometimes have issues getting a good grip on from time to time. I would be concerned about the dry fire laser round being mistaken for a live round or vice versa. I think it should be colored bright orange or some other color, and have a tip that maybe extends down the barrel thus ensuring there is little room for mechanical error in mistaking a live round for a dummy laser one.